Answering Questions about Homemade Baby Food

This is taken from the website http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

What is the Advantage of Organic Produce?
It is obvious, and it really cannot be refuted, that Organics are healthier than most conventionally grown foods. This is due to the lack of, or a significant reduction in, chemicals/pesticides that are in and on foods grown Organically. Buying and preparing Organic foods for infants has great health advantages for those infants. Their tiny bodies are not exposed to the levels of pesticides that are found in conventional foods. Pound for pound, an infant consumes more pesticides due to body size. When serving "nitrate" vegetables, the levels of nitrates in Organics are significantly reduced though not 100 percent eradicated (Nitrates are naturally occurring and farming without using nitrogen fertilizers does not eliminate nitrate concentration).

Will Introducing Fruits first make my baby reject Veggies?
Studies have shown that it is a myth that the “yellow” vegetables will make baby reject the greens likewise, it is a myth that introducing fruits first will make baby less likely to eat veggies. This myth continues as parents are told, and oftentimes believe, that the sweet fruits will be favored over the veggies. One key thing to remember is this, if you are breast feeding your baby, your baby is already receiving the sweetest of nature's foods!
Every baby is different and believe it or not, many babies prefer green to yellow veggies and many prefer veggies over fruits!

What is the best way to cook vegetables and fruits for making puree?
Steaming or boiling in scant amounts of water is the best way to allow the vegetables to become soft while maintaining the nutrients. Use the leftover water to puree for optimal nutrient preservation.

My Friend's Baby Started Solids Early - Why Shouldn't I?
Studies show that babies are highly individual in developing a readiness for solid foods. One baby might seem to be ready for solids at 4 months, while another shows no signs of readiness until around 6 or 7 months. Just because your friend's baby may have began eating solid foods at 4 months of age does not mean that your baby should.

Won't My Baby Sleep Through the Night If We Start Solids?
Around the time a few parents begin to offer solids early is just about the time that an infant may be sleeping for longer periods at a time. This is a natural progression as an infant ages and it oftentimes coincides with the addition of early solids. This coincidence perpetuates the dangerous myth that early offerings of solid foods will help an infant sleep "through the night".

The best advice when considering starting solid foods for your baby, "Watch the Baby - Not the Calendar!" This is true for both breastfed and formula fed infants

Here are a few "signs" that may indicate your baby is ready for Solid Foods:
-Loss of tongue-thrust reflex (this allows baby to drink and swallow liquids with ease; with the tongue-thrust reflex still present, baby may simply "drink" in any solid foods presented)
-Ability to let you know she is full from a "meal" with signs such as turning away from the bottle or breast. This is important so that baby is able to self-regulate the amount of food being eaten. This helps stop baby from accidentally overeating as parents may continue to feed baby thinking that she is still hungry.
-Ability to sit up and hold head up unassisted
-Interest in your food (we tend to disagree with this one as when a baby reaches the age of 4-6 months, he is interested in putting everything in his mouth!)
-Doubling of birth weight