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Taking proper care of infants is never an easy task as it always comes with a winding series of queries, jam-packed with interrogatory words like What, When, How, Why, and so on. So we have to be delicate while handling them and consider them our priority. Thus, learning about stage 2 baby food along with other stages is necessary.
It is well-known that babies don’t tend to digest solid food in the first few months of their birth. So, to perceive the same month they should be fed with the food of different states of matter, it is necessary to surveil the various stages of their growth, and you can feed them with food accordingly.
It is always advisable to be acknowledged the different stages of the babies and food meant to be fed, and nutrients meant to be included in respective stages. So, if you are entirely new to postnatal care and stuff, don’t worry because we have got you covered.
This article tells you about the so-called stages of infants and mainly focuses on stage 2 baby food and how they differ from other stages. As a bestowal, you also get three healthy recipes that you can consider as stage 2 baby food. So, gear up!
4 Different Stages of Baby Food
- Stage 1: 4 to 6 months (single ingredient purees)
- Stage 2: 6 to 9 months (mashed or well-strained food, thicker consistency)
- Stage 3: 10 to 12 months (soft and chewable food)
- Stage 4: 12 months and above (finger food)
The standardized labels of stages of baby food comprise only three stages, the puree stage, mashed food, and the chewable one. However, renowned brands follow this label, consisting of four stages, including the finger food phase.
Stage 2 Baby Food – All You Gotta Know
Stage 2 baby food is not as complicated as you think. These include mashed or well-strained food with a thicker consistency. You can make dishes including stuff like fish, meat, legumes, and so on but always make sure all the dishes are fed only after mashing and straining well. At this point, you can even try feeding fruits and veggies in a decent amount. The appetite of your infant starts growing at this stage.
You can feed them mouthfuls of stage 1 food, and they’ll be all happy being on the receiving end of it. You can also consider this stage to experiment with various kinds of baby food. It’s a known fact that babies tend to push their food out from their mouth during the initial stage, but as they start to eat stage 2 baby food, no such tongue reflex is seen.
Stage 2 baby is more important, and this is where it shows what all food materials your infant is allergic to. Also, they tend to get more hungry during this stage because stage 1 food feels like a light snack to them. So, feed them accordingly. Remember to add varieties to their menu.
However, there are specific, sharp ends to keep in mind while feeding them the stage 2 baby food.
Things to keep in mind about Stage 2 Baby food
- Remember that only their appetite becomes bigger and not their throat or the food pipe. So, make sure you don’t feed food articles that choke them—for example, grapes, popcorns, mashuga nuts, cashews, walnuts, macadamia, etc. Also, slice the fruits, buns, and other round food articles, veggies horizontally for easier swallowing.
- This is a must-follow step. Do not feed the honey until they are one year old. Infants younger than a year shouldn’t be given honey as it causes Infant Botulism. Infant botulism is a condition caused by the toxin secreted by the bacteria called Clostridium botulinum, which resides on soil, dust, carpets, and floors. The symptoms include muscle weakness, feeble cry, suffocation, etc.
- Say no to juices. At this point, Breastmilk and formula are nutrient enough to them, and adding juice to their diet adds extra calories, which in turn causes difficulties like tooth decay, diarrhea, being overweight, etc.
- Stay away from raw veggies too. Instead, always feed them mashed veggies after boiling or cooking them well.
Stage 2 Baby Food – 3 Best Recipes
1. Mango and Kale puree
Ingredients
- Kale leaves
- Mangoes
- Ginger zest
Preparation
- Destem the kale leaves and peel the skin off from the mangoes. Mango is the greatest enemy of babies as it doesn’t aid digestion, whereas mango flesh is their taste bud’s best bud. Next, chop the mangoes into large cubes.
- Now, it is time to steam the kale leaves and mangoes. After the steaming process, transfer them into a mixer and freshly zested ginger to it. Now, grind them into a puree until they are mushy enough for them to swallow.
- The puree is now all ready to serve your baby. You can even consider adding peeled and steamed pear chia seeds to it.
2. Rice pudding for breakfast
Ingredients
- Brown rice / Jasmine rice – ½ cup
- Milk – ⅛ cup
- Water – 2 cups
- Cinnamon powder
- Diced apples
- Raisins
- Brown sugar
Preparation
- Combine all the ingredients in a pan. Cook them in medium heat for about 30 minutes until the rice becomes soft and mushy.
- Add milk to the ingredients and keep stirring until the desired thickness consistency is attained. The rice breakfast pudding is now all ready to be served.
3. Beef broth puree
Ingredients
- Chuck stew Beef (grass-fed) – 8 oz / 1 cup
- Broth
- Dried herbs (rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil)
Preparation
- Combine all the ingredients into a saucepan and boil it over medium flame.
- Later, turn the heat down to simmer and let the meat cook for about 20 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture into a food processor and grind it until it becomes a puree. Adjust the salt according to your taste.
The Bottom Line | Stage 2 Baby Food
Nothing can go wrong in a mother’s hand. Do your level best, and I know you’re already doing it. Enjoy every stage of growth of your child with them. Celebrate every little moment. Whether it is stage 2 baby food or 4, cook them with all the love you can give.
I hope you found this article informative. Let us know if you have anything to share about stage 2 baby food and more.
