What do you do for your 6 month old

[BettyBoo246]

So my ds has been weaned since 4 months (advised by paediatrician due to reflux)
I started him on all the baby porridge etc and jar foods and fruit sachets - which he all loved
Now at 6 months I want to start making him his food from fresh but having a mare! Last night I puréed apple and yoghurt he didn't like it, then tried Banaba he didn't like it, I know I've just got to keep offering these tho, my problem is it's all such a faff! I'm cleaning the blender out every hour, pouring most if it away atm as he don't like it.
I'm going to start doing potatoes and carrots etc for main dinners in couple of days so fingers crossed he'll like them.
Does everyone else just make big batches then freeze them? If so how long can they be frozen for? Or is it just easier to buy the commercial jar foods?

I boiled carrots, turnip, celaric, potatoes, sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli (seperatly)- until soft enough to mash then with a fork and froze them in icecube trays.
Also stewed some apples (peel, and cook in enough water to cover) again mashed with a fork and froze.

I take a couple of different ones up per meal and add spices, pepper sometimes.

Mines only 5 months but I intend to add meat (boiled or minced) as he gets older. And of course when we are eating something suitable he will have that instead.

Maybe you could add veg and fruit to the rice gradually phasing the riceout so he gets use to the change in flavour and texture.

He's probably just getting used to the different textures if he's not been accustomed to home made purées. Unless you have an industrial strength blender at home it's not going to be as consistently smooth as the jars/pouches. But that's good - will prepare him for chunks of food.

Annabel Karmel's meal planned is good. About to make up a batch of puréed pears this afternoon, and then some vegetable stock for a three toto veg purée.

Although having puréed pears, plums and now peas which cook down to nothing...with a kitchen looking like a bombsite. And still having to roast red peppers and steam cauliflower this evening ...I understand why a devotion to Ella's pouches may develop!

I'm a firm believer in batch cooking - steam a load of veg, blend and then store in ice cube trays. Once frozen, I put the cubes of food in labelled freezer bags.

Another vote for Annabel Karmel's meal planner, great for ideas. DD loves roasted butternut squash and sweetcorn, broccoli and cheese sauce, yoghurt and mango.

Agree it's all a bit of a faff when most of it ends up being flung across the kitchen!

Also you might find a hand blender a bit easier in terms of cleaning!

Ooh yes. Definitely a yes for a small blender. I use one meant for onions, garlic etc. No point getting the big blender out for such tiny portions.

Thanx for the tips
I think it is just the texture he isn't keen on, he will eat any flavour of the jar foods so it's either because i can't get a smooth consistency or my cooking he doesn't like!!
I think what I might try is adding some of what I make to some of the jars / pouches and try and introduce it that way.

Now he's six months do you think he's ready to have a go with finger food? Even if its not actually going in its all good fun and you might find he lets the spoon in if he's already playing with a bit of breadstick or pear or broccoli tree.

I've tried him with a finger of toast which he really liked and also banana, he has no interest though in holding it himself yet (he is abit of a lazy baby)
What other finger foods would b good to try?

Chip-shaped things big enough to be gripped in a fist with some sticking out: Batons of carrot, courgette, parsnip, potato roasted to a mushy consistency soft and sweet inside, dry and grippable outside. Omelette strips with toast, cheese and tomato pizza (pitta bread, smear of tomato puree, grated cheese, grilled for a few minutes), breadsticks dipped in hummus or cream cheese, melon, cucumber wedge, avocado wedge, chicken strip, pasta shapes etc.

Any of that is fine and once he gets the hang of it you can just give him a bit of what you have to dive into. Watching your son eat his first bolognese face-first is an education in itself .

Ok silly question... If they start biting chunks off will they choke on it?? I've given him pear to suck on but he starts biting it and I'm digging out the chunks from his mouth!

Choking is extremely rare. What may well happen if he tries to swallow a big piece without chewing is he'll gag. This is totally normal; it protects against choking and teaches them to chew first. If he's making a noise, he's gagging so just leave him to deal with it alone.

Definitely don't stick your fingers in his mouth to fish bits of food out. You risk pushing it beyond the gag reflex and down his throat, causing him to choke.

Ah ok thanks for that - I'll just keep a watchful eye on him then and stop poking my fingers in!

I've done the same with finger food! Terrified my DD will choke and end up poking my fingers in.

I've found that the jars/pouches are really smooth. Maybe try adding some milk/water to your own food? My DD's first purées were really sloppy.

Broccoli and cream cheese is a big hit and suitably runny.

My DD is coming up to 6 months old. At the mo she has porridge 3 times a day and LOVES it! I want her to try different things from next week. I am going to batch cook, the only (silly) question is, how do i reheat veg when i bring it out of freezer?

Sorry if im hijacking OP!!