What to feed an infant?

We have already dealt about healthy living and eating tips for  pregnant moms and lactating moms.Today  in continuation  with let us find what to feed the infants once they are born.

A baby in a family brings the best of joys and happiness. Every woman undergoes a beautiful transformation into motherhood. Some moments are precious but some may be  testing , a new mom faces great challenges especially when it comes to feeding the baby.The golden dictum is however is to

Breast feed baby for first 4 months. Breast milk has all the nutrients for your baby to stay healthy .So it is important to start only after 4 months. It is important to strictly stick to breast feeding and new moms need to train themselves both mentally and physically to achieve this.The success in this process is the fist step towards an eventful feeding experience fr the bay in the coming years.

What is weaning?

When a baby is shifted from an exclusive milk to other foods the procees is called weaning. Weaning is the most important part of a baby’s food history.if well-handled Infants  can grow into healthy individuals.

    The Food Saga:

      Food choices for infants-What ,when and how ? (4-5 months)

Milk: If the baby is being breast fed it is wise to continue till 8 months.If you have hygienic cow’s milk is available then it would be the best option.Formula milk is only a secondary alternative. When cow’s milk is given it is advisec to dilute the milk  with boiled warm water in the ratio of 2:1.A total of 225 ml can be given per feed. Just a half tsp of sugar can be added,though this is optional.

Juices: Oranges,tomato,sweet lime,grapes,sweet lime are great for a start. Use hyginic hands or use clean mixers.Remove seeds and fibre . Blend them well with a little sugar (you can do without this) and strain them well. Adequal amount of   boiled water .Begin with 3-4 tsp a day and slowly increase the maount.By 6 months they will be able to take in 25-50 ml per feed.

Soups: Carrots,green leafy vegetables can be cooked well ,pureed and strained well.Adding a pinch of salt makes it the most important part as this introduces the taste for the first time.Don’t worry if there are rejections. Around 30 ml per feed will do for a 6 month old baby.

The following are the best modes of feeding the liquids.Please try to avoid bottles.

Paaladai: A traditional serviette used especially for infants.It has a cup like shape with narrowing mouth on one side to safely feed inside baby’s mouth directly. A little difficult in the beginning but later the baby gets used to this. Atleast for milk this useful. Stainless steel is the best.

Sippers: These are great ways for spill free feeding.Try Stainless steel changing them once in 2 months.

Have separate sippers for milk,water and juices.

Cup and spoon:

Both SS and plastic are great. Plastics that are food grade and easy to wash should  be good.
Advantage is the colour and designs can be more attractive to babies.

All the vessels need to be stored in separate boxes.

Even if baby is breast feed you could add these foods in the daily routine.

Food choices for infants-What , when and how ? (6-8 months)

The time has come now to introduce cereals and pulses.The consistency can be watery in the beginning and then thicker towards the end of 8 months. The tongue protrusion movement helps in ingestion solid food by infants.

Cereals and starchy gruel:

Parboiled rice,Ragi are the best started cereals to start with .We need to take they are ‘malted’ well before use.Malting is a process in which the cereal is soaked overnight and allowed to sprout in case of ragi and then dried and milled into fine flour.For parboiled rice this may be just be soaked,dried and milled into fine flout.Stote them in airt-tight containers. Fresh flour can be ground every 20 days.

Vegetables and Fruits: 
Vegetables like carrot,tomato( remove the seeds) can be cooked and mixed with cereal porridge. Bananas can be given in mashed form.

Non-vegetarian foods:
Chicken soup can be introduced and egg yolk alone can be given .Egg white might be allergic so do follow a caution.

Simple dals:
Mashed dals especially green gram dhal or Moong dhal can be given now .It can be mixed with cereal too.Whenever dhals are given add a little salt to it.The porridge can also be given with sugar and milk.

Food on the go:
Many babies need travel and moms have a tough time in carrying home made foods. Cerelac is good for ready made foods.For babies on the go Cerelac  Rice in 6,7 and wheat can be given from 8,9 months

When and how?

Start with thinner gruel and then we can proceed towards thicker ones.

Use the same utensils as above.

Food choices for (9-12 months):

The most important of all the stages. The.The baby experiences teething and gumming related problems.Some time starts even as early as 7 months.A hygienic teether is not a bad idea for  soothing the teething irritations in babies. Alternatively we can start giving ‘finger foods’.Small cut boiled veggies, carrot in big pieces,,beans,cucumber,ladies finger all can be given in small amounts.Raw carrots and cucumber can be started.

Some points to be followed:

1. Introduce only one food at time
2. Allow the infant to familiarize about one food before trying the other one.
3. If some foods are rejected constantly..give a gap and try again after a fortnight.
4. Foods always be slightly seasoned.
5. During hot weather babies may feed less due low appetite,just don’t worry carry on with liquid foods more.
6. Variety of foods is very important.
7. Introduction to both salt and sugar should be started by 6 months.

Water: 
During summer if the child is on breast feed ,try giving some extra water but most of  it might not required.

But in cow milk fed babies make sure you feed them sufficient water.

Try avoiding bottles as far as possible. And try putting them on cup and spoon and sipper.

Have a happy feeding time and wishes to your babies.

Look out for next stage feeding tips for 1-3 years kids in the next month.