Archive for the ‘Baby food’ Category

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In:Baby food, Baby's health

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A baby’s food is a mother’s prime concern.  A variety of nourishing foods are available. However babies’ eating preferences are very sensitive. A darker side of this is food allergy.

It has been noted that 1 in 12 children face an allergy due to food. It is paramount for every mother to know how a particular food affects their baby. This becomes all the more important to new mothers who don’t have elders to advice.

So what is a food allergy all about?

1- Food Allergy

An allergy is a reaction mechanism developed by the immune system to deal with any new substance detected in the blood stream. As a result the human body produces antibodies to flush out the foreign element. While this battle rages inside the body a few symptoms are bound to show outwardly. These can consists of fever, body aches, rashes, and skin infection. The intensity of these symptoms varies.

Food allergies can badly hit baby health. Since babies have sensitive digestive system and their immunity is not well developed skin allergy is a potent health hazard for them

2- Symptoms

The commonest symptoms of an allergy are as under:

runny nose, sneezing, wheezing Swelling in eyes, tongue, or lips Irregular, difficult, noisy breathing or a tightened throat itchy skin rashes, swelling, hives Persistent pain in abdomen or diarrhea Vomiting, Infantile colic, blood in the stool Poor growth.

3- Do you suspect an allergic reaction?

If your toddler exhibits any of the symptoms enumerated above be quick to call 911. If you have access to any other emergency line, use it.

Check for consistency in the effect of the food administered daily. If you suspect a pattern in symptoms that show up after taking certain foods consult the pediatrician. Sometimes the cause of these symptoms is not  any food allergy but food intolerance a similar but entirely different problem

4-The diagnosis

The best practice when you observe your baby developing the aforementioned symptoms is to consult the doctor immediately. Based on your inputs the doctor will suggest a future plan. He may suggest an allergist for specialized and immediate treatment. A number of tests are done to confirm the particular food allergy.

A skin test is the basic test preferred for its simplicity. A miniscule amount of extracts adduced from the suspected food is introduced into the skin via a tiny needle. Usually this test is done on forearm of the child. If the allergy exists the punctured skin will respond immediately with wheals. Wheals are reddish spots that populate the skin. The effects of the test can be seen in 15 minutes. The allergist can suggest more tests for confirmation. The RAST are a category of blood tests which are performed to confirm the presence of IgE antibodies which arise in response to a particular food. RAST stands for radio allegro sorbent tests and measures the IgE concentrations of the blood. Every food has a set limit for a particular antibody. When the limits are crossed the allergy to the food is confirmed. The positive results in the skin test and the RAST confirm the presence of allergy in the blood and further tests are seldom sought. Sometimes the allergist may get ambiguous results from the tests. He may then resort to the food challenge. This is a very sensitive test and can be performed only by expert technicians in a fully functional and equipped laboratory.

You must talk to your doctor immediately and know whether your child has any symptoms of food allergy. Remember, it is very easy for a parent to misinterpret the signs and symptoms of food allergies. So being aware is the only option available with you.

5- What to do after the allergy is confirmed

Once you have consulted the specialist and got the medical opinion it’s time to prepare you for any such future attacks.

Ask the doctor to prepare a line of action if the problem resurfaces. This basically consists of detailed instructions about dealing with a similar situation. These days a doctor usually suggests an auto-injector to administer epinephrine. These are handy devices to administer epinephrine automatically to arrest any allergy. A food diary may be the next thing which can be used to identify what particular food is causing the reaction.

Remember that you have to be extremely careful with food allergies. Once they have been confirmed, just start being very cautious in what food your baby eats.

6- Taking care of the baby

Taking care of a baby with an allergy requires minute attention to the doctor’s instructions. There are other steps that need to be taken so that the baby has a speedy recovery.

