More on Baby Foods

Here are some follow-up questions that have come up from our earlier blog on December 4, "Frequently Asked Questions About Introducing Solids."

Q: Are generic brand foods as good as name brands?

A: Our advice is to buy prepared baby food that you are sure is from a major US company. In the US, there is a lot a production quality control that goes into making baby food. Do avoid foods that come from China in particular. Also avoid buying your own vitamins from China.


Q: Is there any advantage to making our own baby food?

A: Cost is the major benefit here. If you do decide to make your own food, it is best to buy local produce or frozen foods. The longer foods are in transport or storage, the more they lose their nutritive value (organic or not). Foods start to lose nutritional value as soon as they are picked or harvested, so locally grown, fresh foods are best. The second best option is to buy frozen or canned fruits and vegetables from a major company that harvests and produces its food close to the farm. American sourced foods are always safer since we have stronger environmental laws. If you do decide to make your own baby foods, there are books and online resources you can use for recipes, storage techniques, etc. Do keep in mind that once your baby has been introduced to a wide variety of foods, by about 8 months you can begin getting creative with your recipes, even adding some seasonings like cinnamon (still no salt or sugar).

For more suggestions: http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4309.htm


Q: Should I try to buy foods that are advertised to have additional vitamins or supplements in them like iron or DHA?

A: Most additives are window dressing, however there are a couple of specific concerns you should be aware of. In particular, after 6 months breast milk does not have sufficient levels of iron and zinc. Babies should be able to get enough iron from adding solid foods to their diet. Zinc, however, is difficult to get in sufficient amounts this way since it isn't absorbed by the body very easily from grains. The best way for your baby to get zinc in her diet is by eating red meat. Though it’s common practice to introduce meat as one of your baby's last foods, some researchers in the field of infant nutrition now suggest using meat as an early baby food. In fact Dr. Nancy Krebs suggests that meat would be a better choice for first foods than cereals because of the importance of iron and zinc to infant brain development. We suggest that you be sure to include low fat red meat (beef and lamb) in your baby's diet several times a week for iron and particularly zinc.

In addition, DHA is a potentially important nutrient for infants (though part of the excitement is because it’s trendy). You can make sure your baby is getting enough DHA by taking a daily supplement yourself and thereby "enriching" your breast milk. Do know that DHA may have the side effect of decreasing "stress," which all new moms can use. We recommend trying to buy a supplement made from bacteria and not fish oil. They are more expensive, but are less likely to be contaminated with ocean pollutants. Always feel free to ask the pharmacist for help in selecting vitamins for yourself.

Lastly, Vitamin D is potentially problematic, but most pediatricians will place babies on a daily vitamin that should take care of this. If your pediatrician hasn't done this by 6 months, talk to him or her about the idea at your next well-baby visit. Also, 15-20 minutes of a mostly naked sun bath is not a bad idea (no glass in the way of the sun) as another way for your baby to get vitamin D.