Tuesday, March 11, 2014

First Foods for the Breastfed Baby with 16 Minute Club {A Mix It Up Giveaway}


Welcome to the Let's Mix It Up in March Giveaway Hop Event, hosted by The Blogging Mamas Network. We're mixing up March, with a host of other bloggers, by bringing you fun (and in some cases delicious) giveaways in this Food and Cooking themed Giveaway Hop!
And you do not want to miss the Grand Prize - a Ninja Ultima Blender - be sure to enter to win the Grand Prize!

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**Product received for review.
Food, food, food! Food can be pretty fun, right? But for moms whose little ones are making the transition from being exclusively breastfed to starting solids, it can also be a little scary! Or at least it was for me! How do I know if my baby is ready? What foods do I start with? How will introducing solids affect breastfeeding? So many questions...


Last week, I introduced you to a wonderful subscription box service called 16 Minute Club. (You can read my full review on this service here.) 16 Minute Club is a subscription box service offering support and fun products for breastfeeding moms created by a certified lactation consultant and tailored to baby's stage in development. The box I received just happened to be all about Starting Solids! Here's another quick look at what was included in this box:



(Please Note: This is Box No. 6 in a 12 Box series, intended for babies who are six months old. Each box is tailored for baby age and needs, and winner will be able to choose the box that best fits their babies needs. 16 Minute Club does NOT advocate beginning solid foods before 6 months old! And if you're baby is not yet ready at 6 months old, that's okay too- personally, my son wasn't ready until 7.5 months. Six months may be the earliest recommend, but there's no need to rush!)

Today, with the help of Wendy Wright- lactation consultant, mom and founder of 16 Minute Club- I am going to help answer some of those burning questions about making the transition into starting solids!

How much breast milk does baby need now that solid's have been introduced?

Wendy's answer: Breast milk will continue to be the primary source of protein and calories during baby’s entire first year. Even though you are starting solids, your baby should continue to breastfeed on your normal schedule. Over the next 4 - 5 months, baby may drop one or two feedings as solids increase, especially since you will most likely be mixing solids with breast milk so protein and calories will remain consistent. Formula fed babies that use organic baby formula should also continue to drink their usual number of bottles per day, dropping one or two bottles over the next 4 -5 months.

My thoughts: I like to think of foods before the one year mark as snacks-and just for fun! To make sure that solids are not replacing breast milk as her primary source of nutrition, I always make sure to nurse Finley shortly before mealtime. Generally, that means nursing before I start cooking meals for the rest of the family. Then after I've finished eating myself, she'll finish off with another quick nursing session. I did the same with my son, and he continued to nurse frequently well into the first year and even beyond. I can assure you from my experience that the introductions of real foods may change your breastfeeding relationship, but it will not replace it!

How often/when should baby eat?


Wendy shared this recommended schedule for starting solids:

AWAKENING Breast or bottle
MORNING Partial feeding from breast or bottle, solid food, finish with breast or bottle
NOON Breast or bottle
AFTERNOON Partial feeding from breast or bottle, solid food, finish with breast or bottle
EVENING Breast or bottle
BEDTIME Breast or bottle



This is very similar to the schedule we use as well. Finley has only been eating solids for a few short weeks, so we've not yet introduced a morning meal, but will in the next few days once a few more foods have been introduced!

What should I feed baby first?

Best first foods for baby:
• Ripe Avocado
• Ripe Banana
• Cooked Sweet Potatoes

Wendy was also kind enough to share a great recipe perfect for baby's first foods!!


Sweet Potato Puree


  • Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F.  Prick sweet potatoes with a small knife and place on a baking sheet. 
  • Roast until wrinkled and tender when pierced with the tip of a knife; 45 - 60 minutes.  Let cool. 
  • Halve sweet potatoes, scoop out flesh from skins, and puree flesh in a food processor until smooth.  Add breast milk to thin sweet potatoes to a consistency your baby can handle.  As baby gets older and can eat thicker purees, mash some or all of the sweet potato with a fork.  
  • To store, refrigerate cooled puree in an airtight container for up to three days, or fill ice-cube trays or other containers to free for up to three months.  

Personally, we started both kiddos off with avocado, followed by bananas. An important thing to remember when introducing new foods is to space them out and watch for reactions. We introduce a new food a minimum of 3-4 days after the last. The foods mentioned above are generally safe for baby, minimal reactions...but not impossible! As a matter of fact, we discovered that bananas will cause Finley to break out, so they are now a no go for now!

This is just a glimpse look at the wonderful support and advice 16 Minute Club can offer. To learn more, check out the links below:
Visit the Website.
Like on Facebook.
Follow on Twitter.
Follow on Pinterest.

And as part of the Mix It Up Giveaway Event, 16 Minute Club is offering TWO very lucky readers a box of their own. (Winner can choose the box that is right for their baby- from prenatal to one year!) Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Winners will be contacted via e-mail after giveaway ends, and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. One entry per household, winning entry will be verified. Odds of winning depend on valid entries received. A Modern Day Fairy Tale is not responsible for prize delivery. So Easy Being Green, Viva Veltoro, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Mix It Up in March participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.Disclosure: I received the products mentioned above in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

19 Comments:

  1. I would need the teeth and toys or the starting solids box, my baby is 6 months old now!

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  2. Would love to win the Starting Solids box as my baby boy is now at that point.

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  3. I would need a box geared towards my newborn. :)

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  4. I'd looove to get a box for our newbie due May 1st! Probably the Growth Spurt or maybe the Teeth & Toys one for when he's a little bit older!

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  5. Would love to be able to surprise my best friend with this for her 1.5mo old.

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  6. In The Groove for Weeks 12-16 for my 3 month old little girl!

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  7. I would love to gift the self aware box to my friend

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  8. I'd love an "early weeks" box.

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  9. http://www.16minuteclub.com/find_your_box#step2 love the teeth box

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  10. I would need the Early Weeks box. I always struggle with breastfeeding and baby #3 is due in 4 short weeks!

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  11. We would need box 7, the safety box.

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  12. My little one is almost 5 weeks old so any of them would pretty much work, but I would love to get box 6!

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  13. Pre birth for my sister

    sibabe64 at ptd dot net

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  14. My nephew would love "To Catch a Thief"

    sibabe64 at ptd dot net

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  15. My little princess would need Box No. 07 Safety First! This looks great!!

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