The preferred action plan is to avoid the particular food suspected completely. This may be difficult since it may sometimes impact the food habits of the family. However this is the key to an effective recovery plan. If you rely on relatives, babysitters, or daycare workers it is very important that they be made aware of the situation. Explain the doctor’s advice to them in plain words. How to check which food contains what and the action plan if a symptom is detected. Antihistamines are believed to be the general treatment of allergies. So these must be carried always. But seek very specific advice from the doctor if they can be used with the baby. A baby must be administered the best diet which supports its growing needs. However if the baby has been barred from specific foods the nutrition may not be amply conveyed. This is a serious issue with infants allergic to milk. Fortunately, special substitutes for milk exist today. Check out similar solutions with your allergist that specifically applies to your baby. 7-Can the food allergy be prevented or delayed?

It is a question that would exclusively concern new mothers. If their baby has had an allergy they will surely want to prevent the problem in future, as the baby grows.

Breastfeeding is suggested by most experts for the first 4 initial months of childbirth to gain resistance against eczema and milk allergy. A lot of experts believe, provides protection from allergies. This is especially important if you know of that it’s a genetic problem that recurs within the family. The protein content of Breast milk is much lesser than say soy formulae and cow milk. Moreover its chemistry is quite similar to infants own body. Some babies are hyper-allergic and exhibit reaction even if the breastfeeding mother is eating those foods. In such cases it is advised that the mother desist from those particular foods. Introducing new foods to the baby is a topic that only the doctor can handle. Ask the doctor about the best ways to do so. Fee the new food with intervals of days. This will improve tolerance. Moreover it may provide hints as what particular foods the baby is reacting to. Please don’t forget to take the baby to the doctor as it grows. Allergy tests may have to be repeatedly tested for the impact medication and preventive measures have had. Regular visits are also important to check if the baby is developing any similar allergies caused by other foods. Ultimately the baby can outgrow the particular reaction and grow into a healthy child. The prohibited foods can now be reintroduced to support the body growth. At that point, you may be referred to a gastroenterologist to pinpoint the cause of the intolerance or to investigate other explanations for your baby’s symptoms.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has suggested that delaying certain types of foods has basis in genetics. It is believed that it works because possibly the parents had similar problems in childhood. Delaying the food introduction could allow the body to outgrow those tendencies.

The AAP in January 2008 published a report and confirmed that its previous stand on delaying certain foods is not supported by clinical evidence.

8-Outgrowing food allergies

Evidence suggests that a number of food allergies can be outgrown. Peanut allergy is known to be outgrown in about 20 percent of the children suffering with the problem as infants.

The allergy to wheat and soy are overcome by the time the child is ready to join a school. Similarly it takes 8 to 10 years to outgrow allergies due to egg and milk.

However allergies caused by tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish and fish may take a lifelong to be subdued.

9-Avoiding food allergies

Here are some tips against allergies suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Don’t introduce solid food until the child is 4-6 months old. Introduce a single food and then wait for at least 4 days and then use another food. Watch for the specific reaction to each food and if any occur consult the doctor. If a parent or a sibling of the baby has shown sensitivity to a particular food the baby is susceptible to the particular food allergy. Mention this information when consulting the pediatrician

10-Cross-reactivity

This is a phenomenon wherein the allergy is induced in an individual due to a particular group or category of food. These foods are related chemically or some common ingredient is common to them. As an example, consider allergy induced by shrimp. Then there is a possibility that the person will exhibit similar reaction to related food like crab and lobster.

Common foods responsible for allergies

Dairy products such as Cow milk Tree nuts like pecans, walnuts etc. Berries and Citrus fruits Soy, Wheat, Peanuts Eggs, shellfish and fish 11-What is the treatment for food allergies? Extensive research has revealed that there is no direct cure for food allergies. The only solution to allergy seems to be a plan for preventing the reaction and continued supervision of the baby’s health. Much work has been done in the field of desensitization wherein certain drugs can be used to subdue the symptoms. There should be a constant correspondence with the pediatricians and the dietary experts to decide the best diet for the baby. This has to continue into later years so that the baby’s development is not hindered.

