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Top 6 Summer Food for Babies: Quick Remedy for Dehydration in Babies
Babies and toddlers can have a difficult time during the summer. As a result of the heat, your baby may become cranky, irritable, and sweaty and have difficulty eating. Babies often suffer from loss of appetite and dehydration during this phase – a worrying sign for us moms. The child could be affected by either of these conditions if they don’t receive enough nutrition and fluids as required by their bodies.
Best Summer Foods For Babies
Let’s get down to the meat and potatoes of what your baby should be eating this summer. You may notice that your little one feels uncomfortable and heavy when eating Indian food like sabzi and roti. Even though these foods are undoubtedly good for you, it is advisable to balance them with lighter foods that are easier on your stomach. Here find the summer food that works for you.
To keep your baby cool, nourished, and protected against dehydration this summer, here are the best foods to feed him. Here are foods and drinks for babies who have been introduced to solid foods and are at least 6 months old.
Coconut Water
Your baby’s body will be replenished with fluids after drinking coconut water, particularly if he has sweated a lot and lost a lot of water. When dehydration occurs, plain unsweetened coconut water works best.
The potassium in coconut water helps regulate the body’s temperature. Additionally, coconut water keeps your digestive system lubricated and cools the body. According to research, coconut water is electrolytically balanced, much like human blood. Coconut water is a go-to solution for dehydration in babies.
For babies over six months, coconut water is easily digestible since it contains the same amount of lauric acid as breast milk. Additionally, it has no further cooking requirements and is sterile and perfectly safe. You can serve it directly to the baby or make other meals like cereal.
Lemonade
The combination of lemonade and fresh mint leaves…yum! This classic beverage combats dehydration successfully. Lemonade can be made in large quantities and stored in the refrigerator. When the heat outside becomes unbearable, offer your child this drink!
Your baby should stay healthy and hydrated during the hot summer months by drinking these summer foods and drinks. However, if your baby continues to have feeding problems and loses weight, it is best to consult your doctor to determine whether your baby has a stomach bug.
Watermelon
When thinking about summer foods, the first thing that comes to mind is watermelon. That’s not surprising, considering they are almost 90% water. You cannot think of anything more moisturizing than that!
As well as hydrating, watermelons are abundant in vitamins, mainly containing vitamins A and B. In addition to containing antioxidants, watermelons also contain lycopene, which enhances skin health.
In some cases, melons may cause allergic reactions; therefore, watermelons are recommended to be introduced after 8 months of age. It is possible to introduce watermelons earlier in situations where there is no one in the family with food allergies or sensitivities.
It is best to cut out the flesh to ensure there is no rind left in the watermelon when feeding babies. Make sure all seeds have been removed. Depending on your needs, you can mash it into a puree, prepare it in chunks or sticks, or serve it as a portion of finger food.
Yoghurt
There are times when the solution to a specific problem is right there before us, yet we only become aware of it later! Curd, the Indian equivalent of yoghurt, is traditionally served every meal, but its probiotic properties have recently gained attention.
As well as being an excellent digestive aid and the perfect cooling summer food, probiotic yoghurt is an excellent source of probiotics. In addition to providing babies with protein and calcium, yoghurt also offers probiotics, which boost immunity, improve skin appearance, and support the healthy tooth and bone development. It acts as a quick solution to dehydration in babies.
Since yoghurt does not contain lactose, it is an exception to the recommendation not to give baby milk under one year of age. Introducing it as early as six months is comfortable for babies since it is easily digestible.
Bananas
Many people don’t realize that bananas are a great summer food, but they are among the most popular foods for babies worldwide. Using bananas as astringents will enable the body tissues to absorb more water, thereby cooling the whole body. Try raw banana powder to obtain the most nutrients.
The potassium content of bananas is probably its most distinguishing characteristic. The potassium in a medium banana prevents dehydration during the summer months. In addition to providing energy, bananas also provide nutrients such as Vitamins B6, C, magnesium, and antioxidants.
Since bananas are easily digestible and unlikely to cause allergic reactions in babies over six months, bananas are ideal for them. If bananas are mashed, they can be served as finger food or cut into chunks as a dessert. In addition to using bananas as a natural sweetener, mashed bananas can also be used as a baby food sweetener.
Papaya
There are papaya trees in most Indian backyards, making this fruit a staple in Indian recipes. Papayas are enjoyed raw and ripe, but many don’t realize that they are a great summer fruit.
Nearly 90% of the papaya’s weight is made up of water. In addition, papaya contains an enzyme called papain that promotes digestion, so the body doesn’t have to use more energy to digest it. Furthermore, papayas contain various nutrients, meaning that they are even used in some traditional treatments. It is one of the best summer foods that acts as a solution for dehydration in babies.
The papaya contains many nutrients, including vitamins A and C and folate and beta carotene. Papayas contain many antioxidants, so they help prevent disease. Furthermore, they prevent constipation and inflammation.
Papayas are great for them after introducing other essential first foods to an infant over 7-8 months.
Due to the ripe papaya’s natural sweetness, it can easily be mashed and fed to babies.
This Summer, Cool Off.
Heatstroke, dehydration, heat rash, sleeplessness, and others can be caused by the summer season. The weather is hot and humid, so most of us stay indoors and use fans and air conditioners to keep cool during this time of year. Likewise, loose clothing made of cotton and light-coloured clothing can also be helpful! Summer is a fantastic season. Choose the best summer foods as a solution for dehydration in babies. The summer holiday season is right around the corner! As a family, enjoy the warmer summer months together, but remember to stay cool this summer by taking proper measures to keep your child’s body cool and relaxed. Maintain a healthy diet that includes these superfoods and keep the baby hydrated with adequate amounts of water.
Source: summer food for babies.
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Dad’s Guide to Baby’s First Foods
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So far, your baby has only needed breast milk or formula as a source of nutrients. However, she must move on to solid food to maintain her growth. It is essential to be aware of a baby's first food when that occurs. Health professionals recommend waiting until they're around six months old before beginning solids for babies younger than six months. Solids are more like purees and mushes than solid food. However, your little one may be ready a few weeks earlier than that mark. Signs that your child is ready to eat solid food You can tell your baby is ready for solids or baby's first food by the following signs. The baby looks a bit hungry after a milk feeding - he's waiting for more to come. Make noticeable chewing faces with your fork as you put it into your mouth. Pay attention to your mouth as you eat. She was trying to grab food within reach or pointing at the food on the table. Holding his head up and taking food with his tongue for long periods. A child who isn't ready for solid food will push the food out again, a reflex commonly seen in infants. The best advice for Dads or any parents is to observe their child and be patient when it comes to feeding the baby's first food. Here are the first foods that you should feed your baby It would be best if you pureed or solid mashed foods thoroughly so that they are almost runny so that you don't upset your child's stomach. Since your baby's digestion is still developing and doesn't have any teeth yet, first solid foods should be pureed or mashed. Among good first foods are beans, squash, and carrots. Cooked and pureed apples, pears, apricots, peaches, pumpkin, peas, sweet potatoes, and green beans. It is best to give your baby iron-rich cereal or rice. If you mix them with breast milk or formula, the baby gets more iron. Bananas and avocados are uncooked and mashed. Here are some ways to introduce solid food to your baby: Before giving your baby any formula, give him a milk feeding. Solid food is introduced after milk feeding for up to 8 months. Make sure your baby does not react to one food for three to five consecutive days to make sure there is no reaction. Your first food should be tried when your baby appears relaxed and happy, not when she's starving, tired, or angry. Early in the afternoon or at lunchtime are good times to introduce it. The carrots may not be appealing at first, but that's okay. You can try again tomorrow, and if the baby still doesn't seem interested, you can wait a few days before trying again. You may have to try ten different foods before discovering your princess's passion for one. You should let your baby decide how much to eat. She will likely not enjoy consuming vegetables if forced to eat them. Take her appetite into consideration. Begin by giving her a few teaspoons of vegetables. Since babies have an empathetic sense of taste, they don't require salt, sugar, or spices to flavour their food. A baby's first food should be neutral, nutrient-rich, and easy to digest. Some people insist on heating their baby's food, but this comes down to baby’s preference rather than parental taste. Before spooning him food that's been heated, test that it's not scalding hot before offering it to him. Unless you like orange patterns on your kitchen floor, you'll need a high chair, lots of bibs, and some protective plastic mat. It's easier for your baby's gums to use a plastic feeding spoon, which is smaller and gentler. When you compare it to your baby's tiny mouth, plastic spoons seem enormous. Food can become less runny and more textured as your baby gets older. Routines and foods to try Mixing different foods will allow your baby to experience a variety of tastes once they have mastered solid food. Introduce meat into her diet because she needs more iron to support the growth of her rapidly developing brain at six months old. Here are some food options to add to the baby's menu: It is essential to puree, mince, or make a broth of meats such as beef, chicken, liver, and lamb so infants can eat them. The yolk of a hard-boiled egg Melon, plum, and nectarines that have not been cooked Toast, cereals, and crackers make great finger foods. Introduce these foods after the baby has been eight months old: Spaghetti, cabbage, and creamed corn cooked together Fish, except if your family is known to react negatively to fish, in which case you should wait until your child is a year old Rice and pasta Unless you have a family history of nut allergies, wait until your child is three years old before giving it smooth peanut butter. Foods made from soy, such as tempeh and tofu Kiwifruit, oranges, strawberries, pineapples, and tomatoes If there is a dairy allergy in your family, wait until your baby is a year old before giving them yogurt, cheese, custard, and ice cream. When babies start with solid food, the baby's first food can be a good starting point. Eight months after your baby's birth, you can introduce finger foods such as slices of soft fruit, mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables, and pasta. Keeping your baby away from hard popcorn kernels, hard nuts, or hard candy will prevent them from choking. A baby's diet will become increasingly dependent upon solid food after eight months and even replace milk. In addition to your child's three daily meals, breastmilk or formula snacks can be given mid-morning and afternoon if your doctor approves. It is important to encourage family meals from the start. Bring the highchair up to the table with your two children so that you can enjoy a meal together. Through your actions, you will teach your baby the mechanics of eating to understand how to share a meal with others and eat healthy food. You can find more information about baby's first food on Yummy Valley's blog. Baby's first food tips for dads: Make sure your baby does not inherit your food preferences. To illustrate this point, if you don't like broccoli, you shouldn't introduce it to your baby in a manner indicating you don't like it. After all, why should your baby enjoy broccoli if you don't like it? Whenever you serve food, make encouraging noises, such as "Yummmyyy broccoli." To feed the baby's first food, make the feeding process fun. Tips for new dads who want to start their baby's introduction to solid food successfully will allow you to create your baby's introduction to solids on the right foot. As you prepare for each stage, not only will you ensure that your baby is ready for success, but you will also be able to rest easy before your infant's first feeding. To obtain more information, you can always contact your pediatrician. We hope you enjoy the journey! As your baby's first solid food, try Yummy Valley's, Millet Health Mix.
View MoreBaby Meal Planning for Busy Parents: Kids Diet Plan
10 min read
Have a baby
There has to have been a time in your life when you asked yourself the same question. How can you prepare baby food efficiently when you are a busy parent? It is possible for you to have to take care of your family, work, and manage the household simultaneously on a given day. When you are juggling many things simultaneously, juggling one thing can become overwhelmingly complicated. It is, therefore, essential that you become focused on this task by following some tips to help ease your burden and simplify the process. Kids diet plan I am interested in cooking healthy, delicious meals for my family. Being a busy mother and business owner, wife and friend, etc., means that I wear a lot of hats, and I don't always have time to spend an hour or two in the kitchen every night. And I know I'm not alone. There is nothing wrong with moms having a hard time planning meals, but they feel too busy to do so is a big challenge. But if you make a habit of meal planning, it is not as hard as you think. Just a few ideas will help you get started on a kids diet plan. The easy way to plan meals: 7 simple steps for busy Moms The following is a recipe round-up and a meal planning guide for busy moms to make a kids diet plan. 1. Plan the meals you can prepare for the entire week by thinking about them. An initial planning session takes only a few minutes. This does not need to be an involved process or time-consuming. It would be best to plan your meals for the week every week. Practice makes perfect, and the more you practice, the easier it will be to decide what to cook with minimal effort. 2. Create a list of favorite foods you eat at your house. Identify the foods you enjoy eating and compile a list of them. Next week, you will use the previous menu to plan since it will be ready to use. You can alternate it every two weeks or toss it up creatively to avoid boredom with a particular meal. You could substitute some ingredients or experiment with the flavors. The customization process also saves you time by allowing you to change a few components without thinking about replacing the rest. 3. Ask family members for help. By delegating some meal planning tasks to other members, you make the process easier. Get help to prepare a kids diet plan. For example, you can prepare the food, and another family member can shop for the foods you listed. And they can even do the dishes after you're done cooking. My sons love to participate in the kitchen, and I love teaching them about healthy eating as we cook together. 4. Prepare foods that can be served twice. If you do not have a plan, it is best to double up on the dishes. Besides reducing your cooking time, it is a great idea. Cooked foods can easily be stored in the fridge or freezer and reheated for another meal later in the week. Store your foods in airtight containers to ensure fresh and safe. 5. Post-shop prep Getting into the habit of prepping food in advance can save you a lot of time when it comes time to cook. Once we get home from the grocery store, one of the first things we do is cut up all the vegetables and fruits. If you want to cook a vegetable stir-fry, for example, the vegetables are already cut up, so you don't have to worry about it when feeding your family. Prep and package your healthy foods and ingredients during a time that works best for your schedule late in the week. 6. Embrace the slow ways of cooking Make sure that you place your favorite rice, meat, herbs and spices in the pot the night before. While you work or run errands, the food will be cooked. When everyone is home, there is nothing better than a home-cooked meal. You can also use pressure cookers, like the Instant Pot, to prepare meals in less than 30 minutes. 7. You should try one new recipe each week or once a month - This is a time consuming and energy-consuming task, but it will keep your home meals fresh. It would be best if you chose a simple recipe with everyday ingredients. As a result, you will save time and money shopping at the grocery store. Perhaps you will even save time by not making a trip to the grocery store. Include healthy recipes in your kids' diet plan. Tips for busy parents Be prepared to have leftovers. It is always best to make enough food for leftovers to cook as a quick meal when you need it. As well as using leftover ingredients for a salad, you can use them as snacks. You can always grab a protein muffin as a snack or a breakfast on the go! Most muffins are easy to make in 30-40 minutes and are made with a lot of the same ingredients as pancakes, so feel free to prepare them together at the same time. Breakfast cookies only need a few ingredients, taking only a few minutes to prepare. Two days' worth of cookies is usually enough. Why does it take me only five minutes to cook my breakfast on Sunday night? My breakfast is ready two days in advance. I like that idea. Making guacamole at home is something I've been doing lately. As a result of making them myself, I have never decided to purchase them, but I can't return to buying them after I make them. It takes only a few minutes, and the results are awe-inspiring! It can be used as a dip for veggies, on wraps, in taco salads, and more! Keep the babies in mind. These are meal planning tips based on my experience of being a busy parent. Every baby is different, and every mom is different, so these meal plans may not always work for your family or situation. This is just some advice from one mom to another. I know from personal experience how hard it can be to try to get it all done. Try to make a kids diet plan as simple as possible. In the end, planning your baby's meals will almost always require some level of foresight. It might be a good idea to plan and prepare a week's worth of food at the beginning of the week, or you may want to plan each night's meal during the day. However you choose to do it, it's essential to get into the habit of preparing your baby's meals, so you're not scrambling on those nights when you are busiest. As a busy parent, you need to keep up with dozens of things daily. Your baby's nutrition should not be one of them. Get healthy baby food from Yummy Valley.
View More6 Baby weight gain foods you must try now
10 min read
Have a baby
Weight-gaining foods for babies Your child is too cute to imagine being cuter - but you might wonder if they're growing as fast as they should. If you have that doubt, then try baby weight gain foods. Those of you concerned that your baby is too tiny should note that, in the first few days of life, your baby will lose 3–7% and even as much as 10% of his birth weight, which he will regain by the end of the second week. Infants should gain about 0.45 kilograms per month until they reach the 6-month mark. Around the end of their first year, infants should weigh triple their birth weight. The numbers above are averages, and a healthy baby may gain different amounts of weight depending on their birth weight, rate of growth, and other factors. At any time during your baby's well-baby checkup, you can discuss weight gain with your paediatrician. As long as you and your healthcare practitioner have ruled out any medical factors preventing your child from gaining weight, such as heart or digestive issues, you should consider feeding them calorie-dense whole foods. Whole foods have more calories than processed foods. A few baby weight gain foods are listed below. Below, you'll find them organized by age group. Under six months: Baby weight gain foods Babies under six months who are gaining less weight than usual can cause concern. The only thing you can control right now is how often you feed them and whether they get enough calories because all or most of their calories come from breastmilk, formula, or both. 1. Adequate amounts of breastmilk and infant formula Newborns breastfed for the first four months will usually feed every 2–3 hours, so plan on 8–12 feedings per day. Additionally, your doctor may ask about any latching problems and explore any underlying medical conditions that may adversely affect your baby's ability to absorb nutrients and metabolism. Choosing the right formula or whether to supplement breastfeeding with formula is best discussed with your paediatrician. A doctor can help you make informed decisions about these complicated choices based on many personal factors. It might be worthwhile to consult a lactation consultant as well. 6–9 months: Baby weight gain Foods Around the 6-month mark, many babies start showing signs that they will start eating solid foods. Find out when to begin baby weight gain food or complementary solid foods with your baby by speaking with your healthcare professional. 2. Avocado Whether you choose to introduce solid foods through baby-led weaning, the traditional puréed food approach, or a combination of both, avocados are a great introduction to solid foods. In addition, avocado has a relatively mild taste and healthy fat content, so it's an excellent food for weight gain for babies. Avocados are good baby weight gain food. Make it mashed up or make thick spears out of it. As well as adding it to other foods, such as rice cereal or another fruit, you can also add it to other drinks. Introducing new foods one at a time is a good idea. You will have a better idea of what could have caused an allergic reaction if your child has one. 3. Oatmeal Adding oatmeal cereal to your baby's diet is another great way to include nutritious foods in their diets. Simply blend cooked oats in water; add water as necessary to achieve a soupy texture. You can replace the formula or breastmilk with milk to make it heartier. Depending on how comfortable your baby is, increase the thickness over time. As a source of soluble fibre, oatmeal contains beta-glucan, one of the many forms of fibre found in oatmeal. It may encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria in your baby's gut, which prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. Aside from its neutral taste, oatmeal is a hearty, healthy food that is easy to combine with other dishes. Adding puréed fruit and cinnamon can enhance the flavour. Avoid honey Babies under one year old should never be given honey since it puts them at risk of botulism and could cause choking. 4. Peanut butter Peanut butter is packed with protein and fats, which can contribute to your baby's weight gain. It is important to remember that peanuts belong to the eight allergens that can cause severe allergic reactions. Try peanut butter as a baby weight gain food. It is now recommended to introduce foods that commonly cause allergies to infants even as young as six months old. Peanuts are part of this recommendation. Researchers suggest that this method may prevent infants from becoming allergic to certain foods. . Allergenic foods should be introduced methodically, one at a time, and new, higher-risk foods should be introduced at least a week apart. Ensure that your baby eats these foods regularly. Watch for allergy symptoms such as hives, redness around the mouth, and wheezing. If the baby experiences any of these symptoms, contact your doctor. Baby peanut butter should never be eaten straight from the jar because it could cause choking. Ideally, you should mix raw peanut butter, or any nut butter, with either warm water, apple sauce, breast milk or formula, or - if you have already tried dairy - yoghurt. Oatmeal can be enriched by adding it to it. Before introducing nut butter or other higher-risk foods to your child, speak with a healthcare professional if they have allergies or eczema. The doctor may recommend that you wait until the child is of an appropriate age, supervise this in the office, or recommend testing first for allergies. 5. Eggs A powerhouse food for babies and adults alike, eggs are another nutritious food. The combination of fats and proteins makes eggs incredibly filling. It's a versatile dish that's easy to prepare and tends to be gentle on the stomach. Introduce this food gradually and methodically since it is another typical allergenic food. If the food causes an allergic reaction, you will want to stop introducing it immediately. Whenever your baby appears to be wheezing or having difficulty breathing, seek immediate emergency care. Eggs should eventually become a staple in your baby's diet, so you may want to try scrambling them and sprinkling cheese and vegetables for extra nutrients. You can also use eggs in other dishes. Serve them with strips cut from them as quick rice patties, for example, by adding cheese and veggies to the rice. 9–12 months: Baby weight gain food The 9-month mark is not an absolute requirement for introducing fish, but it is much easier for babies to handle the texture at this point than at an earlier age. 6. Fish Healthy fats and protein from fish are essential to your child's development. You should seek high-quality fish like salmon, herring, and trout that contain little to no mercury. In addition to brain-nourishing DHA, these fish and other fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for proper brain development during childhood. If you want to add nutrients to your fish, serve it with a lemon full-fat yoghurt dip or marinara sauce. . Should you be worried about your child's weight? When your child appears to be progressing according to developmental milestones and is energetic, they are most likely doing well. Your baby's weight is probably fine unless a healthcare professional has identified a problem. It would be best if you remembered that premature babies and those with special health needs might not track the same as those with average growth. Nevertheless, parental instinct does exist. Be sure to speak up to your child's healthcare professional if you have any concerns. Please take a few minutes to write down everything that troubles you and as much detail as you can. Keeping a food diary could include recording times, dates and types of food your child has eaten. Make notes on baby weight gain foods. It is essential to speak with a healthcare professional, such as a paediatrician, if your baby seems lazy, does not feed, or is not meeting developmental milestones. You may also be referred to a lactation consultant, occupational therapist, or dietitian in addition to a medical evaluation. The bottom line The nutrition your little one receives in their early years can have a lifelong impact. Parents are concerned about ensuring their children are eating enough and growing correctly. Consult a healthcare professional if your child is not developing as they should or suddenly aren't feeding well. Remember that babies' food consumption decreases typically at around 12 months. You can support your baby's growth with various wholesome foods - like eggs, avocados, and peanut butter. Make sure you provide your young infants with enough opportunities to breastfeed and take enough formula based on their hunger signals. That said, if your child seems alert, meets milestones for their age, and seems to have the energy to play, they are probably getting enough nutrients. All the nutrients for babies in one place: Yummy Valley.
