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By Dr Zulfikar BuxAssistant Professor of Emergency MedicineAppropriate and healthy feeding of your baby during the first year of life is extremely important. More growth occurs during the first year than at any other time in your child’s life. Knowing when and how to introduce certain foods helps in preventing unwanted health and growth setbacks. More studies are showing that a properly fed infant will have a lower risk of acquiring health and disease conditions as they grow.Today we will answer some commonly asked questions that parents pose during the first year of their baby’s life.WHAT SHOULD BABY USE IN THE FIRST 4-6 MONTHS?Strict breastfeeding is advised during this period. Formula substitutes are only advised if mom cannot breastfeed for some unforeseeable reason. Do not feed baby any food or substitutes including water during this period. They cannot properly process these during the first few months of life and may lead to unnecessary health conditions.WHEN SHOULD I START FEEDING MY BABY SOLID FOODS?Guidelines usually recommend starting solid foods around the fourth to sixth months of life.HOW CAN I TELL IF MY BABY IS READY FOR SOLID FOODS?Babies are usually ready to start eating solid foods when they:*Can sit up with help*Have good control of their head and neck*Put toys or hands in their mouth*Show an interest in food by leaning forward and opening their mouth when it’s time to eatWHICH FOOD SHOULD I START WITH?Start with a food that has only one ingredient and is mashed up well. Most parents start with baby cereal, fruits, vegetables,Wholesale China Jerseys, or meats.You can mix baby cereal with breast milk, formula, or water. Make the mixture thin at first,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online, and use a spoon to feed it to your baby. When you start feeding your baby solid foods,China Jerseys Cheap, give your baby 1 new food every few days. That way, you can make sure that your baby doesn’t have an allergy to that food. After a few days, you can try another food.HOW DO I KNOW IF MY BABY HAS AN ALLERGY TO A FOOD?Your baby might have an allergy to a food if he or she eats it and then has one or more of the following symptoms:*Skin rash or raised,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, red patches of skin that are usually very itchy (called hives)*Swollen lips or face*Vomiting or diarrhea*Coughing or trouble breathing*Pale skinVisit your doctor if your baby has any of these symptoms.CAN I MAKE MY OWN BABY FOOD?Yes,Cheap Jerseys From China Online, but don’t add salt or sugar to it. Babies don’t need extra salt or sugar in their food.WHICH FOODS SHOULD I GIVE MY BABY NEXT?After you give your baby different foods with only one ingredient, move on to foods with two or more ingredients. Over time, you can give your baby foods that are thicker and have small chunks in them. That way, your baby can get used to different foods and learn to chew pieces of food.ARE THERE FOODS THAT BABIES SHOULD NOT EAT OR DRINK?Yes. Babies younger than one year old should not drink cow’s milk or eat honey.It is usually recommend that children younger than four years old not eat certain foods that commonly cause choking. These foods include:*Hot dogs*Peanuts and other nuts*Grapes*Raw carrots*Popcorn*Hard candiesCAN I GIVE MY BABY JUICE?You can give your baby juice in a cup at about six months old. But do not give your child more than four to six ounces (120 to 240 milliliters) of juice a day. Drinking more than that can lead to diarrhea, cavities,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, and other problems.DOES MY CHILD NEED VITAMINS?Doctors recommend that all babies who breastfeed get daily vitamin D drops,David Njoku Jersey, starting when they are a few days old. Vitamin D helps bones grow strong. Babies who drink formula might also need vitamin D drops, depending on how much formula they drink each day.Some babies need other vitamins each day, depending on what they eat and other factors. Ask your doctor or nurse if your baby should take vitamins and which ones he or she needs.WHEN CAN BABIES FEED THEMSELVES?Babies can usually start picking up pieces of food to feed themselves at about eight to 10 months old. As your baby grows, starting a variety of healthy foods at the proper time is important for proper growth and development. Starting good eating habits at this early stage will help set healthy eating patterns for life. |
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