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How I Feed Healthy Nutritious Food For My Baby
Healthy Nutritious Food For My Baby
Recently, I became a young mother. The very first source of food I gave my baby was the “Colostrum”. This breast fluid is a highly nutritious food, produced naturally in my body just before the production and secretion of breast milk. Colostrum promotes growth and health in infants. So, I am excited to feed my baby with the nutritious colostrum and breast milk, which boosts immunity in my kid.
As per my understanding, the immune system of my child keeps continually adapting, strengthening, and changing in response to several external factors. I am cent-per cent sure that this is the case with all of your toddlers as well. So, it becomes a huge necessity to provide our babies with healthy, and nutritious food. To know more about how I feed my baby, just keep on reading. I am sure that you can take some tips from this article and make your babies healthy as well.
The world outside a mother’s womb is filled with pathogens, germs, allergens, dust, and other factors that can harm your baby. To protect our babies from serious diseases, we should strengthen their immunity. I support my little charmer’s developing immune system by providing him/her with a balanced and healthy diet along with colostrum initially and breast milk as long as I can feed him/her. Prebiotic and probiotic foods help me in this quest of giving the most nutritious food to my “bundle of joy” any day. This way, I ensure that my child gets a boost in his/her immunity. A strong immunity lasts long and thus by providing healthy and nutritious food, I contribute to his/her long-term health. As a fellow parent, you can follow this tip too for your healthy and strong baby.
Well, it is necessary to give equal importance to what we feed our children and the food young mothers eat during the pregnancy period. For additional health benefits for my kid, I include certain micro-nutrients in their daily diet. We can always look up to “Mother Nature” for getting the best nutritious food through all kinds of vegetables, and fruits. I serve my toddler with fresh-cut salads, stews, and soups. As we all know, vegetables and fruits are rich sources of various minerals, vital amines, and essential macro-nutrients. Citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C. Baked beans, whole grains, and nuts are excellent sources of Zinc and Magnesium. So, I am protecting my child from infections through these food items.
Including milk and milk products seem to be a good idea for providing the right kind of nutrition to our babies. Home-cooked food items are hygienic and nutritious. One category of food item I avoid is the artificially processed one as it is not as nutritious as it is required to be.
As per my understanding, it is better to avoid food or water laced with a high quantity of sugar, salt, and saturated fatty acids. Lemon water is healthy along with other solutions sprinkled with mint leaves, parsley, and slices of cucumber. All our babies need to be kept hydrated and I give my baby around 8 to 10 cups of liquids per day. As per my observation, my baby loves to drink fresh citrus fruit juices, milk, and coconut water.
It would be a wonderful idea to make meals fun for our kids. Let the children choose what they want to eat from a bunch of healthy and nutritious food items you provide them with. I am aware that breastfeeding up to 2 years is most ideal, and I did that for my baby. Engage your kids in healthy conversations while feeding them rather than watching TV or any kind of screen (mobile, laptop, desktop, notebook, or tablets).
Give good training for your kids in general hygiene like washing hands, brushing their teeth, and having a bath along with using the washroom. Ensure your toddler has washed hands before eating anything with their hands. Encourage these practices through small praises as your children always look up to you for the right appreciation. While travelling, always make it a habit to carry disposable wipes and a bottle of water for cleaning the hands and mouth straight after eating.
We have all seen that our toddlers refuse to eat by throwing tantrums and being playful with us. Here are some ways by which, you can feed your children in such scenarios. Always, sit with your child while eating and engage him/her with favourite topics while feeding them. Try offering new types of food more often than not and this will make them more curious about having new eating experiences. Please do not force your child. Give him/her enough time to eat. After a certain age, encourage him/her to be the “big boy/girl” by letting your child feed themselves. Always keep the mealtimes calm and without any kind of distractions. Offer the same food in different ways as it will make them curious as well.
It is perfectly alright if your kid wants to skip a meal once or twice. However, stop this practice if it is slowly becoming a routine. If you have any doubts about the child’s health and food intake as well as feeding patterns, discuss it with a healthcare provider, a dietician, or a nutritionist. Sometimes, the children will eat the same food again and again. Encourage the practice if it is healthy and nutritious. If not, discourage by feeding that food very less often than not. It is ideal for babies, children, and toddlers to have at least 3 small meals with 2 to 3 snacks in between. Trust your child’s appetite and let it guide the baby’s healthy and nutritious development.
Herein, I focused on how I feed my baby with healthy and nutritious food. You can also read through this article and follow the tips I discussed, as mentioned. So, what are you waiting for? Let us feed our children with healthy and nutritious food thereby boosting their immunity.
To learn what this mother has learned from her baby’s first 100 days, click here!