View MoreHow does organic food benefits children?
10 min read
Have a baby
Every time the topic of healthy eating comes up, the term organic seems to pop up. Nutrient-dense organic foods are well known to offer the best nutritional value. With the increase in the use of genetically modified organisms, in which one species is infused with DNA, organic food and organic food benefits have become an increasingly important issue. People have always returned to nature after going against nature. Mothers are advised to nurse their newly born babies when they are taken for an excellent reason. Good nutrition is essential for the development of a young child. Parents must choose the right type of food for their children. Organic food is well documented to be beneficial for both babies and toddlers, and there are several articles on the subject. Organic food benefits are numerous. Organic food benefits To understand why toddlers need organic food, here are a few reasons. Organically-grown food contains fewer pesticides and herbicides. A child's immune system is not completely developed when they are still babies and toddlers, so chemicals present in genetically modified food can interfere with their health. The health of babies is seriously threatened by foods that are not organic. In addition, babies are more likely to be exposed to chemicals than adults. Due to their small size and relatively low weight, infants are more likely to be exposed to chemicals. Organic foods are free of GMOs Even though most of what we eat is converted in our bodies to build organs and tissues, this will still have a detrimental effect on the structure and function of growing bodies. Nobody wants to subject their babies to food that has been altered. The baby's immune system could be weakened as a result. The organic food benefits are that it is free of GMOs. Organic food is fresh. Many preservatives are added to packaged foods that aren't fresh and are sold in supermarkets. Preservatives can cause childhood behavioural issues in toddlers, such as hyperactivity. Babies and toddlers benefit from the high amount of nutrients in fresh food and get a better source of nutrition from it. It is hard to get fresh products but one of the main organic food benefits is that it is fresh. Your mental and emotional health and the environment can be affected by the way food is grown. People with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives may find that their symptoms decrease or disappear by eating only organic foods. The nutrients in organic foods are typically higher than those in conventionally-grown foods. Pesticides are less abundant in organic produce. Traditional farming uses a wide range of chemicals such as synthetic fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, and the residues remain in the food we eat. Organic food generally tastes better because it does not contain preservatives which prolong its shelf life. Sometimes organic produce is grown on smaller farms nearer where it is sold (but not always, so pay attention to the farm where it's grown). The environment tends to be better off with organic farming. By using organic farming practices, farmers may reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy. As well as being better for nearby birds and animals, farming without pesticides is also healthier for nearby residents. Antibiotics, growth hormones, and animal by-products are not used organically to raise animals. The consumption of animal by-products increases the risk of mad cow disease (BSE), and the use of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As a result, organically raised animals have more room to roam and access the outdoors, which keeps them healthy. GMOs are not present in organic food. Plants whose DNA has been altered to resist pesticides and produce insecticides have been genetically modified or referred to as genetically engineered foods (GEs). Does it mean organic pesticide-free? Organic food has the significant benefit of having lower pesticide levels, as mentioned above. Although organic farms use pesticides, they are not free from their use. Organic farms use only naturally-derived pesticides instead of synthetic pesticides as opposed to commercial farms. Natural pesticides have the reputation of being less toxic, but some have been found to pose health hazards. Thus, eating organic will allow you to reduce your exposure to harmful pesticides. Organic food benefits extend beyond the fact they are pesticide-free. What are the potential risks of pesticides? Because a great deal of pesticide exposure has built up in our bodies over many years, we have an accumulated build-up of pesticides. It may cause headaches, congenital disabilities, and increased stress on an already weakened immune system, as well as cause a chemical "body burden." In some studies, even low levels of pesticide usage have been associated with increased risks of various cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma, brain tumours, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. The immune system, body, and brain of children and fetuses are still developing. Thus, they are most susceptible to pesticide exposure. Children exposed to early environmental toxins may suffer developmental delays, behavioural disorders, autism, immune system alterations, and motor disorders. Pregnant women are at greater risk from pesticides due to the stress pesticides add to their already overworked organs. Furthermore, pesticides can pass from mother to child through the womb and breast milk. The importance of organic labelling when it comes to fruits and vegetables The following fruits and vegetables contain the highest level of pesticides, so organic versions are preferred: Apples Cucumbers Sweet Bell Peppers Celery Grapes Potatoes Cherry Tomatoes Summer Squash Kale/Collard Greens Nectarines (imported) Spinach Hot Peppers Peaches Strawberries Buying organic fruits and vegetables isn't necessary. Pesticides are generally not used on these conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables called the Clean 15: Asparagus Mushrooms Avocado Cabbage Eggplant Sweet Corn Kiwi Mango Onion Pineapple Papaya Sweet Peas (frozen) Grapefruit Sweet Potatoes Cantaloupe Consider buying organic meat, eggs, and dairy products if you can Agriculturally raised animals feed soybeans, grains, antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides, and sewage sludge. Animals subjected to these practices and people who consume their meat, eggs, or milk may suffer serious health consequences. Organic food benefits are significant. Whenever possible, purchase beef and dairy products that are said to be "pasture-raised" or "100% grass-fed." For pork, chicken, and eggs, select certified organic products. It may be possible to afford eating organic without compromising your food budget by buying cheaper cuts of meat from organically raised animals. If you'd like to buy organic chicken thighs instead of conventional chicken breasts, try doing so. Organic food buying tips Seasonal purchases are best. In season, fruits and vegetables are the most affordable and fresh. To make sure you're buying the freshest possible food, find out when your market's produce is delivered. Consider your options. You can compare prices at the grocery store, the farmers' market, online and even in the freezer aisle for organic products. Sometimes the organic food benefits outweighs the cost of the product. It is better, in the long run, to opt for the organic food benefits. Having organic food does not always mean that it is healthy. We often make junk food sound fit in the food industry, but organic baked goods, desserts, and snacks are often very high in sugar, salt, fat, or calories, even if they're organic. You should read the ingredients carefully. It is essential to remember a few key things when deciding between organic food and GM food. Even though organic food is quite expensive, it is better to invest in the health of your offspring today than to channel the same money later into their treatment should they become ill. Shop at Yummy Valley Now
View MoreThe Basics of Bedtime Routine for babies
10 min read
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Bedtime Routine for Babies You'll experience something different when you become a parent than anything you've ever done before. With every developmental milestone, your baby achieves, new questions arise about the overall growth of the child. During the developing years, you should start thinking about establishing a bedtime routine for your baby when he or she is three months old. When the baby falls into a regular sleeping habit each night, a healthy bedtime routine, coupled with a set schedule for the night, benefits the child's overall development. In addition to providing the parents with plenty of time to relax, a set bedtime routine also allows them to bond with their children. This article will explain exactly how you can set up a calming and sound bedtime routine for your child. How to Start Your Baby's Bedtime Routine It is not necessary to rush into bedtime routines. As a newborn, you do not need a routine to fall asleep since you sleep most of the time anyway. A bedtime routine is ready for your baby when she is three months old. You can help your baby develop good sleeping habits by introducing a simple and consistent routine. It should be the goal to introduce a regular sleep time in the evening between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. To start, set up a short routine and gradually extend it as time goes on. Baby Bedtime Routine Benefits In our day-to-day lives, if things go according to plan, we're happy and relaxed. You'll find the same with your baby too! Fixing an evening routine for the baby sets the right mood at the right time, and she feels relaxed and gets a good night's sleep. When followed while travelling, a bedtime routine helps ease a baby's transition to a new environment. For parents as well, a bedtime routine can be a helpful practice. By setting aside time for their children, parents can devote more time to them. Ensure the baby is properly fed before bedtime. Try out healthy baby food from Yummy Valley. Building a Good Bedtime Routine As a first step toward setting up a bedtime routine for your infant, it is imperative to start early in the evening. For small babies, start by washing them and changing their diapers, then changing them into their jammies. If you have cleaned up after the baby, you can rock him or her in your arms or in a rocking chair, and then he or she will fall asleep. Additionally, remember to follow this routine in the room that your baby sleeps in and not a room elsewhere in the house. It is imperative you make the bedroom the place where your baby gets to sleep. Ideas for a Perfect Bedtime Routine You can use the following tips to help your child set up a healthy bedtime routine. Wind up early: After you finish your usual household work about 30 minutes before bedtime, you should move on to a more relaxing and quiet activity. Using this method, you can signal your child that bedtime is near. Set a Time for Bedtime Routine: It is important for you to set a reasonable wind-down time before she goes to sleep for your baby based on her age and temperament. As an example, infants typically prepare for bed in approximately five minutes. In contrast, toddlers will need more time to wind down before bedtime and hence their bedtime routine will last longer than that of infants. Maintain the Time: A bedtime routine that you follow at around the same time every day will be of great benefit to your baby. You will help your baby to sleep on time now and in the long run by doing this. Give a Bath Before Bed: Bathing babies in warm water before bedtime is a great way to relax them. You should therefore give your baby a lukewarm bath before bedtime, ensuring that she is relaxed, clean, dry, and comfortable before she falls asleep. You should avoid bathing before bedtime if your child gets excited after a bath and gets into play mode, as has been observed in some cases. Getting Ready for Bed Routine: As part of the pre-bedtime routine, wash your baby's face, wipe the baby clean, and dress her in her nightgown. Each of these activities should be introduced to your baby at the earliest possible stage in order that her to develop them into healthy bedtime habits. Dress your Baby Appropriately: Toddlers who are overdressed for sleep may experience disturbed sleep and night sweats. Ensure your daughter wears comfortable nightwear. Introduce Bedtime Stories: When your baby is sleeping, it is a great time to read stories to them. Furthermore, inculcating this habit will guarantee your baby's success at reading in the long run. Introduce an Attachment Object: Something on a child's side makes them fall asleep faster. It can be a favourite toy, a pillow, or whatever the child prefers to sleep with. Your baby may feel more comfortable and relaxed at bedtime if you use this attachment object. Keep the Ending Consistent: Set a definite end to the bedtime routine. Leave the room after reading or singing a story, or while turning on a nightlight. If you do the same thing every night with an end in sight, your child will be set up to fall asleep after it is time to go. The last act you perform will lead to your child realizing that it is time to calm down and fall asleep. Are There Any Drawbacks of Baby Sleep Routine? Your baby's bedtime routine must also be flexible, just like any other routine. The mood of your baby will fluctuate as she gets older, and she may resist her usual bedtime routine at times. Changing before sleeping may be out of the question for her, and if she has grown up, she might not want to brush her teeth either. All parents must accept that this may be the case. Depending on the child's growing needs, your bedtime routine may also have to change. Pay attention to what your child says and make any necessary adjustments to the routine if necessary. Changes can be as simple as the order of activities in the bedtime ritual or even removing one step of the routine. Make your decision based on what's appropriate for the situation. Make sure you don't compromise your child's comfort so they can fit into a rigid schedule. Both mother and child benefit from a regular bedtime routine by reducing stress levels. Establishing a healthy bedtime routine for your baby will benefit them greatly. Keep your routine flexible and change it whenever your child feels comfortable. Shop for baby food at Yummy Valley now.
View MoreWhat’s on the menu for baby-led foods?
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What is baby led weaning? More and more parents use baby-led weaning as an approach, as it has gained popularity in recent years. What does that mean? In baby led weaning, babies are introduced to solids through finger foods that are age-appropriate for their age. By grabbing, handling, and bringing the food to their mouth, your baby can practice their motor skills. This can also help them discover and learn about different textures, tastes, and smells. We expect that they will eventually be able to eat some of their food on their own without being spoon-fed. Your baby has the freedom to play with food and will learn to eat it after playing with it. This is unlike spoon feeding. We have broken down baby-led weaning foods based on age below. There are certain foods you should avoid altogether, and the most appropriate ones for your baby at each weaning stage. This guide is intended to help you along the way as you wean your baby. When is it safe to start baby led weaning? You should wait until your baby is at least 6 months old before introducing baby led weaning. Doctors recommend that you check with them before starting any weaning before 6 months of age. The guidelines may differ in other countries. Unless your baby is over 6 months, it's recommended that you start with pureed foods to start. In order to start baby led weaning after six months, your baby must be comfortable doing the following three things: Maintain a steady position with their head upright without assistance The ability to pick up food and put it in their mouths has developed fine motor skills Eat instead of chewing and spitting out food When your baby is able to do these things, you can begin introducing baby led weaning. Is it necessary to choose between baby led weaning and puree feeding? There is no need to choose between puree feeding and baby led weaning; you can combine both. Puree feeding and baby-led weaning don't have to be mutually exclusive; you can use both strategies simultaneously. Many parents believe that they have to choose between the two. Alternatively, if you feel it's best, you can offer both purees and finger foods at the same time. In this way, your baby will get both nutritional benefits. In particular, if your baby doesn't seem to be eating enough with baby-led weaning, it will help. Their ability to handle and eat finger foods will improve over time. When that happens, you can gradually phase out purees. The process of learning to eat food on their own may take a while for babies. Therefore, supplementing their finger food explorations with some purees, for a while, will ensure that they get adequate nutrition and will also enable them to experience baby led weaning. What's the best way to get started with baby led weaning? It may take a while for babies to learn how to eat on their own. As a parent, you can support them through the weaning process. The following are some ways to get started with baby-led weaning. Maintain the same amount of milk for the baby You do not have to change your baby's milk feeds when weaning begins. You should continue to provide your baby with the nutrition she needs through her bottle or breastmilk. Serve soft, mild finger foods as batons Introduce your baby to soft foods that are mild and easy to digest, and then gradually introduce them to textures and tastes your baby will enjoy. To make it easier for your baby to grasp and hold first foods, cut them into slices and batons that are large enough. To make them safe for your baby, make them long enough so that you can fit them in your fist with some sticking out for them to chew on. Using your own index finger as a guide, you can determine the size of these batons. Provide a wide variety of foods Over the course of the week, give your baby a variety of foods. She will enjoy touching them, tasting them, and playing with them. You shouldn't rush her or make her eat right away. Let her choose what to eat. Introducing different textures and tastes gradually will help your baby develop healthy eating habits. By the time they turn one, they will eat the same meals as the rest of the family. Are you ready to begin? Listed below are some foods to feed your baby at each feeding stage: 6 months of baby-led weaning with first foods Starting with fruit and vegetables that are mild in taste and easy for babies to digest are great choices for your baby's first foods. Fruit and vegetables cut into batons or slices make great first foods for infants. Their gums can easily mash them about and they are easy to digest. Here are some foods you might like to try: Fruits: Apples – soft cooked apple slices Avocados Bananas Nectarine slices Peach slices – soft ripe peaches Pears – ripe slices or steamed pieces Plum slices – ripe slices or steamed pieces Vegetables: Broccoli florets – steamed Carrots – steamed or boiled batons Cucumber batons – peeled Green beans – steamed or boiled Peas – cooked Pieces of squash and butternut squash that have been cooked Sweet potato – peeled and cooked pieces Grains: Rice Oatmeal Yummy Valley's Millet Health Mix is ideal for anyone looking for easily digestible baby food. 6 - 8 month Baby Led Weaning Foods Increase the variety of foods available to babies When your baby has become accustomed to their first soft fruit and vegetable, you can introduce a wider variety of foods, such as lean meats and fish. Vegetables like courgettes usually have the skin removed before serving to babies. Some babies' stomachs can be affected by the acid in the skin of courgettes and aubergines. Here are some foods that your baby can try as well as continue to enjoy those you have already tried. Fruits: Apricots Mango – ripe and soft pieces Nectarine slices – ripe Peach – ripe and soft Plums Vegetables: Courgettes – peeled and cooked until soft Parsnips – peeled and cooked Pumpkin – soft cooked pieces Meats & Fish: (all cooked through until soft and tender) Chicken Turkey White fish (avoid larger fish and check thoroughly for bones) Grains: Fingers of bread, pitta or toast Pasta pieces Barley Breadsticks Unsalted rice cakes Oatcakes Try Kerala Banana Powder by Yummy Valley for nutrient-rich baby food. What if my baby gags? It's quite common to gag as you start a baby-led weaning process. Don't be concerned about your baby choking. In most cases, it's just their way of pushing foods forward that need a bit more chewing. Your baby may start gagging if they are seated upright or lean slightly forward so the food they are chewing falls out of their mouth. When your child is learning to chew and cope with lumps and textures, watching them gag is a frustrating experience, but if you keep calm and help them, they tend to cope. However you choose to wean your baby, it's always a good idea to have some first aid training so that you can handle choking issues properly. You should avoid all foods that are choking hazards. Among them are: whole nuts grapes marshmallows hot dogs popcorn Baby led weaning: Notes If you are thinking about starting baby led weaning, I hope the points above will have cleared your doubts. However, now that you know the importance of baby led weaning, there is no reason for you to delay it any further. Start gradually with more and more solids at each meal, and you will be amazed at how much children enjoy variety in their diet as well as intellectual growth, health and not to mention all the fun. Feed your baby right.
View MoreHow To Deal With Baby Poop: What’s Normal
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How To Deal With Baby Poop There are few topics of conversation as frequent among parents of newborns as poop. The stools of newborns are often discussed in my office: how often, how much, what color, what consistency, what smell, and even how they feel. Nevertheless, parents are wise to pay attention to the baby's motion, even though they are obsessive about it. Stools provide useful information about the health of their baby. It is important to remember that newborn poop varies significantly, not just from baby to baby but also from day to day within the same baby. Baby motion: Things to look out for In general, all descriptions of baby poop will eventually be considered normal. It's important to identify abnormal stool and reach out to your baby's doctor about it. Let's take a closer look at each of those characteristics. 1. Frequency Parents emphasize this characteristic the most, and it is the most variable. My advice to parents is to not worry too much about how often their newborn poops, as long as the baby poop is soft and painless. No matter if they go seven times a day or once every seven days, it would be fine. It would be fine as long as the stool was soft and painless. Although breast-fed babies tend to poop more frequently in their early days after birth, sometimes infrequent stools can occur even after breastfeeding. There is no need to change the mother's diet or take therapeutic action on the baby if the infant is not in pain and the stool is soft. 2. Amount Similarly, there is great variation in the amount of baby poop. Some rare disorders, however, can interfere with or prevent normal bowel movements. When a baby's first stool passes very late, it may indicate that they have a health problem. You should notify your baby's doctor if you notice this. A baby's motion volume is usually directly related to how much breast milk or formula he or she takes after the first few days. It's important to remember that despite the fact that the amount in does not match the amount out, the bottom line is always growth. All is well if your baby is growing normally, seems content, does not have an ever-protruding abdomen, seems satisfied after eating, and appears to be developing normally. 3. Color After birth, stools may still be dominated by meconium in the first few days. Those are the black, tarry, sticky stools babies produce while in the womb. But these quickly change to a more "normal" hue, such as brown or yellow. It seems that parents get very worried when their children's stools are green or dark brown. Parents should only worry about red, black, and white stool colours when their newborns are born. Anaemia may result in bleeding from a milk protein allergy or a condition such as haemorrhoids or anal fissures, which are small superficial cuts on the anus. Blood in the baby motion indicates an older blood source higher in the digestive tract, such as bleeding from the oesophagus or swallowing blood from mom's nipple. Gray or clay-coloured stools (or white or clay stools) may indicate liver trouble. It is common for babies with liver disease to be jaundiced (yellow-skinned). When your newborn produces white stools, call your doctor immediately. This can be difficult to notice in darker-skinned babies, and an obvious sign of jaundice anyway. When your newborn produces white stools, make sure you call your doctor immediately. 4. Consistency Newborn stools are typically described as being the consistency of mustard after the meconium stools have been passed. These baby poop will gradually become more solid with time. Formula-fed babies are usually more comfortable than breast-fed babies. However, their stools are probably seedier. What you see are the so-called "seeds" of milk fat, which is perfectly normal. In formula-fed babies, stools are typically firmer and more like peanut butter in terms of consistency. The baby's stools may be extremely loose and watery if they are not absorbing nutrients properly. Allergic reactions to milk proteins or other conditions can result in loose stools. These can sometimes be due to gastrointestinal infections. Most of these illnesses are viral, and they clear up without medical treatment. However, newborns are usually susceptible to dehydration during such episodes. You should seek medical attention if your infant seems ill. True constipation may be indicated by very hard stools. Medical problems can cause this, but it's more likely caused by something benign, like an incorrect formula. Similarly, mucus in the baby motion may indicate infection or improper digestion, or it may be caused by an unpalatable formula. If your baby's poop contains mucus, call your paediatrician. Your paediatrician should be contacted if you notice any of these warning signs or if you are otherwise concerned with your baby's stool consistency. To demonstrate how loose or hard the stools are, take a picture in the diaper or bring in a fresh diaper to your doctor. 5. Smell Baby's stools have very little smell for the first few days. As their guts become colonized with bacteria, their stools become more pungent. There is nothing abnormal about this. Infants who are breastfed rarely have stinky stools, while formula-fed babies often have a stronger smell. There are not many things we can do about poop, except smell it. An extremely foul-smelling stool may indicate insufficient absorption of nutrients in some cases. In this circumstance, if the infant grows fine and the stool colour and consistency are normal, then this could just be a normal occurrence. 6. Feel You don't have to feel the stool. Instead, we should focus on how the baby feels, not how the stool feels. The first few months are a challenging time for infants. They often grimace and blush when passing a stool. There is nothing unusual about it. However, if the baby is truly crying every time he or she poop, be sure to contact your doctor. Harder stool may simply be a sign of harder digestion, but it could also mean that there is something wrong with the anatomy of the rectum. The Takeaway The stool of newborns is highly variable. Consult your baby's doctor if you are concerned. Poop colour varies from baby to baby. Aside from feeding and age, parenting can also play into the overall colour and consistency. Your paediatrician can offer advice if you ever have concerns about your baby's bowel movements. Additionally, if your baby has diarrhoea and a fever, you should take him to the paediatrician. You can find more information about baby food and related topics by visiting Yummy Valley's blog. Constipation is usually accompanied by hard, dry stools. When your baby vomits or otherwise looks ill, that could indicate dehydration. If you suspect that your baby is dehydrated, consult your paediatrician.
