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Baby food is defined as food specifically for infants and particularly for those between six months to two years. Baby food can be prepared at home as well as procured from outside where it is available in many varieties.  The common characteristic of baby food is that it is designed and prepared so that is not only nutritional but can be easily chewed and digested by infants. Since each infant is different it is hard to specify the nutritional requirements of any given baby. Baby food is started when an infant is not able to meet its nutritional requirements from breast milk or formula milk alone. At around 6 months it is recommended by WHO/ UNICEF that an infant be given baby food. The normal signs of readiness are when an infant is able to sit on its own, open its mouth when a spoon is held, swallows the food and displays an interest in the food that others are eating.
Breast milk versus formula or commercial milk: The first thing to consider is breast milk versus the formula milk present in the market. Though formula milk does not seem as `baby food` but it is, and provides cent percent sustenance in the initial two months. The advantages of breast milk are many-fold and it is important for a mother to consider its advantages over commercial milk. Breast milk imparts to the infant a mother`s immunities and provides a shield against life threatening diseases.
Baby food in various development stages: Babies or infants can follow a natural, nutritious progression in eating food. By the age of 4 months it is advisable to introduce the infant to only one new food at a time leaving time to observe if there are any adverse reactions to it. The nutritional and other concerns have made it important for manufacturers to group baby food by age or developmental stage. Most baby food manufacturers prepare iron-fortified single grain cereal as the first solid that a baby can start eating. Between ages six months to nine months, when the baby has graduated from single grain food a mother can introduce other interesting options such as bread, toast and biscuits. It is also recommended that by this age one a baby can be introduced to vegetables and fruits starting by the mild-tasting ones first. Meat and meat products should be introduced only after the baby is able to get used to vegetables and fruits and digest them easily. By the age of nine months a baby can be introduced to dairy products such as yogurt and cheese. When a baby is two years old it can start eating food that the family eats.
Homemade baby food versus commercial food: Although the easy availability of ready made baby food is very tempting, it is better to offer homemade food to a baby for economic, health and nutritional reasons.  Homemade food offers better nutrition as compared to commercially produced baby foods for the simple reason that homemade food is devoid of any preservatives that commercial food manufacturers use to prolong its shelf life. It has been noted by medical researchers that commercially produced food item for babies contain a modified form of starch that is treated with acid so that it can act as a thickening agent. When food is made at home a mother has complete control over the ingredients going into the baby`s food. It helps in case the baby develops food allergy.
For a mother who gives homemade food it is a less frustrating experience to find out the causes of food allergy if any in comparison to those who rely heavily on commercial food items. Commercial food contains artificial dyes and additives that are a common cause of allergies. Foods least likely to cause allergies are grains such as rice, oats, and fruits such as apples, bananas, grapes. Making baby food at home is also saves money. It is advisable to keep some kitchen items such as food blender, mixer, grater and a pressure cooker handy to enable ease in preparing homemade food.
Organic baby food: These days baby food has gone fresh organic and is becoming popular with parents. Many parent-turned-entrepreneurs have taken it upon themselves to prepare baby food from locally sourced ingredients and turned their enterprise into a micro industry. The foods that these companies produce are bereft of additives, preservatives, sugar or starch that commercially baby food items have. They are not only fresh but can be stored in a refrigerator and used within several days, or frozen. It is proving as an alternative food for many food-conscious parents.
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