What to consider when choosing baby food

How to choose baby food 

When the time comes to introduce your baby to solid food ,it can be a very overwhelming time for any mother .The decisions you make can have a huge impact on the development and health of your little one .

However it should also be a an exciting time for parents because it is also a huge milestone in your baby's life .All you need is a little bit of understanding of the most important things to consider when introducing your baby to solid food.

Like anything else in life ,doing it for the first time can be very challenging .Lets look first on how feed your baby during the first days .I am not going to go into much detail here ,I will give you just some pointers

• Make sure that you are in a clean and germ free environment before you start to feed your baby.
• All your utensils must clean and germ free.
• Do not use adult metal spoons or plates ,look for baby spoons that oval shapes with rounded edges .
• Your baby must be seated upright in a baby bouncer or baby station if you have one.
• Do not administer too much food at once,remember you are still trying out things.
• Food must be introduced one at a time for a period of a least three days ,then jump to the next.

Carefully observe for any negative reactions if you feed your baby with food cantaining common allergens.However I recommend you stay away from these during the first days of solid food introduction. This is very important,if you suspect any allergic reaction please please consult with your doctor.Do not get worried though as most children outgrow most of their childhood allergies.

What to consider when choosing baby food

1.Is it organic

When you buy baby food ,one of the most important things to consider is how the food was grown.What most food experts recommend is that we always go for organic.

Simple reason for this is that you do not want your child to be affected by the pesticides and articial fertilizers used in growing inorganic plants.

It is better for you to eat inorganic food because your baby can handle it but for your baby I would say go for organic.On that same note again let me be quick to point out that you should also avoid foods with artificial sugars as well.Use food that has its own natural sugars .

2.Considered the nutritional value

This is where most parents drop the ball ,they tend to focus on one type of food and this can lead to malnutrition in your baby's body.Your baby needs a balanced diet as much as adults do .The growth and development of your child heavily depends on whether or not they are getting the right kind of food.

Here is the list of the most important nutrients your baby needs;

1. Protein»  It helps in the development of new cells as well as in breaking carbs into energy.Protein is also very important in fighting infection.Meat,poultry,nuts and dairy products are a great source of protein
2. Carbohydrates»Although it has been taught that parents hold back a bit on carbs due to weight concerns,new studies show that is totally okay to feed your baby with carbohydrate rich foods.This is necessary to give your baby the required energy .Good sources of carbs include,potatoes,rice and cereal.
3. Fats»These are also great sources of energy and the good thing is they can be stored in the body and be released when needed.Whole milk dairy products,fish and nuts are good choices.
4. Calcium»This is one of the most important element.Calcium will ensure that your baby develops strong teeth and bones .Enhances the development of good functioning blood vessels.Good sources of calcium are cheese,yogurt and spinach.
5. Iron»Responsible for building healthy blood to carry oxygen around the body .You can get iron from liver,shellfish,beans and cereals.

        6.  Vitamin C»Also very important,vitamin c helps fight off colds and helps to strengthen                blood vessels.It also helps to give your baby stronger teeth and bones.Great                sourcesof of vitamin c are papayas,tomatoes,melons and spinach.

As you have seen,for every category there are some source listed .Try to choose from each and give your baby a balanced diet for the benefit of their health.

3.Choose food with no allergens

It is very important that you keep your baby at their best health always .This especially in during the first year.Now keeping this in mind ,you do not want to compromise your baby's health by feeding them something that wiil cause them to react.So my best advice is that you start common allergens at a later stage and introduce them in smaller portions one at a time.Observe carefully for any reactions if there is any,consult with your doctor.Most kids react with shellfish ,eggs,peanuts and cow's milk.

Most children usually outgrow these allergies so its not something to get worried about if you see a reaction now.Honey may contain active bacteria that can cause serious problems in babies so hold back on honey until your baby is one year old.Remember it is always the health of your baby .

4.Say NO to sugar and salt

Too much sugar and salt can cause a lot of health problems in babies .This is one of the most important facts to consider when choosing the right food for your baby,always go for food that has no added sugar or salt.Make sure you read carefully on the lables to check for any added sugars .
Do not be fooled by word like glucose,maple syrup or corn syrups ,this is all sugar.Baby food must be all natural with no too much additives .If you decide to buy cereals make you choose those without flavors because those contain considerable amounts of sugar.

Conclusion;Choosing baby food is all about putting the health of your baby first.Introduce doids slowly one at a time and always check for allergic reactions.Do not go to extremes with taste maintain a mild taste .