View MoreWhy do baby’s spit up and how to resolve it.
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Having Problems With Feeding: Why Do Baby's Spit Up Spit up occurs in all babies, especially after they intake air through breastmilk or formula. A cloth is essential when a baby's position changes suddenly after a feeding or when the stomach is full. Upon opening, the sphincter can allow stomach contents to back up the esophagus. Spit up happens more often to some babies than to others. Could there be anything you can do to reduce this frequency? Do you know whether your baby's symptoms are part of a larger issue? Spitting up is medically referred to as gastroesophageal reflux. This occurs when milk or solid food in your baby's stomach goes up into their esophagus. A tube connecting the mouth and the stomach is known as the esophagus. Vomiting and spitting up are two different things. The baby usually doesn't notice they've to spit up. Vomiting is painful and forceful. Because babies' digestive systems aren't fully developed, they often spit up. When they eat too much or swallow air while feeding, this happens most commonly. Until they are approximately 6 months to 1 year of age (around when they start eating solids), most babies spit up. Especially for first-time parents, these symptoms can be frightening. Most of the time, simple spitting up is not an indication of an allergy or intolerance, nor is it a sign of frustration. It is often possible to alleviate these symptoms by slowing down or adjusting the feeding. You can reduce the spit up by introducing organic baby food. Common Parent Concerns About Why Do Baby's Spit Up Most of the time, my baby spits up after feeding. This condition can be caused by gastroesophageal reflux in mild cases. Action to be taken: Nothing. As your baby's muscles mature, your infant's spitting up will become less frequent and stop. Most of the time, the process simply takes time. There is a lot of gas in my baby's stomach and she seems to gulp her food. Possible cause: Getting more air in your lungs than usual (Aerophagia) Action to take: Ensure that the baby is positioned correctly. My baby spits up when you bounce him or play after meals. Possible cause: Overstimulation Action to take: During mealtimes, keep a calm attitude. Don't involve your child in active play for about 20 minutes afterward. The spitting up of my baby has changed into vomiting with muscle contractions occurring after every feeding. She throws up with a lot of force. Possible cause: A diagnosis and treatment are needed for pyloric stenosis or another health condition. Action to take: Immediately schedule an appointment with your pediatrician so that he or she can examine your child. The spit-up or vomit of my baby had blood in it. Possible cause: Diagnosis and treatment are required for esophagitis or other health problems. Action to take: Get your infant examined by your pediatrician as soon as possible. Vomiting versus spitting up: what's the difference? There is a major difference between the two. During a vomiting attack, the stomach contents are thrown up with force through the mouth. When stomach contents escape easily from the mouth, they are frequently accompanied by a burp. Your baby won't be distressed or unhappy by spitting up, as it doesn't cause forceful muscle contractions, brings up only small amounts of milk, and doesn't cause any discomfort. If you know Why do baby's spit up, you will be able to solve it. Introduce tasty baby food to reduce the occurrence of spit up. What causes vomiting? A person experiencing vomiting will experience contractions of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm, combined with relaxed stomach muscles. In response to exposure to these stimuli, the "vomiting center" in the brain triggers this reflex action: Infections or blockages of the gastrointestinal tract can irritate or swell the stomach and intestine nerves. A blood drug test can reveal substances in the blood Sights or smells that cause psychological stimulation Motion sickness is caused by noises from the middle ear (as in vomiting). Your pediatrician should always be contacted if your baby vomits forcefully after each feeding or if there is ever any blood in the vomit. Spitty Babies: Remedies In fact, feeding suggestions can help you deal with your baby's spit up regardless of whether watchful waiting or medical intervention is required. Here are five tips for reducing baby spit up: Avoid overfeeding. Almost like a gas tank, don't fill your baby's stomach too full (or too quickly) or they will gurgle right back out at you. Your baby should be fed smaller amounts more frequently to help reduce the chances of overeating. Frequently burp your baby. Having too much gas in your baby's stomach can cause lots of problems. Due to the way gas bubbles release, they tend to bring the stomach's contents up with them as well. You should burp both after and during meals in order to minimize the chances of this happening. Hold your baby upright after meals and limit active play. After a baby eats, pressing down on his belly can increase your chances of forcing anything in his stomach into action. In addition to tummy time, delaying it for a while after meals can serve as an effective way of reducing the need for it. Consider the formula. You should consider formula feeding as a cause of spitting up for your baby boy. Some babies appear to favor one formula over another without any true allergies or intolerances, but about 5% of them are genuinely intolerant to the proteins found in milk or soy formula (a condition known as milk-soy protein intolerance (MSPI)). If your baby spits up, it could be one of several signs that it's time to talk to your pediatrician about alternative formulas. You might want to try a hypoallergenic (hydrolyzed) formula for 1 or 2 weeks if your baby has a true intolerance. Try a little oatmeal. With one possible exception, it is generally not recommended to give babies cereal before 6 months. When a child has dysphagia or reflux, for example, his or her food should be thicker in order to swallow safely or prevent reflux. Remember: Having your baby feed before he or she becomes overly hungry will help you reduce spit-up. When your baby takes a break during feedings, gently burp him or her. Your baby should be kept upright for at least 20 minutes after meals and you should limit active play. It is important that you closely supervise your baby during this time. Now you know why do baby's spit up. The fact that babies spit up regularly does not affect their health. There is little reason to worry if your baby appears comfortable, eats regularly and is gaining weight. It is not harmful for your baby to spit up the calories. When he or she gains weight, the calories lost through spitting up are not a concern. Depending on the size of a spit-up stain, it's easy to overestimate how much your baby has spittled. Reference: Why Does this Baby Keep Spitting Up? Image: Pexels
View MoreTop Questions Parents Ask About Baby Diet Plan
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When is the best time to start solid food for a baby? A baby diet plan for Approximately the first 6 months should be spent exclusively breastfeeding. It means you do not need anything other than breastmilk during the first six months of a baby's life. It is not necessary to provide water to breastfeed because breast milk contains 80% water. Due to medical or personal conditions, if you wish to wean after 4 months of the baby, please speak with your Pediatrician and, if agreed, here are some suggestions for weaning a 4 to 6-month-old baby. After 6 months of exclusively breastfeeding, I started feeding my babies solid foods according to my baby diet plan. Could we introduce a new food every day? The pediatrician recommended that I introduce one new food a day before 12 PM in the first part of the day. In recent years, studies have found that the practice of offering the same food for two to three days to determine allergies is no longer necessary in babies aged 6+ months. Studies have found that babies aged 6+ months should be offered new food every day instead. Consider the possibility of allergy-triggering food in the baby diet plan. According to the latest guidelines, parents should introduce allergy-prone foods such as citrus fruits, nuts, wheat, eggs, fish, berries, melons, and brinjal as soon as possible between 6 and 8 months to prevent allergies or reduce the impact of allergies, if any. Please consult with your Pediatrician about these points for more information. Is it best to skip breastfeeding in order to introduce solids? Solid foods should not be given to babies under 1 year of age if breastfeeding has been interrupted. After breastfeeding, as usual, solid foods can be introduced later. After nursing, it is recommended that you feed solids at least 30 minutes to an hour after breastfeeding, based upon the baby's appetite, baby diet plan, and mood. If your baby is overly hungry or drowsy, you should delay solid feeding. Instead, wait until the baby expresses happiness. The first half of the day is the time to introduce new foods so that any allergies can be noted and treated. Continue breastfeeding before every meal until the baby turns one. Following one year, you should breastfeed a total of five to six times a day according to the baby's demands and baby diet plan. How many meals does a baby need a day? In addition, too much solid food can cause constipation in babies if given 2 to 3 times a day. The breastmilk provides the baby's major source of nutrition until he is 1 year old. Adding solid foods to the baby diet plan is just complementary in order to meet their additional dietary requirements. I supplement their diet by adding one meal per month. The baby gets more breastmilk and does not suffer any constipation. However, some doctors suggest beginning with more meals per day to prevent constipation. That's up to you. Listed below are my recommendations according to my baby diet plan. Having completed 6 months (180 days), I began to give one food each day at brunch time on the 7th month (running). My 8th (running) month of eating has added one more meal after completing 7 months (210 days). Breakfast and late lunch have been added. I completed 8 months of running in 240 days, adding one meal in the 9th month (running). It included breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Then, on the 10th month (running), I added a snack after completing 9 months of training (270 days). During this period, I provided breakfast, lunch, an evening snack, and dinner. You should add something to your breakfast on the 11th month (running), after you have completed 10 months (310 days). I didn't include the snack time for the morning because my baby was napping by then, so I was not able to fit it in. In addition to 3 meals and 2 snacks, after 11 months (340 days), the baby will have 3 meals and 2 snacks in the 12th month (182 days). How much water is required for a baby? Post-meal, two to three sips of water are enough if you are breastfeeding on demand. Our food supply will increase as we feed water after every meal as we increase the number of meals per month. There is no need to add more water as it will fill the baby's tummy with the liquid. Your pediatrician should determine the amount of water to give formula-fed babies. Please do not give water in bottles or sippers. Give water with a spoon or in a small cup instead. I give my baby water in a small silver tumbler. When my baby first spits out the water, I give him more. You don't have to worry about it. They will get used to it eventually. It is not advisable to feed water in between meals, because it will interfere with the digestion process. Sips of water should be given after meals. Is it safe to give my baby juice or soup? Watery foods or soups or juices are not recommended for babies under a year old as they fill their tummies instead of breastmilk and offer less nutrition. Additionally, watery porridges or purees should also not be consumed. Because babies eat very little, offering thick, healthy foods with dense nutrition makes sense. Stick to a safe and nutrient-rich baby diet plan. What is the right amount of food to feed a baby? A new mom's most commonly asked question. It's up to the baby to decide the quantity. Prepare only a small quantity. Initially, the baby might eat just 1 or 2 teaspoons and gradually might increase to 1 or 2 tablespoons. Adjust the quantity in the baby diet plan according to the baby’s appetite. When the baby finishes the whole bowl, next time slightly increase the quantity that you prepare for the baby. It is not recommended to force a baby to eat food. If the baby shows signs of "NO" like turning their head away from the food, zipping up their mouth, spitting continuously, or crying, stop feeding them. There are some days where the baby does well and some days when the baby doesn't eat at all. That's okay. There's no need to force it. You shouldn't force a cranky baby to eat. In order to make up for a meal she hasn't eaten well, she drinks more breastmilk. Whenever possible, I offer her a favorite dish during the next meal. It's not a good idea to serve alternates at the same meal since it will encourage selective eating! Are there any foods that help babies gain weight? Avocado, potato, sweet potato. Cooked Nendhran banana Curd rice & yogurt smoothies Sprouted Ragi porridge Sago + urad porridge Rice: mix it with fruit & vegetable purees Ghee: Add melted ghee to food offered in the daytime. Include moong dal at least once a week Should I give iron-rich food to my baby? Yes. For foods rich in Iron like Spinach, Beetroot, Peas, Sweet potato, Eggs, Poha, Rice, Meats, Lentils & Legumes, either add a few drops start with 3, and gradually increase it to 10 drops before feeding or mix a few drops in water that will be given after meal or just give a piece of orange or any other vitamin-C rich fruit. Citrus fruits, Berries, Kiwi, Papaya, or if possible add vitamin-C rich veggies Tomato, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Potato, Capsicum, Cabbage, Brussel sprouts while making that food. Iron is better absorbed by the body when vitamin C is present. If your child receives iron-rich foods, the calcium in the milk and milk products (like paneer, curd) inhibits their absorption of iron. Unlike milk, ghee is calcium-free, so it can be eaten with foods high in iron. Asking Questions is Good Having questions about the baby diet plan is good. It helps clear our minds and prevents unnecessary problems. Make sure that you get answers from verified and valid sources. Look out for baby food allergies and take precautions if there is a family history of any allergies. Please consult a pediatrician if you plan to make any changes to your baby's diet or you have any further questions. Keep in mind that it is normal to have questions especially when it comes to baby foods. Getting advice from trusted sources will help you get the best results.
View MoreSuper Healthy Baby Food For Weight Gain
10 min read
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Baby Food For Weight Gain Baby and mother bond during feeding sessions, which is one of the most important times for bonding between the two. It is true not only when breastfeeding the baby, even if that's obvious, but also when he/she is given solid food or baby food for weight gain. It is important that both mother and baby enjoy this beautiful journey of introducing new foods to their babies. It is unfortunate that the joy often gets sullied by a big challenge - my baby is not gaining weight. Getting to grips with breastfeeding is just the beginning. The biggest challenge new moms face comes after the baby is born. The problem can persist through toddlerhood and even into school. The baby's weight might not meet the mother's self-made expectations of what a baby should weigh. Or perhaps the family and friends who keep telling you that the baby is overweight are putting pressure on you. An honest concern may be expressed by the baby's doctor or even raised by a simple weigh-in. And many people want to know how to make their babies gain weight fast, or how to make their babies gain weight faster? Is Your Baby Actually Underweight? To all moms, I have one piece of advice - "Look at the Baby, Not the scales". It is absurd to worry about your baby's weight when he looks healthy, feeds well, and reaches all his milestones on time. Most of the time, the apparent lack of weight gain is nothing to worry about and simply a superfluous phenomenon. We should instead look at the big picture and not get caught up in daily or weekly weight gains. In general, the child's weight should be considered over several months, and a slight decrease from one month to the next doesn't need to be addressed. Apart from that, the baby's weight is also determined by the genetic makeup of his parents. There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to children's weight. It is always within a range. Children & Babies' Healthy Weight Gain Foods 1. Ragi It is quite popular in South India as a traditional baby food called Ragi or finger millet. It is also one of the best foods for gaining weight for babies due to its high protein content and calcium content. In addition to dietary fiber, protein, and vitamins B1, B2, and B6, Ragi is also a good source of vitamins and the go-to baby food for weight gain. Sprouted ragi powder that has been sprouted is doubly nutritious since the sprouting process increases the absorption of nutrients in the ragi. Getting 100% Organic Ragi delivered to your doorstep is a great option for new moms who don't have time to make this powder from scratch. 2. Health Mixes The health mixes our grandmothers used were made at home; they sprouted, roasted, and ground a variety of organic ingredients. The commercial baby food mixes we compared to them were much less nutritive in both taste and health. Furthermore, the commercial baby food mixes help babies gain weight more effectively. Combining cereals, nuts, and pulses, these mixes can be adapted to make many different variations. Another healthy baby food for weight gain is sprouted health mix where all the ingredients are sprouted and ground to powder form. Get Yummy Valley's homemade Millet Health Mix to avoid sprouting and grinding yourself. 3. Kerala Banana There is no need to look much further than Kerala bananas or green plantains when looking for healthy high-calorie foods. Furthermore, they are also rich in potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, as well as a dietary fiber to add bulk to the diet and aid digestion. The raw and ripe versions of these bananas are both quite versatile, and there are many Kerala banana recipes that you can prepare with them. You can make raw Kerala Banana powder for your baby if you're concerned about giving them bananas during a cold. The Raw Kerala Banana Powder can make life much easier for you if you can't find bananas or don't have time to prepare it. 4. Pear Pears can also be introduced as one of a baby's first solid foods, along with apples. Besides promoting weight gain, pears also contain important nutrients like iron, Vitamins B6 and C, as well as fiber that keeps babies full. When your baby is eight months old, you can give them pears in the form of puree; or, you can make apple pears with a cinnamon twist. Afterward, you can feed them as finger food or in pancakes. 5. Avocado Avocados are not native to India, but they are quite popular in many Indian households today. Butter Fruit and Makhan Phal, also known as avocados, offer numerous health benefits, which is why nutrition experts around the world recommend them. Its creamy butter texture makes it palatable for babies and the healthy fats make it good for development and growth. You can introduce avocado as a puree to your infant after six months, and after one year introduce avocado as juice and milkshakes. 6. Peas When a baby crosses 6 months old, peas are one of the most nutritious vegetables he can start eating solids with. Besides being very high in fiber and thiamine, it is also high in magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, and vitamins A and B6. Include peas in baby food for weight gain. 7. Potato Among the best first foods for babies is the potato. A soft texture, easy to mash, and the least allergenic of all foods make it the right choice for you. You should start with a small quantity because some infants may get upset stomachs due to gas. Potato is rich in minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals such as carotenoid compounds and natural phenols. An average medium potato contains about 26 grams of carbohydrate, making them one of the highest carbohydrate foods on earth. 8. Dry Fruits Almonds, pistachios, figs, and cashews are among the energy-dense, non-fattening dry fruits. Powdered dry fruits can be added to almost every kind of food. Other forms include almond milk, dry fruit snack bars, and dry fruit laddus. It is possible to make the dry fruit powder at home with this recipe, or you can order the powder online. Note: Baby Food For Weight Gain While you may know which foods to provide for your baby's healthy weight gain, it can still be difficult to figure out how to incorporate them into your baby's diet. That's especially true for babies under one who isn't sure whether certain foods are right for them. Before giving your baby new food, consult with your pediatrician.
View More10 Baby Food Myths & Facts
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Myths About Baby Food You should read this article if you want to know whether your child is ready to eat solids! It's common for mothers to be confused about what semi-solid foods to introduce to their babies after six months of exclusive breastfeeding. Some baby food myths are really popular than the majority of people still believe these baby food myths. Too much research, however, can be detrimental, and mothers often return to the Internet with more questions than answers after reading about a million articles. Whether you relate to this or not, we will clarify all of your confusions about baby food myths and help you bust all the myths associated with it. Baby Food Myths & Facts! 1. Oranges Are A Great Source Of Vitamin C Vitamin C's importance is often one of the first things we learn when reading articles about health. Vitamin C boosts our immune system and makes our skin look healthy. The antioxidants that your little baby receives from your breast milk have been sufficient until now. Vitamin C is mainly found in kiwis and guavas, which have a much higher amount than oranges do. 2. Babies Should Not Have Any Masalas Spices and masalas may not be the best thing to introduce right after your baby starts weaning, but introducing them to masalas after a few months may make their mealtime more enjoyable. Baby foods have preferences between several months and a few years. The taste of breast milk varies from mother to mother and even according to culture and household. When a breastfeeding mother consumes flavors such as garlic, ginger, cumin, and other such spices, the baby becomes accustomed to these flavors. Therefore, adding a dash of cinnamon powder to your baby's next meal might make it quite enjoyable. 3. Vegetables Before Fruits In general, parents introduce their babies to fruits after they have weaned them with mashed and pureed vegetables, believing that fruits are the healthiest option. There are some parents who follow this pattern because they worry their babies will enjoy the sweet taste of fruits so much that they won't like vegetables. There is no evidence, however, to confirm the claim that babies will only love fruits when they're introduced to them first. 4. Sugar Makes Kids Hyperactive Sugar makes kids hyperactive and active, as most parents and adults who have spent some time with children will attest. Too much sugar is also bad for teeth and health. Sugar is not the only factor behind a hyperactivity. 5. Fruit Juices Provide The Same Level Of Nutrition As Fruits Although it is easier to feed a baby who has been weaned for a few months by giving them juice, the nutritional value of fruit juice is never quite the same as the nutritional value of the actual fruit. Certainly, 100% fruit juice is a good source of vitamins, but it is not equal to whole fruits and vegetables; whole fruits and vegetables are also high in fiber. You can give your baby juice by watering it down by 50% if you want to do that. 6. Decayed Teeth Will Fall Anyway, So They Are Fine No matter how kids' teeth fall out and replace them with new ones, you shouldn't neglect them. Although chocolate and sugary processed foods may have become a habit in your older toddler, this shouldn't mean you should encourage this. His decaying teeth will fall out eventually, so why encourage the habit? In some cases, falling or removing baby teeth before their time can actually affect how permanent teeth will position themselves. 7. Eggs Are Bad For Babies You might be surprised to learn that eggs are one of the food items that can cause allergies in many people. The food is not the worst for babies, but most doctors advise parents to wait before introducing it earlier. Baby yolks are recommended for babies six months or younger; wait until a year old before giving a whole egg to your baby. 8. Food Allergies Last A Lifetime You can be sure that this isn't true. This is one of the most popular baby food myths. While many babies may have allergies to cow's milk, soy, wheat, and eggs, it doesn't mean that they will suffer from these allergies forever. When your baby is three years old, he might have outgrown common food allergies. There's a chance that an allergy will disappear by the time the child reaches adulthood if they haven't outgrown them by the age of 3. Dispute excessive allergies with your physician immediately. 9. Do Not Give The Baby Dairy Products If He Or She Has A Cold It is widely believed that dairy products lead to excessive mucus production. It has been shown that milk is not associated with cold symptoms or mucus production, however. In other words, it is okay to give your baby dairy products while he has a cold unless he is lactose intolerant or has an underlying lactose allergy. 10. Introduce New Food One At A Time You can try offering your infant a new blend of new foods to help his taste buds develop faster by giving him time to get used to the new foods and get a hang of the flavors. As a baby completes its first six months, it reaches an important milestone both for the mother and the baby. You need to introduce semi-solids/solid foods for the baby. Introducing solid food to your baby after 6 months of exclusively breastfeeding can be challenging for mothers. We have many options for weaning foods for babies. Baby weaning is the process of introducing other foods besides breast milk to your child. A Baby's diet is gradually expanded over a period of time as he or she is introduced to new kinds of food. In the first six months of a baby's life, breast milk or infant formula milk was the only source of nutrition. Baby Food Myths: How To Deal With It The fact that everyone believes it is right does not mean that it is right. Share your baby food myths in the comment section. Be sure to seek instruction from a qualified pediatrician before practicing any advice from unverified sources. When it comes to babies, you can never be too sure. It's even possible to trace the origin of each ingredient with Yummy Valley. Its transparency and high-quality ingredients make its product safe for children and give parents peace of mind.
