After a brief visit with our Pediatrician, we finally decided to feed our little girl for the first time tonight. It wasn’t until after we were done that I decided I probably should have video taped it. Or at least photographed it. Tomorrow will be a “do over.”
I absolutely adore that time in a baby’s life when they’re just learning to eat. Every meal is setting the precedent for lifelong eating habits.
Last week I attended a media event in L.A. to learn about Gerber’s stage-based Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Nutrition System. I am the mom that failed miserably at making her son’s baby food. I am the mom that works all day, every day raising her children, taking care of the household, maintaining a website, and keeping up with her part-time job as a nurse. I would love to have the time and skills necessary to make my daughter’s baby food. But since I already have a love-mostly hate relationship with the kitchen, I know for a fact that my daughter will grow up on organic baby food prepared by someone else (just as my happy, healthy toddler did).
You probably know that proper nutrition is important from infancy. I would take that statement a step back to say that nutrition begins before a baby is born. Proper nutrition before and during pregnancy is vital to the developing fetus.
The Start Healthy, Stay Healthy nutrition system begins during pregnancy and includes birth, the supported sitter (that’s my daughter!), the sitter, the crawler, the toddler, and the preschooler. Each Gerber food includes an icon, which makes it easy for parents to identify the food that corresponds to their child’s developmental stage.
Gerber’s stage-based nutrition system bases feeding on developmental stage as opposed to age. This is a new concept to me. At the four month mark, I started my son on solids, just like the books said. In retrospect, I didn’t pay as much attention to his developmental readiness. I was “told” (via books) that he needed to start solids, so I did as the books said. This time around, I waited. I waited until my daughter could sit up supported (which she can). I waited until she had some exposure to a spoon. I waited until she watched us eat over and over again to observe her cues. And I didn’t have a magic number in my head as to when she was supposed to eat. In fact, month 4 came and went and I never even thought to feed her. It wasn’t until just recently that I felt she was really ready.
Gerber’s science-based products were developed with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in mind. For example, their cereals include DHA and probiotics to support brain and eye development, and the developing immune system.
I’m partial to their organic line of cereals, fruit/vegetable purees, and meals. I believe that children should consume as many organic foods as possible to limit their exposure to chemicals, pesticides, etc. I appreciate that Gerber offers that option for parents who are concerned with these issues.
Gerber provides a wide variety of resources for parents. I sign up for their mailings which include booklets targeted towards your child’s age. The booklets include information on feeding readiness, development, nutrition and more. You can also sign up for their online Menu Planner, which will generate menus based on the food groups and nutrients recommended to foster your child’s growth and development. The tool creates individualized menus and includes information about how much a child should get of different foods, and how much he/she should get in the form of nutrients (i.e. fat, calories). For more information, just visit their website.
I’ll leave you with one last thought. I have friends who regularly tell me how surprised they are that my son eats things like salmon and broccoli. I introduced those foods early on and once we were done with most baby food, he ate what my husband and I ate (and still does). How’s that for a healthy start?
Here are some adult recipes, inspired by Gerber’s products.
No compensation was received for this post. I attended a media event, courtesy of the company and received product samples and information.
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