1.  When should I start feeding my baby solid foods?
When a baby approaches 6 months of age, the enzymes in his/her digestive track are becoming mature enough to break down and digest solid foods. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, six months can be an important time for baby's nutritional needs.  A baby may need additional iron that can be extracted from the nutrients in various solid foods. We also recommend that the decision to start feeding your baby solid foods should be discussed with your pediatrician.

The following are some general tips that can be an indicator that your baby is ready to start tasting the delectable world around him.

-      Your baby is sitting up unassisted
-      Your baby has teeth
-      Your baby is showing an interest in food that others around him/her are eating
-      Your baby can take an object and move it from hand to mouth.

2. What if my baby spits out the food? Does it mean my baby does not like the food?
When it comes to introducing your baby to solid foods, please be patient! Research shows that it may take a baby up to ten times of being introduced to the same food, before they will show an active interest in it.  It is likely that your baby will make a face as if he/she does not like the food you are introducing, but that is because they are not used to the new sensations and textures of solid foods.  We recommend that you give your baby a chance to get used to new tastes slowly.  Let your baby get used to a new taste before introducing too many different flavors.  You can also show your baby how it's done!  You can taste test foods for your baby in order for him/her to see that mommy and daddy like it.  The good news is with Bohemian Baby™ fresh foods you actually WILL enjoy them!

3. What about allergies?
The US government is reving up its consumer education about 8 foods that are the most allergenic to children and adults alike. Leading allergens which must now be labeled or identified on processed food labels include wheat, soy, milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts and peanuts. Infants and toddlers are likely to have negative reactions (not necessarily allergic responses) to citrus fruits, strawberries, and chocolate.

4. How much should I feed my baby in one sitting?
This is very common question parents ask. Don't worry your baby will tell you how he should eat. Your concern should be to provide as much nutrition as possible and to offer a balanced diet of healthy foods.  This is where Bohemian Baby™ can help. Let your baby guide you.  The quantity of food your baby will eat will vary from day to day, sometimes by great amounts. Don't be surprised if one day she acts likes she's starving and the next day she eats like a bird. An extended period where she eats very little is usually followed by a period where she eats a lot.  Simply offer your baby one spoonful at time and go from there.

5. When I start feeding my baby solid foods, does this replace breast milk / formula?
You have heard this a million times from doctors and experts in the field of infant nutrition…breast is best! We at Bohemian Baby™ also support the idea that a baby should continue to have breast milk for as long as possible, and initially, solid foods are only a supplement to the breast milk.  The same applies if your baby is formula feeding at the time you introduce solid foods.  It is very important that the introduction of solid food does not decrease her breast milk or formula intake during the first eight months. 

6. Commercial baby foods are sold in stage 1, 2 & 3.  What does this mean?
These are categories of food that are made according to your baby's developmental stages.  Stage one would be comparable to our single blends.   They are usually foods with a very low allergenic quality, and are blended to a smooth consistency for new babies.  They usually contain one or two ingredients. These foods are usually introduced between 6-8 months. Stage two foods, usually introduced 6-8 months, or when your baby eats easily from a spoon and has tried all the single-ingredient varieties, it may be time to introduce him to new tastes. These foods usually contain several ingredients and are comparable to our Bohemian Baby™ blends.  Stage three foods are usually introduced from 10 months on or when your baby has become very comfortable with eating solid foods. They usually contain many ingredients and foods that were previously not okay for babies, like strawberries etc.  These would be equivalent to our big baby menu items.

7. Does it really matter what the baby food tastes like?
Yes.  In their first years of life, babies and toddlers are forming life long eating habits, that they will carry with them the rest of their lives.  We at Bohemian Baby™ strive to give babies the most nutritious and tasty first bites they can get.  If your baby starts out eating bland, processed food, there is a good chance that they will carry these preferences with them in later life. If they become accustomed to eating a wide variety of different flavors and textures, there is good chance that they will continue to eat this way.  Our job as parents is to gently shape our babies palate with as many new and age appropriate foods and flavors as we can.