Do you want to avoid herbicides and pesticides since you want your tot to grow like a weed?

The easiest and cheapest way to feed your baby is off your plate, as it's been done for hundreds of years. Breastfed babies don't NEED adult food until they are 6-9 months old (cereal at 4 months is just a lazy way to keep a kid fuller longer and probably start them on the road to allergies too). At 6-9 months, an infant sitting in your lap will be grabbing food from you. Let her have it in small portions (and make sure it's soft or otherwise appropriate food - rice, mashed potatoes, various well-cooked vegetables, little bits of salad greens, etc.) Voila! Baby food! Of course, some things must be chewed for the baby first. It might disgust you to chew food in your mouth and then take it out and give it to the baby, but it's exactly what she needs. Your saliva, which is more chemically complex than hers, will have started to digest the chicken or steak or whatever and will make it digestible for her. I promise you that the baby will love it and you will get over your little gack factor quickly (after all, if you are otherwise exclusively breastfeeding, she will already be immune to all your germs!) Baby food grinders are b.s., just another gadget for scared first-timers. I use mine now to grind ingredients for small batches of sausage! I think I used it exactly twice for baby food -- my daughter and I both thought the results were gross. She could handle soft baked sweet potato at 9 months and didn't need it pureed. Pureeing food takes away all the fun textures!

Posted by: JuliaZ | July 12, 2006 at 08:49 AM

Julia, I wholeheartedly agree! Both my sons were breastfed and didn't eat any solid food until about the time they started walking -- 12-13 months. Then, they both had the same favorite food -- banana! I've heard that it most closely resembles the nutrients found in breastmilk. Then, they got steamed veggies and small chunks of fruit. I didn't give them any meat until they were about two. I think our culture makes the idea of baby nutrition so darned difficult . . . when, it really couldn't be easier! The mum simply eats a good diet (lots of fruits and veggies) while she nurses. Then, when babe starts eating, s/he will be eating the good food that mum is already eating. What a terrific example! My sons are now 3-1/2 yrs and 5-1/2 yrs. And, their favorite foods? Just about any kind of fruit, broccoli, salad (honest!), carrots, soy yogurt, tofu, black bean soup -- and, pineapple pizza! By the way, both of them were also potty-trained by using frozen pineapple chunks as a "reward!" (But, not until they were ready for the toilet. There was no forcing or coersion.) People do not need to buy or make special food for their babes. Nature has already provided all the nutrients that small babes need.

Posted by: princessalex | July 12, 2006 at 10:09 AM

Thanks for mentioning breastfeeding. All evidence points to it being the best bet for a baby's health early on. Here's the link to Ideal Bite's "Milking the Breastfeeding Question" tip: http://idealbite.com/tiplibrary/tip.php?tip=20060111&title=Milking_the_Breastfeeding_Question Let us know what you think!

Posted by: Toshio | July 12, 2006 at 11:23 AM

Well, enough people already pointed out the inappropriate statements made on that blog. I can't really add to them. Personally, I'm thinking that this website, blog, and newsletter would be better served if you added someone who has had kids and can, therefore, speak from that perspective, as well. At least for advice, if not to actually add another writer.

Posted by: Alex | July 13, 2006 at 10:07 AM

Just wanted to add something weird that my mom always fed me as a kid.. liver cubes! She would literally chop some liver up and pour it and its juices in with water in an ice tray to freeze. It helped sooth my gums while teething. I still ended up being anemic as a teen though. Go figure. As a child though, I was never sick. The thought of it now makes me gag. I'm glad I don't remember what they tasted like! Although my mom probably meant well, I don't think I'll be feeding my baby (due next month) any liver cubes.

Posted by: J | July 13, 2006 at 02:01 PM

one time my mom made kool ade with honey rather than adding sugar she also made a gray-ish cauliflour cake. there were many other foods of similar philosophy along the way... but i will always love my veggies!

Posted by: Renee | July 18, 2006 at 03:05 PM

Alex, That's a good idea. I'm sure Heather and Jen think so too-- in fact, you must have missed the blog two weeks ago where Heather explained that, "Because there ARE topics... that Jen and I don't have a lot of personal insight into... you are going to start to see more "characters" showing up in our tips and blogs. In the beginning, these folks will be some of our other Biter employees, such as Toshio and Sara, and as time goes on, it might just be some of you (more on that at a later date)." Maybe someday you can volunteer to contribute child-related tips from a truly authoritative perspective. http://www.idealbite.com/blog/comments/i_like_to_pretend_i_know_everything_but/

Posted by: gabbie | July 20, 2006 at 03:22 PM

Whether the truth, what a sweet dish is fast, but short-term inflow of energy, and starch supports an organism further? WBR LeoP

Posted by: Health System | January 31, 2007 at 09:10 PM

despite what all of you think, i started my son on solids at 5 months. ( omgggg im such a bad mom) Right. there is no pre-set calender of when a baby should eat. they all develop differently and at different paces. a mother who is IN TUNE to her child, will know when the time is right.

Posted by: heidi | May 04, 2007 at 08:21 PM

Thanks for your information on this page. It’s definitely useful to learn more on a subject of your interest to make us more educated for certain topics. I think its important eating organic; it is a healthy contribution to our bodies. Check this link for more on this topic http://www.organic-food.cooking-food-recipe.com/Organic-Baby-Food.php

Posted by: Michael Malega | May 07, 2007 at 06:39 AM

Thanks for the useful information. I agree with the posters above that breast milk is the ideal food for a young baby until the age of 6 months. It has many benefits including optimal nutrient content, fights infection, is a natural contraceptive, etc. After 6 months though it is very important to supplement breats milk with semi solid foods. Having said that I dont think that mothers who are unable to breast milk for medical reasons or because they are not producing enough milk should feel guilty as it is not their fault.

Posted by: baby names | March 07, 2008 at 01:06 PM

I use to get fed sweet potatoes and banana when I was a babes. Wonder why I love sweet potatoes and banana so much. I love you mom!

Posted by: Mike | March 07, 2008 at 10:52 PM

It was always banana sandwiches for me, but I crave them sometimes! :) http://www.eatoutindurham.com

Posted by: John Metcalfe | March 26, 2008 at 04:37 AM

Liver is one of the most important organs of the body that participates in body cleansing. Bile secretion reduces if toxins start accumulating in the liver,. The cleansing action performed by the liver drastically deteriorates as a result of which the liver becomes a store house of toxins in the long run. It very critical that you liver must be maintained clean. So periodic liver cleansing is absolutely essential Regards, Richardson drug tests

Posted by: Ricardson | October 14, 2008 at 08:52 AM