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Howbeit, parents should take extra care not to make their kids anxious or nervous, which will undeniably hold back their appetite. Elders should set themselves as role models for younger ones at the dining table by not fiddling and meddling with others especially kids who share the table with them and they should relish their food with a full heart. This will for sure make the kids focus on their own plate and enjoy their food. By making a better environment for dining, the children will eventually fall in love with food. Children love snacks and candies and they are never health-conscious, every parent should consider this attitude of their kids and should respect it. Parents should replace their unhealthful choices with much healthier and tastier choices and should be mindful of the nutrition intake of their kids. Accept the fact the kids are messy and encourage them to have their food themselves. 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Click here if you want to learn the must-have nutritional guidebook from one mom for every mom! Desserts that wow them After finishing their whole meal gracefully, it is better to surprise them with a healthy dessert that can be fruit salad, a piece of homemade cake, or something just as delicious. One of the most important things that every parent should keep in mind is not making any assumptions regarding the expressions made by the little one. Parenting with care Being a parent is not at all an easy task and there are no well-written rules and regulations for doing extremely well in the field of parenting. Parents are born with the little one and they will grow and learn together with them, so it is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Although, it is a challenging job, still parenting is the most fulfilling and rewarding feeling in the world. Developing a healthier eating habit in their kid happens to be the most daunting of all tasks in parenting, but this can be trounced with the above-mentioned tricks and tips.
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This situation will only serve to aggravate the condition as it can become harmful to your baby and your support systems. Complications of postpartum depression are the following: A baby/child facing the consequences of maternal depression showcases a delayed development of vocal skills, will be more restless, more prone to anxiety disorder, and might become cranky for a prolonged period. So, postpartum depression should be treated as soon as possible for your baby/child to be healthy. Being aware of all this knowledge, I was determined to fight off the postpartum depression I had. With proper support systems, I fought off my postpartum depression. You can do so as well without feeling any kind of anxiety. The tips discussed here is a good benchmark on how to fight off postpartum depression.
View MoreThings Breastfeeding Moms Should Know
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Age: 0 to 1 months
Things Breastfeeding Moms Should Know Being a mom is a great responsibility and throughout this journey, you will be having a lot of questions about the newborn and how to be a good mother to your kid and many more. Believe me, I have also been through the same and was a seriously confused person when it came to motherhood. While you are pregnant, you will be hearing many stories about other people’s experiences connected to pregnancy and childbirth. You will also be hearing stories about other responsibilities coming after childbirth and the main topic of discussion at that stage is breastfeeding. I have heard multiple stories from my friends and relatives about their breastfeeding experiences, some of them worked beautifully and some others went wrong. I was completely overwhelmed by all the information I got and was trying to demystify the process by trying to understand the basics of breastfeeding from authentic journals and also with the help of my doctors. When it comes to breastfeeding, you will be hearing non-stop opinions from others. But remember, you are the one feeding your baby so you should be the one to find a solution that works for you as well as your baby. I will share with you some basic information about breastfeeding and how it is to be done from the information I gathered from various trusted sources. You can have a good read here and can choose the information which you find apt and suitable. Before starting, let me share some information about preparing your breasts at the time of pregnancy. While you are pregnant, the glands responsible for milk making start to develop. There are multiple hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and also prolactin which play a major role in developing your breasts for feeding your baby. Your breast size will also increase while you are pregnant and also the area surrounding your nipples becomes darker which is an indication of the hormones doing their duty properly and you are getting ready enough to produce breast milk for the baby. Another doubt is when is the best time to start breastfeeding? The answer is as soon as possible. Ideally, you should breastfeed your baby within the initial hour after the delivery. Whatever concerns or confusion arise, you can seek the help of lactation consultants who are readily available at the hospitals at your service. Next is the frequency of breastfeeding. How often should you feed your baby? Initially, your baby won’t be demanding much and there is nothing to worry about because it is normal for the babies to show such a pattern. This brief feeding can also help in producing more milk supplies in your body. As the days pass by your baby will start showing a pattern for the breastfeeding frequency and this will give a signal to your body about the quantity of milk to be produced and your supply will get adjusted to the baby’s demands. It is also important to note the way how your baby latches on to your breast. If the breastfeeding latch is good, then the baby would be able to remove milk from your breasts very efficiently which helps in keeping your supply plentiful and steady. Also, note that this would also help you in avoiding sore nipples. Now that you got an idea about milk production and feeding patterns, we should also be aware of the effective and best positions to breastfeed. If your breastfeeding is effective, it encourages your baby to have a good breastfeeding latch. You can find many breastfeeding positions online and based on it, you can choose the one favourable to you. It is advised that if the newborn is having trouble latching, you could try the laid-back position or a cross-cradle position. You can also check on other positions so that you can try them once in a while or more. While you are following changing breastfeeding holds on each feeding, it would help your baby to drain milk from different areas of the breast. The production of breastmilk is based on supply and demand which means the more frequently your baby breastfeeds; the more you will be able to produce milk. There are three main stages that your breastmilk goes through in the initial weeks. During the first 0 to 5 days, the production of Colostrum begins, which is filled with essential nutrients as well as immunoglobulins. Even though your body is not producing a lot of Colostrum, the amount produced would be enough to fill your baby’s demands with everything they need. From day 5 to 14, your breasts will be feeling fuller than they were in the beginning, and at this time your milk changes from colostrum to transitional milk. After 14 days, your breasts start producing mature milk that has a thinner consistency in the beginning and becomes thicker and packed with nutrients in the end. While breastfeeding you must also be aware of the signs indicating that your baby is getting enough milk. If your baby is steadily gaining weight, going through six to eight diapers per day, and also having proper bowel movements you can easily infer that your baby is getting the milk required. If you are having issues with breastfeeding, then there are a variety of products in the market that would help you through the process. For latching problems, you can seek the help of breast shells as well as nipple shields. To protect your clothes from leaking breasts, you can use nursing pads, and also for easy breastfeeding on travel or other conditions, you can rely upon a nursing bra. Along with feeding the baby, it is also important that you must take care of yourself too. You must give yourself healthy nutrition to feed your baby. You must provide yourself time to heal and also have some proper rest. Taking a proper nap at regular intervals can be helpful to overcome the state of postpartum fatigue and also follow a healthy diet to maintain your health combined with slow and steady exercises.