12-Genetics and Allergies

It has been suggested by studies that the baby is prone to food allergy if the siblings have had similar problems. Moreover if the symptoms existed in parents then the baby may also show sensitivity to specific foods. The chances of getting food allergies from parents vary from 50 to 75 percent.

13-Food intolerance- different but similar

Food intolerance is different from food allergy in a very fundamental way. Allergy occurs in response to allergens and the signature effect is the production of antibodies with a variety of resulting symptoms.  In the case of food intolerance there is no production of the antibodies.

The symptoms of food intolerance resemble those produced by the food allergies. However they are milder. The real reason for food intolerances is the inability of the body to digest particular food due to its chemical structure or due to the preservatives and additives added to these foods. Lactose intolerance is the commonest form of the malady among babies. This is caused when people lack a particular enzyme needed to process cow milk and similar dairy products.

American Academy of Pediatrics believes that food intolerance disappear or is subdued by the age of 5 years.

14-Symptoms of Food intolerance

Skin rashes, Eczema, hives Sudden congestion  of the nose Eyes become red or puffy or encircled by dark circles Diarrhea, bloating, excessive gas

15-Becoming aware

If your child is suffering from food allergy educate yourself about it.

Do your researches on the internet, read books, talk to people who have faced similar problems and if necessary consult an expert. Try to ascertain the ingredients with the help of food labels. If you are unsure consult the vendor or a dietician. Seek help from organizations like Food Allergy Network and try to build a network of such resources.

In the end, we would recommend you to be alert and try to learn as much as you can about food allergy for this is essential for yours baby’s health.

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In:Baby food, Breastfeeding

Comments Off on All You Needed To Know About Breast milk

Breastfeeding your child is not just beneficial but very helpful for the baby’s growth as well. If you want to improve the supply of breast milk in your body, then you will have to focus on your diet. It is essential to get all the nutrients in your diet and eat certain foods that contain plant estrogens. They will help in increasing milk supply in your breasts. It is believed that spices, garlic, ginger and some leafy green vegetables are very helpful in improving the health of breastfeeding mothers. Remember, your body will make milk depending on the nutrients available in your fat, tissues, and even your bones. Therefore, a healthy diet adopted by you would mean a healthier supply of milk for your baby.

A mother who does not munch up on foods rich in nutrients will often feel exhausted and drained. Not only this, her breast milk supply will also go down considerably. Hence, make sure that your diet has adequate amounts of fat, proteins, and carbohydrates. In addition to this, you should drink a lot of water and get some plant estrogens for food. It would help you a lot in feeling more energetic and recovering from the loss of essential nutrients as well.

Breastfeeding diet

Ideally, you should start making healthy changes in your diet as soon as you learn of your pregnancy. You should include organic, fresh, and nutritious foods in your diet and start taking prenatal vitamins that can later help you in feeling healthier. Not only this, you also have to start developing healthy snacking habits so that your body’s nutrients can be replenished. If you drink a lot of caffeine, then ensure that you cut down on its quantity. Women who start following this kind of diet while they are pregnant would feel healthier while they are breastfeeding. However, they will have to continue their diet until the breastfeeding stage as well.

While you are breastfeeding, you will need a very healthy diet that is composed of balanced meals and healthy snacks too. In order to plan such a diet, you should talk to your doctor or consult with a pregnancy and breastfeeding diet expert. Remember, what you eat will greatly change the quantity, color as well as the taste of your milk. Hence, making the milk tastier and smoother should always be your priority. It is common knowledge that your baby will taste the food that you eat through your milk. If you want your baby to have healthy food habits when he grows up, you should munch on fruits and vegetables while you are breastfeeding. This would make your children like those vegetables and they will naturally be inclined towards their taste when they grow up.

