When can my baby eat cheese?
Q My baby is seven months old now. When can she eat cheese and are there any to avoid?
A You can give a baby cheese from six months and you can also use cows' milk in cooking.
Cheese is good for babies as it provides a concentrated source of calories, protein and calcium. Combining vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower with a cheese sauce is good as young babies need more fat in their diet than adults to fuel their rapid growth in the early years. Hard cheeses like Cheddar and Gruyère are good but avoid unpasteurised cheeses or any blue cheese. Sticks of cheese also make good finger food.
Creamy vegetable pureé
Suitable for freezing
From 6 months
Makes 5 portions
When it comes to nutritional ‘superstars', broccoli is king of the vegetables. It's an excellent source of vitamin C, betacarotene and other immune-boosting substances. Some babies may not like the taste of broccoli so it's a good idea to combine it with sweeter-tasting vegetables like carrots and peas.
250g/9oz carrots, peeled
and sliced
450ml/3⁄4pt unsalted vegetable stock (available in cartons from Sainsbury's)
60g/2oz broccoli, cut into florets
50g/13⁄4oz frozen peas
2tbsp cream cheese (optional)
Put the carrots into a saucepan and pour over the stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and cook for 12 minutes. Add the broccoli and cook for 5 minutes. Finally add the peas and cook for a further 4 minutes.
Purée the vegetables in a blender with as much of the cooking liquid as necessary to make the desired consistency.
For a more creamy dish, stir in the cream cheese.
I'd like him to eat meat
Q My son is seven months and I'd like to introduce him to red meat. Is there a recipe for this age which includes beef?
A Babies are born with a store of iron that lasts for about the first six months. When this reserve is depleted it's vital to include iron in your baby's diet - 25 per cent of children in the UK are iron deficient - and the most easily-absorbed source is red meat.
Braised beef with sweet potato
Suitable for freezing
From 6 months
Makes 6 portions
This recipe is a good way to introduce red meat. The slow cooking helps to tenderise the meat. Sweet potato and orange juice give a flavour that appeals to babies.
1 leek, washed and sliced (white part only)
20g/3⁄4oz butter
100g/31⁄2oz braising steak
2tbsp flour
275g/10oz sweet potato, peeled and chopped
300ml/1⁄2pt unsalted
chicken stock
Juice of one orange (about 120ml/41⁄2fl oz)
In an ovenproof casserole, soften the leek in butter. Roll the meat in flour, add to the leek and brown. Add the sweet potato, stock and juice. Bring to the boil, cover and transfer to a preheated oven (180°C/350°F/Gas 4) for 11⁄4 hours or until the meat is tender. Blend to desired consistency.
How can I freeze food safely?
Q I want to freeze home-made purées, but should I sterilise the containers? How long can I keep them frozen and if I use frozen veg like peas in a purée, can I still freeze extra portions?
A There is no need to sterilise the containers. Wash them thoroughly and dry with a clean cloth. Ice-cube trays are ideal for freezing in the early stages of weaning and you can defrost as many cubes as you need. Once frozen, transfer them from the trays to freezer bags and label with the name of the recipe and the date. For older babies buy plastic pots designed for freezing and reheating baby food.
Provided your freezer is cold enough (it should be set at -18°C/0.4°F) purées last at least four months. But they will lose quality so it's best to use them within three months.
Recommended freezing times are: fruit and veg purées and cooked meat-three months; cooked fish, pulses and grains -two months.
Don't refreeze meals that have been frozen already. But commercially frozen foods like peas can be re-frozen once cooked.
My daughter is allergic to cows' milk
Q My daughter is a year old and she's allergic to cows' milk. How can I make sure she gets enough calcium in her diet?
A Calcium is very important for the development of healthy bones and teeth in children. Milk-free soya milk can be substituted for cows' milk, and vegetable or soya margarine may be substituted for butter. You can give vegan cheeses made from soya protein available in health food shops or goats' or sheep's cheese. There are also many soya-based (non-dairy) yoghurts and desserts available. For instance, carob can be substituted for milk chocolate. Other calcium-rich foods to give are leafy green vegetables, white bread, sardines, dried figs and tofu.
Check labels carefully - many foods contain milk proteins and the following should be avoided: whey, curd, casein, ghee, buttermilk, lactalbumin and lactose.
The good news, however, is that most children grow out of a cows' milk allergy by between three and five years of age.
Do I still need to sterilise her bottles?
Q I've been breastfeeding my daughter for six months and I have now decided to switch to bottlefeeding. Is it still necessary to sterilise bottles?
A Tummy upsets can make small babies very ill. Since milk creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that can cause serious tummy problems, it is important to sterilise bottles and teats for the first year. There are various ways to sterilise - from chemicals to steaming and microwaving - just choose the method that suits you.
He won't eat vegetables
Q My son is one and won't eat any vegetables apart from chips and raw carrots. If a dish has vegetables in he'll pick them out or just refuse to eat it. How can I encourage him to eat more veg?
A Young children do have some strange eating habits but in most cases they grow out of them. It's interesting that your son likes raw carrots as I often find that children who won't eat cooked vegetables will eat them raw, so you could try giving finger foods of strips of red pepper, baby sweetcorn etc.
Try my Hidden Vegetable Tomato Sauce. It looks like an ordinary tomato sauce but includes five vegetables blended in. Pasta and tomato sauce tends to be popular with children and this one will help towards his five portions of fruit and veg a day.
Hidden vegetable tomato sauce
Suitable for freezing
From 1 year
Makes 4 portions
2tbsp olive oil
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
75g (3oz) carrots, peeled and chopped
75g (3oz) courgettes, chopped
75g (3oz) mushrooms, sliced
400g (14oz) tin chopped tomatoes
175ml/6fl oz chicken or vegetable stock
1⁄2tsp brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
2⁄3tbsp mascarpone (optional)
200g/7oz pasta of your choice (cook according to instructions)
Heat the oil in a pan, sauté the onion and garlic for 3 minutes. Add the carrots, courgettes and mushrooms, soften for 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes, stock and sugar, season and simmer for 10 minutes, then blend into a purée. If you wish, stir in the mascarpone. Toss the pasta with the sauce.