View MoreNutritional Needs For Breast-Feeding Moms
10 min read
Age: 0 to 1 months
Nutritional Needs For Breast-Feeding Moms A breastfeeding mom needs a lot of nutrient-rich food to keep herself away from any stress-related issues or diseases. The right nutrients boost the health of my “little charmer”, and myself. More often than not, lactating mothers worry about the right kind of nutrients they should take for the healthy production of breast milk. Stop being anxious and read on; as you will get to know the exact nutrient needs that serve the purpose of keeping your “bundle-of-joy” healthy. In short, as per my personal experience, the nutritional status of a mother directly influences the quality and quantity of her breast milk. The extra demand for nutrients helps moms with secreting an adequate quantity of high-quality breast milk while safeguarding their health. The ten commandments of nutrient needs for breast-feeding moms, such as myself: Hydration is a must: It is no doubt that breastfeeding dehydrates a mother’s body. So, it is advisable to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water. Hydration gets provided through fresh juices, milk, and soups as well. However, refrain from the use of caffeinated drinks including coffee, tea, and chocolate drinks. DHA: The DHA from mother’s milk help babies improve their psychomotor development. Some of the major sources of DHA include cod-liver oil and various types of fish varieties. It is essential for the infant’s brain development. Iron Content: Including pulses and legumes in the mother’s food fulfil all additional demands of breast milk. Other foods with iron content include green leafy vegetables, eggs, and watermelon among others. Calcium and Vitamin D: We all know calcium facilitates bone development and Vitamin D is a vital amine that helps infants grow their immunity. Calcium is present in milk and its products. These include cheese, paneer, yoghurt, green leafy vegetables, and ragi. Vitamin D sources include egg yolk and fatty fish along with morning sunlight. 3 Nutritious Meals a day without skipping breakfast: Breastfeeding drains out a mother as the process uses up calories. These make breastfeeding moms hungrier than usual. A balanced diet is required, which includes 3 nutritious meals without ever skipping breakfast. Some of the best snack options include nuts, fruit smoothies, veg rolls, sandwiches, and fruit platters. Limit excessive sugar and fat content: It is wise to cut down on food items with excessive fat and sugar such as potato crisps, chocolate cake, and soft drinks. They have very little nutritional value, which does not do any good to a lactating mother’s health. No alcohol or smoking: The consumed alcohol passes quickly onto the breast milk and can affect the baby’s health. Common nutrient needs for breastfeeding moms include avoiding tobacco products and smoking as these can interfere with the health of both mother and baby. Avoid Dieting: Although dieting is said to improve one’s health, undertaking this process during the breastfeeding period will drastically reduce the quantity as well as the quality of breast milk. Moderate exercises like walking or swimming help mothers maintain their weight during the breastfeeding period. Proteins: Protein requirement increases during the lactation period and supports the rapid growth of the baby. The foods inclusive of proteins are eggs, milk, milk products, chicken, fish, pulses, and legumes. Galactagogues: In India, herbs such as methi seeds, jeera, dill, and special preparations of methi laddu, almond halwa, laddu, dried ginger burfi, and various recipes using green leafy vegetables are recommended for enhanced breast-milk production while improving the lactation process. Certain herbs and spices like fennel, ajwain, and garlic helps with proper digestion and avoid colic pain in babies. Now that we know about the ten commandments of nutrient needs for breastfeeding moms, a proper diet plan needs to be designed to keep track of the entire breastfeeding process. A routine plan is made and followed as designed. It helps in keeping both the mother and baby healthy as long as possible. Nutritionally speaking, seasonal fruits such as apples, grapes, pear, melons, and bananas always provide moms with the apt nutrients. Vegetables like carrot, tomato, cabbage, cucumber, and beetroot are nutritious to all breastfeeding moms. A fun fact: During breastfeeding, the variety of foods in the mom’s diet helps the baby in appreciating a variety in both flavour and taste. Replenishment of vitamins and minerals becomes a necessity for all lactating mothers, including me. Vitamin A is a key element for boosting immunity and obtaining a clear vision in babies. Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and fenugreek are rich in Vitamin A. In the case of Vitamin C, Amla is a gold mine of this nutrient. Folic Acid helps with cell multiplication. Vegetables such as cluster beans, spinach, peas, broccoli, and tomato consist of folic acid. While there is no specific diet that a breastfeeding mother should follow, a healthy routine needs to be followed. The baby benefits from breastfeeding, especially for the first 6 months. While a healthy and nutritious diet fulfils the needs of both mother and child, certain additional supplements need to be taken for following a health regimen, which improves the immunity in babies and lactating mothers. Although breastfeeding moms have their nutrient needs, the person might be allergic to certain food items. This is where additional supplements become a necessity. These should be provided under the expert supervision and prescription of a doctor. A lactating mother and her family should make sure that she gets all the nutrients needs from the food she is fed with. Fulfilling these needs helps with keeping both the mother and the child healthy and happy. The ten commandments highlight the path through which essential nutrients get incorporated into a breastfeeding mom’s diet. This nutritional diet helps in the secretion of good quality breast milk in adequate quantity. The baby gets to taste different tastes and flavours through breast milk while acquiring immunity. It helps the baby grow healthily as well. Thus, these are the nutrient needs for breastfeeding moms like me. So, what are you waiting for? Just follow through and let us secure a healthy life for our babies. If you like to learn how this mother makes healthy nutritious food for her baby, click here!