So what is a healthy diet? Well, a healthy diet should be composed of whole grains, protein, and healthy fats. Include dairy in your diet too. This kind of diet contains all the essential nutrients that your body needs. You should not pay too much attention on consuming many calories during this time. Your body will burn many calories while producing milk. Because of this, increasing calorie intake helps. If you do not, you might feel exhausted. Doctors always advised breastfeeding mothers to never skip a meal and enjoy snacking in between meals. Make sure that you are using a wide variety of foods each day. You can eat food according to their colors as well. This would help you in staying a healthy mom.

The nutrition that you will need

Protein- it is the most essential nutrient in your diet. No protein means that you will always feel tired and fatigued. Therefore, include a lot of lean protein in your diet. This could be had through grains, seeds, nuts, dairy, meats, and even legumes. A good protein intake means healthier heart, muscles, hormones, enzymes and better bones and antibodies as well. Iron- this is the second most essential nutrient that a nursing mother needs. Iron will increase the quantity of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. This will help in making you feel more energized throughout the day. Iron can be obtained from lover, fish, and other kinds of meat. You should also eat eggs, nuts, whole grains, and dark leafy green vegetables for a good supply of iron. Vitamin A- this vitamin will help in aiding the development of skin and eyes. All fruits that are yellow, orange, or red in color have Vitamin A. Apart from these dark green leafy vegetables also have this vitamin. You should also consume dairy products in order to get Vitamin A benefits. Vitamin C- it is found usually in citrus fruits like orange, mandarin, lime, and lemon. However, mangoes, strawberries, dark green veggies, and even tomatoes are a good source of this vitamin. It helps in the development of bones and teeth in your baby. Additionally, it would also help in the growth of blood vessels and ligaments. Folic acid- this is an essential nutrient for the overall healthy development of your baby. This is actually a B complex vitamin that can prevent birth defects if taken in adequate amounts right from pregnancy. For getting this vitamin, start using a lot of citrus fruits and their juices in your diet. Dark green veggies are also a good choice. You can also look forward to eating dried beans and even folic acid fortified cereals and whole grain breads. Zinc- when you are consuming protein, ensure that you include zinc in your diet too. It actually works along with protein in order to ensure faster and steadier development of your baby. First, it helps in improving the immune function of your baby. Secondly, it can help in healing wounds more easily. Zinc is mostly found in dairy products and meat. However, beans and a few vegetables may also have zinc. Calcium- calcium is known as the bone vitamin and rightly so. It has been linked with healthier teeth and gums. Remember, your calcium supply can deplete while you are breastfeeding. Hence, this mineral will help both the mother and the baby. Get it in dairy products. You can also have leafy greens as well as orange juice to get calcium. Vitamin D- calcium is better absorbed in your body is you are also having Vitamin D along with it. This vitamin also aids the development of healthy teeth and bones in your baby. Spend some time in the sun every day for synthesizing Vitamin D in your body. Along with this, you should be eating eggs, fish and fortified cereals for getting a steady dose of Vitamin D. Yogurt, milk and even orange juice can contain this vitamin. DHA- DHA is docosahezaenoic acid that aids in the development of the eyes and brain of your baby. This fatty acid can be found in liver, red meat, eggs and even fish.

Storing breast milk

A lot of women may want to store breast milk. Working mothers usually do this but even homemakers might feel the need to do this. We are providing you a few guidelines about breast milk storage so that you can also do the same whenever needed.

Fresh breast milk

Breast milk can remain fresh and good for consumption for 5 to 8 hours at room temperature i.e. 25 degree Celsius. You just need to collect the milk in a bottle and keep it away from direct sunlight or any other heat source. If the temperature is higher than that, keep the milk in the refrigerator. It can last for up to 5 days at a temperature of 4 degree Celsius. Make sure that the milk is placed at the back of the refrigerator, as it stays cooler there. If you opt for a frozen insulated cooler, the milk can last for 24 hours.

