Recommendations for baby & family cookbooks

[pinkglitter]

Hello

My baby is nearly 10 months so am going to attempt to cook meals that we and her can eat.... I'm not v good at cooking and lots of the books I've read reviews of on Amazon etc seem to miss out that stage and cater more for toddlers. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks! x

[bluesuperted]

Have you looked at the Baby Led Weaning Cookbook by Gill Rapley.

It's great and full of solid basics that a 10month old (and you!) should enjoy - all low/no salt so then you just season your own as required. About a fiver on amazon, mine is so well-loved the spine is totally broken!

[Bellenden Belle]

Definitely another vote for the Baby Led Weaning book. We've used it solidly for over a year - since Baby Belle was six months. Really tasty recipes, and easy to follow.

Also try the library - there are absolutely tons of cookbooks available to borrow. And I can also guarantee you can't go into a charity shop without seeing a shelf full of Annabel Karmel books.

[mima08]

Yep, another one for Baby Led Weaning cookbook - the recipes are yummy and not too challenging (am not the greatest cook...) - they have copies at the library.

mx

[EmilyPie]

I also like the chapter on feeding babies and small children in nigella's how to eat. Some good ideas that aren't too challenging.

[Saffron]

We did BLW, but I had a lot of nice recipes from the Annabel Karmel cookbook for babies and toddlers. I skipped the recipes with purees, and I jazzed up the toddler recipes for grown-ups. Her recipes are easy to follow and easy to build on.

[pinkglitter]

Thanks - i hadn't even thought about the library, good plan! Meant to say she's dairy free and i wondered if lots of the BLW recipes would have cheese etc in? But i can borrow a few and see how it goes. x

[Saffron]

BLW is very versatile and can be adapted to suit any dietary need. xx

[Yak]

The River Cottage baby and toddler cookbook is great too. Not too patronising and has really good tips on how to adapt recipes as kids grow up.

[Chunksmum]

I've just bought The River Cottage Baby & Toddler cookbook, it's great as has recipes that the whole family can eat plus lists recipes that are seasonal.

[crystal7]

Another vote for River Cottage Baby and Toddler Recipes!

[susyp]

Fay Ripley's first cookbook - changed my life - food all the family and a very fussy 18 month old (at the time) would eat. Sausage casserole is divine. Before that she hadn't really come off purees. basically it taught me how to cook!! Each fo the receipies are baby friendly - she tells you how to adapt for babies . My daughter is dairy free too and this has quite a lot in that work ok.

also look out slow cooker receipies - good for children as they make the meat very tender.

susypx

[ladyruskin]

We also used the BLW cookbook to great success. We've just got it back from a friend so look forward to revisiting some old favourites. Have you had a look at the Sainsbury's Little Ones site? They have lots of recipes which are designed for the whole family http://www3.sainsburys.co.uk/littleones/

[ladywotlunches]

Another vote for Faye Ripley. I loved the first book so much that I was bought the second too. So I have double the choice - yay!!

She is the first to admit she's not a nutritionist, but has some very good ideas about what makes food tasty and interesting for kids. OK, so its a 'celeb' cookbook, but she's pretty down to earth. And her little commentaries make me laugh too.

[pinkglitter]

Thanks all I've got some of these out of the library & having a look through x

[Undiscovered]

Love to BLW and cook from it most days, but another recommendation is the books that Leon (good fast food) do. They are massive and good value on Amazon , lots of different recipes to incorporate special diets (I am a veggie). That's my new recommendation, but still recondite to BLW