View MoreMy baby turned 100 days today – Here’s what I learned about her baby nutritional needs
10 min read
Age: 0 to 1 months
Baby nutritional needs Every parent knows that children should be fed a balanced diet. It is important that we provide our kids with a balanced diet that includes lean whole grains, fruits, proteins, and vegetables. Apart from that, you can also add a small amount of healthy fats. A balanced diet offers virtually all the nutrients that your kids need. One of the best things you can do for your baby is to start with healthy, nutritious food. At every age and stage, you can’t go wrong when you support your child learn to understand a healthy diet. Importance of breastfeeding and nutrition For a newborn, breast milk is the best. During your baby's first 3 months, breast milk or formula provides all the necessary nutrients. It contains essential vitamins and minerals to meet the baby's energy needs. Infant formulas are convenient for infants whose mothers are not able to or choose not to breastfeed. Babies as young as 3 months must drink breast milk or infant formula every few hours, or on-demand, to help meet nutritional necessities. Cow's milk or other dairy products shouldn't be fed until at least one year old. Your baby's kidneys cannot handle high levels of protein and minerals until this age. Babies digest formula is more slowly than breast milk, so if you bottle-feed your baby, he or she may drink less than breast-fed babies. There are many foods that your baby cant eat, click here to know more. Before making any decision that will affect the baby, several factors should be considered. Only in the absence of mother or mother’s milk, the baby should be given outside nutrition supplements. This can be done if the baby is allergic to milk, and substitutes should be chosen very carefully. Most of the infant formulas today are prepared from cow's milk. They are fortified to make them as close to breast milk as possible and provide babies with all the nutrients they need for growth and health. Largely cow's milk formulas comprise carbohydrates, in the form of the milk sugar "lactose", iron, protein, calcium, zinc, and additional minerals and vitamins (including A, C, D, E, and B). There is no so-called diet for a 3-month-old infant. How much should be fed and taken care of depends on the baby's weight. Most importantly, you should make sure that your baby is properly fed. When your baby appears alert and active, you can understand that her weight is steadily increasing and takes the feed 6 – 8 times a day. Also, make sure she wets and soils the diaper regularly. Generally, by the age of 3 months, babies should be supplemented with vitamin D in addition to breastfeeding. The current recommended minimum vitamin D intake for infants is 400 IU per day, soon after birth. This can be performed with the help of the morning sun. You need to remember that babies should only receive the morning sun rays as the heat is very light and has maximum benefits. Babies aged 0-3 months need 2 mg of zinc a day and breastfeeding babies should be supplemented with iron. Two months later, with the consent of the doctor, you can start to feed him juice, water, and other liquid foods as additional nutritional supplements. When feeding a baby with a bottle, it becomes very difficult to decide beforehand how much the infant will consume. He usually consumes 4 or 5 ounces of milk at the beginning of the third month and may add one ounce to each feed before the end of the third month. Some of the nutrients that babies need to grow and stay healthy include Calcium, Fat, Folate, Iron, Zinc, Protein, and carbohydrates. Your baby also needs vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K. Choosing Foods for your kids Nourishing your baby solid food too early can direct to overfeeding and being overweight. Solid foods usually do not help babies fall asleep all night. You will also find that your baby sleeps longer at night. In the first month, your baby sleeps most frequently and you need to feed them regularly. As the child grows, the feeding process will change and other foods will be added. You will only find that the child will gradually increase the quantity and the number of times will get reduced. You will observe changes every week, which will help you make decisions and feed your baby accordingly. In the second month, the baby can consume about 4 or 5 ounces per feeding. It is easy to overfeed a newborn with a bottle because it is effortless to drink from a bottle than from a breast. Make sure that the hole on the nipple of the baby bottle is the correct size. The liquid must flow slowly from the hole and not pour out. In addition, if your baby shows signs of being full resist the urge to run out of the bottle. Do not prop the baby bottle as it can cause choking and increases the possibility of getting ear infections and tooth decay. Breastfeeding moms always wonder how they realize their baby is getting enough. What goes in must come out, so counting wet diapers is a promising method to understand that your baby is getting plenty. In the first few days after birth, your baby should have at least 5 wet diapers per day. If you notice your baby having fewer wet diapers, you should immediately seek help from your baby's doctor or lactation consultant. Proper infant nutrition is essential for the continued health of children from birth to adulthood. Proper nutrition during the first three years of life is particularly crucial as these aspects reduces the risk of lifelong chronic diseases, and promotes normal physical and mental development. On the other hand, incorrect feeding techniques contribute up to a third of all issues of child malnutrition. This is compounded by the proliferation of refined foods like infant formula and commodities rich in salt, free sugars, and trans fats. This results in a rise in poor diets, obesity, and a striking reduction in the number of mothers breastfeeding their infants. Breastfeeding is essential to the development of children, including improving IQ, academic performance, and higher income in adulthood.