Frozen breast milk

Never leave your breast milk out in the room to defrost. Frozen breast milk must be defrosted inside a bowl of warm water. You can even run it under warm water or simply let the refrigerator do its job. Never leave it out at room temperature. If you need to travel for a few hours, then an insulated cooler might help. Once you have defrosted frozen breast milk, make sure that you do not freeze it again. Simply use it within 24 hours. Depending on the type of freezer you are using and the temperature at which the milk is stored undisturbed, your breast milk will remain good for consumption from 2 weeks up to a year.

Once your breast milk has been warmed and thawed, you should never freeze it again. Thawed milk can still last for 4 hours in room temperature but warmed milk should immediately be discarded after feeding the child. However, warmed milk should never be stored again or refreeze once it has been used. The same rule can be applied to milk left over after feeding. Do not think about reusing this milk. Just throw it away.

Can the color of your breast milk change?

Yes, different woman have different kinds of breast milk. Their consistency, sweetness, texture, and composition may change over time as well. The color of breast milk is also different for different women. In most cases, breast milk is usually white or clear. However, tan, bluish and even yellow breast milk is very common. The color of your milk will also change during the course of your breastfeeding. Generally, the milk is supposed to have a very slight tint of flow when it first begins to flow. This is known as foremilk. This milk is lower in fat.

After this foremilk has flowed, you will have a thicker, whiter, and creamier milk flowing through. This is known as hindmilk. This milk has higher fat content. Some foods, medications, herbs, and even nutrition supplements will change the color of your breast milk. You will see the changes in your breast milk, your urine, or even your child’s urine. However, changes in breast milk color are usually not alarming and may happen only because of dietary changes. Still, you should immediately call your doctor when you see changes.

Green milk

If you are eating too may green veggies and foods that have green dyes, then your milk can turn green. Most of the times, spinach and green beverages are responsible for this change.

Brown, red, orange or pink milk

Again, this kind of change is solely because of dietary chances. Yellow, red, and even pink can be caused because of vegetables and fruits of this color. Therefore, there is hardly anything to be alarmed about. If you stop the consumption of these foods, the color of milk will become white or clear.

However, if the color of milk is brown, then you might suffer from rusty pipe syndrome. This is a condition when the blood in your breasts starts leaking and often reaches the milk ducts. If you have cracked nipples or chapped skin around your nipples, then the blood from there can mix with your milk and you will see pink or even red streaks in your milk. It is not harmful for the baby at all. In fact, a little leakage is common with most women. In general, the problem reduces in intensity in a few days and it goes away on its own. However, if you face issues consistently for a week or if the problem seems to intensity, you should call your doctor.

Black milk

Humans do generally not produce black milk. It cannot be linked with any diets as well. Usually, it happens when you are consuming Minocin. This is an antibiotic medicine that will darker your skin color as well. However, this medicine is not given to nursing mothers. Hence, you should always tell your doctor that you are breastfeeding before you take any medications, even if they are painkillers.

In the end, we would only like to say that breastfeeding is a wonderful thing. It helps you in bonding with your baby and even helps him in fighting away diseases and remaining healthy for a long time. Doctors recommend that you breastfeed your baby for at least 1 year with the first 6 months exclusively on breast milk.

 

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In:Baby food

Comments Off on Baby Food Ideas For His First Year

No one can define the joy that a mother experiences when she feeds her baby. However, new mothers are often unaware of the signs that their child is hungry. They usually learn with time. However, their tiny tummies need to be fed very frequently. Mothers usually compare their own feeding schedule with their child. They think that their child is always hungry and may often want to curb this instinct in the baby as well. However, this is not correct. They have very small stomach and they will digest breast milk easily too. Moreover, the child is still growing and this is why he needs more nutrition. Feeding your baby 8 to 12 times a day is quite normal during the first few months.

In this post, we will be talking about breastfeeding as well as the introduction of solid foods in their diet. Let’s explore all the topics one by one.

