To Meat or Not to Meat

I’m on the brink of bewilderment in the baby food department. Not making it – that’s fun and easy or feeding Frank – she’s keen. 

Looking through baby food books and websites I’ve come across all of the following: start baby with meat at six months because by six months their iron stores have been depleted, don’t give your baby meat before eight months unless advised by your baby’s pediatrician, allow three to five days to introduce each new food to make sure there are no allergies or sensitivities, you don’t need to wait three to five days when introducing a new food since allergies and sensitivities will manifest immediately, avoid egg whites, peanuts and dairy before one year of age, introducing potential allergens later does not prevent food allergies. I’m not kidding. When it comes to how much she should be eating I’ve found everything from two tablespoons to twelve tablespoons of food a day. 

In the face of all this I’m trying to keep in mind that almost all of her nutrition still comes from breast milk, that her infant cereal is iron fortified and according to the nutrition label provides 100% of her DRI of iron, and that the other foods we introduce at this point are mostly to help her develop an affection for different tastes and textures (which is super important) and not necessarily about her nutritional needs. All of this helps me to feel less overwhelmed. 

I did find one website that was really comprehensive in its recipes and feeding schedules: www.wholesomebabyfood.com. Of course some of its guidelines still contradict those offered by other sites but nonetheless I think it will be a staple in the months to come.