View MoreUnderstanding Baby Language
10 min read
Age: 0 to 1 months
Making Sense Of Goo Gaa & Ga Ga- Understanding Baby Language Every animal has its way of communicating mutually since its birth, just as it's kind. Dogs bark, cat's meow, cows bellow, horses neigh, so on and so forth. Humans are social animals and as conversationalists, we all have our language of communication. However, by birth, we as babies, go with the baby talk, Goo Goo Gaga or Gaga Goo Goo. The active and passive voice of babies. We were all born with this natural ability to interact with our fellow humans, be it parents, relatives, or even other babies. However, as we grow up, we forget what each goo goo gaga means and we end up unable to understand our babies when we ourself become a parent. The explanatory term used for this kind of loose talk is called babbling. Understanding baby language is an important step towards parenting. Baby talk may mean a lot of things and each babble is toned and pitched differently, just as how a k9 or feline’s bark or meow, respectively, varies with the length, sound, and modulation of it. These acoustic details in conjunction with the body language and mannerism, help us to understand what our little one is trying to tell us. From feeling hunger to feeling sleepy, restless, or any of the other exhibited emotions, let us look at the different connotations of Gaga Goo Goo, made by babies, to better understand them. The Art of Babbling by Babies Newborn babies start to make gibberish sounds of cooing and babbling with their vocal cords as you as 2 or 3 months old. Initially, they are just spurs and mumbles that are short-toned. For the most part, babies wail and whimper to gain our attention. However, as they grow a bit old within say 4 to 5 months, they start to conjoin individual sounds as though they have their own words to bring together into sentences. Hence the phrase Go-Go Gaga. Babbling is most important for babies as much as their day-to-day milk consumption! Babies make voluntary and involuntary sounds, just as adults do. Sounds like coughing, sneezing, burping, grunting, etc, all fall under the latter category. The former category includes the babbling, cooing, and mumbling sounds that babies make. Baby’s initial attempts at trying to talk, include sounds of giggling, cooing, and sometimes even laughing. Crying however is a reflexive action that even newborn babies can do at ease. So that is the most common way of drawing attention towards oneself, even among adults! Babbling truly starts when your newborn arrives at a half year old enough. As of now, children will make longer sounds that have more assortment, complex tone and volume, and syllable variety. Your newborn has gathered many sounds and commotions from you and others around them. At the point when your child sounds seem like ga ga, this is alluded to as reduplicated Babbling, or redundancy of a similar syllable again and again. Non-reduplicated Babbling would be the joining of sounds and syllables into, you got it! Gaga Goo Goo! From Babbling to Being Awesome! As children begin to grow up a bit, they begin to utilize their hands as an approach to speak with others. They will point at specific items to say “I need that! or offer that to me!” Other than the hand signals and sounds, babies additionally convey by reflexes. Countless various kinds of reflexes assist parents with getting what their child is attempting to say. As indicated by different examinations, when a child is ravenous, they will in general take hold of their mom's bosom or areola, which is known as the Sucking Reflex. Another reflex that children will in general utilize is the Startle Reflex when babies spread out their arms and legs. A child would uphold themselves like this to tell individuals that they are staying away from a fall. Another model is the Hand-to-Mouth Reflex, which is when babies begin to suck on an item. Babies are as cute and conversational as they can be! Even though they cannot genuinely say words to us, they can in any case utilize non-verbal communication to mention to individuals what they need or how they are feeling. Babies are more brilliant than you might suspect! To learn more about if your baby is hungry or has had enough click here
View MoreHow Much Is Too Much Food For My Baby
10 min read
Age: 0 to 1 months
Too Much Food Isn't All That Good They say you can never have too much of a good thing, which is an understatement at times. However, when it comes to food and baby food, we need to be very careful and make sure our newborn gets the right amount of nourishment, for the little one’s nutrition needs. No more, no less is the target to stay focused upon. So, you might be wondering, 'how much is too much food for my newborn?' Being a parent to a one-year-old infant can be cumbersome at times. Especially in terms of prepping breakfast, lunch, or supper for your junior tyke. Babies have a very delicate tum-tum and an even more complex taste palate, as they are still growing and developing their taste buds as well as their digestive system. Parents may not know about the hunger or feeling full signs that a child is trying to say. For some new parents, feeding Signs aren't something that they have learned previously. To ensure a child gets the perfect measure of nourishment, parents should benefit from interest, or at whatever point the child is hungry, and shouldn't take care of past the mark of having a full belly. Since there is commonly more worry about depriving, many parents don't understand that it's additionally conceivable to overfeed children - particularly in case they are bottle-fed baby formula food or mother’s milk. At the point when infants cry, hunger is one of the primary things that ring a bell. Furthermore, feeding is something any new parent will ponder a few times each day. So, what amount should a child eat? (Tip- your baby is eating too much if he's regularly eating more than what is recommended) Let’s dive right into all the things you need to know about your baby’s food requirements and how well you can know your infant when it comes to being super-duper hungry or a belly full of happiness and nourishment! Hunger Signs – The Trick to Knowing Your Newborn, Inside Out There is always a notion among parents that if they feed their babies a little more than enough, the child would not feel hungry for a few hours or so. This methodology is completely wrong and you may end up cleaning your baby’s throw-ups or worse, changing the diapers more frequently! So, make sure you feed your kid just the right amount, keeping in mind the thumb rule of no more, no less. That said, when it comes to feeding milk in the form of lactating or giving your baby the bottle, we can easily go more scientific and mathematical by sterilizing the bottle, making sure it is the right temperature and quantity with easily scalable measurement apparatuses. It's regular to stress that hunger is the issue when your child cries. Nonetheless, crying is normally one of the last signs that your