From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Baby food is any food that is made specifically for infants, roughly between the ages of six months to two years. The food comes in many varieties, with different manufacturers and tastes. A common trait of the many different baby foods is that they are designed for ease of eating; either a soft, liquidy paste or an easily chewed food. This is due to the fact that infants lack teeth and experience in eating.

Each baby is different: some may need food other than breast milk or infant formula sooner than others, and as there is no Baby Food Pyramid, it is hard to tell the nutritional requirements of any given baby. Babies typically move to consuming baby food once nursing or formula is not sufficient for the child's appetite. A baby usually starts to eat solid food once the child has enough teeth to adequately chew.

It is often recommended to give a baby food at around 6 months of age, but babies differ greatly. Signs of readiness include the ability to sit without help and the display of active interest in food that others are eating. A baby may be started directly on normal family food if attention is given to choking hazards. Because breastmilk takes on the flavor of foods eaten by the mother, these foods are especially good choices.

One may wish to introduce only one new food at a time, leaving a few days in between to notice any reactions that would indicate a food allergy or sensitivity. This way if a baby is unable to tolerate a certain food then it can be determined which food is causing the reaction.

It has traditionally been common to start infants on solid food from 4+ months onwards - however current research and WHO/UNICEF "Baby Friendly" guidelines recommend only breastmilk until 6 months of age.

Some adults, including many Austrians, consume baby food because they enjoy its taste and its reminder of better times.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 History 2 Commercial baby foods 3 Frozen baby food 4 References 5 External links 6 See also

From Cookery for Children, Sarah Josepha Hale, 1852 [1]:

“

Food for a young infant -- Take of fresh cow's milk one table-spoons full, and mix with 2 table-spoonsfull of hot water; sweeten with loaf-sugar as much as may be agreeable. This quantity if sufficient for once feeding a new-born infant; and the same quantity may be given every 2 or 3 hours -- not oftener -- till the mother's breast affords the natural nourishment.

”

Commercial prepared baby foods in the Netherlands were first prepared by Martinus van der Hagen through his NV Nutricia company in 1901 [2].

Commercial prepared baby foods in the United States were first prepared by Dorothy Gerber in 1927 [3].

Some commercial baby foods have been criticized for their contents and cost.^[1]

Frozen baby food is an alternative to heat processed jarred baby food. Frozen baby food is made by cooking, pureeing and freezing fresh fruits and vegetables. Frozen baby food is an alternative for parents who make baby food at home and freeze it in ice cube trays. Some nutritionists believe that freezing gently cooked ripe produce could be even healthier than cooking under-ripe produce. While major baby food companies have yet to venture into a frozen product, they have been galloping toward organics. Sales of organic baby food have shot up 58 percent in five years, 16 percent in the last year alone, according to ACNielsen.

There are dozens of companies on the market today offering frozen baby food. Most have launched in the last year. Some include

• • Homemade Baby (www.homemadebaby.com): has a retail shop in Los Angeles. Not available in grocery stores outside of LA. One of the first frozen baby foods on the market.

• • Full Tank Foods (www.fulltankfoods.com): distribution at west coast stores including Whole Foods and QFC (Kroger). Product packaged in portable squeeze tubes. Company also offers frozen entrees for kids and provides school lunches.

• • My Nami (www.mynami.com): California company that will ship within a radius of its office. Packages product in cubes in a bag.

• • Plum Organics (www.plumorganics.com): New York company with about 500 stores nationwide. Product packaged in 4 oz plastic containers - 2 to a box.

• • Happy Baby (www.happybabyfood.com): HappyBaby is an organic frozen baby food supported by Dr. Sears ([4]). HappyBaby flavors include Blackbean/Quinoa/Banana, Spinach/Mango/Pear, and Peas with mint. The Wall Street Journal reviewed HappyBaby and several other brands of frozen baby food in its article "Sampling Organic Baby-Food Service" on January 4, 2007. The New York Times also reviewed many frozen baby food in the article, "A New Tasting in the Baby Section," August 6, 2006. New York company. Product packaged in plastic ice cube trays. Available at Whole Foods and other stores.

1. ^ Cheating Babies: Nutritional Quality and Cost of Commercial Baby Food

• Infant nutrition information from Seattle Children's Hospital.

• Pablum
• Breastfeeding

Find products on Cow & Gate baby food, useful advice and learn more about your baby: [[5]]
Here is a suggested link to find products on baby food or learn more about your baby(s): [[6]]

-Symone