Understanding baby’s hunger and feeding schedules

More often than not, you will find that every baby has different feeding needs. Some babies consistently need to be fed throughout the day while cluster feeding during the evening is common to the rest. So you will have to invest some time in understanding your baby’s needs. Don’t get alarmed if your baby demands cluster feeding. This means that he would want to be fed a number of times within a few hours and stay quiet during the rest. That is completely normal. Moreover, as your child grows up, it would likely move away from cluster feeding.

When you are using baby formula for your child, make sure that you are not using an excessive amount in the feeding. In general, a baby needs merely 1 to 2 ounces of baby formula in each feeding. Most babies will spit up if you use more formula. If such things happen, decrease the formula quantity in each feeding. However, in order to catch up with the nutrition, you might want to increase the number of feedings per day.

Does a baby tell you that he is hungry?

Most of the times, a baby will tell you that he is hungry. Parents are either less attentive to the baby’s hunger cues or they are so concerned that they believe that every little fuss means feedings time. Babies fuss out for a lot of reasons. A wet diaper, a poop, lack of stimulation and even overstimulation could be the reason why your child is being fussy. The most typical hunger cues in babies are:

Putting the hands near the mouth mostly indicates that the baby is hungry. Some babies start turning their heads from one side to the other. The baby starts sucking on his clothes, toys, hands and may even start rooting. He may also start crying.

Now, the question here is- what is the right frequency for feeding babies? In general, 8 to 12 times in a day is a normal feeding period. You can easily feed the baby every 2 hours. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that if the mother and baby have no problem with low milk supply and low weight, then it is always better to feed the baby based on hunger cues. This would avoid the chances of overfeeding and would make your child happy as well.

This is true for breastfeeding children as well as babies who have started the solid food diet. The more you depend on his hunger cues, the better you will feed your child. Your baby’s appetite will change every day and also with every meal. Hence, do not make any pre-reservations about the feeding quantity of your child. He might eat more someday and not on the other. Keep a close watch on his hunger and you will always have a great feeding schedule to bank upon. If your baby is still breastfeeding and you want to keep a check on his diet, then make sure that you are keeping a tab on his diaper counts. Check the number of soiled and wet diapers each day and you will be able to determine if the baby is eating lesser than normal. Talk to your doctor regarding the optimum wet diaper count for your baby.

When to start feeding your baby on solid food

Most of the babies start eating solid food when they are 6 months old. Your baby may take a couple of months more or less than that, depending on his growth. However, it is also a decision for parents to make. Some people start making their kids have baby cereal at 3 months of age while others might wait until their baby is at least 9 to 12 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you breastfeed your baby for at least one year without using any formula or baby food. However, even if you start giving your baby solid food, do not stop breastfeeding him unless he is at least 12 months old. In fact, even if you want to breastfeed your child beyond the first year, you can do that as well. The WHO recommends that children should not be taken of breast milk for at least 2 years.

It will be better to take cues from the baby. The babies who are ready for solid food often start showing interest in food. They would either look at other family members eating solid food or even start reaching out for it. If your baby also does the same, then you should try giving him some pureed food and slowly introduce other kinds of foods to him. Remember, the kids would not start munching on solids right away. Be contempt with only one or two tablespoons in the beginning and take it from there.

What could be my baby’s first foods?

There could be many first foods for your baby. Most of the parents start with baby cereals. However, there are a number of first food options available for you now. Therefore, you can easily choose something that is fresher and healthier for your child. When you are shopping for your baby in the supermarket, you will often come across ‘Stage One’ baby food. This kind of food is usually meant for the babies that have just started having solid food. These foods are so thin that they will easily resemble breast milk. However, there are still many options for you to check out.