child is starving, and can regularly demonstrate an alternate issue - may be a wet diaper or needing a difference in position. The most well-known signs that your child is starving and prepared to eat include licking lips, pulling for milk, sucking fingers, or putting hands in the mouth. (want to learn more about understanding your baby? How Much Food Can An Infant Eat Every Day? Babies don’t get much of a workout as compared to us, both physically and mentally, to burn all that food and accumulated energy. Make sure it is not overfed, otherwise it could put your infant in a state of tummy trouble! While each child is unique, there are general rules on how much a normal child needs to eat to develop. For instance, paediatricians commonly exhort that newborn children are more youthful than a half year, who are not yet eating any strong food sources like oats or purees, drink 2 ounces of baby formula food or mother’s milk per pound of bodyweight like clockwork. Remember, milk is but a beverage for adults. When it comes to babies, it counts as a full-course meal for them! So always stick to the same volume, until such time your baby starts to develop its appetite and grow in age. Some babies may have a lesser appetite than others, just as many adults. While some standard routines can be something to be thankful for, plans that are too inflexible may accomplish more problems than anything. At the point when you're giving a lot of consideration to the clock, you may miss your child's signs disclosing to you that they are hungry or full. If you at any point feel like your child's nourishment or weight isn't the place where it should be, your paediatrician will want to offer extra approaches to assist with getting your kid on target for a sound turn of events. Take notes on what this father learnt about Nutrition by clicking here.
View More10 foods your baby can’t eat
10 min read
Age: 0 to 1 months
What your baby can't eat and can A baby is very precious. It is the most beautiful gift of God. And we want to give our babies the best of everything we have access to. While trying to give the best to our babies, we often get carried away and tend to do things that are not right for a baby. It is our responsibility to be hundred per cent careful what we are giving to them, especially what we are feeding them. Keeping that in mind, we have collated a list of things that your newborn baby can't eat and what your baby can. Edibles you can give to newborn babies or infants. Breast milk: Today it is common knowledge that breast milk is the ultimate food for newborn babies. Breast milk has the perfect composition of vitamins, protein, fat which aptly fulfils the necessities of a delicate infant stomach. It also contains antibodies that help an infant fight various diseases caused mainly due to different bacteria and viruses. Here are some nutritional facts about a mother’s breast milk, and how it helps sustain life since birth – Breast milk consists of millions of live cells, including WBC, as well as stem cells, which helps boost the child’s immune system while allowing its organs to grow and develop properly. It contains more than a thousand types of proteins and different kinds of amino acids. This not only helps in active muscle development but also protects and develops neurons in the brain. It also has 200 plus complex sugars called oligosaccharides acting as natural probiotics, or good bacteria, looking after your baby’s gut. It also prevents any kind of infection from entering the bloodstream. It also contains hormones that help regulate your baby’s eating and sleeping habits, bonding with parents (especially mother) and other habits. Moreover, a mother’s breast milk is also loaded with vitamins and minerals, enzymes, growth factors, fatty acids, microRNAs, antibodies and a lot more. It is no doubt a big factor behind your newborn’s healthy development. Hence, we strongly suggest breast milk be the only food that your newborn baby intakes, at least for the first six months of his or her birth. Formula milk: First things first. If you are currently producing enough breast milk to sustain your child, then stay away from formula milk. Remember that an infant has a small belly, and usually a mother’s breast milk is enough. However, if your milk is not being sufficient to fill your baby’s stomach, you can consult a paediatrician and start feeding measured portions of formula milk. Here are a few signs to understand that your baby needs formula milk – Flattened or slack stomach Poor weight gain Insufficient/smelly poop Dehydration Constant sucking of the thumb Lack of sleep Constant crying If you come across the above symptoms, consult your child’s paediatrician and start feeding formula milk two to three times a day, in small 20 ml – 30 ml portions. Vitamin D supplements: While a mother’s milk has ample nutritional value, it may not be the best source of vitamin D for babies. Hence, it is a common practice among doctors to prescribe vitamin d syrup to babies. Giving vitamin D supplements on a daily basis while breastfeeding helps improve their bone development and also protects them against the deadly rickets disease. Also, the AAP recommends all breastfed babies be given vitamin D supplements within the first few days of his or her birth. Prescribed nutrition supplements: These supplements are usually given to newborn babies with specific deficiencies. An iron supplement is a commonly prescribed nutrition supplement. 10 Foods you cannot give to newborn babies or infants. Salt and sugar: Though salt and sugar are on the list, it is hard to think of food without these two. The solution? You just need to be cautious about the amount of each you are giving to your baby. Remember too much salt is bad for the kidneys. Also, your newborn baby really doesn’t need sugar at all. Saturated fat: If you have a habit of tossing in bits of crisps, biscuits, chips, cakes, or candy – because he likes it – stop it right away. Saturated fat is accumulated in the blood and weakens your baby’s metabolism and degrades heart health. Cheese: Cheese is no doubt good for your baby’s diet if fed in measured portions as part of their meal, but only after the first six months. Cheese is a good source of calcium, vitamin, and proteins, hence good for your baby’s health. However, avoid giving mould-ripened soft cheese or ripened goat milk cheese as they carry a bad bacteria called listeria. Raw or rare cooked eggs/raw yolk: Feeding anything to your infant, other than the mother’s breast milk, or prescribed formula milk, is not a good idea. Not at least till he or she completes one year. Raw egg or egg yolk contains a very concentration of protein. And an infant’s stomach doesn’t produce such strong enzymes to digest the protein. Remember, the protein sourced from breast milk is adequate for the baby, and his digestion process also works accordingly. Honey: Honey often harbours the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This bacteria produces a toxin called botulinum which is known to