What Not To Feed Your Baby

Anika will be turning four months this August. Her pediatrician said that by that time, we will be introducing solid food to her diet. Meaning, we will have her taste real food na so that she can eat it pagtype na niya, mga six months siguro. I'm so excited because this means, parang grown up na si Anika ko =)


Coincidentally, I came across this article about What Not To Feed Your Baby (from ModernMom.com) and I'd like to share it to you young mommies out there.


We should NOT feed our babies the following:


**thanks so much to one of my reader who noted the typographical error in the above sentence. I wish I know her name so that I can super thank her! =) I type kasi so fast di ko na napapansin! Sorry guys! 


Honey

Honey can harbor poisonous botulism spores. While an adult’s intestinal tract is strong enough to prevent the growth of these spores, a baby’s system is not. This can produce life-threatening, poisoning toxins.

--> Okay noted.. We don't have naman honey at home so it's okay.

Peanut Butter

The sticky and thick consistency of peanut butter can make it hard for an infant to swallow. Hold off on introducing peanut butter and other thick buttery spreads to your child.

--> Girlie loves peanut butter so I better tell them not to give some to Anika.

Cow's Milk

It’s best to stick with breast milk until your child is a year old because babies cannot properly digest the protein in cow’s milk. Additionally, cow’s milk does not contain as many necessary nutrient as breast milk and it contains minerals that could damage his developing kidneys.

--> We're sticking to formula milk naman. Sometimes I make sisi nga why I stopped breastfeeding eh (I only breastfed for one and a half months). But I've read somewhere that it is also important to take care of Mom's health (especially psychologically) because how can a not healthy mom take care of a baby diba? I give extra love and attention na lang to Anika to somehow compensate my not breastfeeding her for a long time.

Some Other Foods to Avoid

Salt (baby’s kidneys are not strong enough), low-fat foods (not recommended for kids under 2), undiluted citrus and fruit juices, raw eggs, artificial sweeteners, hot dogs and sausages that are high in fat, foods with added spices and seasonings.

--> Why would anyone give a baby low-fat foods?! Baby pa lang diet na? Wawa naman.

Choking Hazards

Pea-sized foods are the safest to feed your child because there is less choking hazard. So, it is best to cut or dice everything you serve your baby, from fruits and vegetables to cheese and meats. Small, hard foods like nuts, popcorn, hard candies, raisins should be avoided as your baby could choke on them. Even soft foods like marshmallows and jelly candies can get stuck in your baby’s throat.

--> I'm so praning with this because a few years back, I gave ALFRED'S baby a part of what I was eating and she almost choked on it! I got so scared I thought I would faint. Sa taranta ng mom niya, she shoved her fingers inside the baby's mouth to extract that piece of food that I gave. Luckily she got it. It scared the hell out of me so after that incident, I NEVER give babies food to eat. No matter how cute they are. Period.

Allergies

Doctors recommend waiting until the age of 1 or later to introduce solid foods that are common allergens, such as foods containing nuts. It’s best to introduce new foods gradually, waiting several days to make sure your baby does not have a bad reaction to the meal. If allergies run in your family, check with your doctor to come up with the best plan for introducing foods like cow’s milk, nuts, wheat, soy, fish and eggs.

--> This is important because Alvin' side of the family has allergies. I'm praying Anika doesn't have them.

Precautions

Do not allow your baby to eat in the car. It is difficult to supervise while driving and there are choking hazards if the ride becomes bumpy. If you are using a rub-on teething medication, make sure to keep an eye on your baby’s eating habits because the medication could numb his or her throat and make it hard to swallow.

So, What CAN I Feed my Baby?

Within the first few weeks of weaning, it’s safest to feed babies pureed foods, like pureed carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cooked apply, banana and pear. Packaged baby foods often contain a lot of sugar, so it’s actually healthiest to puree your own baby’s food so that you know exactly what’s in his or her meals.

--> I'll convince Alvin to buy a good blender or a food processor. In this way, we can make durog na lang real fruits and veggies for Anika. Less processed foods, less chemicals that can get into her system.

So there you go.. Hope this helps =) Let's all thank ModernMom.com!