Homemade baby food is not as difficult to make as it may seem and can be significantly less expensive than buying prepackaged baby food. It is also convenient because you are able to use any produce, grains, or meat that is available to you. It is possible to prepare homemade baby food as simply as a pureed or mashed version of what you feed your family. As long as it is made from whole foods and nothing else, homemade baby food is usually more nutritious and tastier than commercially processed foods. Making your own homemade baby food can be cheaper than buying commercial versions. You can control the quality of the ingredients when you make your own or when you cook them in bulk. It is important to cook fruits for infants who begin eating solids prior to the age of six months. In order to make it easier for an immature baby to digest raw fruits, it is recommended that they be cooked as soon as possible. An older baby will be better able to handle the fibers and sugars in raw fruits than a baby who is only starting to eat solid food for the first time.   What is the best way to make baby food for the first time?     You should first introduce your child to one single-ingredient food at a time, which will help you determine whether he or she has any food allergies. Wait for 3 to 5 days between trying another food to see if your child has any reactions to it. Within a short time, your child will be eating and enjoying a variety of new foods, as long as you follow this advice. You should begin introducing solid foods to your baby at 6 months of age, the same way you would with breastfed babies. Use two to three spoonfuls of soft and mashed food four times a day to provide all the nutrients she needs without breast milk.   What is the best puree to introduce first? Peas are an excellent first baby puree when it comes to green veggies, since they have a pleasant texture and taste, without being bitter. Besides providing many important nutrients for your baby's early development, peas are also high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and protein.   What supplies do you need to make your own baby food? Hand-turned food mills (which usually have different blades for different textures of food) Sieves and strainers Baby food grinder The all-in-one baby food maker (which steams and purifies the food) Baby food storage You can always head out to Ebaby's Marketplace for a list of all baby products such as a baby food maker.   What is the best way to make baby puree?     A mashed or blended fruit or vegetable mixture can be made by cooking the fruits and vegetables in a pan, steamer, or slow cooker, then mixing them up until smooth. If the purée does not have a thick consistency, you can add water, breast milk, or formula to thin it out. If there are lumps in the purée, it is fine as long as you can mash the purée with your fingers. In order to make homemade baby puree, you need to cook the food, let it cool down a bit for a few seconds, then place it into a blender or food processor and puree as you wish. You can also use a stick mixer or a handheld immersion blender. Vegetables should always be cooked before serving to your baby. Steaming, roasting, or baking are the best methods. Once cooked, softer vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and squash, can only be mashed with a fork or potato masher. If you are still breastfeeding your baby, you should begin feeding him solids once a day. You should only feed him small amounts of solid food at first. Try one teaspoon of pureed vegetables, fruits, or rice cereal in between milk feeds. From 6 to 9 months, continue to feed your baby breastmilk or formula as a first step, and then transition to solids when the baby is ready. When a child first begins eating solid foods, he or she will drink less. Slowly increase the amount of solid foods you offer and decrease the amount of breast milk or formula your child drinks. Keep in mind that your child should be fed all foods by spoons and not by bottles.   Check out these interesting articles about babies: What To Expect From Your 6-Month-Old-Baby How Much Milk Formula Does Your Baby Needs