View MoreFeeding Babies: How To Make It Easy
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Feeding Babies Solid food is an exciting time for new parents, but most know it's not without stress. The biggest question you may be wondering by the time your baby hits the six-month mark is what to feed and when. We know there is a flurry of information available to you. Below is a breakdown of what new parents ask when they start solids or feeding babies so they can feel prepared to feed their children. By feeding your baby food similar to what you eat now, you will introduce them to the food you eat. Keep in mind, though, that it's still important to remember that salt, sugar, and spices aren't allowed for your baby. Feeding babies take a lot of time and effort. You need to pay close attention to things. Be vigilant about any algs. You should adjust quantities and ingredients according to your baby's preferences. This will make mealtime easier for you and your newborn. Do not force your baby to try new foods when you introduce them. Simply leave them in front of him/her instead. Thus, the process of trying new foods will be more natural, pique their interest and make the experience more enjoyable. Set them up each with a sippy cup, spoon, fork, and bowl. As well as helping to instill good table manners, this will make them feel like they deserve a place at the dinner table. Feeding babies can be a fun experience. Although you must still feed them breast milk or formula at this point, the amount and frequency of feeding will drastically decrease. Make sure a baby food chart is balanced between breast milk and solid food for 10 months. Tips For Feeding Babies Here are pretty simple baby-feeding strategies that are working in our house: Start The Day With Real Food. For toddlers, breakfast is one of the easiest meals of the day because it requires little "cooking". Organic yogurt with low sugar, whole grain bread with peanut butter, homemade oatmeal, fruit, and eggs are popular options. Make Foods Easy To Eat. At age one, my child loves food he can hold and feed himself: whole green beans steamed from frozen, red pepper strips, roasted carrots, bananas cut into strips, pieces of whole grain bread, etc. Make Dinners The Whole Family Can Enjoy. This is our biggest advice for feeding kids. Make food for the whole family, not just for toddlers. Choose your favorite seasoning, and show how much you enjoy it. Right now, my child is more interested in what’s on our plate than his. Feeding babies can be made easy by making them part of family dinner. To ensure that it isn't bland "kid food", we season his food according to our taste, and then taste and let him know how much we love it. The moment he sees us eating it and tries it, sophisticated adult food is almost a guarantee to hook him. Prepare All-Natural Sweets. Treats that are naturally sweet and just sweet enough are a household favorite. Recent favorites have included frozen yogurt dots, where we prepare just the filling of our natural strawberry yogurt pie and freeze it into disks on parchment paper. After they're frozen, we peel them off and store them in a container in the freezer; my child really likes one at the end of a meal. Smoothies are a big favor. Smoothies are an excellent way for kids to get nutrients as long as they have a balanced flavor and aren't too sweet or bitter. Eggs For The Win. The only thing he loves is scrambled eggs if all else fails and he doesn't like what we're eating, which happens sometimes. When he doesn't feel like having a meal, we can whip them up. Opt For Homemade Versions Of Kid Foods One of my kid's favorite foods is fries of course. The homemade oven fries we make are made with hand cut potatoes and olive oil and cooked until crisp in a hot oven instead of a restaurant or frozen fries. Add flair when in doubt. Added to this delicious vegan soup with cashews, it's the perfect vehicle for star toasts, a more whimsical take on a classic child's breakfast. A variety of fun-shaped foods can make any meal more exciting-and that applies to adults as well. Be Patient & Keep The Faith. Children must be exposed to a new flavor at least seven times, often more. Rather than assuming that my child doesn't like a certain food type, we think that my child hasn't had enough exposure to it. We eat together as a family whenever possible, but if it doesn't work out one night, we try again the next day. We can make real, delicious food for our toddler and share it with him. He will enjoy it in the long run if we do. Then we won't have to worry about the small things. Basic Feeding Tips Now that your child has experienced eating with a spoon, hopefully, he or she will feel more comfortable. Allow them to nibble away with a larger spoon, slowly increasing the size of the spoon. It is possible at this stage to introduce your baby to most fruits and vegetables. Make sure these are on your baby food chart every day for nine months. If you suffer from algs or you or your partner suffers from allergies and their families, you should consult with your pediatrician before designing your baby's 9 month food menu. Keep the 3 Day Rule in mind when introducing new foods, tastes, or textures to your family. Streamlining your baby's food introduction will enable him or her to get accustomed to the new foods while also allowing you to test for allergic reactions. Safety Protocols: Feeding Babies COVID-19 is a contagious viral infection that infects both the parents and the babies. To help prevent further transmission, follow the previously mentioned baby safety tips, along with the following guidelines before and after close contact. Keep your hands clean periodically with a hand wash/hand soap and water or sanitizer. A mask should always be worn on the face. You should always use tissues when you cough or sneeze. Distancing yourself from others until you are fully recovered, even when you have mild symptoms. If your child is old enough to understand instructions, you should inform yourself of the protocols and teach them as well. Although it can be overwhelming raising a child during the COVID-19 outbreak, it is not impossible! Be sure to follow medical advice from your healthcare provider. It is recommended to take a COVID-19 antibody test in conjunction with a COVID-19 diagnostic test to measure the level of antibodies fighting the virus. Whether your baby is a newborn or a toddler of a year old, you grow with her. A lot of your baby's first year is filled with adventure and exploration, and their diet plays a major role in that. Hopefully, you will find our recommendations on baby food charts for Indian babies at every stage useful and incorporate them into your little one's diet.
View More6 Benefits of Ragi For Babies
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Ragi For Babies Cereal groups such as millet are grown in tropical regions of Asia and Africa. You might be surprised to learn that finger millet or Ragi make fantastic baby food. The benefits of ragi for babies are numerous. The best foods for weight gain and muscle development are the ones that contain ragi flour for babies. In order for your baby to grow strong and build immunity, he or she needs adequate nutrition. This means you should provide your baby with a healthy meal. Include ragi in the baby’s diet to get the health benefits of ragi for babies. Ragi is a fantastic food for your baby, so you're in the right place if you're wondering how. Raw Ragi flour for babies is 100% natural and provides calcium, fibre, and Vitamin D in an adequate amount. Despite the numerous health benefits of ragi for babies, Ragi has remained absent from our diets and we haven't really taken to it. There aren't that many restaurants willing to experiment with the grain, aside from South Indian restaurants. Its bland taste is something many may not be able to tolerate. As an excellent alternative to conventional baby food, the benefits of ragi for babies is that it is organic food that is naturally gluten-free, low in fat, and free of any synthetic preservatives or artificial colors. Health Benefits of Ragi for Babies When your baby reaches six months of age, you can start giving him ragi. You can read the following to discover how ragi flour can benefit overall health and development. Good nutritional value: The best part about Ragi porridge is that your baby will receive excellent nutrition from it. Protein and fibre are high in this milk, which are both beneficial for your baby's health. It has the potential to offer high amounts of energy because it is nutrient-dense. Easily digestible and good for your baby's appetite: Ragi is especially easy to digest, as well as gluten-free. The non-glutinous and non-acidic nature of this formula allows it to be easily digested by your baby. Make Bones Stronger The high calcium content of Ragi makes it an ideal food to boost your calcium intake. A baby needs a good amount of nutrition to develop strong bones, and Ragi flour for babies can provide that. Ragi flour for babies is easy to digest due to its natural calcium content. Provides Protein The diet of newborns should include plenty of protein for muscle growth, and ragi has plenty of it. Ragi is an excellent source of protein, which is why most doctors advise new mothers to feed their babies ragi porridge. Clearly, Ragi and Rice have different nutritional contents. Prevents Anemia Iron deficiency results in anaemia, so your baby must consume enough iron to reduce the risk of anemia. Ragi flour for infants is made from 100% natural ingredients, and it is a high-fiber formula. It is highly recommended to consume iron in the right quantities daily to prevent anaemia. Helps In Digestion Ragi is rich in fiber which aids in digestion and also helps promote smooth bowel movements. You can give ragi to your baby for improved digestion. The high level of dietary fibre combined with the high amount of carbohydrates keeps you full for a longer time and resists cravings. Weight loss and reduced appetite are the results of this combination. Best Food For Weight Gain Infants suffering from malnutrition or obesity should be given finger millet, which provides excellent nutrition. Moreover, finger millet encourages weight gain because its nutritional content is so high. In addition to the essential nutrients such as calcium, dietary fibre, protein, iron, and calcium, Ragi flour provides vitamin B1 and B2, among others. Hence, Ragi is an excellent and nutritious food for babies. Improves Your Immunity Immunity is essential for babies, otherwise they will be susceptible to diseases and infections. A good reason for adding ragi to their diet is for its anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, the immune system is strengthened, enabling them to manage diseases and infections. Raagi has antimicrobial properties, which help to fight the spread of bacterial infections. These are just a few of the incredible benefits that your baby can experience when you give him or her ragi flour. Is Ragi A Good Source Of Nutrients? Calcium from food can only be absorbed by the body if it has vitamin D. Ragi provides both calcium and vitamin D, so calcium from this little grain is more easily assimilated by the body. As a result of the soaking and sprouting process, the level of vitamin C increases, which helps absorb iron. What Is The Benefit Of Sprouting Ragi? Sprouting improves the nutrition value of the plant. Sensitive stomachs can easily digest sprouted flour. To ensure that babies and toddlers consume sprouted ragi flour, it is highly recommended. Is Sprouting Ragi Easy? A few people might have had an easy time sprouting this year. Sprouts can be grown so easily by hanging them on a window sill or even by leaving them in a colander. There are always obstacles to overcome, and they may not sprout at all. They have been sprouting successfully by tying them in a cloth and then placing it somewhere dark. You can easily use Yummy Valley's sprouted ragi powder to utilize the benefits of ragi for babies. Why Ragi Is A Preferred Baby Food Ragi is one of the most popular first foods for babies in India because of the health benefits of ragi for babies. There are a plethora of nutrients in this millet, which provides an extra boost of nutrition to any child's diet. Often referred to as a superfood, ragi (finger millet) is an amazing source of nutrition. Not only does it have a mild flavor that makes it easy to incorporate into many dishes, but it also contains many nutrients that growing children need. Ragi is a staple food of South India that is especially valuable for containing methionine, a nutrient that is lacking in the diets of hundreds of people who eat starchy staples like cassava, plantain, polished rice, or maize meal. Among its health benefits, ragi is rich in calcium. Ragi contains approximately 344 milligrams of calcium per 100 grams. Fiber source that is good for the body. It is a good source of iron. Ragi sprouts contain about 4 mg of iron per 100g. Get sprouted ragi powder from Yummy Valley to try out instant ragi recipes at home. Ragi also provides a good amount of calcium, potassium, and iron, which can help manage blood sugar levels, weight and reduce inflammation, making it a healthy option for everyone.
View More10 MONTH BABY FOOD : FEEDING IDEAS
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BABY FOOD IDEAS FOR 10 MONTH OLD You may notice that your baby has few teeth, can swallow food more easily, and has started sitting with confidence. As such, 10 months is the best time for introducing 10 month baby food or most of the family's food products in the form of minced or chopped food, except for salt, sugar, honey, and cow's milk. You shouldn't force the baby to eat, though, because every baby is different and adapts to certain eating habits differently. Make sure to continue encouraging his eating habits with all your strength. Make sure to continue offering finger foods and spices to him as you did during the nine-month period. You should always remember that solid food can't replace the nutrients breastmilk and formula provide to a child in their first year. Thus, you may want to include solids in your baby's diet as a complement to breastfeeding. For your baby, it is recommended that homemade foods are always preferred. In the first year, solid food cannot replace the nutrients that have been provided by breastmilk and formula. You may, therefore, consider adding solids to your baby's diet as a complementary feeding. You should always choose homemade foods for your baby since they are safe. Fruits: A wide variety of fruits, excluding citrus fruits Vegetables: all seasonal vegetables Cereals & Grains: Almost all grains and cereals Pulses: Yellow Moong Dal, Masoor Dal, Chickpeas (White and Black) Chana, Urad Dal, Green Gram, Toor Dal, Bengal Gram Dal, and Soybeans Dairy: any dairy product except cow's milk Non-Vegetarian: Egg yolks, chicken mince, seafood Spices: Turmeric, garlic, ginger, asafoetida, cumin seeds, pepper, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, caroms, fenugreek, mustard seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom all can be added in little amounts, say a pinch. Make sure the 10 month baby food is well balanced in terms of nutrients. BABY IS ALMOST 10 MONTHS OLD: HOW MUCH FOOD DOES BABY NEED? During the first 10 months of a baby's life, you can offer three meals a day and a light snack, such as finger food, which can be offered anytime. You should feed your baby only by breastfeeding or formula feeding. Make your meal and snack timings according to the preferences of your baby. WHAT IS THE QUANTITY PER DAY FOR A BABY? Always follow your baby's appetite when deciding on food quantity, as appetite changes from baby to baby, and most babies change daily. You can estimate a certain amount of food: Cereal - 1/4 to 1/2 cup Vegetables - 1/4 to 1/2 cup Fruits - 1/4 to 1/2 cup Dairy - 2 to 3 tbsp Meat/Protein - 4 tbsp It's best to introduce one food at a time and follow the "three-day rule" which will help you find out whether you are allergic to a particular food. Keep an out for allergy-triggering food when choosing 10 month baby food. NOTES: In a vessel filled with boiling water, immerse the bowls and spoons you are using for feeding your baby for five minutes, then put them back in the same container for use. As some of the recipes are family recipes, some of the ones above are prepared with additional spices. Depending on your baby's tastes, you can adjust the ingredients. If you are introducing solid foods to your baby, you should never introduce more than one food at a time. Sugar, salt, milk, and honey should not be included in your baby's food until he or she turns one. If you notice any symptoms of an allergy when you introduce a new food to your baby, you should stop feeding him or her. You can feed your baby breast milk or formula milk on demand. If your child is introducing a new food, make sure to consult your pediatrician first. Compared to pressure cooking, steaming provides a healthier alternative for baby food. Using a steamer or Idli pot is therefore my preferred method of steaming. WHEN CAN MY BABY JOIN IN WITH FAMILY MEALS? As her digestive system is still developing, your baby won't be ready to eat everything you can eat at 10 months. Prepare 10 month baby food that is suitable for the child. Nonetheless, she can still be a part of family meals, provided that you do not provide any of the following: Honey: It contains bacteria that can sometimes cause infant botulism, a rare condition. Honey is also a type of sugar, which can be damaging to your baby's developing teeth. Raw, runny, or under-cooked egg: Eggs should always be cooked thoroughly so that they are both firm to the touch. Low-fat and low-calorie foods: The foods you are recommending won't provide your baby with enough energy, so they won't meet her needs. Low-calorie and low-fat foods can also contain other additives and ingredients that may not be suitable for babies and toddlers. Whole nuts: Whole nuts should not be given to your child until she is five years old, due to the risk of choking. Nuts and nut butter that is powdered and well ground are fine. Salt: Don't add extra salt to your baby's food because it can harm her kidneys. Your baby should also be limited in the number of salty foods they consume, such as namkeens, chips, cheese, sausages, and processed meats. Prepared foods like sauces and cereals can contain surprisingly high amounts of sugar, so read the labels before giving them to your child. Those under one year old should consume less than 1 g of salt each day (0.4 g of sodium). Sugar: Sugary foods and drinks can cause your baby's teeth to decay, and they may also encourage a love of sweets. Rather than sugar, you can add fruit purée or raisin purée or your baby's usual milk to sweeten the food. Some types of fish: The nervous system of your baby may be affected by high mercury levels in sharks, swordfish, and marlin. Please do not feed your baby raw shellfish, as this may cause food poisoning. Saturated fat: Fried foods, pakodas, chips, namkeens, biscuits, and cakes contain high levels of saturated fat. These foods sate your baby without providing much in the way of vitamins, so it's best to stay away from them. As long as your baby is growing well along her growth curve, she also won't need extra ghee, butter, or fats. 10 MONTH BABY FOOD: NOTES Aside from these foods, your baby can share the same meals as the rest of the family. She'll love having the same as you and seeing you enjoy a range of foods may help her to be a more adventurous eater. See our article on eating with the family for some interesting recipes. Of course, this doesn't mean that the rest of the family has to eat bland food. If family members prefer more salty or spicy meals, just take out a separate portion for your baby before adding seasoning to the food. Learn more about how and when to introduce spices in your baby's diet. You'll notice your little one’s getting better at feeding herself all the time, too. At 10 months, she's probably trying to feed herself with a spoon, though she’s unlikely to manage it just yet. See if your baby can handle 10 month baby food. Help and encourage her by letting her hold on to her own spoon as you feed her with another one. Give her plenty of finger foods as well, to give her the chance to experiment with feeding herself. Reference: Food I Feed My 10 Month Old
View MoreFeeding Baby Food: Here Is How I Handle My Fussy Eating Baby.
