Introducing the five food groups into the diet of an 8-month-old baby
After the initial BLW , it will be time to offer your baby more and more recipes adapted to their development. To provide your baby with all the nutrients they need to grow properly, it's important to introduce the five food groups into an 8-month-old's diet at every meal. Starches, proteins, dairy products, fats, as well as fruits and vegetables, will therefore be part of an 8-month-old's diet . By creating attractive plates from the very beginning of baby-led weaning, you will instill good eating habits in your baby.
Fruits and vegetables in the diet of an 8-month-old baby
Fruits and vegetables are the first foods to be offered to babies during baby-led weaning. For an 8-month-old , it's crucial to choose seasonal fruits and vegetables. These foods are much tastier when eaten in season. It would be a shame to introduce your little one to the bland taste of a tomato in winter. Furthermore BLW choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables for an 8-month-old ensures they get the right nutrients at the right time.
Proteins in the diet of an 8-month-old baby
Generally speaking, it's not recommended to give babies too much protein during baby-led weaning. This is because a baby's kidneys are still immature and cannot digest it properly. For an 8-month-old, it's recommended to offer ten grams per day, which is about a teaspoon or a quarter of an egg. To add variety to an 8-month-old's diet , you can change the protein source daily by preparing BLW using white or red meat, white or oily fish, eggs, and legumes.
Dairy products in the diet of an 8-month-old baby
From birth, babies consume dairy products daily: breast milk and formula. This will remain the foundation of their diet until they are 12 months old, even if you begin baby-led weaning. Many dairy products can be introduced to an 8-month-old's diet . You can awaken your baby's taste buds to the different flavors offered by pasteurized cheeses or hard cheeses such as mozzarella, feta, Comté, ricotta, and fromage frais. But that's not all! Plain yogurt can also be part of an 8-month-old's diet . And to add variety, you can even add a spoonful of homemade, unsweetened fruit compote.
