Mothers always have to be very careful when it comes to making the food choices for their babies, especially the first timers. They are seen to research a lot about food and ways they should feed their babies, and to help them through this beautiful journey, we are here to help. The first year of a baby is more taken into consideration to know what is right and what is not, and later it becomes easy for the mother to understand and evaluate what she should be feeding her baby with. It is generally recommended to take more of Vitamin D as it ensures a healthy growth, so feed food items that contain Vitamin D.
Breast feeding
Breast Milk is the first thing a baby is fed with, it is very rich in nutrients. One woman should never stop breastfeeding, not only it creates a bond between the mother and the child, or makes the child strong, it is good for the mother too, as it helps her to get back in shape post pregnancy. Breast Milk is always the best recommended advice every doctor is going to give, it helps to build a strong immune system of your baby.
Feeding plan/Tips
- Eat healthy food as much as you can, and avoid food items that can make the breast milk toxic or unhealthy as whatever you eat is going to produce the milk your baby will have. So, healthy food will ensure your baby has a nutritious intake.
- Just in case, you have no idea which posture or way is good while breastfeeding, learn it from your doctor or nurse. It is suggested to hold your baby on your hand in a way that there is a skin to skin contact. One should breast feed her baby within 30 to 60 minutes after birth.
- Know from your doctor as to when you can start feeding your baby with solid food or with cow milk. It is better advised to start it after 4 months or 1 years of age, as till then the baby’s digestive system builds up to digest solid food or cow’s milk properly.
- Cereals that are made for infants should be rich in iron, as iron too is necessary to intake for the development of your child, both mentally as well as physically.
- Always lift your baby’s head high as compared to the body, while feeding because chances are that milk can get into the ears and can cause infections. Milk if fed through a bottle in lying position can cause choking as well.
- Lift up your body on your shoulder and gently rub your hands over his back till he or she burps after you have fed them, as that ensures proper digestion of the milk, and no gastric acid forms in the stomach.
- Help your baby get over feeding bottles by the time he reaches the age of 1 year.
Feeding guide as per age (0 to 12 months)
Before you read about the things you need to give your baby, you need to understand you cannot give your baby food items that you like or are good in taste, as this age is considered as his growth period, so eating healthy during this time will make sure he has a healthy food and a strong immune system.
0 to 4 months
During this time, it is always advisable to breastfeed a baby, but if you are using baby formula to feed your baby, then there is an instruction that every packet has on how much of the formula and how many times is clearly mentioned, so follow it. Feed him or her for at least 6 to 8 times during the time.
4 to 12 months
Breast feeding should be done everyday, but this is the time when you can feed your baby with solid food items that are rich in nutrients like Vitamin D and Iron such as cereals, fruits, vegetables, snacks that are oil free such as yogurt, cookie or biscuits that have arrowroot. You can also feed your baby with meats but take care of the quantity which should be restricted to 1-3 tablespoons depending upon the age, of course.