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Feeding Baby Food As a parent, I get my daily exercise while feeding my child or feeding baby food. It is no secret that children are fussy or picky eaters when it comes to healthy food. I got one here at my home. In the routine of feeding babies, we sometimes forget to ask ourselves if they are eating healthy. Even though greens are healthy, I have difficulty feeding my baby healthy baby food. A fussy eater is always a concern for every mother. The constant complaint is that she doesn't eat well and even when she eats, it's not healthy food. Under forceful feeding, I observed that the child suffered. It made me rethink my strategy. Here is how I get my baby to eat healthily. I've discovered ways to get my baby to eat healthy after doing some intensive research through trial and error. The secret is not to create a funny routine or use a special recipe. This is a combination of tips and tactics that I found useful for getting my baby to eat healthy food. It is important to prioritize the health and well-being of the child. After all, we are what we eat. I would like to share the guidelines I used for feeding baby food or to get my baby to eat healthy before getting into details. Force-Feeding Is Unhealthy For Children I used to force-feed my child. This concept is based upon the notion that you must be rough to do good. I thought I was helping, but it wasn't the case. Food should have a positive influence on the relationship between parents and children. Forcing children to eat leads to an aversion to food. I learned this the hard way. When we force-fed, the baby was not happy, neither was I. As soon as I brought food to her, the baby began crying and running away. It made the baby feel uneasy. Remember don’t force-feed the children. When you force-feed the child, you damage the relationship with the baby. Be sure feeding time is a loving experience for the parents as well as the children. Feeding baby food should be a fun process. Focus On Time Over Quality. The most important thing I have learned is to not worry about the amount of food but rather when to feed the baby. The baby's stomach is only 2 to 5 times as large as the baby's hand. I learned that children should eat four meals each day. Be specific about the time, such as 8:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 20:00. Find the ideal time to feed the child. If you start feeding, then it should stop after one hour. Between nine to twelve o clock, the child should not be offered anything other than water. Usually while feeding porridge we used to sit for hours to finish a bowl. Now whatever she eats, even if it is two or three spoons, we stop after one hour. It seems to help both the baby and me. Hold Back On The Sugar And Milk. Sugar and milk may seem like normal ingredients, but sugar-rich treats and milk will keep the baby from getting hungry. The average baby needs less than 200 ml of milk per day. Excess sugar is not good for health. As soon as I learned these facts, We cut back on the consumption of sugar and milk. Reducing unhealthy habits can lead to a healthier diet. That does not mean that you should completely avoid these things. Just keep an eye on the amount of sugar and other unhealthy food consumed. I sometimes use sweets to encourage good behavior. I recommend starting healthy snacking behaviors as early as possible. Snacks can be used as mini-meals to add more grains, fruits, and vegetables to your child's diet. Keep this in mind when feeding baby food. Add Vegetables And Fruits When it comes to eating healthy, it is best to choose organic and green foods. Nevertheless, I have trouble getting my baby to eat vegetables. However, eventually, we overcame the difficulty. The trick is to keep in mind that the children are tasting these ingredients for the first time, and it may take some time to get used to them. Not every taste is familiar to them. Include vegetables and fruits in daily porridge or baby food gradually. Though they may not like it the first time, that does not mean they will not try again. That's when you need to be patient. I tried over weeks to get her to eat vegetables and finally one day she acquired a taste for it. It no longer requires much effort to get her to eat those fruits and vegetables; it is merely a matter of patience and time. Feeding Baby Food: Quick Remedies It is possible for children to become fussy eaters or to acquire a taste for some food. It is important to be patient and introduce new tastes consistently to get the fussy eater to get more. The relationship between parents, children, and food needs to be healthy. Feeding time should be one of affection, play, and love. I understand how hard it is to feed a fussy eater and how worried parents are about their children. However, no matter how deep your worries are, do not force feed the children. Concentrate on when to feed your child rather than how much. Rather than quantity, focus on quality. Feed the children at least four times a day at a specific time interval. Reduce unhealthy foods, especially sugar and milk, gradually. Get your children acquainted with the taste of vegetables and fruits by including them in the daily diet. Make sure the feeding experience is filled with love and enjoyment. Handle Your Fussy Eater With Care Every child is unique and deserves your unconditional love and patience. You should not be discouraged if your attempts to get your picky eater to eat aren't 100 percent successful at first. No matter how much your little one hates eating anything but grapes, they are definitely not going to live off grapes for the rest of their lives. Children tend to eat the same types of foods for a while and then switch to other types. Look at the amount of food they consume over the course of a week (or even a month) rather than what they consume at a single meal or on a particular day. Image: Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels Reference: Little Baby Steps Blog
View MoreBaby Food Allergies: Everything You Need to Know
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Baby Food Allergies There are many people who suffer from food allergies. Whenever you eat certain foods, your immune system reacts abnormally, causing a food allergy. Baby food allergies can vary from person to person. With baby food, you just can’t take the risk. So make sure you check the label and understand the ingredients to avoid baby food allergies. You get this condition when the immune system incorrectly recognizes some of the proteins in a portion of food as harmful. During this transition period, your body initiates a series of protective responses, such as releasing inflammatory chemicals, including histamine. Food Allergies: What Are They? The effects of baby food allergies can be serious and even deadly. You need to understand how an allergic reaction is recognized in order to be ready if one occurs. A foreign object in your body can cause allergic reactions when your immune system reacts to it. As a result, your body produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E. Upon entering your body, these antibodies attach to your skin, lungs, and digestive tract. Histamine, which dilates blood vessels, is released by the antibodies when you encounter the allergen again. As a result, an allergic reaction takes place. How Can You Tell If Your Child Has a Food Allergy? Food allergies occur when a person's body perceives a certain food as poisonous. This enables the body's immune system, which fights diseases and infections, to make antibodies to fight food allergies. Look for allergies in family history and consult a Pediatrician. If you have a family history of food allergies, don't take the risk. Observe any changes in your baby's behavior if you don't know whether he has food allergies before trying new baby food. A person's body releases chemicals like histamine whenever they eat (or in some cases, handle or breathe in) food. Allergy symptoms are caused by this, which can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, or the cardiovascular system. Affected individuals may exhibit the following symptoms: Breathing problems Coughing Throat tightness Diarrhea Swollen, itchy, or watery eyes Red spots Swelling Belly pain Vomiting Food intolerance and baby food allergies have similar symptoms, which makes them easy to confuse. Food intolerance can cause symptoms such as burping, indigestion, gas, loose stools, headaches, nervousness, or the sensation of feeling "flushed." But food intolerance: The immune system is not involved A person may have difficulty digesting a substance, such as lactose Even though it is rarely dangerous, it can be unpleasant Baby Food Allergens: What Are the Most Common Ones? It is likely that a child will react to any food, but the following ingredients make up 90% of all allergic reactions: Milk Peanuts Wheat Soy Eggs Nuts Shellfish Food allergies are usually outgrown by most kids. Approximately 80% of people with milk allergies will eventually outgrow the allergy. Two-thirds of those with an egg allergy and about 80% with a wheat or soy allergy will grow out of it by their fifth birthday. However, baby food allergies in other species may be harder to overcome. Baby Food Allergy Reactions: What Happens? People react differently to food allergies. A single person can react differently under certain circumstances. It is critical to find and treat food allergy reactions as quickly as possible. Baby food allergies can be difficult to identify in children. There are several possible reactions: The symptoms will only affect one part of the body, such as hives on the skin The condition could be more severe and affect multiple parts of the body After contacting the food, the reaction can occur within minutes or within two hours Anaphylaxis can result in severe reactions from allergies, even if previous reactions were mild. A less severe reaction might begin with some of the same symptoms as anaphylaxis. However, it can quickly become more severe. There may be difficulty breathing or collapse for the individual. The individual may be affected in more than one way. In the absence of treatment, anaphylaxis can be fatal. Baby Food Allergy: How Are They Diagnosed? A doctor will ask about the following if you suspect your child might have a food allergy: Symptoms experienced by your child The frequency with which the reaction occurs An individual's response to a particular food after eating it Allergies or conditions such as eczema or asthma among family members There could be other conditions causing the symptoms, so the doctor will check for those as well. For example, your doctor may examine your child for lactose intolerance if your child has diarrhea after drinking milk. Similar symptoms can also be seen in celiac disease, which causes an inability to tolerate gluten. If your doctor recommends an allergist (allergy specialist doctor), they will ask you more questions and perform a physical examination. Tests to determine the allergy's cause may be ordered by the allergist, including: The skin test. A food allergy test involves pricking your child's skin with liquid extracts of food allergens, watching for reddish raised spots (called wheals) to form after 15 minutes, and then waiting to see if they develop. Your child's reaction to a food is only an indication that the food might cause sensitivity. Testing the blood for antibodies to specific foods A food challenge may be recommended by the allergist if the test results are unclear: To perform this test, the doctor slowly increases the amount of a potential food allergen a person is eating while keeping an eye on their symptoms. A life-threatening reaction may occur during the allergy test, so it must be performed in an allergist's office or hospital with immediate medical attention and medicines. A more common reason for doing food challenge tests is to determine if a person has outgrown their allergy. Check for baby food allergies by giving your children small quantities. What Are The Treatments For Baby Food Allergy? Creating a treatment plan for your child with a food allergy will be assisted by the allergist. In most cases, allergen treatment involves avoiding all foods containing the allergen. It's important to read labels on food so you can avoid allergens. Read the label before buying the baby food. Be aware of ingredients that might cause allergies. Use baby food brands like Yummy Valley to get clarity on ingredients and their source. Stay clear of baby food products that contain those ingredients that can lead to baby food allergies. Currently, food allergies do not have a cure. Medication can be used to treat mild as well as severe symptoms. Allergic reactions may result in symptoms such as hives, runny nose, or stomach pain that can be treated with antihistamines. The moment you notice allergic reactions in your child, call an ambulance and take them to the hospital as soon as possible, Image source: Pexels Reference: Baby food Allergies
View More8 Common Baby Food Feeding Mistakes
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Common Baby Food Feeding Mistakes Feeding is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges that parents face during their baby's early years. We sometimes find our little ones to be temperamental and moody at times when it comes to eating and drinking, especially after we have transitioned them from breastfeeding or formula to solid foods. The meals we serve our babies should be healthy, complete, and digestible. Nevertheless, there are a few feeding mistakes that can have a negative impact on a baby's nutrition and should be avoided. A list of common mistakes you must avoid while bottle-feeding your baby can be found below. Pediatricians recommend keeping these pointers in mind to make sure that our babies get a healthy diet during their developmental stage. The Baby Should Be Introduced to Solid Food Right Away to Sleep Better Quite a few parents believe that solid foods help fill up the baby's stomach properly, allowing him to sleep well at night. Since this is the case, we often introduce solid food to toddlers before they reach 4 to 6 months of age. Doctors do not, however, recommend introducing solid food before this age. Sleeping longer after eating solid food is unfounded based on the fact that the baby ate solid food. It is recommended to exclusively consume breast milk (or formula) during the first few months of life. Towards the end of this time period, solid food should be introduced. Introducing Cereal Before 6 Months Many parents introduce cereal to their babies early because it is regarded as one of the best foods for babies. Cereal is still considered a safe and nutritious food to be consumed by young infants before six months, regardless of the delay in starting other solid foods, such as daal khichdi. Furthermore, pediatricians are not recommended for this practice as well. Infants are still growing and do not have fully developed digestive tracts. Baby cereal is not recommended before six months because it could cause constipation in the baby and make him irritable. In the event your baby is still hungry after feeding, you might need to increase the frequency of feeds. In the event of limited milk production, you may want to talk to your doctor about supplementing your milk production with formula. A pediatrician may recommend feeding cereal to your baby in a bottle if he or she has reflux problems. But this is done in order to prevent the food from flowing back up the stomach. It is not advised to attempt this without consulting your doctor. Too Worried About Babies Spitting Up Their Food When you see your baby spitting up milk after a feed, you may be worried. Baby food feeding does not need to worry parents too much because babies spit up milk or other solid food as it is normal. Generally speaking, acid reflux of this type is a fairly common condition. As a result of the valve connecting the esophagus and stomach not operating properly, vomiting occurs. Consequently, food from the stomach enters the mouth. The problem will subside over time without any intervention. To ensure your baby is digesting food properly, make sure your baby burps after every feeding. When you try these home remedies for acid reflux in babies, spitting up can be a problem. Introducing Solid Foods Too Late The introduction of solid foods should not be delayed beyond 6-9 months at most. Too early introduction of solid foods is also considered a mistake. The doctors say that infants who don't eat solid food before nine months are more likely to develop aversions to it. Your baby may experience difficulty biting, tasting, or experiencing some textures of food. While this period is critical for breastfeeding, breast milk or formula is still essential. You should make sure that your baby gets a taste and feel for solid food. Failing to Observe Choking Hazards Throughout our lives, we consume many seemingly harmless foods that could end up choking our babies. Your baby will start experimenting with finger foods as he gets older, pulling up pieces of food and putting them in his mouth. We need to be aware of choking hazards more than usual during this time. While the baby may have started chewing, his teeth have not fully developed. Whenever possible, avoid giving your baby large amounts of food or letting your baby lie down while eating. The following are some other choking risks or baby food feeding mistakes that parents must be alert to. Feeding Foods That Are ‘Too Healthy’ This is becoming an increasingly common mistake in our modern age - we tend to overthink 'health' in regards to baby's food, choosing low-fat, organic, or genetically modified (e.g. seedless) foods. The pediatricians recommend that infants should eat real food. It is best not to give a baby low-fat foods (e.g. low-fat butter) since babies need healthy meals or baby food feeding to grow up with. The practice of restricting a baby's meals to fruits and vegetables is also not recommended. This type of food is nutritious, but it is also filling, limiting your baby's exposure to meat, dairy products, and vegetable protein sources. Spoon-Feeding For Too Long There has been a connection between this baby food feeding mistake and childhood obesity. Research indicates that babies who are spoon-fed for a long time are at a much greater risk of becoming obese later in life. This is primarily because they are unable to recognize fullness and when they have eaten enough food. As soon as a baby is allowed to handle food himself, he can control how much is consumed. Generally, doctors recommend that babies begin feeding themselves between 8 and 9 months old. If your baby shows signs of readiness, you can now start introducing a spoon to him on his own. They include holding his head steady or grasping food with his hand/fingers. Feeding Allergy-Triggering Baby Foods You need to be careful with certain foods that might seem healthy at first, but may cause allergies for your baby. Despite the fact that doctors no longer believe that common allergen-causing foods such as peanuts, shellfish, and egg whites need to be completely avoided, it is a good idea to discuss them first with your child's pediatrician. Depending on your needs, you might need to limit your consumption of these trigger foods and avoid baby food feeding mistakes. When you have a history of allergy or eczema in your family, you will need to be especially careful. The Bottom Line It is vital to remember that mistakes can happen, and one can never be too careful. Make sure you are prepared for these circumstances and know what you should do in them. Take time to observe when introducing solid foods and to keep an eye out for allergies. It is best not to force-feed your child and for feeding to be a fun activity that is shared between both parents and children. If you are in doubt make sure to consult a pediatrician.
View More6 Toxic Ingredients Found in Baby Food & Baby Formula
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Toxic Ingredients Found in Baby Food There are many recent studies that have suggested that a large amount of baby formula can contain harmful chemicals that are damaging to your infant and even affect their growth and development. The study found that approximately 80% of the formulas contained arsenic along with a wide range of other ingredients you would not approve of. The World Health Organization and many other organizations proclaim that breastfeeding is best for babies; however, for some new moms, this is simply not feasible. Therefore, education on other options is important, such as goat milk formula, for such moms. You may want to keep an eye out for or avoid these ingredients in baby food: Sucrose The presence of sucrose in formula despite being one of the milder toxins, can still cause a number of problems. As one of the essential ingredients in formula, it aids in the digestion of the milk; however, it has been reported that some formulas contain too much. Children may become obese and suffer from dental problems such as weak enamel. Additionally, it can be addictive. Soy Soy-based products account for approximately one-fifth of all formulas sold, and although they may seem harmless, soy poses many issues when used as an ingredient for infant formula. It is common for genetically modified soy to be laced with pesticides or weed killers, which is not ideal for a newborn baby to consume. Artificial DHA and ARA ARA and DHA are natural fatty acids found in breast milk; however, in formula, they are synthetically manufactured to reassure parents that their infants are getting a high-quality formula. Despite their benefits, artificial versions are derived from algae and fungus, which are not intended for human consumption. In the process of gathering, the petroleum-based solvent hexane can be used, which can end up in the formulation and negatively affect the nervous system of the consumer. A number of studies have demonstrated that synthetic DHA and ARA are useless, have no benefits for babies, and may even contribute to some stomach problems. Dioxin Formula for your baby contains this substance, which is known to cause cancer. This chemical is found in many foods and places in our environment, making it very difficult to avoid. Infants are born with this substance already in their bodies, and are then fed it continuously for life after birth. Preservatives There are both normal and organic formulas that contain these substances. The manufacturer adds preservatives such as beta carotene and ascorbyl palmitate to extend the shelf life of its products. Artificial substances can cause the body to create toxins that can even cause infants to fail to reach developmental milestones and cause negative changes in their sight and hearing. Synthetic Nutrients The purpose of adding synthetic nutrients to formula is to mimic breast milk. Examples include L-Carnitine and lycopene. Due to manufacturers trying to process these ingredients in the cheapest way while using harmful chemicals to make them, it's known that they can be toxic, resulting in long-term harm to infants who consume them. The findings of studies have demonstrated that children fed toxic rich formulas are more likely to develop chronic diseases and to die younger. Watch out for Heavy Metals Nowadays, it's difficult to avoid exposure to harmful chemicals, and there is heavy pollution everywhere you look. We as adults have developed immune systems to fight these effects, and in comparison with our body weight, we take in a much lower amount than those in children. These chemicals can, however, cause harm to newborns and small infants who have highly weakened immune systems and low body weights, leading to brain damage and stunted development. As a parent, it's important to stay informed and aware when it comes to making decisions about your child's diet. Heavy metals can be found in soil, water, and the air we breathe. We can ingest these metals through the food we eat because plants absorb them as they grow. Despite the fact that some heavy metals (like iron and zinc) are necessary for our bodies, others (like arsenic and lead) are harmful. There are some crops, like rice, that absorb more of these harmful metals than others. Over time, heavy metals can accumulate in the body and harm learning, behavior, and attention. Some food additives may contain heavy metals when added to baby food. Vitamins and minerals are added along with food additives. Some baby foods contain more heavy metals than others, such as: infant rice cereal infant rice puff snacks teething biscuits and rice rusks fruit juice carrots and sweet potatoes It is possible that organic baby food may contain heavy metals. While baby food contains low levels of heavy metals, you can take steps to reduce them even further. Here are ways to do that: Make sure your baby eats a variety of healthy foods. A balanced diet can reduce the amount of heavy metals that your baby is exposed to. Give infants more than rice cereal. Offer your baby other cereal types such as oatmeal, barley, quinoa, and multigrain cereals. Keep serving carrots and sweet potatoes. These vegetables are packed with nutrients. Be sure to serve them along with other fruits and vegetables. Fruit juice should not be given to your baby. A child under 1 year old should not consume juice since it can cause cavities and weight gain. Drinking formula or breast milk for babies and water and milk for older children is the best way to keep babies hydrated. For your baby, you should feed fruits instead of juice, since they contain more fiber and nutrients. You can prepare your own baby food. When you make your own baby food, you can avoid additives and foods with high levels of heavy metals. Serve the same foods that you eat as a family, but in a way that your baby can understand. Smooth purées are necessary for infants just starting solid food. When making rice dishes, use white basmati rice and sushi rice. These types of rice contain less arsenic than other types. Before cooking rice, ensure that it is thoroughly rinsed. Make sure you add plenty of water while cooking, and then drain any extra. By doing so, you'll reduce the amount of arsenic. Reduce baby food snacks, such as rice puffs and oat ring cereals. Pureed, mashed, or soft foods that are rich in nutrients such as fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheese, or yogurt, are a better alternative to processed snacks. You can also reduce the amount of sugar, salt, and refined flour your baby consumes. Preparing snacks for your baby is an excellent idea if you choose rice-free or multigrain options. Teething biscuits should not be used. Instead, you should give your baby a cold, not frozen teether or a wet washcloth to chew on. Make sure your water is clean. Lead pipes can cause lead to accumulate in the water. The water in many people's wells may contain lead and other heavy metals. Want to learn the Tips To Help Improve Sleep For Busy Moms & Dads? Click here!
View MoreHow I established a healthy sleeping habit for my baby
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Healthy sleeping habit for my baby As a mother, I can vouch for the fact that newborn babies sleep a lot. In the first few weeks, as per my observation, a healthy baby sleeps somewhere between 16 to 18 hours per day. A baby’s sleep cycle will alter between 3 to 4 hours as he/she needs to be fed well, when awake. It undoubtedly means sleepless nights and days for parents. This phase moves on quickly although it might feel like an eternity. As per my observations and research, babies undergo light & easily disturbed sleep rather than sound sleep most of the time. This kind of sleep helps with the baby’s healthy brain development. Change in sleep patterns with gradual growth Between 6 to 8 weeks, the baby sleeps for long spells during the night. However, he/she needs to get fed during the night as well. Start training your baby to sleep more hours at night gradually and safely by encouraging healthy habits. Encouraging good and healthy sleep habits in babies As discussed above, the baby develops sleep habits from as early as six weeks. From a certain time period after the 6-week mark, babies start developing the natural circadian rhythms that help him/her to process and regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Tactics to help your baby sleep healthily On average, a baby sleeps for 2 hours in the first 6 to 8 weeks. Overtiring a baby by not putting him/her to sleep within this 2-hour window can be stressful and tiresome, which will affect the sleep cycle. Spotting the signs to know if my baby is tired or not is one way I make sure that I won’t disrupt the sleep cycle, and this tactic works like a charm every time. The signs include rubbing the eyes, flicking the ear, whining & crying, appearances of faint dark circles under the eyes, staring blankly into space, yawning, stretching, and losing interest along with becoming quiet. A baby will most often turn his/her face away from moving objects and people. Check these signs of sleeplessness, stress, and tiredness and put him/her to sleep as soon as possible. With practice, we all will know about the daily rhythms and patterns of the baby. This is the first and most important tactic to keep an eye out for. The second tactic for healthier sleep is to make your baby understand the difference between day and night. Start training your baby slowly about the differences between day and night, maybe after a 2 week period. During day time take him/her for an outing, change the clothes when he/she awakes, play as much as possible, chat and sing while he/she is being fed, and keep the house and his/her room bright. Wake the baby gently when he/she nods off. During the nighttime, change to nightclothes, keep all-natural noises down and dim all the lights. All these could make the baby understand between day and night. The third tactic is to let the baby fall asleep without any help. After your baby crosses the duration of 3 months, he/she should be trained to sleep without any help from the parents. Place your baby on the bed when he/she is sleepy, but still awake. Stay with him/her until the baby drifts off to sleep. Train him/her to sleep at night and be awake in the day on a daily basis. Setting a routine plays an important part as the baby will expect it to continue for a prolonged period. Read a story, sing a song, feed, or rock the baby at your convenience. Adopt the same strategy every night to make it a routine. Regardless of the people around you, make your baby’s sleep healthier by allowing him/her to fall asleep without any external help. This helps in building healthier sleep habits, which gets continued for a lifetime. This routine can help develop self-confidence in babies at a very young age and will be fearless & innocent from the get-go. Right interactions with the babies will make them more playful and confident in their activities. Beware of sleep problems that can happen at a young age Now that we looked into and discussed the tactics that can be used to instil a healthy sleep pattern in babies, let us delve into the sleep problems that can disturb your young charmer. It might be hard to identify the sleep problems in a baby at an early stage. This is because of the rhythm difference between your’s and your baby’s daily routines when it comes to sleep. During the baby’s first months, he/she require plenty of cuddles and night-time feeds. If possible, sleep with the baby matching his/her rhythm so that he/she will always feel safe, secure while you are nearby. As per my observations and understanding, coping with nighttime waking gets easier if the baby is on the same bed as you or on a small cot/cradle at an arm’s length. This way, a new mother can feed the baby whenever the need arises regardless of the time while staying half-asleep keeping an eye on the baby every time as much as possible. When the baby starts feeding on a formula diet, you can switch between the feeding timings ensuring that you and your baby stay healthy all the time. In the first few weeks, make it a practice to swaddle the baby in a warm cloth. These are some of the observations and understandings I made while raising up my baby. Following these will help any couple to put their baby to a healthy and sound sleep, which is very much necessary for your little bundle of joy. Also, the above-discussed ways are by which I established a healthy sleep habit in my baby. Want to learn how this mother took care of her fussy eating baby? Click here and find out!