cause lethargy, weakens the suckering, weakens muscles and causes constipation in babies. Hence, it is good to avoid honey at least till the first year of the baby’s birth. Cow’s/buffalo’s milk (or any milk which has a thick density): Cow’s of buffalo’s milk contains a high content of lactose which is undoubtedly heavy on your newborn baby’s stomach. Don’t worry. You will have to keep away from cow’s milk for only a year. After your baby turns one year old, and its stomach is stronger, you can feed him or her cow’s milk. However, ensure that the milk is properly pasteurized and thinned a little by adding plain water. Citrus fruit juice: You might think it’s a good idea to feed a baby some fruit juice. Myth – go ahead. Fact – hold on. The citrus acids will be too heavy on your baby’s stomach. This can cause indigestion, severe gas which will then lead to vomit, stomach pain and even fever. Seafood/shellfish/fishes: Seafood and shellfish can cause different kinds of allergies in children, especially so for newborn babies. Also, various fishes like tuna and mackerel are known to contain high levels of mercury, and should not be fed to infants, till they are more than two years old. Soft foods like jellies or marshmallows: Let’s put it simply. First, it is not needed and second, it has high chances of getting stuck in your baby’s food pipe, leading to choking. So, it is always good to be careful. Peanut butter: A newborn baby is very delicate and is often allergic to a lot of things. Peanut butter is recommended as a big no-no for newborns. Allergy caused due to peanut butter can lead to suffocation, swollenness of face, hands and feet, and other painful irritation. You can feed your baby a paste of dry fruits like walnuts, cashew, hazelnut, but only after the initial six months to one year of his or her birth. If you would like to know what's the best food plan for your baby, click here.
View MoreMust-have foods for newborn- The quest for ideal nutrition
10 min read
Age: 0 to 1 months
Must-have foods for newborn Congratulations on being a new mom. The new guest has surely filled your heart with unfathomable emotions. Whether it be joy, delight, intimidation, anxiety, or even postpartum irritability, your baby has put you on an emotional roller coaster. Even if it's the firstborn, the second-born, or even the later-born, this experience feels new each time and every time. As a mom, you have started finding cuteness in anything and everything your baby does. Moreover, if you are reading this, then it is safe to say that you have begun your thrilling journey by spending hours searching for the right diet and supplements. However, the ever-increasing pile of products and their advertisements is compromising your search. Furthermore, the stack of dedicated articles, blogs, YouTube videos, and peer pressure is further complicating your search and clouding your judgments. Therefore, how to deal with all this data, conflicting opinions and arrive at a fruitful conclusion! Let us see! The best and foremost among your choices must be breast milk- “the nectar of life”. Since the baby’s digestive tract is in its developing phase and needs to be mature to handle solid foods, breast milk serves as the prime source of essential nutrients. Breast milk has three different stages- colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. Colostrum is rich in proteins, fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and immunoglobulins helps to create passive immunity, and protects the baby from a wide variety of bacterial and viral infections. The transitional milk with high calories, high levels of fat, lactose, and other water-soluble vitamins, and the mature milk with a percentage composition of 90% of water and 10% of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, keeps your baby hydrated and provides strength and energy. The only downside is the lack of vitamin D that you should supplement. While you are establishing your breastfeeding routine, keep your breastfeeds between seven and twelve times a day. You need to remember that frequent and efficient feeding is the only way to ensure ample supply for your baby every day. Formula feeding is the next best and healthy choice. Generally, formula milk or infant formula employs cows' milk that has been broken down into simpler forms. Such baby formulas ensure easy and convenient availability of all essential nutrients including vitamin D. Generally, the formula comes in two different forms- a dry powder that needs to be prepared with water, and a ready-to-feed liquid formula. While the latter can be convenient, it tends to be more expensive and offers no shelf life once opened. Nowadays, a wide range of brands and types of formulas are available in pharmacies and shops near us. The first step is to seek the advice of your doctor or nutrition expert. As per Food Safety and Standard Authorities of India, FSSAI regulations, the formula must be packed in hermetically sealed, clean, and sound containers or flexible packs of paper. Therefore, you should avoid broken or deflated packaging. In addition, you should choose a formula that has not exceeded its expiry date. Go through the contents to ensure that the ingredients adhere to FSSAI regulations and are back traceable to their origin. You should always choose gluten-free formulas and BPA-free packaging. Healthy vegetable purees are a good option once your baby turns 4 months old. The addition of pureed vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins serve as a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients and it allows the baby to experience different flavours. Even fruit purees such as apples, bananas, pears, and avocadoes can supply large amounts of monosaturated fatty acids, fibre, potassium, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients to your baby. Make sure to purchase organic and fresh vegetables and fruits. You must also soak them in warm salt water and rinse thoroughly before use. BPA-free packaging is ideal and procuring freshly harvested veggies and fruits will offer superior nutritional value to your baby. In about six months, your baby uses up all of the iron gained from you. So, it becomes necessary to incorporate iron-rich food into the menu. You should start with a semi-liquid, iron-fortified cereal such as rice or wheat. You should choose a single grain formula at first and you should always introduce new foods one at a time and in small quantities to check the dietary response of your baby and allergies if any. Avoid lumps to prevent choking. If your baby seems happy and satisfied, slowly increase the quantity over time. If you would like to learn more about what a baby can and cannot have, click here. Being concerned and loving parents, we must remember that the right choice of food and dietary supplements will undoubtedly help our babies to grow into healthy and happy adults, and thereby contribute to the development and establishment of dynamic, productive, and progressive families and societies therein.
