What is the best baby food to make?
Christopher Pierce
Updated on March 03, 2026
Prepare the ingredients Fruits and vegetables: Bake, steam or boil vegetables and hard fruits like apples before puréeing or grinding them. Mild yellow or orange veggies such as sweet potatoes and carrots; green veggies like peas and string beans; and fruits like bananas, peaches and pears all work well.
What baby foods can I make?
4 to 6 months old
- Pea purée. Share on Pinterest.
- Banana purée. Often called a “perfect” food, bananas are rich in potassium and fiber.
- Baby brown rice cereal. Rice cereal is one of the most common foods to introduce because it’s less allergenic and easily digested.
- Avocado purée.
- Baked sweet potato purée.
- First carrots purée.
Is it healthier to make your own baby food?
Homemade baby food is generally more nutritious and tastier than commercially processed food if it is fresh and made from whole foods and nothing else. When cooked in bulk, it is cheaper than commercial options. And you can control the quality of ingredients when you make your own.
How long do babies eat purees?
To help your baby avoid these and many other issues around feeding, it is recommended that purees are phased out and soft, solid foods are introduced as soon as your baby can move foods easily from the front of their mouth to the back to swallow. This usually happens for most infants by 6-8 months of age.
Is jarred baby food really that bad?
Rest assured, both jarred and homemade baby food can be perfectly healthy options to give your little one. These days, many jarred baby foods are made with natural and organic products, and often contain minimal ingredients.
When should I stop giving my baby purees?
Once your baby has reached about 10 months of age, he or she will likely be ready to move past baby purees and into the exciting world of self-feeding.
What foods should I introduce first to my Baby?
Some babies need to be introduced to a new food four or five (or more!) times before they’ll accept it, so perseverance is key. Fruit. Delicious, digestible first fruits include finely mashed bananas or baby applesauce, peaches, or pears (stick with jarred fruits especially processed for babies).
What is the best baby food to start with?
For years, baby rice cereal was considered the best food to start with, but now the American Academy of Pediatrics just recommends any easily digestible foods. If you start with cereal, pick a single-grain variety (rice, barley, or oat — hold off on wheat, a common allergen for many babies, for now).
What are good baby foods to make?
Pumpkin makes a great baby food. Dark orange vegetables like carrots and pumpkins are loaded with Vitamin A & many other important nutrients. Canned pumpkin makes baby food making super-convenient, and will warm your baby up for future treats like pumpkin bread.
What foods do babies like best?
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, the plant form of vitamin A, and make excellent weaning food, as babies like their naturally sweet taste. Darker, older carrots contain more beta-carotene than baby, new carrots.