View MoreHow I Recovered After Giving Birth And Maintained My Fitness
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After Giving Birth Childbirth is a process where you have to go through a lot of pressures, emotional turmoil, pain, and traumas that affect your mental and physical state. I have also been through the same after giving birth to my child. From my perspective, I would like to advise every mother out there that giving birth to a child doesn’t mean you have to let go of your body. Instead, stay strong and put in some effort, treasure it, and treat it very well so that you can become strong and confident enough which would surely help you to improve your motherhood. I have always wondered about seeing celebrities getting back to awesome shapes after their pregnancies. I was curious about the methods they adapt and also the interventions they got in their whole journey in getting back in shape. Later, after giving birth to my child and while going through that phase, I understood that it is not that simple as I thought but, with a regular exercise plan and lifestyle routine anyone could pull it off easily as I did. Being a new mother is extremely challenging as you have to go through a lot of physiological as well as psychological stresses. After the whole long process, you will be tested both mentally and physically and will need some time to recover yourselves from the impact of the childbirth journey. It is said that an average postpartum period can last anywhere from four to eight months after the delivery. This is the time when our body slowly comes back to equilibrium. It doesn’t matter if you had a normal delivery or C-section; it is advised that you have to take good care and rest for two weeks minimum. I did deep research through various journals and studies to get an insight into how to recover from the post-partum state and get back into a fit and healthy body. I found various studies online stating that we could safely start exercising after four weeks if your delivery was normal. If it was a C–section then you will have to wait for a couple of weeks more, i.e., Six weeks unless you don’t have any complications during the childbirth. It is essential to maintain this recovery period because this period ensures that your uterus has properly retracted back into the pelvis, the bleedings and discharges have stopped and also the stitches are properly healed. You can also take some additional time if needed to get ready into the mood of exercising. If you are someone who had a healthy exercise routine then you will be having your set of conditioned muscles which would help you to start your routine much easier. Fortunately, I had a good routine and so I was able to start much better. Before starting your routine remember; you have to start very slow. No high-impact exercises are allowed during the initial phase. Studies indicate that the presence of a ligament and joint softening hormone called Relaxin which is released during pregnancy and childbirth can remain in your body for almost six months postpartum which can lead to unstable joints and loosened pelvis. Make sure that you avoid high-intensity exercises during that time and start your routine at a slow and steady pace. How did I do that? I’ll explain. I started my workouts slowly and split my workouts into different shifts which included 20 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes of lightweight exercises, and another 20 minutes for stabilizing my core and increasing flexibility. Remember, I started it very slow at very small impacts. Starting exercises can seriously help you to get into a feel-good mood and can be of great help in recovering from the impacts of post-natal depression. I will explain to you some exercises as an example so that you could choose from them according to your interest. Firstly, I would suggest walking. Start walking at a slow pace. This will help your body to burn calories and help strengthen your muscles. If you want to have a detailed analysis of your health results, you can buy a fitness tracker and note down your daily progress and also increase the distance by some steps so that you become stronger than you started. Depending upon your delivery type and health condition and also under your doctor’s guidance, you can start doing Kegels and pelvic tilts. These activities help in increasing the blood supply to the perineum and also speeds up your healing process. This helps in activating your transverse abdominals and also helps you in getting a strong foundation for your core muscles. The next one is breastfeeding. You would be surprised to know that Breastfeeding also helps you to stay fit. It is one of the fastest and best way that helps to shrink the uterus to the pre-pregnancy size. Additionally, it burns 600 calories a day too. One thing to be noted is that you will have to maintain a balanced diet along with an exercise program to achieve this unless you won't be seeing the results you expected. After gaining a bit of strength from the milder exercise program you can move on to a bit higher levels starting from doing basic abs crunches. Along with this, you can start doing strength training and increase the intensity of your cardio workouts. These shifts in programs can be time-efficient since the intensity is getting higher in very little time. This can help in increasing your metabolism and speeds up the baby fat-burning process. While I started, I added some squats, some shoulder raises, and also some lunges which helped me increasing my heart rate. The body postures we maintain while performing these exercises can help you lose weight and also tones your body very well so that you can easily get back to your pre–pregnancy state. Being a mother is special, while getting healthy is important at the same time post pregnancy. Getting back to shape after pregnancy is not an impossible task but will require a srong mind to achieve it. Start slow and be patient, desired results will come towards you. This is my takeaway after going through my post pregnancy phase.
View MoreThe New Mother: How to effectively take care of yourself after giving birth
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Effectively take care of yourself after giving birth The New Mother: How to effectively take care of yourself after giving birth The time after giving birth is a joyous time for a mother. However, it is a period of healing and adjustment. The first six weeks after childbirth is called the postpartum period. During these weeks, you will have a post-delivery checkup with your doctor to examine your health. This can be the most beautiful phase of your life in which you will develop the initial bond with your baby. After the birth of my baby, I experienced some challenges in adjusting to my everyday life. I had to take care of myself while taking care of my baby. Adjusting to motherhood can be hard especially if you are a new mother. Usually, new mothers do not return to their offices or workplaces for at least the first six weeks after birth. This time allows them to adapt as well as develop a new normal. I also experienced some sleepless nights as my baby has to be fed and changed diaper often. I felt this was frustrating and tiresome until settling into a routine. There are a few tips that you can follow for an easier transition. Never forget to take care of yourself. Giving little priority to self is very important in this period! Take rest whenever you can I was not able to sleep much in the hospital after giving birth. The first few weeks after giving birth are an important time for us mothers to rest whenever we can. I used to sleep and rest when my baby sleeps. I limited visitors for at least the first 2 weeks so that I can rest and get breastfeeding well established. Getting plenty of rest helped me with recovery. To cope with tiredness and fatigue I tried to get as much as sleep possible. As my baby woke up every two to three hours for feeding, I made sure that I got enough rest and sleep whenever I can. You should call your doctor if you can't sleep or feel anxious most of the time. Seek help if required It is always a good idea to recruit help regardless of whether it is your first or fourth baby. I asked my friends and family members to help with household chores, running errands, cooking, and childcare, especially during the first week. This can be instrumental in your postpartum recovery as it will free up some time in your new and busy schedule. The first month of having a new-born baby at your home can be quite overwhelming. I felt like all of my time is focused on caring for my baby. I was not afraid to ask for help during this time. I didn’t hesitate to accept help from my friends and family during my postpartum period. Your body needs to heal after this period. You can get much-needed rest by seeking practical help around the home. My family and friends helped to care for my other children in the home. They also helped with preparing meals and running errands. Eat healthy to stay strong You can promote healing by eating healthy meals and maintaining a healthy diet. I increased my intake of fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and protein during my postpartum period. Moms should also increase their fluid intake after giving birth. An increased fluid intake is especially important if you are breastfeeding. While nursing baby you may find that you become very thirsty. Milk and water are good choices. Talk with a registered dietitian or your healthcare provider if you want to learn more about postpartum nutrition. Nowadays many certified lactation consultants are available who can help with advice about breastfeeding and nutrition. It is important to care for yourself while looking after your new-born. Whether you delivered by C-section or vaginally, your body has experienced trauma throughout your entire pregnancy and during the delivery. I allowed myself to become the best mother I can be by allowing myself to properly recover. Exercise daily Exercise is another important factor during the postpartum period. My doctor let me know when it is OK to exercise. However, the activity should not be strenuous. If you have had a cesarean section do not lift anything heavier than your baby. After giving birth, I used to take long walks near my house. But a change of scenery can be refreshing and will increase your energy level. During pregnancy and birth, your body has undergone many changes. Besides rest, you need time to recover. For the first week after delivery limit stair climbing as much as possible. It is important to seek professional help from experts or doctors when needed. Make baby care simple You can follow a simple baby care routine in the initial days than trying to specialise in every step of baby-sitting from day one. As babies do not need a bath every day, you can keep your baby's care simple. Just wipe off the baby's face, hands, and diaper area daily. Once you get used to with the baby care routines expand the steps to bathing, oil massaging, exercising baby etc. It is always a better idea to seek help from experts around to bath or burp baby in the initial days. Be Positive! After giving birth, you will need to start rebuilding the positive energy as your body and mind would have exhausted. Even if you can only manage to sleep, care for your baby, and eat that is enough. A mother needs to progress through many changes during the postpartum period and it’s okay to take time. To recover both emotionally and physically, you should be practical and positive to changing roles in life. Want to learn how these parents learned to sleep better through parenting? Click here and find out!
View MoreTips To Help Improve Sleep For Busy Moms & Dads
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Tips To Help Improve Sleep Sleepless nights are not at all rare stories for parents with little ones. Peaceful and lavish sleeps are something so hard for them to attain. Although it is so exhausting for the parents to skip sleep at night, still sleepless nights are not considered as a main concern by them, as they believe it as a part of their parental responsibilities. However, it is never a good idea for busy dads and moms to not work on improving sleep. As ignoring the soothing and relaxed sleep at night on a regular basis will for sure hold a lot of negative impacts on their day to day life. Parents skipping their sleep will definitely find it difficult to handle their work and also their life. Better sleep is inevitable for everyone, as it boosts up metabolism, keeps cognitive disturbances at bay, bolsters immunity and not least of all a good sleep will make you more patient with your kid, as it reduces your stress level. Sleeping for at least six hours is one amoung the most important healthy habits in a person’s life. No one should ever attempt to make this wonderful habit get lost in the turmoil of busy schedules or life. Without restful sleep, busy moms and dads can never be comfortable, peaceful and healthful. This soothing night rest should be achieved by everyone, no matter how hard to follow these tips. The first and foremost thing to do is to take out the entire hurdles that are hindering the night’s sleep. Sleep is something that should be kept on the top of the priority list. It is never a child’s play and it requires all your commitment. Hurry up to the next supermarket and grab some thick curtains, appoint a nanny for your little one during the nighttime, stay away from mobile phones, television and the like. Take enough measures and steps to get rid of every possible impediment that hurt your night’s rest. Sleep struggles or issues are another worst part of disturbed sleep. There can be quite a few reasons that catalyze this issue that including hormonal imbalance. These issues should be resolved as soon as possible with treatments like acupuncture. Better sleep promotes better health, so by consulting a medical practitioner, this issue can be solved at its best. Crafting a healthful sleep routine for you is another suggestion that can help you get out of this sleep trouble. A much-relaxed bedtime that will definitely work for the busy person in you should be laid down. This can be created with enough trying and testing. Relax your minds and engage in activities that are known for inducing sleep. Head on to your room without much wait and try to attain the most soporific night rest. You should be well aware of the damages that lack of sleep will bring on to your health. It will for sure increase the risk of diseases like obesity, heart attack, high blood pressure and many more. You should never overlook prioritizing your sleep and thereby take good care of your health. Never sacrifice your sleep on behalf of any other chores that can be doing laundry, feeding your child, cleaning home, preparing food, doing dishes or like. No matter how long your task lists, sleep should be on top of it. Passing on work and responsibilities to your kids is another best way to make you ready to look after your sleep and health, it will not only give you time but also will make your kids responsible and efficient. Put them to do works like cleaning, picking up toys, folding clothes etc. By doing so you can win your sleep time early. Do not hold yourself back from sleeping, when your kids are sleeping. Complete the task of relaxed sleep with your kids. It is better to plan your sleep together with that of your little one. When he or she is embracing their night’s rest, you can also join them in watching beautiful and heavenly dreams. Along with developing sleeping habits in your younger ones, try to revamp your healthy habit of sleeping. Recognize sleep and rest as a priority in life, which will definitely make you more productive and healthy. The sleeping schedule you created should be consistent. Keep the blue lights at bay during the nighttime that can undeniably evoke sleep. Together with turning off the blue lights, you should also keep your screens of mobiles and laptops out of your room. Always stick to your sleep time and do not cram it up with unfinished works and tasks. Stressing over poor sleep is another unhealthy habit that will make you lose sleep. It is better to keep your conversations light and soothing right before you enter into your bedroom to get some sleep, as serious talks can for sure affect your relaxed and composed sleep. Make your family and your kid understand about how tired you are and you are in need of a sweet and strong nap. Reduce doing unproductive and inefficient works like scrolling phones, as it will steal your valuable time and will make you inefficient and tied up. Never try to make your job schedules grab your sleep time and never encourage yourself to become a night owl. There is no harm in buying some time for achieving a blissful sleep. Make yourself less stressed and shape a better sleep time. Transfigure your personal space or your bedroom into a blissful one by making little changes or by setting up a calm and soothing ambience. Light a lamp with some fragrance oil, drink a glass of golden milk or chamomile tea, massage your pressure points with some oil, read a book, listen to soothing sounds, give yourself a shower with warm water, write a journal and in the morning time, hug your soul and body with yoga and meditation. Lure your sweet and relaxing slumber with enough actions, otherwise, the cost you have to pay will be really high.
View MoreWhat I Learned About My Baby’s Food Allergies & Sensitivities
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My Baby’s Food Allergies A food allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body to a particular food. Being a mom, I have noticed reactions to certain foods in my child’s diet. Sometimes my baby cries, fusses, or even nurses more frequently once I consume spicy or "gassy" diets. These are some common symptoms my infant shows as a reaction to allergic food that reaches the body. The strong response associated with a food allergy will occur rapidly, often within seconds. In mild cases, it can be any time within 2 hours after eating the trigger food. If a child displays signs after 2 hours, it’s hard for parents to identify the problem, unless they are aware the kid is sensitive to the food consumed. I always prefer to make a list of foods prior to feeding the same for the first time and check the responses of my little one to mark the food as safe and non-allergic. Start Gradually to Identify Food Allergies in your kids It is advised to begin with a few non-allergenic foods first to see how the baby handles solid food. Foods that comprise single-grain iron-fortified infant cereals, meats, and beans are encouraged as first foods, as they furnish nutrients like iron and zinc. Potentially allergenic foods, like eggs, peanut products, wheat, and fish are also recommended because postponing their introduction can increase the chance of food allergy. Specific diets like walnuts and chunks of peanut butter extend a choking risk, so the quantity of food and its consistency are also expected to be analyzed. Cow's milk and soy milk can only be given for 12 months. Serve plain fruits, vegetables, and meats rather than diverse varieties. If the newborn responds to a specific food, stop serving that food. It is the second time kid consumes the food that the allergic symptoms occur. If IgE antibodies react with food at this point, histamines are released, which can lead to hives, asthma, itchy mouth, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhoea in the child. Only two or three out of every one hundred newborns have an allergic consequence, most frequently to cow's milk in their mother's diet. Most babies eventually outgrow their allergy to cow’s milk, although food allergies to other substances can last a lifetime. Causes of Food Sensitivities Children are supposed to be at extremely high risk for evolving food allergies if they have a family history of food allergies, moderate to serious eczema, or asthma. The intestine acts as an obstruction, retaining undigested food particles in the digestive tract, but those with leaky gut have small spaces between the cells of their intestinal lining. This enables food particles from inside the intestines to ‘leak’ through the gut lining into the bloodstream, resulting in a variety of symptoms, often including eczema. Topical creams can lower the external indications of eczema, but they are only a band-aid treatment to cover the symptoms, meaning they do not get to the "cause." Nothing will benefit more than curing holistically from within. Aiding the baby’s gut is the crucial element in resolving their food sensitivities and eczema because the healthier a baby’s gut is, the better their digestive and immune systems function. So far, no evidence not eating certain foods while breastfeeding can contribute to a child developing allergies or asthma. However, if the family has had severe food allergies, limit intake of milk and dairy products, fish, eggs, peanuts, and other tree nuts during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Carefully monitor the baby for skin rashes, respiratory problems, unusual stools, or other allergic symptoms and tell the paediatrician about the family's medical history. How to Avoid Food Allergies If your baby responds negatively to a particular kind of food, you should stop feeding that specific food temporarily. If these signs persist every day and last for a lengthy duration, they may indicate colic rather than food sensitivity. Do not assume that the baby will be "clear" if a particular food has been introduced without reacting to it. It frequently takes a few introductions before indications are noticeable, as responses can worsen with every subsequent feeding and kids can outgrow their allergies as their bodies and immune systems mature. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish normally persist for life. Only 10-20% of children who have these allergies will outgrow them. Many develop milk, egg, wheat, or soy allergy on their first birthday, but it can persist until age 5-9. But these allergies also tend to resolve less often than in the last decades. Sometimes, an allergy can result in a drastic reaction named anaphylaxis, even if a prior reaction was mild. Anaphylaxis can commence with some of the exact symptoms as a less serious reaction, but it can shortly get worse. The child may have difficulty breathing or pass out. More than one portion of the body may be affected. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can be life-threatening. When the sensitivity risks have been reduced, it is instructed to reintroduce the diets that the newborn is sensitive to, one at a time. Some professionals advise that each food be consumed by itself, in the morning, before the child eats anything else. Food allergies are incurable. But medications can treat both mild and severe symptoms. It's also a promising notion to carry an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine for the child, as this can help treat mild allergy signs. A rotation diet assures that no one food is eaten further once every four days; rotating and modifying food intake in such a means will avoid new sensitivities from developing. A rotation diet has advantages to address the whole family, not only those impacted by food sensitivities. It contributes to a mixture of fresh, nutrient-rich, unprocessed diets. This ideal sort of diet can prevent and occasionally correct digestive problems. Learn how this mother increased her child's appetite to eat more by clicking here!
View MoreSprouted Ragi Porridge: Baby Food Recipe
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Sprouted Ragi Porridge Easily digestible and nutritional, finger millet/ragi is easy to cook. Millet is the first nutrient-rich grain recommended for babies. For babies below 7 months, only the milk is extracted from this millet and porridge is made. After completing 7 months, whole ragi porridge can be given using whole ragi flour or sprouted ragi flour for more nutritious porridge. In our family, we give this sprouted ragi porridge till the baby turns one. A wholesome diet is key to a baby’s healthy growth and development. By setting your baby on a healthy eating path, you will ensure they follow a healthy lifestyle as they grow. Incorporate ragi into your child's diet as it is a super-food with many benefits. Ragi is one of the healthiest grains that you should feed your child. What Is Ragi? It contains large amounts of proteins, iron, and calcium. Ragi is also called finger millet or nachni. India is a leading producer of ragi in the world. This whole grain contains important amino acids like phenylalanine, methionine, isoleucine, and leucine. Ragi can be grown during the summer even when it's extremely dry. How to Prepare the SPROUTED RAGI PORRIDGE Putting together the porridge requires only 11 minutes total. There are very few ingredients, so getting the ingredients only takes a minute. Making this baby food takes little time and can be done in less time. INGREDIENTS Sprouted ragi powder - 2 tablespoons Half a cup of water. Half a tablespoon of ghee INSTRUCTIONS Put 2 tablespoons (leveled) of sprouted ragi powder in a pan. Pour in 12 cups of water. Whip or stir until smooth, without lumps. Using a low-medium flame, cook the food. When the color changes from pale to dark after 2 minutes, add a little ghee and continue stirring. Ten minutes is the maximum amount of time you should cook it. Be careful not to let it thicken too much. Shut off when it has thickened only slightly (not too much). Preparing sprouted Ragi Porridge for babies: Tips and Tricks Feed this porridge as soon as possible because it thickens over time. Once the food has warmed, transfer into a feeding bowl and feed. Stir well and turn on the stove to prevent lumps. Stir continuously for the entire cooking time of 10 minutes. The mixture is left unsweetened for 1-year-olds, you can add sugar or filtered cane jaggery or palm syrup (jaggery) after the child is 1year. Cook for 3 more minutes or until slightly thickened after adding it at the 7th minute. Over time, this porridge will thicken, so feed it as soon as possible. Mix well, then preheat the stove so you don't get lumps. For the entire cooking time of 10 minutes, keep stirring. In case you don't like the taste of the honey, you can add sweeteners like cane sugar or filtered cane jaggery or palm jaggery. It should be added at the 7th minute and cooked for 3 more minutes or until slightly thickened. Nutritional Benefits of Sprouted ragi Porridge for babies Ragi contains calcium, potassium, iron, protein, and fiber. A common question parents have is whether ragi is good for babies? Ragi is good for babies. As early as six months of age, babies can benefit from a diet rich in ragi, which contains essential nutrients. The following are some of the health benefits your child can derive from this super cereal: Ragi contains a high amount of calcium, so it is beneficial for the bones of young children. By reducing the risk of fractures and eliminating calcium supplements. It reduces the need for bone-building supplements. In addition to this, ragi help the body produce more blood. Fibre aids digestion and contributes to feeling full in babies Ragi has a lot of dietary fiber, which can result in quicker digestion and a longer period of feeling full. As ragi is high in amino acids, it removes excess fat around the liver as well as reduces cholesterol levels in a child's body, reducing obesity. Natural source of iron Children can benefit from the natural iron present in ragi by preventing anemia. Sprouting Ragi contains Vitamin C, which is responsible for improving iron absorption. Because of its high nutritional content, Ragi defends babies against malnutrition. Relaxes the body and mind There are significant amounts of antioxidants in ragi, and its consumption helps alleviate many health problems, including insomnia, anxiety, and headaches in children. Basically, ragi provides comprehensive nutrition for the body. Boosts skin and hair health You can help promote your baby's healthy skin and hair by providing him with methionine. Ragi is a powerful antioxidant that helps keep the skin and hair healthy. Conclusion When consumed regularly, ragi kanji, ragi malt, or ragi porridge is nourishing and provides a good amount of nutrients. They strengthen bones and teeth and improve overall health. Ragi Porridge is one of the first baby foods recommended for babies. This food is easily digestible, and it contains a lot of nutrients that help the child grow and develop all around. For babies, it is a quick and easy meal that can be made in a fraction of the time. It is an important component of a balanced diet for babies. Feeding a child is a difficult task but it has to be done. Make the process simple by choosing a quality and healthy food for your baby, such as sprouted ragi. Ensure your baby is eating healthily by experimenting with a variety of foods. Calcium, potassium, iron, protein, and fiber are found in ragi. Ragi contains a lot of dietary fiber, which can make digestion faster and keep a person full for a longer time. Since ragi have a high level of amino acids, it helps to reduce fat around the liver and cholesterol levels in a child's body, helping to prevent obesity. In addition to its high antioxidant content, ragi is believed to alleviate a number of health problems, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, and headaches in children. This is because ragi essentially take care of the body's nutritional needs. The best-sprouted ragi powder can be found at Yummy Valley. The origins of the ingredients are transparent with Yummy Valley. Click here if you want to learn more about the nutritional benefits and recipes of millet mix.
