Feeding My Baby – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
When it comes to feeding your baby, you want what’s best. You also want to ensure that your child grows up to be as healthy as possible while avoiding the risk of allergies and other complications. As with any health-related topic, opinions vary among experts and parents alike, so how do you make the best choices possible? By keeping the following information in mind, you can learn about the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to feeding your newborn.
Breastfeeding
While breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mom and baby, it’s not without risks. Women who are planning to breastfeed should consider talking to their doctor about starting a prenatal vitamin. Calcium is especially important for nursing moms because it will help your little one get enough from his or her diet—and help you maintain healthy bones as well. Calcium will also benefit your child by reducing his or her risk of rickets (which can cause skeletal deformities) later in life.
What about formula?
First, ask your doctor if formula is right for your baby. Though it’s a perfectly fine alternative to breast milk or formula, there are plenty of health benefits that breastfeeding offers. If you decide to go with formula anyway, here are some things to look for on a label iron, DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid), vitamin E, and lactose (to help prevent gas). Also be sure to check out our list of 10 Best Foods to Feed a Newborn.
Homemade baby food recipes
Baby food doesn’t have to be expensive or hard to make. When you’re ready to wean your infant from breast milk or formula onto solid foods, start with homemade recipes. Homemade baby food is easy on babies’ stomachs and allows parents to create a variety of healthy snacks for their babies in advance of meal time.
Fruit and vegetable snacks
Most pediatricians will recommend that you feed your baby solid foods by six months of age. We’re talking about high-fiber veggies, not fruit. Fruit juice—for children under one year old—should be limited to no more than 4 ounces per day; after 12 months of age, no more than 8 ounces per day. If you are breastfeeding, wait until after a year before introducing solids into your child’s diet. Introduce only one new food at a time so you can track any potential allergic reactions or digestive issues. Here are some common first foods
Protein foods
When it comes to healthy eating, you’ve probably heard of protein. It’s a macronutrient that is essential for muscle growth and development—and other types of healthy body function. But what are some good protein foods? What about bad ones? And how much should you be consuming on a daily basis? Here are 10 of the best protein-rich foods to feed your newborn
Starchy carbohydrates
Starchy carbs include breads, cereals, rice, pasta and potatoes. A little bit of these is fine but too much will make you pack on those pounds. Make sure they’re whole grains if you’re going to eat them. For example—brown rice rather than white rice. Just be sure to consume them in moderation as babies are more likely to get fat when fed a diet high in starchy carbs than adults.
Nuts, seeds, legumes & beans
A baby’s digestive system is not yet mature at birth so it’s important to wait until after your baby’s first birthday before introducing nuts or seeds. That said, a handful of nuts/seeds per day is healthy for children over one year old. Legumes such as beans, lentils and peas are also great sources of protein but they can be hard on babies’ immature digestive systems so start with just a few tablespoons per week. And while soybeans are technically legumes, many pediatricians consider them more like dairy products than other legumes because they contain significant amounts of protein and calcium—so you can introduce these foods earlier on (after 6 months).
Dairy products
Milk or formula are essential for your newborn’s health. Most pediatricians agree that breast milk is best (if you can do it), but if breastfeeding isn’t an option, buy organic whole cow’s milk. If your baby seems to be constipated or having trouble digesting regular milk, opt for lactose-free versions instead. Nursing moms should also get plenty of calcium, which aids in both bone growth and muscle development in their infants.
High-fat foods
While babies’ brains develop over time, they need a lot of energy to help support that growth. To provide some good fats in your baby’s diet, try feeding them avocado (avocados have around 20 grams of fat per cup), nuts or nut butters and seeds (like sunflower seeds). While these are high-fat foods, they also contain essential nutrients like healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Keep in mind that some fats may be harder for babies to digest than others.
Junk foods
While they may taste good to us adults, junk foods aren’t really good for babies. Refined sugar in candy and soda is obviously not a healthy food choice—not only does it lack nutrients but it can contribute to cavities as well. Junk foods are lacking in essential vitamins and minerals that a baby needs at such an early age. Not to mention that when consumed by children (or pregnant women), junk food consumption can lead to obesity later on in life.
also read:- Feeding My Baby https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_and_toddler_safety
