If you are anything like me, baby food was on your distant radar, but you knew you had 4-6 months to figure it out. Well, fast forward a quick few months, and all of a sudden your pediatrician is telling you that solid food can be introduced into baby’s diet. Congratulations! This is such an exciting time for you and baby!
Consider: homemade or store-bought food? Organic or generic? Start at 4 months old (like many pediatricians are now recommending) or wait until 6 months old (per American Academy of Pediatrics)? Talk to your pediatrician, do your research, and then make an educated decision.
Making homemade baby food has so many advantages! Plus, it is so simple once you get the ball rolling.
- Typically more affordable
- Know exactly what is going in baby’s body
- Choose which fruits and vegetables you use
- Baby adjusts more quickly to the foods the family eats
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Buy the Right Supplies
You likely already have the needed supplies at home, though you may choose to buy some additional supplies to make the process easier. At a minimum, you need something to puree the food, like a food processor, blender, or immersion blender. You also need a way to steam the food so that you can lock in the nutrients.
Either buy an expensive all-in-one baby food maker OR use the products below [to save $$$].
- Food processor (Black+Decker 3-cup or Hamilton Beach 10-cup), blender, or immersion blender
- Pot and steaming basket or (6-quart steaming insert for instant pot, or 8-quart)
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Ice cube trays or storage cups for freezing
- Freezer baggies
- Permanent marker
*My personal preferences: food processor, instant pot with steaming insert, and ice cube trays
I already owned the Black+Decker 3-cup food processor, but I would buy the Hamilton Beach 10-cup if I had to do it over. It would allow for fewer batches and saved time.
Prepare Ingredients
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Clean and peel fruits and vegetables.
- Bake, steam, roast, or microwave until tender (steaming preserves the most nutrients).
NOTE: I like to use the steaming basket in the instant pot. (Add 1 cup water, set for 5 minutes on high, and use natural release.) - Puree with a little liquid (breastmilk, formula, or water) OR mash by hand for more texture.
NOTE: I use the food processor I already had because I didn’t want to buy yet another kitchen appliance. - Store in refrigerator or freezer.
Store Baby’s Food
Store homemade baby food in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. When I make a batch of food, I like to store just enough for a couple of days in the refrigerator, and then I freeze the rest in ice cube trays.
Ice Cube Trays: This is a genius idea! Pour baby food into the ice cube trays and put them in the freezer. When frozen, pop them out and store them in freezer baggies, labeled with the type of food and date.
These Silicone Ice Cube Trays with Removable Lids are AMAZING, making it easy to pop out the frozen food cubes. Whatever ice cube tray you choose, just remember that the silicone is what makes it easy to pop out the food.
NOTE: This is especially useful when you start combining foods. My little guy’s favorite is 2 cubes apple, 2 cubes sweet potato, and 1 cube carrot.
Prepare and Serve Food
From refrigerator – warm for about 10 seconds in the microwave
From freezer – pop out a couple of cubes (1 ounce each) and defrost in the microwave
Specific Food Ideas
NOTE: There is only one difference between stage 1 and stage 2 foods. Babies begin with stage 1 because they are singular fruits or vegetables; by introducing a new one every 4-5 days, this helps us rule out any allergies baby may have. Stage 2 foods are simply combinations of fruits and vegetables.
Stage 1 Foods
- Apples
- Pears
- Bananas
- Butternut Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Carrots
- Peas
- Avocados
- Prunes
- Peaches
Stage 2 Combinations
- Blueberry Apple
- Carrot Sweet Potato Pea
- Banana Apple Pear
- Pear Zucchini Corn
- Peach Apple Squash
- Pea Carrot Spinach
- Carrot Pear Blackberry
- Sweet Potato Apple Pumpkin
- Banana Pumpkin
- Squash Apple Corn
- Apple Cherry
Do you have any tips for parents starting their journey making homemade baby food? Share your insight!
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