What Should Be Fed To Babies: Being a parent, there are lots of factors that should be considered for the well being of your child and the first and foremost one is food plans. Babies have a completely different diet routine which should be followed by every parent all over the world. Moreover, this continues to change age by age differing in type and quantity and is the topmost parenting tips for babies. Taking suggestions from a child’s doctor or nutritionist is probably a smart choice, but there are some common and well-known ways to feed your child starting from the first year to later on future.
Four months since the birth
In this period, the digestive tract of a baby is still in the development stage which is why solid foods should not be fed and this is the age when every parent should strictly follow the parenting guide for infants and take necessary parenting tips from doctors.
Breast milk is considered the best food for the babies of this age. In some cases due to the weaker health of the mother, Infant formula powder is also considered the best alternative of the breast milk containing the approx composition in it.
Way to feed: – Rooting reflex or reclined feeding by holding the back of the baby.
Four to six months
In this particular time, your child is almost ready to take solids due to the developed digestive tract.
What to feed?
- Breast milk, Formula, PLUS, etc are considered a perfect supplement besides puree of vegetables like sweet potatoes and squash.
- Puree of fruits like apple, bananas, and peaches.
- Iron-containing cereal and Semi liquid foods can also be started in this age such as Pureed meat and small amounts of Yogurt.
Cow’s milk should be avoided until your kid turns 1 as it contains high concentrations of protein and minerals which can be heavy on the kidneys of infants. Moreover, the minerals, iron amount and vitamin C in it is also not proper for the babies below one year.
How much to feed?
- Get started with one teaspoon of pureed food or cereal and mix it with 4 to 5 spoons of breast milk or else formula which will probably be perfect.
- Increase the consistency of cereals gradually using less liquid and increase to one spoon of pureed food and cereals too.
- Try new food one at a time and see if your baby like it or not, try it again after a few days and offer another food. Meanwhile, look out for allergies as well.
Way to feed
Reclined position by holding the heads up and sitting upright on the chair is the proper way to improve the flow of Fed To Babies to stomach. This also improves the movement of food from back to front and front to back in the mouth and mouth also stays close around the spoon.
Six to eight months
The same feeding procedure of four to six months should be followed in this period, but new vegetables or strained fruits should be fed to the baby every day.
What to feed?
- The formula, PLUS, and breast milk.
- Pureed fruits such as banana, pears, avocado, peaches and apple sauce, etc can provide a good source of vitamin and minerals required for the baby.
- Puree of tofu and meat are also essential to strengthen the bones and enhance the growth to maximum potential.
- Oats, barley and other cereals that contain iron are necessary for this age.
- Black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, and edamame can also be fed but with more supply of water to digest them easily.
How much should be fed?
Increase the pureed fruits quantity from one spoon to two or three tablespoons in four times of feedings a day. The pureed vegetable can also be increased to 2 or 3 tablespoons meanwhile 3 to 9 spoon of cereals fed 2 or 3 times a day.
It is always better to try new foods one at a time but care should also be taken if your child is going through the adverse condition of allergies due to any kind of food and should be avoided. In this condition, consulting a child’s doctor or taking necessary health tips for your child to find a proper solution for such condition is the best way than taking own choices.
Eight months to 10 months
In this period, most child starts chewing every food and jaws also starts moving which means, semi-solid Fed To Babies can be replaced by the solid foods gradually. However, following the same feeding routine as six to eight months period is the most recommended one.
What to feed?
- Breast milk or Formula or else PLUS.
- Soft pasteurized cottage cheese and less sweetened yogurt are probably better to get the necessary amount of rich proteins.
- Instead of total puree, hand mashed vegetables and fruits can be started to feed like cooked carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, bananas, peaches, pears, etc.
- Small bits of scrambled eggs, bagel, cereals, and potatoes should also be tried gradually followed by well-cooked beans, small pieces of meats, daal, boneless fish, etc which can provide all required minerals and omega 3 fatty acids as well.
How much to feed?
Increase the quantity from a tablespoon to a cup of pureed or mashed vegetables. Add cheese; iron-fortified cereals and protein-rich foods in any time of meals a day. Increase the three times to four times a day with all the required foods one time a day.
Meanwhile, keep on starting new foods and make sure that every type of vitamins and minerals are supplied to your baby for good and healthy growth.
10 to 12 months
In this period of growing, kids start swallowing food more easily, have teeth and stops pushing the Fed To Babies out of their mouth with tongue. A whole spoon of cereals and puree can be fed directly to their mouth and the amount of food can also be increased from small cups to plates.
What to feed?
- Cheese which is soft as well as pasteurized, cottage cheese and yogurt with minimum sweetness can be started feeding.
- Mashed fruits and vegetables can now be replaced with the small pieces of cut vegetables and fruits such as cubes and stripes.
- Soft cooked vegetables like sweet potatoes, beans, and carrots with iron-fortified cereals serve as the best food for kids for less than one year.
- Protein containing foods such as meat, boneless fish and poultry are considered essential as in this period; the child grows faster than before.
How much to feed?
In this age, every type of Fed To Babies except junk foods can be fed such as few ounces of cheese, cereals, combo foods with cheese and macaroni, spiral pasta, bagel, and scrambled eggs. Also, oatmeal, barley, mixed cereals with rice can be habituated gradually. Cow’s milk should be avoided until this age and dairy products should also be controlled.
Start feeding some complex carbohydrates and proteins later after completing one year so that the required amount of proteins and minerals for sustaining the hyper activities and games can be fulfilled. Following the parenting guide and the feed log for babies can be helpful in taking care of your child’s health as well as maintaining the proper food plans too.
