Puree and Simple
By: First Time Mama
Tags: Care, Milk, Motherhood, Balance, Baby

Why do so many babies ease in to weaning with banana? It is because it is an amazing source of Vit C, manganese and potassium… or is it because it is so very easy to mash?

Moving from a milk-only diet can be daunting. While getting the handle of feeding times, the rugby ball hold and sterilising was a tall enough order, there was something so very simple about it.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU, MA?

Well, up until this point it’s been milk for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a side of milk and a midnight feast of more milk. As your baby hits the half year mark, the idea of weaning will have definitely reared its head. Where do you start? What should you try first?

Odds on, a boiled, mashed carrot will have a starring role — and it is so exciting to lovingly peel the carrot, slice it, give it a steam or a boil and then mash it to a pulp, ready for baby who is wondering what on earth is going on.

Babies get the hang of eating remarkably quickly and before long, you’ll be counting on the freezer to store cubes upon cubes of orange mash, sweet potato puree and blended kiwis. But babies are very fickle creatures. Having supped down three portions of apple puree in one sitting, it’s tempting to pop apple in the ‘Hit’ file. Then, you head out, buy three kilos of apples. You’ll peel them, core them, chop them, stew them and create amazing little portions all ready to get you through the next few weeks of puddings.

With 72 portions of apple in the freezer, you know you have a go-to solution in the bag. And then baby goes off apple. It does happen — more than you think. Babies are amazingly adaptable, resilient and oh-so fickle little things. All that time slicing, dicing out the window and your hard work reduced to year’sworth of something to go with your roast pork, while you reach for the easy-mash banana option

SHORT CUT OR SMART MOVE?

It’s alright to want to do everything just right. Your baby will only begin eating once but it is also alright to call in a little assistance and help from some of the amazing baby brands out there. I’m not advocating that you feed your baby something that you don’t want to but don’t forget to take care of yourself in the process. Remember, it’s only a handful of months since you were in the delivery suite and it has been pretty full on since then. At First Time Mama, we like to look after the amazing women who are looking after the babies. It’s not cheating to reach for a ready-made option. Think of the time that you could spend with your baby, not doing stuff. Just looking at each other, or learning how to smile together. You might want to take the time to go for a run, or have a cup of tea or even to simply look out the window and to breathe, when you might have been working through a papaya puree mountain.

IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE

I’m not advocating the dismissal of the fruit bowl or saying that you can’t create sensational tiny pasta dishes rom scratch, but I am saying that it could work just as well for you — or better — if you find some equilibrium between what you do make and what you get a little helping hand with.

Imagine everyone having a night off from cooking? What would that do for your family’s health and wellbeing?

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