Fruits can be a great first food choice for any baby. You should start out with bananas as they are easier to digest. Then include fruits like apples, apricots and even avocados in the diet. Prunes, pears, papaya, mango, peaches and even pumpkins can be a great choice for your baby’s first solid food. They are delicious and it is quite likely that your baby likes their taste. Here too, babies have their own likes and dislikes. However, giving fruits a try will always be helpful.

Vegetables can also be a great choice for the first foods of your baby. Some experts recommend that using vegetables as first foods is usually better than fruits. This is because children get accustomed to the taste of the fruits and they might not like vegetables which cannot compete in terms of taste. The first vegetable for your child could be sweet potatoes and even peas. Use green beans and carrots as first foods. If you want to opt for grains, rice, barley and oatmeal should be chosen by you. You might wish to include meat in the baby’s diet as well. If yes, choose only pureed iron-rich chicken.

Is homemade baby food safe?

Yes, homemade baby food is completely safe for the child if you follow the basic rules. First of all, you have to avoid foods like spinach and turnip in the homemade baby food. They have a very high nitrate content and can be harmful for the baby. Use only the foods mentioned above to create baby food. Secondly, make sure that you have the appropriate tools and equipment for making baby food at home.

When you decide to make baby food at home, a food processor will always be your first choice. Though you can easily mash bananas with a fork for your baby, some veggies and meats will certainly need a high powered processer for making a good puree. Here are some essential kitchen tools that you will need for making the perfect pureed food for your child.

A food processor/blender

You should always started with a food processor or even a basic blender. They help in making a fine puree of all the foods which can easily be fed to the baby. However, you don’t have to put the veggies straight into the blender. For that you will need a steamer.

Vegetable steamer

A vegetable steamer will make the veggies softer so that they can be pureed in the blender with ease. A steamer with a tight lid is very essential as it helps in locking the nutritional content of the food while cooking.

Baby food trays

You will have to store your baby food for later use. In order to do this, you can buy specially made baby food freezing trays. However, this can also be done with the help of ice cube trays. No matter what you have, just keep the baby food in the container and cover it with a plastic wrap. It would become easier for you to store food in this way.

Ziplock freezer bags are necessary

You will also need ziplock bags for keeping your frozen food and also for labelling them properly. Use a permanent marker to mark the date on which the food was prepared and also write down the name or ingredients of the food. Remember, you should not use any baby food that was made more than a month ago. When needed, just thaw and heat the food and your baby will happily eat his solid food diet.

These were some topics and ideas that should be covered when we are talking about baby food. Remember, it is always better to keep the food as fresh as possible and follow the cues of your baby when it comes to feeding time. It could be difficult for working mothers to take care of their children and feed them as per the hunger cues. In such a case, scheduled feeding will come in handy. Make sure that you are training your child to feed on a certain time. You can even opt for cluster feeding as this would help you balance your work and personal life.

Don’t forget to keep a check on the diet and nutrition supplies of the baby. Don’t opt for a vitamin supplement unless it is absolutely necessary and has been advised by your pediatrician. The condition of the baby’s digestive health can easily be diagnosed through his stools. If they are too dry and hard, then it may signal constipation. Such issues are more common with babies who have started solid food diets. If your child is also experiencing the same, keep him hydrated in order to ease constipation.

If you are unable to find the right cues from your baby related to his hunger, then talk to a doctor and sort out this problem. We would also like to warn you about introducing solid foods and finger foods too early in the diet of the child. Ideally, do not introduce any food other than breast milk to a baby’s diet unless he is 6 months old. Babies who start eating solid foods and finger foods sooner than this usually show signs of obesity and unhealthy appetite when they grow up. Hence, introduce solid foods only when you have had a talk with your doctor.

In conclusion, we would advise you to closely monitor your child’s activities and even keep a record of his health. It would be of great help to your doctor if you keep a record of your baby’s health, especially his weight. By just checking the weight of your child, you will be able to track his health properly which would be great for him in the long run. Moreover, the doctor will also be able to make the correct diagnosis about his health. Happy feeding!

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