Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/242056
Baby food 101 "Making your own baby food is convenient because your baby eats what you and the rest of the family are eating," says Amy Partain, registered dietitian and mother of two. "And they are getting a nutritious meal with fresh ingredients." "A really good first baby food is avocado. You just scoop it out and mash it," she says. Other first foods include applesauce, pureed sweet potatoes, mashed bananas with baby cereal and canned pumpkin. She says when you first introduce solid food to your baby it needs to be pureed with a blender or food processor. For added nutrition, put in breast milk or formula instead of water. "You can use a fork or potato masher to prepare their food, and you do not need to add salt or sugar," says Amy. The older your baby gets the less refined their food needs to be. BEGINNER FOODS FOR BABY Single-grain iron-fortified cereals, such as rice, oatmeal and barley Pureed avocado, sweet potato, spinach, peaches, banana or apples Well-cooked mashed vegetables, such as carrots and squash Yogurt To get the most nutrients, Amy recommends steaming, broiling and roasting your baby's food. She "If you feed your baby out of a emphasizes to always wash fruits and container with a spoon and you have vegetables well. leftovers, it needs to be discarded because of bacteria that can grow from your baby's saliva," explains Amy. Baby food that hasn't been exposed to your baby's saliva can last up to 48 hours in the refrigerator or one month in the freezer. Safest place for your baby: WITH YOU. At CoxHealth, our goal is to minimize the time babies are separated from their families after delivery. We practice total rooming in – mother and baby stay in the same room during their hospital stay. All newborn care, such as bathing, monitoring vital signs, physician exams and hearing screenings, is completed in the mother's hospital room. ROOMING IN: THE BEST FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY Desiree and Elin Babies sleep better and cry less Mother's breast milk comes in sooner Babies gain weight better Babies develop less jaundice Babies feed more often You can get to know your baby better You will be better prepared to care for your infant at home. 15