What purees do your babies like?

[Lexipedia]

Hi,

Looking for puree ideas for a 6 month old. So far he's turned his nose up at most things, but I'm not too worried. What do, or have, your six month olds liked? A cows milk allergy is suspected, so any dairy free ideas are very welcome!

Also, when should you move from purees to finger food? I did BLW with my first, but was advised to do purees this time as he was a little premature.

Thanks!

What have you tried?

We moved on from purees quite quickly so didnt try that many but sweet potato was a resounding success.

Sometimes, if they're Turning their nose up at purees, it's a sign to go straight to finger foods.

We only did purees for about a week aged 6mo, but mine loved,
banana and yogurt
mashed sweet potato and salmon
mashed carrot and yogurt
mashed jacket potato and a little baked beans
from what I can remember.

But before long he was grabbing my food off of me, and eating whole cooked carrots, broccoli etc.

Tinned boneless salmon is really good for babies because it helps brain development. Mashed up into sweet potato it's like a power food.

Anything mashed up with live natural yogurt is perfect for babies because live yogurt helps strengthen their natural digestive bio-cultures.

That's about all I can remember from my puree phase

Tried squash, carrots, potato, sweet potato, chicken, salmon, avocado and fruit so far. And various combinations of the above. He likes most fruit, but I'm conscious of the sugar. I'd rather not start adding fruit to veg (a la Ella's Kitchen) as I don't see the point in disguising the taste.

Sounds like you have tried most of the good things.

The trick is, with a 6mo they need to be quite hungry when you're weaning. You've probably got this covered, but do make sure they haven't had their milk for a good couple of hours beforehand. Then offer the food. If he's still refusing, and seems to be crying for milk instead, you can put it off for another week.

Is you child large or small on the centile?

I've been lucky with my dd in that she seems to eat anything although she always pulls a 'yuck' face whenever she tries anything new. However, it took about 6 weeks from starting weaning for her to really want food if that makes sense?

Her faves are:-

• Avocado and banana
• Salmon & sweet potato
• plain Greek Yoghurt
• plain readybrek
• mashed spaghetti bolognaise
• broccoli, courgette and Peas with rice
• Apples and Pears

I borrowed Annabel Karmel's book from the library which I've found helpful although I agree with Lexi - I don't mix fruit and veg together as I find that odd and I'd rather my dd learns the flavour of broccoli than have it disguised by pear.

I

I only gave purée food for 1 week but ds fans were
Mango, bannana, avocado purée
Greek yoghurt
Swede, carrot purée
Sweet Potatoe, butter nut squash purée.

Now ds is 6 months+ 3 weeks and I don't purée any more just mash his food up.
He will eat any fruit mashed up with Greek yoghurt
he love cucmber sticks
Loves broccoli

He's at the middle of the weight scale, and is still taking plenty of milk. I might try him on finger foods soon, see if he takes them better. The only problem is the potential cows milk allergy. He loved yoghurt the first time he tried it, but then a few days later we were advised to cut dairy.

The other thing I'm struggling with is fitting in the food. he's having four bottles a day (7-8oz) and three naps. So far I've just introduced a breakfast at about 8am. He's not hungry then particularly, but he falls asleep soon after so any later won't work. And he has dinner at about 4.30. That's going a little better, but that's offered before a bottle, whereas the breakfast is offered soon after a bottle. I was always under the impression that the milk should be offered first as that's where most of their nutrition comes from.

BLW was so much easier!

You could try not giving 7-8oz first thing, maybe give just a few ozs, he may be more hungry for breakfast then, when he's had his breakfast if he is still hungry give him the rest of his bottle.

My ds only has 4oz of breast milk at 6:30 then is offered breakfast at 8 and he will normally eat it all.

You can get plain koko coconut yoghurts at morrisons. Perfect for babies with cmpa.
I tend to give mine our dinners mushed up. Started blending well and then now (7 months) it's fairly lumpy. She's has mild chilli, roast chicken, bolognaise etc.
Ready brek for breakfast and then finger foods at lunch. She likes hummus, beans or avocado on toast. Normally with some organix snacks and cucumber sticks. The sandwich thins are good at this ages as easy to eat when lightly toasted.
You can use vitalite or pure spread (both dairy free). Oat milk/cream is fine in cooking.
You'll need to check the ingredients of anything pre made as lots have hidden dairy. HTH

Courgette and apple purée has been the biggest hit with my DS so far.

Can I quickly ask how much your 6 month old takes at a "meal"? As in if they have porridge for breakfast what amount in teaspoons are we talking? and does that replace their feed?

Questions - 3-4 tablespoons of ready brek at breakfast 45-60 mins after a feed.
Lunch - whatever she's eaten finger food wise and a fruit pot 30mins after a feed.
Dinner - 1/2 7+ month jar, 2 tablespoons yoghurt. 30mins after a feed.
She's breastfed so reluctant to drop day time feeds in case she adds more at night.
You can offer food before milk.

Wow that looks so good a flush a lot! Mine is breastfeeding too with the occasional bottle and we haven't started yet, so just looking for ideas!

She started with two tablespoons for breakfast and maybe 2 tablespoons of purée but once we started there was no stopping her. Plenty of 6 months old eat less, they don't need to have 3 meals a day straight off.

Hi Lexi

Slightly at a tangent but I'm soon to be weaning slightly premmie will be 6mo old. I did blw twice previously and the hv suggested that I might just delay a couple of weeks until he does show the signs in preference to purees.

Did you wonder this at all?

You all sound so confident about weaning and I'm struggling a little. My boy loves all kinds of purée but will not pick up/ feed himself anything off his tray. What do I need to do? What's best to offer to get him started?

My dd was the same at the start. What age is your ds?

I just picked lunch time to offer finger foods and just left her to it. (Didnt leave her alone mind but didnt force her to pick food up). Because it was lunch time i was eating at same time and gradually she picked up and investigated the food. she now wolfes everything down and looks for more

I wouldnt worry too much. He'll get there. Can take, what seems like, ages though.

Thanks comeagainforbigfudge. He's six and half months. Can I ask what you gave as finger food and how big you cut it?

I'm weaning (just) 7mo DS. For comparison, he was 3 weeks early (37 week, so not prem), but was sitting well by 6 months and could bring food to his mouth. He was sitting confidently and independently by just over 6 months I think (as physical development has an impact on weaning).

He is eating porridge made with a tbsp of oats and two of milk for breakfast, then something like cucumber fingers, pitta fingers, and cheese for lunch, then something like sweet potato wedges with lentil beany stew (mostly spoon fed) and steamed broccoli and dwarf beans for dinner.

He puts away an incredible amount of food! My first child hardly ate anything other than Greek yoghurt and green beans until well over 12 months so it has been a bit of a surprise.

If you are set on doing purees then tbh I would just whizz up whatever you are eating, then progress to mashing it. Things like fish pie, chickpea and vegetable stew, daal, lots of green veg, lentil soup, macaroni cheese have all gone down well here.

I am finding it works with DS to combine letting him feed himself with helping him by offering the spoon (he sort of leans into it to take the mouthful).