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Making your baby, toddler and yourself meals at home makes for healthy, tasty, economical, and fun food. Making your own food from scratch enables you to know exactly what is going into you and your child’s body. Health Canada’s new recommendations are to introduce solid foods at six months of age with continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond. This applies to breastfed and bottle fed babies. The reasons for waiting until baby is six months are: breast milk gives baby exactly what they need for the first six months; baby has not yet developed the digestive enzymes needed to digest solid foods; and baby has not yet developed the muscles needed for safe and effective swallowing. Beginning solid foods too early in life has been linked to problems later on such as obesity, respiratory problems and food allergies. After six months your baby benefits from extra nutrients from solid foods to aid in their rapid development. Aside from the nutrients, it is important for babies to begin to practice eating and chewing skills.
From the Medical Reporter Human milk, the best food for babies, contains the right amount of nutrients, in the right proportions, for the growing baby. A living, biological fluid, it contains many unique components. For example, lactoferrin provides optimal absorption of iron and protects the gut from harmful bacteria; lipases assist in digestion of fats; and special growth factors and hormones contribute to optimal growth and development. Human milk is baby's first immunization. It provides antibodies which protect baby from many common respiratory and intestinal diseases, and also contains living immune cells. First milk, colostrum, is packed with components which increase immunity and protect the newborn's intestines. Artificially fed babies have higher rates of middle ear infections, pneumonia, and cases of gastroenteritis (stomach flu). Breastfeeding as an infant also provides protection from developing immune system cancers such as lymphoma, bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and celiac sprue, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, all of which are related to immune system function. And breastfed babies generally mount a more effective response to childhood immunizations. In all these cases, benefits begin immediately, and increase with increasing duration of breastfeeding. Babies from families with a tendency to allergic diseases particularly benefit from breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding, especially if it continues for at least six months, provides protection against allergies, asthma, and eczema. Signs of readiness for solid foods:
1 cup of water to boil on stove Avocado is a great starter food packed with lots of nutrients. For an extra kick for a toddlers (and adults!) cube and drizzle honey or maple syrup, or mash and add a splash of balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of salt to use as a dip for corn chips or crakers.
Potato Leek Soup Toddlers love to help out so making fun finger food that they can help prepare can help boost confidence and support creative development. Funny Faces If you have any kid friendly recipes you would like to add please email them.
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