At the age of 8 months, babies begin to be able to take and put food in his mouth. At this age, yourecommended start menyprepare food small or finger food for baby snacks in between meals.
Generally, an 8-month-old baby can eat solid food up to three times a day. If possible, introduce the same type of food for 2-3 days, before switching to another type of food. However, before talking further about the food, it's a good idea to first identify the development of his abilities.
8 Months Baby Ability Development
There are several abilities that an 8-month-old baby begins to show, including starting to move his jaw to chew food or using his tongue to push and swallow food. Babies can also move objects from one hand to another, and put objects they are holding in their mouths.
In addition to some of the things above, another characteristic is that the baby is starting to be able to sit up straight and can swallow well. Weight gain is also significant, generally twice the weight at birth. In addition, babies seem eager to eat and tend to be interested in other people's food.
How to Process 8 Months Baby Food
At 8 months of age, babies can be introduced to soft, mashed foods. You can also start making various finger food, namely soft foods that are small in size or food that can be finished in one bite. These foods are generally easy for babies to pick up and eat on their own without your help.
Here are some examples of how to process 8 month baby food:
- Pureed vegetables and fruit, approximately to 1 cup for one meal.
- Vegetables and fruit cut into small pieces such as: potatoes, apples, mangoes, and bananas.
- Protein in the form of boneless fish, beans, cut meat, poultry, approximately 3-4 tablespoons for one meal.
- Iron-fortified cereal, about to cup per serving.
- Chopped cheese, or beans, lentils and cooked macaroni.
In addition to giving your baby the opportunity to feel the texture and taste of food, you should also record a list of foods that are given to make it easier for you to detect and anticipate the types of foods that may cause allergic reactions in the future.
This allergic reaction that may arise is usually characterized by symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash. Soy, eggs, wheat, fish, milk, and nuts are examples of foods that most often trigger allergies. Honey should not be given first to avoid the risk of botulism.
Things that must be considered
Preparing food for an 8 month old baby is certainly different from cooking for adults. Make sure you always wash your hands before handling baby food. Apart from that, there are several other things you should pay attention to, including:
- Always use fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet. Use immediately within 1-2 days of purchase. Don't forget to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before processing.
- Try to steam the food before mashing or cutting. Steaming is better than boiling food. Use as little water as possible when steaming.
- Add breast milk or formula to soft foods to make porridge. Don't forget to remove the fat and skin before processing.
- Avoid adding excessive flavoring to food for your little one. However, you can add a little seasoning so that the baby's food doesn't taste bland, as well as adding to the little one's hasanah taste.
- Accompany your little one when putting his own food in his mouth to prevent the risk of choking.
- Do not forget to release the hot steam on the food first before serving it to the baby.
Processing 8 month old baby food at home is relatively healthier, more efficient and economical than providing instant products. However, if you are giving ready-to-eat 8-month baby food, it's best to finish it within 1-2 days, then discard any leftovers to reduce the risk of exposure to bacteria.
Even if an 8-month-old baby has been eating solid foods, it is best to continue giving breast milk or formula as usual. 8-month baby food cannot replace the vitamins, protein, and iron contained in breast milk.