Are you tired of paying a premium for store-bought purees or baby cereals that are made to sit on a shelf? While those jarred purees and cereals can be an appropriate and nutritionally sound choice, you can also make a lot of them yourself without too much special equipment, resulting in a fresh, appetizing meal for your baby. These recipes can save you a lot of money over the costly options at the store, but they do take time.

When making your own baby food for younger babies around 6 months, it’s important to ensure everything has a thin, smooth consistency that your little one can easily swallow. Most recipes call for breastmilk or formula to help with thinning purees, which can also add to the calorie count and nutritional profile. The AAP also recommends that you expose babies to a wide variety of flavors and textures as they grow.

Here are a variety of baby food recipes that offer different ingredients to try with your budding foodie:

1. Pea Puree

Peas are hit in the vegetable world thanks to their bright, sweet flavor. For a first green vegetable, it’s hard to beat these little guys!

2. Baby Oatmeal and Banana Puree

Baby oatmeal alone may not be appetizing for your baby, but adding a little banana puree and a dash of cinnamon can take it up a notch, making it a sweet, healthy treat.

3. Carrot Puree

Carrots are another naturally sweet vegetable packing plenty of nutrition and fiber. This orange veggie is palatable to even the pickiest babies.

4. Beef Puree

A lot of parents avoid giving meat to their babies, although they can eat it as soon as 6 months. Beef is rich in iron and very nutritious, but has to be carefully pureed to a thin, smooth consistency.

5. Avocado Puree

You like avocado, I like avocado, baby likes avocado. It’s a hit all around, offering healthy fats and a creamy texture your baby will love.

6. Butternut Squash Puree

Butternut squash has a mellow, sweet flavor and bright appealing orange color. It’s full of nutrition and fiber for your growing baby.

7. Corn Puree

The sweetness and freshness of corn is a hit with babies and toddlers, and you can experiment with different colors of puree by buying different colors and types of corn.

8. Apple and Pear Puree

Apple and pear go together beautifully, making a fruity puree that’s even better than the sum of its parts.

9. Plum Puree

It’s sweet, tangy, and nutritious—and it will help babies with constipation too. That’s the beauty of this purple fruit!

10. Baby Rice Cereal

While there’s nothing wrong with the rice cereal sold in stores, many have additives that might change the flavor a bit. You can make your own at home, too.

Coastal Kids pediatricians love helping parents with feeding questions. From breastfeeding, to formula feeding, to introduction of solids and weaning, we’re here to guide you with safe, evidence-based information. Request an appointment to get your practitioner’s feedback and guidance on how you’re introducing solids. They may even have some recipes of their own to share!