There's no doubt about it: those first couple of years of parenting are a very stressful time for anyone, even those adults who have already been moms and dads before. Making sure that your child is always safe and happy isn't actually that difficult, but most good parents spend a lot of time worrying, and are constantly trying their best to make sure that things go well during those oh-so-important formative years.
Something that doesn't often come up when a child's safety is being discussed is the need for parents to make healthy food choices and get their infant started on the right track to a life of excellent nutrition. A positive start to consuming food lays the groundwork for years of health later, so parents should focus a lot of energy in doing a good job on this. Of course, most parents start out either breast feeding or going with formula. Sort of like the difference between butter and margerine, there always seems to be some sort of debate over which is actually good and which is actually bad, but ultimately they both seem to have their benefits. If you're particularly concerned about certain factors, like obesity, it bears repeating that breast feeding is supposed to significantly decrease the chances of childhood obesity.
Many people think that allergies cannot take place in very young children, but research shows that close to seven percent of infants already show their propensity for food allergies. Sometimes, this allergy includes cow's milk and formula, so for those parents who are trying to find a suitable and healthy alternative, be advised that goat's milk is an excellent choice. In fact, goat's milk is actually closer to human's milk than milk from cows, though it is important to consider whether or not iron and vitamin B12 supplements are a good idea for your infant, since there is a shortage of them in goat's milk. Many countries outside of the United States actually prefer to use goat's milk for infant formula.
While infants start eating solids anywhere between six months and one year, the optimal age to begin on solids is between four months and six months old. Signs that a child is ready to begin on solids are that he or she shows significantly more interest at feeding times, seems hungry even after bottle or breast feeding is over, and is starting to have a less pronounced reflex to immediately remove solids from his or her mouth.
When it is time for your child to switch to solids, it is important to consider how truly significant this life step is. How you begin your child on solid food will greatly influence his or her health in later years, especially if you opt for organic solids made at home versus canned or jarred baby food that is high in artificial chemicals and preservatives. Making your baby's food is actually less time consuming than you might think, and ultimately is far greater for the health of your child.
When starting your child on solids, it might take a little while to acclimate from liquids. It is very important to remember to not put solids into a bottle. You want to differentiate between eating and drinking, and an important way of doing that is to keep food as something served with a spoon and liquids as something that come out of a bottle. If at first, solids are a little bit of trouble to switch to, don't hesitate to supplement your child's diet with milk or formula. It can take a little while to make the switch.
The best foods to start out with are fruits such as apples, bananas, and pears, and vegetables like carrots, peas, and potatoes. Make sure if you are preparing these at home to steam them rather than boil them, as that will keep more helpful vitamins and minerals in them. After about six months of these fruits and vegetables, most parents start to add in other things like bread and pasta. At a year of consuming solids is the earliest time possible to add stronger proteins, like meat or tofu. Be sure that all proteins are cooked thoroughly, and do not add fish until the very end.
While the experience of making sure that your child is well nutritioned can be a little nerve-wracking, after a year or two, it will become significantly easier. Also, the work that you do on your child's diet early in life actually can influence his or her tastes later, so avoiding overly sugary foods and processed items is putting him or her on the right path to an overall healthy life. - 31371
Something that doesn't often come up when a child's safety is being discussed is the need for parents to make healthy food choices and get their infant started on the right track to a life of excellent nutrition. A positive start to consuming food lays the groundwork for years of health later, so parents should focus a lot of energy in doing a good job on this. Of course, most parents start out either breast feeding or going with formula. Sort of like the difference between butter and margerine, there always seems to be some sort of debate over which is actually good and which is actually bad, but ultimately they both seem to have their benefits. If you're particularly concerned about certain factors, like obesity, it bears repeating that breast feeding is supposed to significantly decrease the chances of childhood obesity.
Many people think that allergies cannot take place in very young children, but research shows that close to seven percent of infants already show their propensity for food allergies. Sometimes, this allergy includes cow's milk and formula, so for those parents who are trying to find a suitable and healthy alternative, be advised that goat's milk is an excellent choice. In fact, goat's milk is actually closer to human's milk than milk from cows, though it is important to consider whether or not iron and vitamin B12 supplements are a good idea for your infant, since there is a shortage of them in goat's milk. Many countries outside of the United States actually prefer to use goat's milk for infant formula.
While infants start eating solids anywhere between six months and one year, the optimal age to begin on solids is between four months and six months old. Signs that a child is ready to begin on solids are that he or she shows significantly more interest at feeding times, seems hungry even after bottle or breast feeding is over, and is starting to have a less pronounced reflex to immediately remove solids from his or her mouth.
When it is time for your child to switch to solids, it is important to consider how truly significant this life step is. How you begin your child on solid food will greatly influence his or her health in later years, especially if you opt for organic solids made at home versus canned or jarred baby food that is high in artificial chemicals and preservatives. Making your baby's food is actually less time consuming than you might think, and ultimately is far greater for the health of your child.
When starting your child on solids, it might take a little while to acclimate from liquids. It is very important to remember to not put solids into a bottle. You want to differentiate between eating and drinking, and an important way of doing that is to keep food as something served with a spoon and liquids as something that come out of a bottle. If at first, solids are a little bit of trouble to switch to, don't hesitate to supplement your child's diet with milk or formula. It can take a little while to make the switch.
The best foods to start out with are fruits such as apples, bananas, and pears, and vegetables like carrots, peas, and potatoes. Make sure if you are preparing these at home to steam them rather than boil them, as that will keep more helpful vitamins and minerals in them. After about six months of these fruits and vegetables, most parents start to add in other things like bread and pasta. At a year of consuming solids is the earliest time possible to add stronger proteins, like meat or tofu. Be sure that all proteins are cooked thoroughly, and do not add fish until the very end.
While the experience of making sure that your child is well nutritioned can be a little nerve-wracking, after a year or two, it will become significantly easier. Also, the work that you do on your child's diet early in life actually can influence his or her tastes later, so avoiding overly sugary foods and processed items is putting him or her on the right path to an overall healthy life. - 31371
About the Author:
Jayde Johannsen, a Mom of two understands the importance of a regular dining area for her children. As such, she just launched the High Chairs For Babies website, helping parents find the right high chairs for babies.
