Be sure to use good quality, fresh foods in your dishes. Never add salt to your homemade meals. You can freeze your baby’s food, but make sure to thoroughly defrost them before reheating. A baby’s food should be heated thoroughly and then allowed to cool. It should be lukewarm and never hot. Always check the temperature of food before giving to a baby.
Steaming is often a handy way to cook vegetables. You could also try baking certain vegetables such as sweet potato or butternut squash in the oven as it gives them a delicious flavour. Wash and scrub them thoroughly and prick with a fork and bake until tender, scoop out the flesh and mash with your baby’s milk or water. You can also boil vegetables or fruit but remember to use a very small amount of water.
You should cook eggs until both the white and yolk are completely solid and meats should not contain even the slightest trace of pink in the middle. Remove all bones from fish too. Hygiene when preparing baby’s first solid food is really important as your baby’s immune system is less developed than that of adults. You should take extra care to sterilise all utensils used when preparing food including baby’s bowls and spoons. Always wash your hands before preparing food for your baby, wash your baby’s high chair with hot soapy water and change tea towels frequently.