The Benefits Of Feeding Babies With Fruit Puree

Breast milk is your baby’s main source of food and should not be replaced with anything. Still, you can feed babies with fruit puree in addition to breast milk. This provides various nutrients that contribute to your baby’s development.

Some of the benefits of fruit puree for babies

Fruit comes in second place in the food pyramid along with vegetables. This is because they are essential for good health. One of the best reasons to give fruit purees to babies is that they contain up to 95% water.

What is even better is that  they have vegetable fiber that helps regulate the baby’s bowel movements. A breastfed baby’s bowel habits vary widely. They can even change as they grow and become children. Although all fruits offer similar nutritional value, some may make a baby’s stool firmer or looser.

Fruits also contain vitamins, minerals and simple carbohydrates without any fat. Your baby will have more energy if you include fruit in their diet. It will also get them used to eating healthy foods instead of foods that are full of fat and artificial sugar.

What is even better is that  fruit purees add antioxidants and macronutrients that prevent diseases,  such as obesity, constipation, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

To include fruit puree in your baby’s diet

First, feed your baby puree in small amounts. This will help make them familiar with the taste of the purees and accept it and eat it with milk. It is important to remember that even if you feed your baby with fruit puree, it should not replace breast milk.

In fact, fruit purees should be a nutritional supplement for breast milk, which you, once your baby eats and tolerates purees well,  should slowly increase the amount of.

Fruit that babies can eat according to their age

Although your baby may start fruit puree when they are six months old, some are more recommended than others because of the risk of allergies. This is why  you should introduce them to your child gradually.

By doing this you will be able to assess your baby’s tolerance to each of them. You should wait at least three days before introducing a new fruit puree. Below is the fruit that you can give to your child according to their age.

When they are six months old

Melon, grapes (without peel or seeds), plum, banana, pear, apple, kiwi, watermelon, pineapple and mango.

After they are 6 months

Some doctors recommend introducing citrus fruits such as oranges and tangerines after six months of age. However, others suggest waiting until they are 12 months old due to possible allergic reactions.

When they are 12 months

The most recommended fruits for one-year-olds are peach, apricot, loquat, among others.

After they are 12 months

Some pediatricians recommend including berries after one year of age. There are still others who do not recommend it until after they are 15 months old due to the risk of allergic reactions.

After 24 months

Dried fruit is recommended for children over two years.

Preparation of fruit puree

• Be sure to choose a fruit that is as ripe as possible. Avoid buying them immature.
• Wash them thoroughly.
• Peel a squash, grate it and cut it into small pieces. Remove the seeds, kernels and stones.
• Prepare the fruit by boiling it or steaming it.
• Once cooked, run it in a blender until all lumps are gone.
• Serve on a plate and let it cool before giving it to your baby.
• Avoid adding sugar; the mixture should have enough sugar from the ripe fruit. It is not good for the baby’s health to let them get used to sweet foods, as it can mean future obesity.
• You can combine specific fruits so your baby can try out different flavors.

Fruit puree for babies

Recipe 1: Mango and apple puree

Ingredients

• A cup of chopped mango
• A cup of chopped and peeled apple

Cooking

• Wash the fruit and cut it into small pieces.
• Add half a cup of water to a steamer.
• Steam the apples and mango for two minutes until soft.
• Pour the mixture into a blender and blend it until it is a smooth mass.
• Pour the mixture onto a plate and let it cool before serving it to your baby.

Recipe 2: Banana, pear and apple puree

Ingredients

• 1/4 of an apple
• Bulb, as desired
• 1/4 of a banana
• 1/2 glass of water

Preparation

• Peel a squash, grate it and cut it into small pieces.
• In a frying pan or saucepan, add water and cook the pear and apple for 15 minutes. Then remove the pan from the heat.
• In a container, add the boiled apple and pear together with the banana.
• Add half a glass of water and mash the fruit until there are no more lumps left.

If your pediatrician gives you the green light,  add half a cup of cereal to add more carbohydrates to your child’s diet. Try these fruit purees with your baby and you will see an improvement to their nutrition.