Top 10 baby feeding tips for mums
In this month's issue
Feeding your baby shouldn't be a stressful experience. Follow these expert tips to make mealtimes fun and ensure your growing baby gets all the nutrients he or she needs.
1. Go for savoury over sweetAlways introduce savoury foods such as vegetables, before you introduce sweet tasting foods, such as custard and fruit. Babies and children will almost always choose sweet foods over savoury options so it is important that they learn to eat savoury tastes first. Most importantly, savoury options including mashed veges, lentils or beans and pureed meats offer a number of important nutrients including fibre, iron, zinc and vitamins and minerals which are vital for rapidly growing babies and toddlers.
2. Increase the textureBabies do not need extremely soft, pureed food for overly long periods of time. Once they have mastered fruit, vegetable and meat purees, at 7-8 months, make sure you begin to increase the consistency to finely minced texture. Babies need foods they have to chew to help them properly develop their chewing muscles and also to talk. Include lumpier foods such as mince meats and pastas from 9 months of age.
3. Eat properlyAlways sit your baby in their high chair, at the dining room table to eat their meals with the television switched off. Babies have an extremely short attention span so need to be able to concentrate fully when they are eating. By 12 months of age, baby should be having family meals in a happy, social environment.
4. Not too much milkBabies who over-drink formula (more than 800-1000mls in a day) are more likely to become iron deficient and may not be getting all the nutrition they need from solid foods. Once your baby reaches the age of 9 months, serve solid food before milk to make sure they do not over drink.
5. Get rid of the bottleOne your baby reaches the age of 12 months they should be managing cup feeds. Introduce water from a spouted cup at 6-7 months of age. Using a toddler cup will also help prevent your child from overdrinking.
6. Water, water, waterWater should be the drink of choice for all children. Fruit juice, soft drink and cordials are all high in sugar and should not be offered to children.
7. Get dad involvedResearch has shown that dads are extremely powerful role models for children in the area of eating. If possible, make sure your baby's dad is regularly involved in feeding the baby and that all family members sit down together at the table to eat during meal times.
8. Remember the iron and proteinA number of baby foods contain plenty of vegetables and starch but far less nutrient rich meat like chicken and fish which are the key sources of protein and iron in the diets of infants. Check labels on baby food containers and make sure they contain lean meat to ensure your baby is receiving enough iron in his/her diet for optimal brain development.
9. Omega-3 rich foodsOily fish including salmon and tuna contain a special type of fat called omega-3 fat which is known to play a powerful role in brain development. Try and include oily fish in your toddler's diet 2-3 times each week once they are eating solid foods.
10. Enjoy feeding your babyRemember that meal times are supposed to be fun and enjoyable. Try not to stress if your child is not always wanting to eat what you would like him/her to. If they do not eat a lot today, they will make up for it tomorrow.
Taste.com.au - October 2011