vitamins > bringing-up-a-baby

lumps or is mashed e.g. mashed potato. Bake potatoes whole to preserve vitamins and mash with a small amount of water or breast milk. Try mashing them with cooked beetroot to make them pink, something that delights babies of this age. Baby will be ready for fresh fruits e.g. pears, peaches, plums and melons. Try finger foods such as toast or rusks.

Never leave baby alone whilst eating or drinking. This is especially important when children are just learning to feed themselves. They could easily choke whilst your back is turned. Avoid chunks or sticks of vegetables to children under 3 because of the danger of choking.

Baby may also be taking a drink from a cup. Suitable drinks (in addition to bottle or breast) include cooled boiled water or diluted fruit juice e.g. apple, watermelon, pear, peach and prune. Children's teeth are at most risk from tooth decay. Babies should never be left with sugar drinks or juices in feeding bottles or reservoir feeders.

Typical feed for one day at 8-10 months

On waking - breast or bottle or unsweetened fruit juice or cooked boiled water
Breakfast - stewed or fresh fruit, baby rice or breakfast cereal, toast fingers with margarine/yeast extract, breast or bottle
Lunch - cooked vegetable puree with protein

10-12 months

At 10-12 months the texture of foods can be chopped, finely grated or blended. Baby is likely to be holding a feeding spoon and trying to feed on their own. They should be receiving a variety of vegetables and after a tolerance to various foods is established, they can be offered blended salads. Try blending avocado, tofu, apple-sauce and cooked greens with nut butters. The introduction of peanuts and nuts to the diet of infants from allergic families should be delayed until three years of age or at an age advised by their medical practitioner. For infants from families with no known allergy there is no need to specifically delay the introduction of peanuts.

During this time period well-cooked whole grains e.g. strained rice, barley and oatmeal as well as high protein cereals e.g. soya beans and wheat germ, may be introduced. The infant should be eating a wide variety of vegetables now including spinach and cabbage, along with root vegetables and fruits.

12+ months

From 12 months of age infants can share the same meals as the rest of the family with additional snacks in-between. Add legumes (peas and beans) to the menu, but be sure all beans are cooked until quite soft and the skins (especially soya) are removed. A thin split-pea soup is a good introduction to legume protein. Check stools to see whether the beans are being digested well. If the stool smells sour, if the baby's bottom becomes reddened or irritated, or if parts of beans are seen, wait a while before trying legumes again. Some infants do not tolerate whole legumes until age two or three, however, other soy products (such as soya milk and tofu) and grains will meet the child's nutritional needs. Hummus, made with chickpeas and tahini (sesame seed butter), is a tasty protein and calcium-rich food that can be used to augment an infant's nutrient intake. Another winner is avocado, rich in riboflavin, essential fatty acids, potassium and copper. Small pieces of ripe avocado can be eaten as finger food, or blended with water or fruit juice.

It is now a good time to introduce bread to the diet. Start with toast, as it is easier for the infant to chew. Don't forget how much children, even young ones, love noodles. Pastas, enriched with artichoke or other vegetable flours and served with gravies and sauces, provide energy and protein.

Also try to get the infant at this age to enjoy raw vegetables such as carrots and cucumbers. Grate vegetables finely or try putting a dab of peanut butter, tahini or almond butter on vegetables to entice the infant to eat. Plain tofu and rice cakes are other healthful snacks.

Typical feed for one day at 12+ months

Breakfast - cereal or Tahini on toast, breast or bottle-feed
Lunch - mixed vegetable dish with a pulse base and a variety of vegetables, rice pudding or fruit, water or diluted fruit juice
Tea - baked apple and rice, soya yoghurt
Evening - breast or bottle feed

Throughout these early months of the infant's life criticism may be endured from friends, family or the medical establishment that the diet is "reckless" or "experimental" but be assured that it is a good healthy start to life. Many health professionals now recognise that a vegan diet can be both nutritionally adequate and health promoting for both adults and children.
Whilst infants can be offered foods at an earlier age than 6 months, it is not recommended. This is because the baby's developing system may be unable to cope with solids before this time. However, some parents choose to introduce solids earlier than 6 months in which case it has to be stressed that solids should not be introduced into the diet before 17 weeks. There is the danger that introducing solids too early to an immature system can lead to allergies and food intolerances.

(published with permission in writing from:http://www.vegansociety.com)