There are plenty of things you must pay attention to when it comes to raising children. From the very first moments of pregnancy, parents feel responsible for everything the child feels or eats. Although feeding your kid is an important matter that you have to pay attention to, over-stressing about it is going to do you no good.
Kids do not all respond to the same things the same way, and when it comes to parenting, the most important thing is doing your best. In many cases, you might find yourself depending solely on your gut feeling, and that is okay. Only you will be able to know what is best for you and your kid.
However, there are some basics that every guardian needs to know about a baby’s diet and the dos and don’ts of kids’ food. Here are some of them:
- Whatever The Mom Eats, They Eat
When a woman is pregnant, the baby eats everything that she digests. Eating a balanced diet during pregnancy is a must when you want to have a healthy baby. We understand that every pregnant woman has her cravings and won’t always eat perfectly all the time. However, trying your best and limiting your consumption of junk food or any alcoholic drinks will pay off in the end, although it will be challenging at the moment. Remember, you would have to continue on a healthy lifestyle even when the baby is born if you are breastfeeding. Babies who are breastfed absorb the nutrients they need from their mothers’ milk. This milk is highly affected by what the mother eats or drinks. This means that you have to limit your caffeine dose to the morning cup of coffee and limit yourself in other aspects as well as anything that your doctor will advise. - Find the Most Reliable Baby Food Companies
When your baby starts eating, it is not always going to be easy and accessible to prepare their food at home. No matter how many times we try to adhere to a schedule, things get in the way. These situations happen, so when you have to grab something on the go, be mindful of the food you feed your baby to ensure safety. In the past years, we have heard about many misconduct by big companies. The recent incident that involved Gerber selling baby food tainted with lead turned into a huge scandal, and rightly so; the company faced numerous legal charges. This is a critical scenario, showcasing why you have to be extremely cautious while choosing a brand of food to feed your baby. You should also notice if any changes occur after they have eaten any type of food; keep a notebook if necessary. - Gradually Introduce Solids
Most parents are excited when it comes to introducing solids to their babies, and it is quite an interesting step. Babies usually start eating solids by the time they are 6 months old, by then they are usually ready to shift their way of eating. It does not make a difference in the baby’s health regardless of what type of solid food you start with as long as it is healthy and full of nutrition.
Introduce food types to your baby one by one. You should not feed them different types of new food on the same day or even week because you need to see the effect of this type of food on your child. The fact that you are feeding your baby something healthy does not mean that their body will not react towards it in a bad way. You need to know which food your baby is allergic to, and mixing different food types will not allow you to come to a decisive conclusion. Furthermore, you might want to keep a small journal of the food you try and how the experience was to your baby.
Having a baby is one of the joys of the human experience. To enjoy your parenting journey, you have to be equipped with the right information that can guide you through it. Luckily, there are many ways to get the information you need, you can ask family members and friends or search the internet. It sounds overwhelming when you are just a beginner, but it gets better and easier with time.
The only thing you need to be the best parent you can be is to simply let the love you have in your heart for this bundle of joy move you. No new parent knew what they were doing either, we all learn by practice and experience. Take it easy, baby steps are all you need until you get comfortable with your new role.
Featured image: Unsplash (Derek Owens).
