Premium Nahrungsergänzungsmittel | artgerecht

Baby Food Preparation – Tips & Hygiene

Proper baby food preparation is essential for the health and development of infants. Hygiene, suitable ingredients, and correct temperatures are key factors to consider.

Regular tips about health Regular tips about health

Things worth knowing about "Baby Food Preparation"

Proper baby food preparation is essential for the health and development of infants. Hygiene, suitable ingredients, and correct temperatures are key factors to consider.

What is Baby Food Preparation?

Baby food preparation refers to all the steps and measures necessary to safely produce nutritious, age-appropriate food for infants and toddlers. This includes selecting suitable ingredients, maintaining strict hygiene standards, and using gentle cooking methods to preserve essential nutrients.

Basic Principles of Preparation

Preparing baby food requires special care, as the immune systems of infants and toddlers are not yet fully developed. The following basic rules should always be observed:

Hand washing: Always wash hands thoroughly with soap before preparing food.
Clean equipment: All kitchen utensils, bottles, and teats must be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized regularly.
Fresh ingredients: Use only fresh, high-quality foods that are suitable for infants.
No salt or sugar: During the first year of life, avoid adding salt, sugar, and artificial flavourings.
Proper storage: Freshly prepared baby food should be fed immediately or stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 24 hours.

Preparation of Infant Formula

Infant formula is the most important alternative or supplement to breast milk. The following points are essential when preparing formula:

Follow the mixing ratio on the packaging exactly.
Boil the water first and allow it to cool to approximately 40 – 50 °C before stirring in the powder. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends using water at a minimum of 70 °C to dissolve powdered formula in order to eliminate harmful bacteria.
Feed freshly prepared formula immediately and do not store it once the baby has begun drinking.
Never use a microwave to warm formula, as hot spots can form and burn the baby.

Preparation of Purees and Solid Foods

From around the 6th month of life (sometimes earlier, following medical advice), complementary feeding (weaning) begins. The preparation of purees and solid foods follows these recommendations:

Vegetable Puree

Vegetables such as carrots, courgettes, or parsnips are peeled, chopped, and cooked in a little water until soft, or steamed. They are then blended, and if needed, cooking water is added to achieve the desired consistency. Adding one teaspoon of high-quality vegetable oil (e.g., rapeseed oil) improves the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Fruit Puree

Peel and core ripe fruit such as apples, pears, or bananas and blend until smooth. Apples can be briefly stewed. Avoid adding any sugar.

Cereal Porridge

Cereal flakes such as oats or rice flakes can be stirred with water, breast milk, or formula to make a soft porridge. Wholegrain varieties provide important dietary fibre and micronutrients.

Temperature and Consistency

Baby food should always be served lukewarm (approximately 37 °C, body temperature). The temperature can be tested by dropping a few drops onto the inside of the wrist. The consistency should match the child's developmental stage: from fine purees to coarser textures as first teeth appear and chewing is practised.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

No honey in the first year of life: Honey can contain spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can cause life-threatening botulism in infants.
No cow's milk as the main drink: Cow's milk is not suitable as the main food source before 12 months, but can be used in small amounts in porridges.
No whole nuts or whole grapes: These pose a choking hazard.
No raw eggs: Raw eggs should be avoided due to the risk of Salmonella infection.

Storage and Shelf Life

Freshly prepared baby food should be stored in the refrigerator at a maximum of 4 °C and consumed within 24 hours. Suitable portions can be frozen in clean containers for up to one month. Never refreeze thawed food.

References

World Health Organization (WHO): Infant and young child feeding. Geneva, 2009. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241597494
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Scientific Opinion on the appropriate age for introduction of complementary feeding of infants. EFSA Journal 2009;7(12):1423. Available at: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Making and Storing Homemade Baby Formula. Atlanta, 2023. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/making-storing-homemade-formula.html

Building Blocks for a Healthy Life

As an integrated manufacturer, we develop & produce evidence-based, patented, and non-patented formulations. We work exclusively with plant and natural extracts according to the strictest purity & quality standards.
The combination of science & modern technology with the laws of nature creates solutions consistently tailored to humans – for the highest good: health.