Stage 1 and Stage 2 foods
Introducing solids is a process and it takes time. Because your baby may develop allergic reactions, have gas and similar problems as their intestines have not matured yet. So you should decide how to feed your baby by taking into account the stage 1 and stage 2 food categories. For example banana is a stage 1 fruit and is a safe solid for babies that are 6 months old. Legume and egg yolk are stage 2; the first one may cause gas and the latter is allergenic. Therefore you should wait until your baby is 9 months old to feed him with them.
Stage 1 Foods
Stage 1 foods is a term used for baby foods with a single ingredient, which are turned into puree form to safely feed your child with. You may introduce them to your little starting from the 6th month.
Stage 1 foods have soft texture, are slippery, can easily be mashed, are easy to digest foods and have low allergy risk. Your baby's first experience with solid foods should be fruits or vegetables mashed with whole grains. It is important that you introduce a single food and wait for 3 days to see the reactions. That means, on the following 3 days you shouldn’t introduce a new type of food. This time is needed to determine whether your little gourmet is allergic to the food you’ve introduced for the first time.
Stage 1 fruits: Apple, Avocado, Apricot, Banana, Mango, Nectarine, Peach, Pear, Purple Plum
Stage 1 vegetables: Winter squash, carrot, zucchini, potato, sun root, purslane, spinach
Stage 1 whole grains: Semolina, Barley, Oat, Rice
Stage 1 meats: By the end of 7th month you may introduce meat. Especially red meat rich in iron (beef, mutton or lamb) is a good start for babies that are breastfed. You may add meat to your little gourmet’s vegetable soups by smashing it in a mixer. Lamb meat is recommended as a healthier alternative as it is hormone-free.
Stage 2 Foods
Stage 2 foods are thicker with a richer texture, have more fiber, and are slightly acidic and rich in protein. Lentil, blueberry and egg yolk are some examples. Like meats and spices, you can introduce them to your baby by 7-8 months. Instead of single ingredient purees, you may mix meats with vegetables or mix and mash multiple vegetables and fruits and turn them into puree form for a rich and yummy meal. Your baby is now developing his chewing skills and has lost his reflex of pushing the food with his tongue. Stage 2 foods target babies from 7-8 months old to age 1 and they have low allergy risk. Along with them, you may add some milk products and whole grains in your little gourmet’s diet and watch him joyfully embracing the new tastes coming into his life one after another.
Stage 2 Fruits ; Avocado, mango, banana, date, plum
Stage 2 Vegetables; Sweet peas, celery, green beans, artichoke, and cauliflower
Stage 2 Meats; Chicken, turkey, fish.. For your precious little baby, you should prefer organic chicken or chicken without antibiotics and GDO, provided by a reliable source. And if you’re getting fish, make sure it’s a fresh and seasonal one.
Stage 2 whole grains and legume; processed flour, whole wheat flour, corn flour, cracked wheat, chickpeas, lentil, kinoa