Homemade Baby Food

Hi, I'm Sarah and I have 5-month-old Devin.  I've decided I really want to make my baby's food. I've done a tiny bit of reading here and a little more on wholesomebabyfood.com and I think I CAN DO THIS.

My question is - what about daycare? The other day my daycare provider asked about rice cereal, if Devin has tried and if she should start offering it.  I wanted to wait until 6 months, but on his 5 month birthday I went ahead and tried and he's had it a few times now but not every day. ANYWAYS - when she asked, I mentioned that I wanted to make his foods once we get to fruits and veggies and she gave me a funny look, lol.

So, what do I do? Bring them from home? Seems dumb since she now provides formula, and food to the other kids. Do I ask her to make them and bring recipes? Let her go with the store ones? I don't know. HELP!

TIA for any personal experience or advice.

 
          

Hi and welcome to the board! You can definitely do this! You'll see how easy it is once you get started.

I'm sure the day care has a refrigerator and/or microwave? If I were you I would make the food and just bring it in microwave safe bowls. She can keep the bowl in the refrigerator until it's time for him to eat it and then heat it up for him (if necessary).

I think asking her to make the food is asking too much since you are the one who wants him to have the homemade food (and it's a great choice!). I would tell her again that you are planning on making your own and that you will provide it for him. A lot of people who aren't familiar with the homemade baby food are a little apprehensive at first but you should stick to it if that's what you really want to do.

I wouldn't be comfortable with having him try new foods at daycare when you aren't there. I would wait until the weekend to introduce a new food and give it to him on Sat and Sun. That way he's had it for a couple of days and you will be around to observe any reactions he may have.

Kirsten

CL of Homemade Baby Food

Thank you! Good point about trying new foods at home, I hadn't thought about that. I guess I wasn't really specific about my daycare. She has one other boy on a regular basis who is 2, I think 2 other kids started today too they look about 3-5 yo. It is run out of her home, so yes about the refrigerator and microwave.

Now off to research containers! Any suggestions?

I am really excited about getting started. I asked for a blender for my birthday next week. :)

 
          

As far as containers go since you are just getting started ice cube trays will be great for your portions. He'll probably start off only eating one cube at a time (if that). My son was always a big eater and we started him off at one whole cube (the equivalent of 1 oz). Wait for the food to get to cool or get to room temp, then fill each cube almost to the top. Wrap in saran wrap and tin foil and freeze overnight. The next morning pop the cubes out and store in freezer bags. Make sure to label what it is and the date you froze it or the use by date. The night before you want to serve it take out a cube and put it in the refrigerator to thaw. I would suggest either BPA free plastic bowls or glass bowls with a lid. I know that Pyrex makes small glass bowl with a lid. I'm always more comfortable heating food up in glass. Here's a link to Pyrex which you can probably find at most grocery stores.

http://www.pyrexware.com/index.asp?pageId=103&pid=348

Gerber has plastic bowls that come with lids that I used to store the food in to thaw or use for cold food (fruits) but I didn't like to heat the food up in them.

http://www.gerber.com/products/Bunch_a_Bowls.aspx?PLineId=696b191b-ec5d-4669-8d64-6f0573b577de#

Kirsten

CL of Homemade Baby Food

Hi! I just started making baby food but I got these and I LOVE them. I can freeze the food in them and they've got their own lids. They're great--and cheap.

This link shows the 1 oz ones but they have 2 oz ones as well (that I got). HTH!

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Storage-Contains-Phthalates-Bisphenol/dp/B001B5DTO2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248828074&sr=8-1