Baby Food Series - Introducing Peach Fruit as First Food

Traditionally, rice is introduced as baby's first food. This could be any of the commercially available packaged baby cereal or home made. Once the baby is comfortable accepting food from a spoon, it is time to introduce other flavors. Fruits and vegetables are the next natural step in this. I introduced vegetables before fruits. This is purely a personal choice. The enzymes in fruits could tax a baby's delicate digestive system. For this reason, it is advisable to cook all fruits thoroughly until the baby is 8-9 months. Overripe bananas need not be cooked.

Here's how to introduce peach:
Ingredients:

• Peach, very ripe - 1
• water - 1/2 cup
• formula or cereal - 1 tablespoon, optional

Method:

1. With a fruit peeler, peel the peach. 
2. Cut the fruit in two and remove the stone/ pit.
3. Chop into 1 inch cubes.
4. Steam in a microwave oven or stove top in just enough water to cover the fruit.
5. When the fruit is fork tender, remove from fire.
6. When cool, use a blender , baby food mill or mini food processor to puree the fruit. You could use the same water to dilute the puree, if needed.
7. Based on the baby's preference, add desired quantity of cereal or formula, to thicken the puree.

This puree can be refrigerated or frozen.

Peach Puree as baby food

A note about home made baby food and disclaimer:
When to start solids and what to feed a baby are very important matters that you need to discuss with your child's pediatrician. Also, if you choose to make first foods at home, first follow what your family's tradition is. This is just an attempt to document  what is commonly followed in my community. I am not a pediatrician :)  . Please use extreme caution in matters of your baby's health.