View MoreFeeding your newborn: Do’s and Don’ts
10 min read
Age: 0 to 1 months
Our Advice On Feeding Your Newborn Baby Hello new-moms! You must be experiencing utmost happiness after being blessed with your angels. This phase of life is wonderful for sure, but at the same time, full of worries and anxieties. Being a new mother, it is not possible for you to know everything and that’s perfectly normal. So, do not worry a bit and enjoy the blessing you have in your arms and prepare yourself to take the best care for the little one. Caring for your baby surely starts with feeding and we are here to help you understand the specifics of newborn feeding. We will talk about what to do and what to avoid. Food choice for your newborn has just two options. Either breastfeed (which is obviously the most preferable one) or formula milk (can’t avoid this if the situation demands). In case you are not able to breastfeed your baby, you will have to go for formula milk. You will surely get detailed guidelines for preparing and using formula milk from your paediatrician. Here, we will discuss the things you need to keep in mind while breastfeeding your newborn baby. The Do’s: Positive thinking: Positive attitude towards life solves most of the troubles. Breastfeeding is a serious thing and unless you are very positive about the process, you are sure to face trouble. Yes, it can happen that your baby is unable to latch properly for feeding, or you may face the problem of having a low supply of breast milk. All your problems can be sorted with ease if you maintain positive thinking. Asking for expert help: It is not possible for a first-time mother to understand the right way of holding the baby while breastfeeding. You may also find it difficult to understand why the baby is not able to latch properly. In such cases, do not hesitate to ask for expert help. In general, the elderly females in the family will help you to solve the problems. You can also take the help of professional lactation specialists. Cleanliness is important: Make sure to maintain proper hygiene. The feeding bottles need regular cleaning and so does your breasts. You must clean your nipples with a moist cloth each time before feeding your baby; else the accumulated sweat and dirt on your skin will harm your baby. Eat and drink healthy: Whatever you eat or drink provides you with nutrition. These nutrients are then converted into breast milk. Thus, you have to make sure that you are properly nourished so that the required nourishments can be passed on to your baby. There are cases where the mothers have enough breast milk, but the milk is not nutritious enough for the baby. In such situations, the paediatricians have no other choice but to prescribe formula milk. It is thus important to maintain a healthy diet for nursing mothers. Stay away from stress: Stress affects the quality and quantity of breast milk. Stay calm while you feed your baby. In case you are very stressed due to unavoidable reasons, give yourself some time to recover from the situation. The best way is to spend some time alone with your baby and then begin feeding. The Don'ts No smoking – no alcohol: Smoking and drinking is a big NO for nursing moms. You have to keep yourself under control (in case you are addicted to any of these) for the sake of your baby. Do not wait to feed till the baby cries: Newborn babies must be fed at regular intervals. In general, the gap between two feedings must not be more than two hours. Sometimes the baby may not cry to be fed, so you have to look for signs like sucking fingers, opening the mouth, or searching for the nipples, etc. Do not wait till the baby starts crying for hunger. Even when your baby is sleeping, make sure to wake him up and feed in time. Learn more about what your baby is trying to communicate by clicking here. Don’t say no to modern gadgets: Modern mothers are blessed with the availability of extraordinary gadgets to make breastfeeding easier. A working mother can easily take the benefit of breast pumps to extract breast milk and use it when she is not at home. If the baby is unable to latch properly due to the shape or size of the nipple, you can use the breast shields. The breast or nipple shields are also helpful at times when you develop sore nipples. Do not hesitate to use the gadgets with the notion that your mother or grandmother never used such things. They didn’t because they didn’t have them. Why should you deprive yourself? Never say ‘I Can’t’: Your baby may not latch properly or latch at all for the first few days. You may not produce a single drop of milk for the first few days. You may have a very low supply of breast milk and the doctor has to prescribe formula milk. Do not lose hope if any of these happens. Make yourself strong and chant the magic words ‘I can’! Miracles do happen and it is seen in several instances that the troubles are gone with time. A happy mother can nurture a happy baby. Remember that when you are feeding your baby, you are providing the little one with the most nutritious and tasty food. Feeding the newborn can be tough at times, but it is the most blissful experience of life. Enjoy this phase to the fullest till it lasts.
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