Toddlers and preschoolers get the energy and nutrients they need from three regular main meals, which also provide a structured daily routine that helps them find their bearings. At this age, a small mid-morning snack and an afternoon snack are also a good idea. But always remember: If your child is particularly active, they’ll need more energy and a drink such as water or unsweetened herbal tea.

Every child develops at their own pace—and that’s a good thing. If your little one isn’t interested in the spoon at all yet, or constantly pushes the food out of their mouth with their tongue, just try again with the spoon at a later time (in 1–2 weeks). Start with a very, very small portion, ideally a savory puree. Increase the amount one spoonful at a time, day by day. With loving patience and a little persistence, things will gradually get better and better. Stay calm and praise your little one. As a team, you’re unbeatable. :-)

You can find more tips on starting solid foods in our solid foods guide. 

Many parents wonder whether they can raise their child on a vegetarian or vegan diet from an early age. To ensure that infants receive an optimal supply of iron, the Department of Pediatric Nutrition at the University Children’s Hospital in Bochum recommends placing an emphasis on the first meal containing meat. This means that meals containing meat should be offered at least 5 times a week, and meals without meat or fish should be offered once a week.

A vegan diet during infancy and early childhood is not recommended by the Department of Pediatric Nutrition, the Nutrition Commission of the German Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ), or the German Nutrition Society (DGE). Especially during growth, a diet without animal-based foods can lead to serious nutrient deficiencies. If you still wish to feed your child a vegan diet, please consult an experienced nutritionist and have your child’s nutrient intake regularly checked by your pediatrician.

When transitioning from finely pureed meals to meals with small pieces, your baby may initially refuse to eat them. To help your little one slowly get used to the new texture, start by mashing the warmed puree with pieces on the plate with a fork. Alternatively, you can mix a small amount of a finely pureed meal into a meal with small pieces. Little by little, your baby will learn to accept the new texture, gain confidence, and enjoy holding the spoon with food on it themselves.

For snacking, you can already offer bread, age-appropriate cookies, spelt sticks, or apple slices as a snack under supervision. Ideally, this meal should also take place together with the family in a relaxed atmosphere as often as possible. And don’t worry: It’s normal for children to initially reject new foods, and you shouldn’t read too much into it. Just keep patiently offering your little one new foods again and again. Here’s another tip: Your child is watching you closely, so it’s best to lead by example and eat the foods you offer them yourself.

Around 10 months of age, your child can start joining in on family meals more and more.

The milk and baby food meals they’ve been having so far will gradually transition into three main meals and two snacks. This usually happens naturally, as your little one becomes interested in what the grown-ups are eating and wants to try a bit of this and that. The meal plan might include a slice of bread spread with butter or cream cheese in the morning, but still feature a baby meal with small pieces of food at lunchtime.

Even if your child is already very curious, you should still keep an eye on the food choices. After all, your baby still has special needs: the food shouldn’t be too sweet, too fatty, too salty, or too spicy. This is especially important if you cook for your child yourself.

Use lean varieties of sausage as well as lean poultry or beef. Avoid hard foods like nuts, as they can easily be swallowed whole.

Are you worried because your baby is a picky eater and will only eat certain foods? Do you think this means they’re missing out on important nutrients found in foods like meat, fruits, and vegetables?

A balanced intake of nutrients is important for healthy physical and mental development. So, keep offering your little one foods they’ve rejected (solid foods) from time to time. This gives your little one a chance to get used to the new foods. For some children, this learning process takes a little longer than for others. It’s important that you stay calm throughout this process.

Feel free to discuss this with your pediatrician as well. As long as the pediatrician is satisfied with your baby’s development, everything is fine.

The pigments naturally found in various fruits and vegetables can sometimes leave stubborn stains on textiles. Well-known examples include carrots, tomatoes, and cherries. This staining cannot be avoided. Whether one of these ingredients leaves a stain does not reflect on the quality of our organic products.

You can try to remove the stains with standard laundry detergents and stain removers. Alternatively, put an orange-red “carrot or tomato bib” on your baby right when feeding—that way, the stains won’t be as noticeable on the bib, at least. :-)

Once your child starts eating solid foods, they may get thirsty more often. By the time you introduce the third meal, you should already be offering drinks in addition to breast milk or formula: about 250–500 ml of boiled water, still mineral water (labeled “suitable for preparing infant formula”), unsweetened baby tea, or occasionally a heavily diluted fruit juice. Make sure to use a 3:1 ratio of water to juice.

Once you’ve started introducing solid foods, you can gradually begin using a few herbs from the garden—such as fresh parsley or chives—to enhance the flavor. Be sure to wash the herbs thoroughly, pat them dry, and chop them finely.

On Alete jars, you'll find the product information printed on the side of the lid. This information includes the exact production dates and best-by date—not, as is often believed, the numbers below the barcode.

Alete jars are equipped with a vacuum safety seal. In the center of the lid is a membrane that is firmly drawn inward as long as the jar is still in its original, undamaged condition. If your jar has been damaged during shipping, the safety membrane will pop up. The lid will then be slightly domed and can be pressed down. A jar like this will not crack when opened and should not be used for feeding.

On the individual product pages, which you can find under "Products," you'll find an overview of the nutritional information and ingredient lists. And, of course, you'll find the nutritional information on the label of each jar. If you have any further questions, you can reach the Alete Family Service by phone daily from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 0800 1125205, or you can send us an email at info@alete.de.

On our product overview page, you’ll find a search function that lets you exclude (filter out) products containing specific ingredients. This feature is designed to make it easier for you to find suitable products. To be on the safe side, however, you should always double-check the ingredient list on the label before serving the product to your child: For example, due to formula changes, it’s possible that products with both the old and new formulas may be available on the market at the same time. In this case, the information on the website may not match the information on the product you purchased.

Alete baby cookies are suitable for babies starting at 8 months old who are just getting their first teeth—of course, only under adult supervision. The cookies contain no palm oil and only about 1 g of sugar per cookie. The addition of a small amount of sugar is important because it gives the cookie its distinctive crumbly texture, ensuring that it dissolves easily in the mouth and your baby is less likely to choke on it. The texture of the cookies is very important for snacks intended for this age group.

We do not recommend freezing Alete jars, as this can alter the taste and texture of the puree. In addition, improper thawing can lead to the growth of unwanted bacteria. Therefore, it’s better to keep a supply of jars at home just in case and make sure the lid is properly sealed and clicks when opened.

These Alete dairy products, such as our strawberry yogurt, are preserved using ultra-high-temperature (UHT) processing, so there is no need to refrigerate these unopened containers. Once you've opened a container, you should use it up right away or discard any leftovers.