View MoreHow I Handled My Fussy Eating Baby
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Here is How I Handle My Fussy Eating baby. As a parent, I get my daily exercise while feeding my child. It is no secret that children are fussy or picky eaters when it comes to healthy food. I got one here at my home. In the routine of feeding babies, we sometimes forget to ask ourselves if they are eating healthy. Even though greens are healthy, I have difficulty feeding my baby healthy baby food. A fussy eater is always a concern for every mother. The constant complaint is that she doesn't eat well and even when she eats, it's not healthy food. Under forceful feeding, I observed that the child suffered. It made me rethink my strategy. Here is how I get my baby to eat healthily. I've discovered ways to get my baby to eat healthy after doing some intensive research through trial and error. The secret is not to create a funny routine or use a special recipe. This is a combination of tips and tactics that I found useful for getting my baby to eat healthy food. It is important to prioritize the health and well-being of the child. After all, we are what we eat. I would like to share the guidelines I used to get my baby to eat healthy before getting into details. Force-feeding is unhealthy for children I used to force-feed my child. This concept is based upon the notion that you must be rough to do good. I thought I was helping, but it wasn't the case. Food should have a positive influence on the relationship between parents and children. Forcing children to eat leads to an aversion to food. I learned this the hard way. When we force-fed, the baby was not happy, neither was I. As soon as I brought food to her, the baby began crying and running away. It made the baby feel uneasy. Remember don’t force-feed the children. When you force-feed the child, you damage the relationship with the baby. Be sure feeding time is a loving experience for the parents as well as the children. Focus on time over Quality. The most important thing I have learned is to not worry about the amount of food but rather when to feed the baby. The baby's stomach is only 2 to 5 times as large as the baby's hand. I learned that children should eat four meals each day. Be specific about the time, such as 8:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 20:00. Find the ideal time to feed the child. If you start feeding, then it should stop after one hour. Between nine to twelve o clock, the child should not be offered anything other than water. Usually while feeding porridge we used to sit for hours to finish a bowl. Now whatever she eats, even if it is two or three spoons, we stop after one hour. It seems to help both the baby and me. Hold Back on the Sugar and Milk. Sugar and milk may seem like normal ingredients, but sugar-rich treats and milk will keep the baby from getting hungry. The average baby needs less than 200 ml of milk per day. Excess sugar is not good for health. As soon as I learned these facts, We cut back on the consumption of sugar and milk. Reducing unhealthy habits can lead to a healthier diet. That does not mean that you should completely avoid these things. Just keep an eye on the amount of sugar and other unhealthy food consumed. I sometimes use sweets to encourage good behaviour. I recommend starting healthy snacking behaviours as early as possible. Snacks can be used as mini-meals to add more grains, fruits, and vegetables to your child's diet. Add vegetables and fruits When it comes to eating healthy, it is best to choose organic and green foods. Nevertheless, I have trouble getting my baby to eat vegetables. However, eventually, we overcame the difficulty. The trick is to keep in mind that the children are tasting these ingredients for the first time, and it may take some time to get used to them. Not every taste is familiar to them. Include vegetables and fruits in daily porridge gradually. Though they may not like it the first time, that does not mean they will not try again. That's when you need to be patient. I tried over weeks to get her to eat vegetables and finally one day she acquired a taste for it. It no longer requires much effort to get her to eat those fruits and vegetables; it is merely a matter of patience and time. Conclusion It is possible for children to become fussy eaters or to acquire a taste for some food. It is important to be patient and introduce new tastes consistently to get the fussy eater to get more. The relationship between parents, children, and food needs to be healthy. Feeding time should be one of affection, play, and love. I understand how hard it is to feed a fussy eater and how worried parents are about their children. However, no matter how deep your worries are, do not force feed the children. Concrete on when to feed your child rather than how much. Rather than quantity, focus on quality. Feed the children at least four times a day at a specific time interval. Reduce unhealthy foods, especially sugar and milk, gradually. Get your children acquainted with the taste of vegetables and fruits by including them in the daily diet. Make sure the feeding experience is filled with love and enjoyment. Every child is unique and deserves your unconditional love and patience. You should not be discouraged if your attempts to get your picky eater to eat aren't 100 percent successful at first. No matter how much your little one hates eating anything but grapes, they are definitely not going to live off grapes for the rest of their lives. Children tend to eat the same types of foods for a while and then switch to other types. Look at the amount of food they consume over the course of a week (or even a month) rather than what they consume at a single meal or on a particular day. Learn this mother's tips to make her baby eat healthy by clicking here!
View MoreBaby Food Recipes: Banana Porridge Recipe
10 min read
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Banana Porridge Recipe Bananas are efficient, tasty, and affordable--a perfect fruit for people pressed for time, which happens every day. Consider treating bananas as a backup food when you're on the go with your kids rather than eating them every day. Besides offering great taste and convenience, bananas are also loaded with nutrients that are good for you - especially for babies. A lot of nutrients are found in this easy-to-digest baby food. Learn how to make banana porridge as baby food and the benefits of bananas for babies by reading this article. Bananas for babies - when can they eat them? When a baby is ready to start solid food, which typically occurs around 6 months of age, bananas can be introduced. It is a good start when it comes to solid food for babies. If you are concerned about choking hazards, begin by slicing up some bananas. Are Bananas Good For Babies? Certainly. As well as providing carbohydrates to energize your body, bananas provide nutrients your baby needs to thrive, such as folate, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and potassium. They support a healthy nervous system, healthy skin, iron absorption, and healthy blood pressure. The good news is that bananas are packed with more antioxidants than many berries, herbs, and vegetables. The banana is neither a vegetable nor a fruit. The banana is actually a berry. Nutrition varies with ripeness. Bananas, for instance, contain a large amount of fiber that helps to maintain a healthy digestive system. Furthermore, the prebiotic fiber contains less in under-ripe bananas than in ripened bananas, which contain more soluble fiber. Whatever stage of ripeness your banana is in, bananas are a great addition to your child's diet. When combined with a healthy protein or fat, such as peanut butter thinned with yogurt to reduce the chance of choking, a healthy snack such as this is a great choice for kids. Banana Porridge: How to Prepare Make your baby's breakfast exciting with this banana, cinnamon, and raisins recipe, suitable from 7 months. You will need the following ingredients to begin the recipe. To start you need to have at least half a mug of porridge oats Then take one mug of full-fat milk Slice up one banana into small pieces. Take a handful of raisins and chop them up into small pieces. Get a pinch of cinnamon to add flavor Instruction The first step is to cook the oats with the milk and banana slices in the pan. In the second step, you will need to bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Pour in water if necessary. The third step: Stir in cinnamon and raisins after removing the pot from the stove. The fourth step: Cool the food before serving it. Use different kinds of fruit in your smoothies, such as poached pears or mixed berries. The Benefits Of Banana Baby Food Not only are bananas delicious and convenient, but they also contain a lot of good nutrition, which makes them ideal for babies. In terms of health benefits, bananas are far superior to apples. The reason is that they are richer in vitamins and nutrients than their round counterparts. The carbohydrate content of bananas is twice that of apples, the iron content is five times that of apples, and the phosphorus content is three times that of apples. As well as potassium, fiber, and natural sugars, bananas are also rich in nutrients. Vitamin C, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals in bananas play an important role in health maintenance. Bananas contain such a high amount of nutrients that they should be considered a "superfood.". Energizer Energy is better derived from bananas than expensive sports drinks. The calories in two bananas are sufficient for an hour-and-a-half walk or workout. A banana also makes a great pick-me-up. Do not grab a cup of coffee or a sugary snack whenever you feel sluggish or tired in the afternoon. Eat a banana instead. There will be no crash after drinking coffee or eating cake, so you will have more energy. Enhancing heart health In addition to their potassium content, bananas facilitate the delivery of oxygen to the brain through the circulatory system. It is also effective in maintaining a regular heartbeat, lowering blood pressure, and maintaining a proper balance of water in the body. Women over 60 are also known to benefit from potassium-rich foods since they reduce the risk of stroke. Natural Laxative Constipation might be a thing of the past if you eat bananas. Eating bananas can help you digest food better, so they're very healthy. Bananas that have ripened well have a fiber that helps restore and maintain regular bowel movements. The movement of waste through the bowels is improved by the consumption of a banana. You can improve your baby's bowel movements by adding bananas to their diet. The Health and development of the baby will be improved in the long run. Notes Its sweetness and starch make it a versatile flavor, which goes well with tropical fruits such as guava, lychee, mango, and papaya as well as juicy berries like blackberry, blueberry, and strawberry. Pair bananas with hearty nuts like almond, cashew, coconut, walnut, or peanut; dairy products like kefir or yogurt; starchy vegetables like carrot and sweet potato; and nutty grains like amaranth, quinoa, and rice. Conclusion Bananas are not without fault despite their nutritional benefits. Traditionally grown bananas are heavily sprayed with pesticides, harming the environment and compromising the health of the workers and consumers who consume the food. Bananas should be peeled and discarded to minimize their pesticide exposure - there has been a growing demand for sustainably cultivated and equitably sourced bananas. When it comes to eating banana peels and food products made from them (like banana peel flour), purchase organic or consider these foods as a "one-in-a-while" item – and wash the peel before cooking to remove pesticide residue. Yummy Valley is the place to go if you need quality banana powder. Their ingredients are completely transparent. You can trace the ingredients back to their source. You don't have to worry about the quality. If you like to learn how this mother feeds nutritious food for her baby, click here!
View MoreBaby Food Allergy – Everything You Need to Know
10 min read
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Baby Food Allergy There are many people who suffer from food allergies. Whenever you eat certain foods, your immune system reacts abnormally, causing a food allergy. Food allergies can vary from person to person. With Baby food, you just can’t take the risk. So make sure you check the label and understand the ingredients to avoid baby food allergy. You get this condition when the immune system incorrectly recognizes some of the proteins in a portion of food as harmful. During this transition period, your body initiates a series of protective responses, such as releasing inflammatory chemicals, including histamine. baby food allergy Food Allergies: What Are They? The effects of food allergies can be serious and even deadly. You need to understand how an allergic reaction is recognized in order to be ready if one occurs. A foreign object in your body can cause allergic reactions when your immune system reacts to it. As a result, your body produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E. Upon entering your body, these antibodies attach to your skin, lungs, and digestive tract. Histamine, which dilates blood vessels, is released by the antibodies when you encounter the allergen again. As a result, an allergic reaction takes place. How Can You Tell If Your Child Has a Food Allergy? Food allergies occur when a person's body perceives a certain food as poisonous. This enables the body's immune system, which fights diseases and infections, to make antibodies to fight food allergies. Look for allergies in family history and consult a Pediatrician. If you have a family history of food allergies, don't take the risk. Observe any changes in your baby's behavior if you don't know whether he has food allergies before trying new baby food. A person's body releases chemicals like histamine whenever they eat (or in some cases, handle or breathe in) food. Allergy symptoms are caused by this, which can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, or the cardiovascular system. Affected individuals may exhibit the following symptoms: Breathing problems coughing throat tightness diarrhea Swollen, itchy, or watery eyes Red spots Swelling belly pain Vomiting Food intolerance and food allergies have similar symptoms, which makes them easy to confuse. Food intolerance can cause symptoms such as burping, indigestion, gas, loose stools, headaches, nervousness, or the sensation of feeling "flushed." But food intolerance: The immune system is not involved A person may have difficulty digesting a substance, such as lactose Even though it is rarely dangerous, it can be unpleasant Baby Food Allergens: What Are the Most Common Ones? It is likely that a child will react to any food, but the following ingredients make up 90% of all allergic reactions: milk peanuts wheat soy eggs nuts shellfish Food allergies are usually outgrown by most kids. Approximately 80% of people with milk allergies will eventually outgrow the allergy. Two-thirds of those with an egg allergy and about 80% with a wheat or soy allergy will grow out of it by their fifth birthday. However, food allergies in other species may be harder to overcome. Baby Food Allergy Reactions: What Happens? People react differently to food allergies. A single person can react differently under certain circumstances. It is critical to find and treat food allergy reactions as quickly as possible. Baby food allergy can be difficult to identify in children. There are several possible reactions: The symptoms will only affect one part of the body, such as hives on the skin The condition could be more severe and affect multiple parts of the body After contacting the food, the reaction can occur within minutes or within two hours Anaphylaxis can result in severe reactions from allergies, even if previous reactions were mild. A less severe reaction might begin with some of the same symptoms as anaphylaxis. However, it can quickly become more severe. There may be difficulty breathing or collapse for the individual. The individual may be affected in more than one way. In the absence of treatment, anaphylaxis can be fatal. Baby Food Allergy: How Are They Diagnosed? A doctor will ask about the following if you suspect your child might have a food allergy: Symptoms experienced by your child The frequency with which the reaction occurs An individual's response to a particular food after eating it Allergies or conditions such as eczema or asthma among family members There could be other conditions causing the symptoms, so the doctor will check for those as well. Your doctor may examine your child for lactose intolerance if your child has diarrhea after drinking milk, for example. Similar symptoms can also be seen in celiac disease, which causes an inability to tolerate gluten. If your doctor recommends an allergist (allergy specialist doctor), they will ask you more questions and perform a physical examination. Tests to determine the allergy's cause may be ordered by the allergist, including: The skin test. A food allergy test involves pricking your child's skin with liquid extracts of food allergens, watching for reddish raised spots (called wheals) to form after 15 minutes, and then waiting to see if they develop. Your child's reaction to a food is only an indication that the food might cause sensitivity. Testing the blood for IgE antibodies to specific foods A food challenge may be recommended by the allergist if the test results are unclear: To perform this test, the doctor slowly increases the amount of a potential food allergen a person is eating while keeping an eye on their symptoms. A life-threatening reaction may occur during the allergy test, so it must be performed in an allergist's office or hospital with immediate medical attention and medicines. A more common reason for doing food challenge tests is to determine if a person has outgrown their allergy. Check for baby food allergy by giving your children small quantities. What are the Treatments for Baby Food Allergy? Creating a treatment plan for your child with a food allergy will be assisted by the allergist. In most cases, allergen treatment involves avoiding all foods containing the allergen. It's important to read labels on food so you can avoid allergens. Read the label before buying the baby food. Be aware of ingredients that might cause allergies. Stay clear of baby food products that contain those ingredients that can lead to baby food allergy. Currently, food allergies do not have a cure. Medication can be used to treat mild as well as severe symptoms. Allergic reactions may result in symptoms such as hives, runny nose, or stomach pain that can be treated with antihistamines. The moment you notice allergic reactions in your child, call an ambulance and take them to the hospital as soon as possible,
View More7 Tips I Use To Make My Baby Eat Healthy
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7 Tips I Use To Make My Baby Eat Healthy Most of the little ones find it boring to eat something healthy and they are more excited to munch some fries, relish some chocolates or candies. It is a herculean task to make them fall in love with healthful food. With some tricks and tips, this hurdle of making the tiny tots eat healthily can triumph over. Convincing your baby to eat healthily First of all, make them convinced and relaxed with their pretty platter. As a new mom, at first, I found it difficult to cope up with the tiny tantrums thrown by my baby over food. However, now I have almost excelled myself in the task of feeding my cutie pie. I always encourage my baby to learn more tastes and flavours, as I want my kid to be a daring diner and not a picky diner. Be patient with your kids The very first thing I have done to make my little one love food as much as I do was to develop a loving relationship with food. And I recommend this to every parent out there to make their babies embrace healthy eating habits. We should always set our mind to appreciate the liking and disliking of children towards food and we should understand that it takes time to foster healthy eating habits in kids. As they are just learning to taste and enjoy their food, they should not be turned down by judging them as a bad eater. Every kid is different and possesses a different rate of learning and parents should never be adamant to make their kid learn the eating habits at the same pace as another child. Parents should provide anything and everything that is healthful to their children. Do not make them get bored with the same flavours or foods and let them explore and enjoy the different savouries available in the world. Mix it up with tips and tricks Just like us, kids prefer to have the same food every day; they crave varieties and changes. Not only the flavour but also the texture of the food item should be made different concerning their interest and age. They should be served with both smashed and diced vegetables, fruits, and other food items. Their healthy diet should be enriched with both liquids and solids. They should be allowed to gulp and chew their savouries from their tumbler and plate respectively. Another trick to make the tot relish his or her food is to prepare their food in different shapes, which can be of their favourite cartoon characters, and animals. With a cookie-cutter, every dad and mom can go on with their shape experiment. It is so lovely to add a smiley on top of every food that is served to the baby and make the little one smile at their food, which is smiling back at them. Become a role model to your kid Mealtime with a toddler will be a stressful time for parents and it is something that cannot be helped. 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. They may play in between eating, they may convert the dining room into a total muddle, whatever they do should be fine with the parents, as they are experiencing their food and should never be dispirited. The Fruit and Vegetable bandwagon For cultivating a better relationship towards fruits and vegetables, children should be offered at least one portion of fruit and vegetable per day. If they are reluctant to have their vegetables or fruits, then it is better not to compel him or them to have the whole thing at a single go and should offer them more than a few servings each day. Try to feed them only when need food or when they are hungry and do not set up a proper dining timetable for them. Healthy Servings Children usually possess a tendency to accept food, when they are starving, so parents should take up this opportunity to feed them with the most healthful serving. And it is better to prepare something vegetarian as the starter or the main course that is offered first. 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.
View MoreHow I Overcame Postpartum Depression
10 min read
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How I Overcame Postpartum Depression As per my experience, usually, the first year after childbirth presents a high risk of postpartum depression. This Postpartum depression caused difficulties in my ability to engage in the interactions with my baby. According to my understanding, it affects the baby’s later development and well-being. Postpartum depression usually begins with insecurity within a month of the baby’s birth. The symptoms, which follow include anxiousness, sadness, low self-esteem, lethargy, and sleeplessness. Postpartum Blues, the milder version has the mother feeling overwhelmed. I had the misfortune of having the pregnancy blues wherein I went through a prolonged period of emotional distress during my pregnancy. Upon understanding I might have Postpartum Depression, I analyzed the risk factors. As everyone is aware, pregnancy, labour, and childbirth are an emotional rollercoaster with the gruelling nine months adding to the misery. The symptoms included feeling irritable, suffering from a lack of concentration, experiencing sleep abnormality, feeling exhausted and fatigued, and having a lack of motivation for taking care of my baby. Constant fear and anxiety, sleeplessness having suicidal tendencies, having trouble enjoying the usual activities, and feeling restless and irritable are the general symptoms showcased by many who silently suffer from the dreaded postpartum depression. The symptoms of postpartum depression vary between people. As mentioned, these include severe anxiety and panic attacks, depressed mood/mood swings, fear of being a bad mother, sleep problems, appetite changes, difficulty bonding with the baby, diminished ability to think clearly, sense of guilt and shame, and hopelessness among others. Causes and risk factors are the ones to keep an eye out for. Hormonal fluctuations cause a major mood change and can create a depressive atmosphere. The massive mood drop and the onset of breastfeeding can trigger a high risk of developing postpartum depression. One needs to be constantly in touch with themselves and understand their mental strength. The risk factors of postpartum depression include various medical complications, depression symptoms, and alcohol drug abuse issues. It can also be extended to financial difficulties, traumatic experiences, and a lack of strong emotional support from others. Now that we are aware of how postpartum depression occurs and its risks, lets’ look at how to restore one’s emotional health. I did have some of the symptoms and risk factors that led to a mild level of postpartum depression. However, I am always open about my feelings and emotions to my family and loved ones. Although I struggled, the constant support from my family and friends helped to fight against the dreading feeling of postpartum depression. I constantly kept myself updated about my condition and tried to engage myself openly through all the ensuing challenges with an open mind. My constant learning about the condition helped me stabilize my mental state, which helped me in recovering from postpartum depression; a major step in regaining my healthy emotional state. As per my understanding, postpartum depression ranges from mild, moderate, and severe conditions. If it turns to be severe, proper medical professional help is a necessity to come out of this kind of depression. However, if it is mild, it can be taken care of at the beginning itself. There are some simple solutions that I tried and practised on myself. These include not expecting too much out of yourself, sleeping often, eating well and staying fit, having an excellent or good support system, and seeking medical help if required. Coping with the demands of a newborn life may go haywire. So, take it slow. Just relax and focus on one task at a time. Stop being anxious if your house is a mess or lot of tasks to do. Just concentrate your energy on creating a strong bond with the baby. The best time to sleep is to sleep with your baby. Give your body proper rest for recuperating from the strains of labour. Eat and exercise well by following a balanced diet filled with nutrient elements needed for a breastfeeding mother. Going for a walk, jog, or swim can do wonders to your physical and mental psyche. Take the baby out for a stroll. A breeze of fresh air and a good environment will help in recovering from the postpartum depression blues. The proper support system consisting of an educated partner/spouse will go a long way in treating postpartum depression. Have a good talk with your partner/spouse on the postpartum troubles as well as tantrums. Indian system of a big family does help with fighting off this dreaded postpartum depression, which is an amazing thing. This is because a big family has more than one group of support systems, which relieves stress from a new mother’s mind. It also helps with fine-tuning the newborn baby care with much ease. If severe symptoms of postpartum depression are on display, it might be wise to seek professional and medical help. You can always come to us mothers at Yummy Valley where we all share our experiences and help one and other out on our journey through motherhood. If you like to learn what this mother learnt on completing her first 100 days as a mother, click here! A good counselling session will do wonders as this helps one fight the signs of depression. In case if it fails, medications would be prescribed for treating the condition as well as the underlying causes. It is normal to take medication. One should not feel hesitation to take these medications in fear of how society might react. 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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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
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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 MoreHow I Feed Healthy Nutritious Food For My Baby
10 min read
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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!
