What to Feed your Vegetarian Baby

It goes without saying that the earliest food for any baby, including a vegan baby, is breast milk. It benefits your baby's immune system, offers protection against infection, and reduces the risk of allergies. Be especially careful that you are getting enough vitamin B-12 when your breastfeeding. Also, make sure as its imperative that your infant receives at least 30 minutes of sunlight exposure per week to stimulate the body to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D, since human milk contains very low levels. The iron content that is within breast milk is also generally low, no matter how good the mother's diet is. The iron which is in breast milk is readily absorbed by the infant, however. The iron that is within breast milk is adequate for the first 4 to 6 months or longer. After the age of six months has come to pass, it is recommended iron supplements are introduced. Soy milk, rice milk, and homemade formulas should not be used to replace breast milk or commercial infant formula during the first year. These foods do not contain the proper ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrate, nor do they have an adequate amount of many vitamins and minerals to be used as a significant part of the diet in the first year. Many people out there tend to use iron-fortified infant rice cereal as the first food. Cereal can be mixed with expressed breast milk or soy formula so the consistency is fairly thin. Formula or breast milk feedings should continue as usual. Start with one cereal feeding daily and work up to 2 meals daily or 1/3 to 1/2 cup. Oats, barley, corn, and other grains can be ground in a blender and then cooked until very soft and smooth. These cereals can be introduced one at a time. However, they do not contain much iron, so iron supplements should be continued. When a baby becomes used to cereals, fruit, fruit juice, and vegetables and other such things can be introduced. The fruits and vegetables you introduce should be well mashed or pureed. Mashed banana or avocado, applesauce, and pureed canned peaches or pears are all very good choices. Mild vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, and green beans should be cooked well and mashed. Grain foods such as soft, cooked pasta or rice, soft breads, dry cereals, and crackers can be added when baby becomes better at chewing.

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