My boy has now gotten to the developmental stage where we have started introducing him to food, and since we have been waiting for this stage, there is so much excitement about it, as well as the different things we want him to try out.
However, I am a little worried about the right amount of sugar and salt that he should be exposed to at this point, so I decided to read about it; that was when I realized that several other parents like me have the same worries, especially first-time moms.
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I got to learn so many things that I have come to share with you today, I hope you enjoy the time spent here. It is said that during the first year of a child's life, the excessive sweetness found in sugar disrupts the capacity to lay a strong nutritional foundation for food for the child. Sugars supply 4g/kcal of energy, but this seems to be the only addition they give to the body as they are non-nutritive.
Breast milk is sweet, and the sweetness associated with it, encourages consumption and soothes the baby, but introducing non-milk solids and sweet beverages when a child is between 0-4 months, puts the child at risk of future obesity, and could even present the child from accepting sour or bitter foods later in the future.
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Some people argue that cereals, certain fruits, and fruit juices have sweet flavors, but this is alright compared to intentionally adding sugar to the meal of a child who isn't up to a year old.
While snacks are very important for your child as they provide both energy and valuable treatments, the selection of snacks would determine the volume of nutrient value added.
I found out that, at 6 months of age, you could start to introduce your child to mashed or soft cooked food, vegetables, fruits, and fruits that are mashed and soft. Infant milk is still the best option here, do not introduce cow milk to your infant.
It is also important to start introducing a cup to your infant at this age; offering them water in a cup will help them know how to sip. As the baby grows and advances in age, from 8-9 months, he should begin to gradually consume 3 meals in a day, a combination of finger, mashed, and chopped foods.
At age 12, months, babies should eat proper 3 meals in a day, of course still with Mummy's supportive breast milk, healthier snacks, toast, and even rice cake. They can now comfortably have whole cow milk and full-fat dairy products.
Introducing food to a child is a lot of work; you need to ensure you are observant of the child whilst he eats to prevent any case of choking; if your baby isn't interested in eating at this time, be patient and wait until the next time to try again.
If your baby is trying to hold a spoon by himself, kindly let them do so, allow food to get cold before giving it to your child, also limit the addition of salt, seasoning cubes, or sugar to your baby's meal.
While feeding go along with the pace of your child, slowly and steadily, and when your baby shows a sign of being satisfied, just hold on with it. Avoid anything that could make the child choke, and stay away from bones, grapes, and sausages. Whole nuts should be avoided completely.
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Speaking of sugar and sweet drinks, it makes your baby yearn for more of it and it could cause severe problems later in life too. Sugar can cause rot to their tiny teeth, and it also means excessive energy which gives a higher chance of the child getting obese, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes later in life.
Introducing food to your child should be done one at a time because the child may have allergies and this method of introduction would help you discover them on time and put a stop to it.
During the process of food introduction, look out for signs like runny nose, breathing difficulties, stomach discomfort, skin reaction, and itchy eyes, amongst other symptoms.
Hygiene is also an important factor when it comes to preparing your child's meal, make sure your hands are clean during food preparation and while feeding. Keep raw meat away from other food items in the fridge so they don't trip into other foods. Make sure all food is well cooked, and wash and peel fruits and vegetables too.
Conclusion
Most of the meals we eat have natural sugars in them, and adding sugars would naturally provide some form of enjoyment, but health-wise, it is not a necessary diary component. Excessive sugar in an infant has been associated with several metabolic abnormalities and severe health issues.
Introducing healthy meals and snacks to infants is important to help your infant grow better and healthier.
https://karger.com/anm/article/70/Suppl.%203/38/42392/Savoring-Sweet-Sugars-in-Infant-and-Toddler
https://www.unicef.org/uganda/media/3416/file/UGDA%20children%20feeding%20flyer.pdf
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/foodnut/09358.pdf
https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/147718/1/FidlerMisN,_2017.pdf
Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. If you want to hear me speak about relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel, where you can watch any episode for free; please do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.