View MoreThe Ultimate Guide To Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods
10 min read
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Feeding your baby solid foods Being a dad or mom is the best feeling in the world that is filled with a lot of responsibilities and obligations. Breast milk happens to be the very first food and the main source of each and every essential nutrient for the baby. After their first six months, babies can have soft foods together with breast milk. The very first thing to consider before feeding your baby with solid foods is the proper time to bring in the solid food. From six months and onwards, young ones can be fed with solid foods. It is the right time for the baby to start off trying his or her first solid foods. The nutritional requirements of the child will get bigger with time and the parents should be mindful of the type and quantity of food that should be provided to the babies. When they start feeding their little ones with solid food, parents should have a clear idea about the capacity of the little stomachs, and they should never cram it up with solid foods. Apart from offering food in single servings, the little one should be given solid foods repeatedly throughout the day. Different strategies and approaches to introduce solid foods:- Children find it really exciting to have some iron-fortified baby cereal during their first mealtimes. Cereals are rich in beta-glucan, which will clean up their intestines and make them feel really good. Mashed-up vegetables and fruits are the best-ever solid foods to be given to the tiny ones as their first foods. After they get used to fruits and vegetables, eggs and meats can be given to them. Everything offered to them must be in pureed form for making it easy for the babies to have it. Solid foods given to the little one should be rich in nutrition and the first foods for them should not be sugary, salty, and spicy, as those foods will make their stomach upset. The first solid foods should be easily digestible and healthful, as they are the ones that are responsible for catalyzing growth. Make their first bites healthy as possible for their healthy body. Feeding the little one is the most significant part of every parenting lesson, as it is an astonishing milestone in not only the baby’s life but also in every dad’s or mom’s life. This significant phase can be daunting and disturbing during the first few days, but soon, this phase will for sure turn into the most exciting and satisfying one. It is so lovely to watch your little one explores the tastes, smells, and textures of their first solid foods. You can definitely make this stage funny and cool in certain ways. What should parents know when introducing solid food to their kids? Every parent should set their minds to appreciate the fondness and aversion of their kids towards food and they should comprehend the fact that it takes a good amount of time to foster better eating habits in kids. Children should be offered solid foods only after their digestive system get developed enough to accept solid foods. If any child is provided with solid food before the proper development and growth of the digestive system happen, then it will definitely make the child sick and allergic to solid food. In the case of struggles regarding being underweight or overweight that may occur in children, it is better to consult a pediatric dietician before providing solid food to them. Albeit, parents should offer anything and everything that is healthy and nutritious to their child but they should never force the child to have it and they should be cautious and careful enough to not make them stressed on the dining timetable. By doing so, children will positively develop a rapport with the food they consume. Parents should be careful not to discourage the kids in front of their food platter by constantly cleaning up and wiping of the jumble. There will be a lot of trouble with the toddler, but it is totally alright as they are exploring the experience of food and flavour. Neither the parents nor the kids should get dispirited during the wonderful journey with food. In their experiments with a wide variety of solid foods, parents should keenly observe the food tolerance of the baby by checking out if there are any signs and symptoms like constipation, rashes etc. Here are 10 foods to look out for which you cant feed your baby Parents should be well-aware of the food items that are meant to keep away from the child’s platter. Just like we parents, our kids also prefer tasty foods and not some bland food. So, their bay palettes should be set in the tastiest and healthy way. You can include spices like cinnamon, nutmeg etc in their dishes. Flavours should be partnered with health benefits to make the child fall in love with the food together with attaining enough nourishment. Another important thing is to try varieties in their menu, as they will find it really boring to have the same food every day. Not only flavour and variety but also the texture of the foodstuff should be changed according to their liking and interest. Interest and excitement should be developed in the toddlers towards foodstuffs and make them relish the foodstuff with their whole hearts. Children should be well-taught about biting and chewing during their food journey. Parenting is never an easy job and this job will get even worse at the dining room with a little moppet. Parents should be prepared for a muddle at the dining table and although it is difficult, they should accept the fact that children are messy. Train yourselves truly well to excel in the very significant, interesting and intimidating task of feeding your little one with healthful solid foods by employing the perfect tried and tested ways that are mentioned above. With these guidelines you can for sure make this feed phase a definite cakewalk with your baby. Let him or her be a daring diner like you and explore the first foods with grace.
View MoreMy baby turned 100 days today – Here’s what I learned about her baby nutritional needs
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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 MoreWhat I Learned About Baby Nutrition As A Father
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When it comes to parenting, fathers play an equally important role, just as mothers. Babies need a lot of nourishment that aids in their growth and development. Ensuring your young one gets all the proper nurture and care is an essential part of parenting. A newborn or an infant gets most of the necessary nutrition and nourishment from the mother during the infancy stage and as they grow up to become toddlers as part of their initial phase of childhood. A father may not be able to provide nutrition as wholesome as mother’s milk. They can still contribute by preparing and feeding the young one, a balanced and healthy nutritional meal. Nutrients are the core source of energy for children and adults equally. However, the quantity required varies with age and growth needs. Here we will see the 10 nutrition tips, a father can give his adorable little tyke. 9 Lessons I've Learnt On Nutrition They say you are what you eat. If that holds for everyone, then chances are that your kids look up to you and eventually grow up to be just like you. Especially eating habits. Make sure you preach what you teach or rather, eat what you teach! Nutrition is Nourishment All foods brimming with wholesome nutrients are always a good pick to feed yourself as well as your kids. Some foods may have common nutrients, while others may have particular ones that are most essential. Common nutrients comprise a variety of vitamins and minerals. Where There Is Nutrition, There Is Nurture Iron, calcium, and carbohydrates are specified nutrients found only in particular foods. Therefore, it is very important to give your child an ample quantity of nutrients for stronger bones, a healthier body, and a well developing mind. Primary Nutrition It is a common misconception that carbs and fats are bad for you. There are some good ones like whole grains that help in the growth and development of your child, as compared to being high in cholesterol, bad carbs. Fibers and proteins are the primary essential nutrients. Food is Fuel Children of all ages must be made to relish what they eat. They also need to know the health benefits that go into what they must consume as part of their regular regime. With that being said, they must be made aware that food intake not only satisfies hunger but also paves way for good nutrition and required energy. Don’t Play with Food Making mealtime fun might have started with parents feeding their toddlers. To make them interested in what they eat, we take upon the classic creative roleplay of turning the feeding spoon into an airplane or a choo choo train. However, this shouldn’t become a force of habit and change the child’s perspective into thinking that food is something to be played with! Measure, Mix and Modulate Preparing baby food is as close to being a professional chef who cooks with finesse. You need to have the right ingredients of ample quantity and ensure a perfect mixture of them, before feeding your little one. Just as how checking the temperature and ensuring a properly sterilized container for feeding milk is a requirement, the same goes for solid foods and other baby formulas. Learn more about the right amount of food for your baby by clicking here. Water, water every day Every meal is always accompanied by a thirst-quenching drink of water. Aside from the many benefits of mineral water or any drinking water for that matter, it helps to gush down food by softening it and in turn, helps in the overall digestion of food. On a side note, drinking a glass of water before a meal, ensures you do not overeat as it stops you at just the right moment when you know your tum-tum is full! ABC – Always Be Clean Before any meal, it is a must to make sure your child is clean by having his hands and legs washed. If it is a brunch meal, a bath would be ideal. Keeping yourself clean is the best way to avoid germs and infections that hog into your meal! Get Kids Involved Most kids will enjoy deciding what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. Some might even want to help shop for ingredients and prepare the meal. At the store, teach kids to check out food labels to begin understanding what to look for.
View MoreUnderstanding Baby Language
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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
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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
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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
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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 More10 Best Summer Foods For Babies
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Summer Foods For Babies Summer is the time to bother us with heat. However, it completely depends on us how to treat the season. We can spend the summer days drenched in sweat and having digestion issues, or have fun-filled sunny days and enjoy the juicy summer fruits. But, when it comes to babies, the scenario becomes completely different. It is obvious that parents will do everything to keep the babies comfortable and safe from sweat and heat. It is the food that becomes a matter of concern for most parents. Children become cranky due to the excessive summer heat and humidity. The troubles caused to the digestive system add to their discomfort levels and make the happiest kid cranky. Mothers find it hard to choose the right food that will keep the baby’s tummy full and comfortable. Such wonder food must also be nutritious enough to meet the child’s necessities. 10 Healthy summer foods for babies: We are here to discuss the best summer foods for the baby’s health. Most of these are the common ones that we know. The only thing is that we might not have known the wonderful benefits of these foods before. Here are some summer food ideas for babies over six months of age. Melons Melons are truly super foods. Summer is the time when you can have ripe watermelon and musk melon. We generally consider watermelon to be the best summer food. However, musk melon is also nutritious and tasty. Water content in melons is high and thus provides proper hydration for babies. If the baby is ready to have finger foods, you can easily offer slices of melons to them. If they are still on a liquid or semi-solid diet, you can try watermelon or musk melon smoothies. Cucumber The most popular summer food is cucumber, and this popularity applies to both kids and adults. Cucumber must be eaten raw and given to children above the age of eight months to avoid digestion troubles. Cucumber slices can be given as finger foods or can be made into smoothies. Tomatoes Having 95% water in it, tomato is extremely suitable to keep babies hydrated. Though we consider tomato as a winter vegetable but it is actually available throughout the year. The nutrients in tomatoes help in increasing immunity in children. This immunity factor has become very important in this pandemic situation. It is thus wise for mothers to include this super-nutritious food in their baby’s diet. Yogurt Home-made yogurt is full of healthy probiotics. The healthy bacteria present in yogurt helps in keeping the guts healthy. It is easy to digest and provides relief to the baby’s stomach during the scorching summer heat. The presence of protein, calcium, and Vitamin C in yogurt makes it a super-healthy food. Barley Barley is a traditional food that is extremely nutritious for babies. The prime factor that makes barley suitable as summer food is the ability to reduce water retention in the body and to maintain the natural balance of water. It is safe to give barley to babies over six months of age. It is easy to digest and keeps the tummy full. Mango We can never forget about the king of fruits – mango! It’s juice, tasty, and nutritious. Mango is full of healthy nutrients necessary for babies like Vitamins A, Vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium. Fresh mango cubes, mashed mango, mango shake, mango ice cream can be given to children. Banana Banana can be given to babies throughout the year. There is a misconception that banana has to be avoided if the child is suffering from cough and cold. However, this is not true as ingredients present in bananas have nothing to do with cough and cold. Banana is a super-food that can be digested easily. It is rich in potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, magnesium, and antioxidants. Coconut water Babies can be easily fed with juices. Small kids love soft drinks and juices. However, providing them with natural drinks will be the best option when we are considering healthy summer foods. Coconut water is one such drink that you can give to your child without any hesitation. It is rich in potassium and helps in regulating body temperature during summer. You can give fresh coconut water to kids or can prepare fruit smoothies with it. Bottle gourd Bottle gourd is a very common vegetable available during summer. It is rich in Vitamins A and C. Other healthy nutrients present in bottle gourd are calcium, magnesium, and folate. Bottle gourd can be cooked into several tasty dishes. You can simply make vegetable soup with bottle gourd for your baby. Cumin You may wonder that how a spice can be considered as healthy food for babies during summer. However, cumin is such a spice that helps in regulating body heat. You can simply soak cumin seeds in water and give two to three teaspoons of that water to your baby twice or thrice a week. This will help in keeping the digestive system healthy. The bottom line In the end, it is important to mention that parents must take great care while introducing any new food for the babies. It will be best to give a very small amount of new food for the first few days and check if the child develops any allergies. If you would like to learn more about what you can and cannot feed your baby, click here!
View MoreWhat to do if your baby is underweight?
10 min read
Have a baby
Few things you can do if your baby is underweight? It’s always a walk on a tightrope when it comes to deciding what’s good for your baby. You might find yourself at the receiving end of a thousand suggestions on the right supplements to feed your baby. How to know if your infant is in fact healthy? The plump, chubby look with squishy folds of baby fat is not the only indicator of a healthy baby. Apart from what meets the eye, there are a few other reasons to know whether your baby is really underfed or underweight. Let’s begin with checking the percentiles. The growth chart issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends is the standard norm to know your baby’s growth rate. The WHO chart determines your infant’s percentile for their age. If you’d rather check it yourself than wait for the next doctor’s appointment, you can find these WHO charts online. Again, the growth chart is not the end of it. Remember that the growth rates might differ for breast-fed and formula-fed babies. The role of genes plays a heavy role in determining your baby’s weight. Consider the genetic factors of the parents before assessing the weight of the baby If your baby was born premature, the low birth weight might continue for several months longer and might fluctuate during their progress. Understand that percentiles are not everything when it comes to keeping track of the weight. You might want to take a closer look at the baby’s behaviour and track their developmental milestones. Signs that your baby might be underfed Keeping a close watch on the growth rate of your baby is helpful. An active toddler who is crawling, holding up their head, rolling over and exhibiting a general happy temperament is the sign of a healthy baby. Seek medical attention if your baby shows any of these signs: Shows no signs of hunger and sucks weakly with bottle or breast Is never active and shows a listless and lethargic mood Not producing wet or soiled diapers Schedule that appointment If you’re wary about all these concerns, do not wait any longer and schedule that appointment with your paediatrician. The plenty of suggestions and advice that you read online might get overwhelming. Trust your paediatrician in your baby’s journey. The physical assessment of the baby by a doctor, in their growing years, is essential and don’t let any online treatment methods compromise it. Missing nutrients If your paediatrician finds that the energy intake is low in the case of a breastfeeding baby, they might suggest you to nurse the baby more often or boost your supply through other methods. To increase the number of calories, adding formula powder, liquid concentrate or calorie supplements with pumped breast milk might be recommended. It is also suggested to improve the diet through introducing more feeding or finger foods. Increase the number of feedings for your infants. The typical rate is 8 to 12 per day for babies between 2 to 4 months. All these developments in diet are best undertaken with the supervision of a paediatrician or dietician. Also note that plant-based milk (eg: soy, almond coconut, etc.) that adults consume are deficient in protein, calcium, vitamin D and other essential nutrients. It is therefore not advisable for infants, except in the case of soy-based formulas for babies. It would also help to keep in check the nutrients intake by maintaining a food diary for your infant. Besides the diet improvements, also check in with your paediatrician while making changes in the food intake. If in case of any allergies, an expert might know better on what to add or eliminate in your baby’s diet plan because there are risks of undernutrition. If you can’t increase the feeding times, try weight-promoting options for your baby with higher-calorie and nutrient-dense foods and snacks. It is also advised to create a relaxed eating routine for your baby that makes mealtimes a fun and pleasant experience. Everything said, remember that some toddlers can naturally be thin for genetic reasons. So don’t beat yourself up trying to bulk up your baby. All that matters is that they meet their developmental milestones and are active in temperament. With the right amount of care and love, your little nugget is sure to grow into a healthy and happy kid. Have a look at this dad's lessons he learnt on nutrition for his baby by clicking here!
View MoreFeeding your newborn: Do’s and Don’ts
10 min read
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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.
View MoreHow To Deal With Teething In Children
10 min read
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Teething In Children Odontiasis, commonly known as teething is referred to the process by which a child’s teeth breaks out of the gum. This also marks the onset of your child’s journey to toddlerhood. Teething usually occurs between 6 to 24 months of age. While teething can be distressing for most babies, some babies are lucky enough to go through this process smoothly. Here are some common signs and symptoms of teething – a few essential things that you must keep a watch out for. Tender or swollen gums Irritation and constant crying Trying to bite on hard things Excessive production and excretion of drool Physical actions like cheek rub or ear pull Slight rise in body temperature, sometimes accompanied by cough So let’s learn more about each sign of teething and see how you can deal with them. Tender or swollen gums: Swollen gums, inflammation and tenderness during teething is quite natural. The good news is, swollen gums usually occurs just days before a tooth actually erupts. So you may only have to deal with the swollen gum trouble for 3 to 5 days. Once the teeth erupts, the swollenness reduces automatically. However, it is important to provide comfort to your teething child during these painful days. Solution 1: Give your child a cool message – sore gums really benefit from it. Keep a few clean cotton/linen handkerchiefs in the freezer. Simply take a piece of clean cloth and soak it in some water. Now put it in the freezer up to one hour. Using these will help soothe your baby’s sore and swollen gums instantly. Remember: Make sure you keep brushing your child’s teeth properly and regularly in order to prevent the buildup of bacteria inside your baby’s mouth. Constant crying: Teething causes uneasiness and your child may often end up crying incessantly. An irritated teething baby can be quite tough to calm down. And we know it can be quite a task to put the baby to sleep. Solution: Always keep a few of your baby’s teething toys in the refrigerator. A cooling gum massage with a suitable teething ring will help your child relax and soothe the gum, and lessen the irritation. It is advisable to use hard plastic teething toys, and avoid gel-filled teething toys. Biting on hard things - Constantly putting fingers in the mouth in an attempt to bite is the most common site of a teething baby. But it is not at all healthy for the baby to put its fingers in the mouth, is it? You have no idea about the millions of germs that might find their way to its stomach. No wonder, loose motion is a common side effect of teething babies. Solution: Use hard plastic teething toys and disinfect them regularly. You can either use the traditional process of boiling the baby teething toys for five minutes and then cooling them off. If you want to be extra sure you can also use the process of first washing the toys with a mild/children friendly detergent and warm water, and then soaking the toys in a mixture of distilled white vinegar and warm water. Rinse them with clean cool water after fifteen minutes. Excessive production and excretion of drool: Drooling indicates that your baby salivary glands are becoming more active. However, not all is being used to digest its food, which is usually milk at the age of six to eight months. Babies tend to drool more than usual during the teething period. The problem is excessive excretion of drool can cause a rash around the mouth – cheeks, chin and neck area. This is caused due to the presence of bacteria in the saliva. Excessive drool can also gag the child, which adds to the woes of teething. Solution: Rub away as much drool as you can, with a clean soft cloth. Always keep the area around the mouth and neck clean and dry. You can also give your baby a cool teething toy to chew on. However, if rashes appear, then we suggest you consult a paediatrician and apply emollient, or barrier cream to prevent and heal your baby’s skin. Constant cheek rub and/or ear pull: The irritation and trouble a baby faces during teething is actually immense for these little beings. To deal with the clumsiness inside the mouth, a baby often ends up scratching cheeks or pulling ears in the hope of finding some relief. However, such actions have high chances of having serious scratches or cuts on your child’s cheeks and ears. Remember, baby nails grow really fast and are usually very sharp. Solution: Divert your baby’s mind to other things. Talk, and play with him or her. Also, give a cool teething toy, or a cold message to relax the soreness caused inside the mouth. Rise in body temperature: There are possibilities that your baby’s temperature may rise at times during the teething period, but only slightly. The fever usually comes a day or two before the teeth erupt and goes away after the teeth cuts through the gum. Teething fever may also be accompanied by cough. Solution: For slight fever use paracetamol syrup and give the baby an age-appropriate dose (in case you are aware of it). If the fever crosses 101 Fahrenheit, then it is advised to consult a paediatrician and give proper medication to your child. Remember, teething is actually good news that your baby is taking its natural course of growth. You can even surprise your child with some teething toys to help in his teething journey! Now we know that the three most essential things that we must keep handy are wet and cooled clothes, properly cleaned and cooled off teething toys and normal fever medication. However, it is always good to be sure about what you are dealing with before giving any medication to your child. Always consult your child’s paediatrician just in case you can’t be sure yourself. Happy parenting! Want to the best summer foods for your child? Click here!
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