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Summary: Transitioning Away from the JARS
Review: Starting out on solids is both exciting and scary - baby cereal and organic jar food was the way I chose to begin w/my son at 6 months. At 8 months, with a boy who would eat everything, it was time to escape the blandness of the Jar and move to homemade cooking. This book is fantastic. You realize it's not that hard to give your child fresh food if you can freeze it. In fact, for my second child I hope to skip the jar food completely. This book teaches you what to feed your child and when (ages). I love the color pictures. Some recipes are pretty complicated and some directions are not detailed enough but in general this is the idiot's guide to cooking for a child. For me, a working mom (55 hours a week) and a terrible cook, this book was the confidence builder I needed to escape those terrible jars. I hate to think about feeding my son jar food now. And if you have a full-time caregiver, this is a great tool for her too! My nanny now cooks a bunch of meals each week and freezes them for our meals.
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Summary: She ate it!
Review: My daughter almost always loved everything I made from this recipe book. And my husband did too. My complaints are that the recipes only make small quantities - as if the child is the only one who is going to eat - so I often had to double or triple the recipe, especiallly if I wanted leftovers. Also the meals were not frequently quick and simple to prepare, nor were they low-fat - no wonder they liked it! For a working parent, unless he or she is a wonder in the kitchen, you might find it too time-consuming to prepare these meals.
Rating: 
Summary: ABC's of cooking for a little one
Review: This book has been tremendous, the recipies are quick, easy and delicious. I decided to buy this book because I don't like vegatables and my diet isn't so great. I have found that these receipes are so yummy I find myself eating them too, yes even the ones with vegetables in. I started my son on solids at 3 months and he is now 10 months and eats pretty much all the foods that are recommended for his age, including fish.Happy Cooking.
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Summary: Awesome First Foods Book!
Review: I think this book is wonderful. There are great photographs of the food, so you can see what the consistency should be for infants. This is a great book for those just starting to introduce solids! Some of the toddler foods are a little "out there", but for babies this is the best book I have found.
Rating:
Summary: This book has been great!
Review: I have really enjoyed this book. The pictures are inspiring and for visual people, give you an idea if the finished product has come out correctly (as opposed to books with instructions but no pics..). A lot of reviews have said that it takes too much time, well, then buy the jars, those take no time. But the point to most people who will buy this book is actually MAKING your childs first foods, and that will take some time. After I had made a few batches I noticed it took me less and less time to do. Now, in a few hours, I can make up several batches, freeze them, and not worry about those foods again for a few weeks. It is SO worth it! My daughter (8 mos) gets a great variety of foods, and I know exactly what is in the food that's in her bowl! By the way, a mouli is not that spectacular, you can get one at K-mart for about 8 bucks and it couldn't be any simpler to use. A food processor you push a button, a mouliyou turn the handle, it's not a big deal. Also, if you don't like the'exotic' foods in this book, there are plenty that are not 'exotic'.Also, this book is not meant to over rule your doctors advice, if something in it doesn't agree with what you know or have been told, don't do it, use common sense. Bottom line, if you want to make your childs food, it will take some time, but you have to decide if it is worth it to you! It is to me and my sweet baby! Good luck to all you moms and dads!
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Summary: MY GODSEND
Review: I found "First Meals" via an advertisement in one of my parenting magazines. My son was four months old and I was preparing to begin feeding him by spoon. His pediatrician had given me some tips on what to give him. My son HATED everything I tried to give him recommended by the pediatrician. Then I received "First Meals". Everything talked about in the book was exactly right (i.e., his reaction to the spoon, to certain veggies, to textures; even storing portions). My son LOVED everything I made him. The book takes you step by step in starting your child out by spoon. The meals are good, nutritious, and easy. The tips are great. The visuals are wonderful. And the meals change gradually as your child gets older. I have recommended this book to every new mommy I know!
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Summary: I barely have time to shower, let alone make these recipes!
Review: I am the mother of a 8 month old who insists on feeding himself. He won't use a spoon, only his hands, this book has recipes I would expect to find at a 5 star restaurant, but not in my kitchen. There are not many suggestions on easy to make, finger foods. Everything is very complex & really needs to be eaten with utensils. Yes this book is beautiful, but not realistic for me & my family.
Rating: 
Summary: Annabel Karmel isn't very wary of berries... ; )
Review: I love almost everything about this book. From the photos to the detailed directions it's an amazingly helpful book. However, many American doctors disagree with her choice of first foods for babies. For example -- should broccoli be a first-stage food? Should strawberries be given to a six-month-old? Should you really be giving cow's milk so early? All the advice I've been given tells me to be much more cautious about many of these highly allergenic foods. But if you've done your research and asked your pediatrician's advice, the recipes and information in this book are EXTREMELY helpful! I would still recommend this book to all of my friends!
Rating:
Summary: Great for first time Moms
Review: For a small book, it is packed with lots of great recipes and information. I really appreciate the indications of recipes meant for toddlers with molars. The lack of finger-type foods in the stores made this working mother worried about the time involved in making meals for my daughter through her "transition-period" to table foods. This book dispeled my fears. I can't wait to get started ....
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Summary: my baby's first meals are great with this book
Review: i bought this book long before my baby was born and started reading and planning. i also owned the super baby book and got really confused with that one. now my son is 10 months old and he loves his foods. my homemade foods tasted so much different and better than the jarred ones. my son loves the cauliflower tomato gratin, potato and leeks, and lentils with mixed veggies. the recipes may take some time but i make them in batches and don't have to do it for 2-3 months. and i do own a mouli (they are out there). these recipes take time and energy. i make them while my baby is sleeping or spending time with his dad. i know it can be a lot of work, but aren't our kids worth it?
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