A mom could drown in the information available on weaning and organic options, this provides the basics on what you need to know in order to understand it all, without going crazy.
There are millions of resources for moms on baby weaning and organic baby weaning, including some great recipes and tips from momstown. With all of the do's and don'ts available, it is hard to know what is right and wrong for you and your baby.
If you are looking for the official word, or have questions, the Canadian Pediatric Society has great information on the different types of weaning and recommendations. Truthfully, when we started weaning our little guy, I didn't read too much about weaning other than the basics, because I didn't want to stress too much about every inch of his life. We did however do what we could to be sure that what food options he did have were as healthy and organic as possible.
For us doing what was healthiest for him meant looking for organic options where we could, and that included both homemade and store bought alternatives. With some research we found that the difference between organic and other foods can be minimal in some cases, and could mean equal amounts of sugar and salt for some processed foods.
Because of the higher costs associated with organic options, you may want to just consider starting with avoiding the "dirty dozen" as they carry the highest level of pesticides.
The dirty dozen includes:
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Celery
- Apples
- Nectarines
- Bell peppers
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Kale
- Spinach
- Grapes
- Potatoes
Beyond fruits and vegetables, the key is findings something marked as "certified organic", which requires that the farmer follows strict protocols to avoid antibiotics, growth enhancers, hormones, colouring or artificial additives and a long list of other not so great things. Looking for "certified organic" can be your key to avoiding GMO (genetically modified) food, which really seems to be the one thing we are all trying to avoid if we can for our little ones.
We personally tried as much as possible to use organic fruits and vegetables when we made our little guy's food, but realistically, it is not always possible for a busy family to make everything perfectly organic. We are all human and do our best, but sometimes it is okay to look for store bought alternatives, without compromising healthy, including some great options available at your local stores like Walmart.
Don't feel guilty about buying something from the store; just know what to look for so that you still have health and safety in mind. The key is just doing what works for you and your family without stressing too much about every single thing that you are introducing to your little one. Doing your best, and knowing what is realistic will make the experience fun for everyone, while still staying healthy.
