Sleep Basic -Baby
Every baby is different, but there are some ways to up your chances of catching some z's. Here, what sleep experts Conner Herman and Kira Ryan have to say when it comes to maximizing baby's snooze-time.
Clear the clutter
Designate the nursery as a room for sleep, not play. Keep the area around the crib free of toys and other fun knickknacks. "Crib distractions confuse your baby," Herman says. “They'll make him or her wonder, ‘Is this a playpen, or is a place to sleep?’”
Start separating
Ryan recommends putting baby in his her own room for at least one nap a day to start. "This gets baby acclimated to his or her room, so when it's time to move in there, it's not a total change." A daily solo nap also helps baby and you get used to being apart—these little breaks are healthy and necessary. Even if baby sleeps in your room, Herman recommends putting up a screen or partition for separation. "If baby wakes up during the night and sees you, it's easy for him or her to rely on you to fall back asleep," Ryan says. And you'll all be happy later if baby's able to put himself or herself back to bed.
Stay cool
Baby sleeps best when the temperature is consistent and cool—between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. "Most moms actually keep the nursery too warm," Ryan says. Putting your crib in the right spot is also key. "Pick a location that isn't in the direct pathway of your air-conditioning or heating vents," Herman says. Sudden temperature changes will startle and disturb baby. Also, move the crib away from windows to protect baby from drafts and outside noise.
Dim the lights
Light signals daytime to baby, so blocking out the sun will help keep him or her snoozing. In fact, cut out all the extra light you can. That includes the night-light—babies aren't likely to fear the dark until at least 18 months. "On a scale of one to five, five being pitch black, your baby's room should be a four," Herman says. If baby's a nighttime nurser, attach a dimmer switch to a lamp and turn it on and off slowly for nighttime feedings.
Teach baby to sleep through
Some babies start sleeping through the night on his or her own, and others may need some nudging—“sleep teaching” as Ryan and Herman call it. This could happen at any age, but never before four months.
For some babies, teaching them to fall back asleep on his or her own may mean letting them cry for a few minutes before going to them in the middle of the night, or it may mean introducing a “lovey” for baby to cuddle with. “Baby might have some negative sleep associations,” Ryan says. “It’s about helping them create new, positive ones.”
Soothe with Sound
What baby hears (or doesn't) is just as important as what he or she does or doesn't see. Pick up a white noise machine to cancel out house noise, cars, and other distracting sounds (just don't turn it so high it could hurt baby's sensitive ears). Baby will begin to associate the constant and consistent sound with sleep. Some noise machines have lullaby, ocean, or other sound options, but simple white noise is fine—it'll bring baby back to being in the womb, and really, what's more soothing than memories of mommy's belly? Look for a portable machine so you’ll be able to recreate the sounds of the nursery while you're away from home.
Make a plan
Agree with your partner about what you’ll do when baby wakes in the middle of the night and who’ll do it. “The number one way to fail is not to have plan,” says Ryan. “Set a date on calendar to start and be consistent. That’ll make it so much easier for baby to learn.”
see more at www.babyandnames.com
Friday, 8 April 2016
Thursday, 7 April 2016
Do Stress reduce milk supply?
Stress usually won't reduce your milk supply. However, if you're feeling very stressed and it's interfering with how often you're feeding your baby, this may temporarily reduce your supply.
Our breastfeeding expert Sonali Shivlani says that in some cases, stress can affect the levels of oxytocin produced, which is the hormone responsible for the milk let-down. Hence it could affect how your milk comes out if not how much is produced.
Having a new baby and trying to learn how to breastfeed can be stressful. In the early days both you and your baby are learning about breastfeeding. Try to take things one day at a time, as it can take a while for you both to get the hang of it.
Your breasts produce milk to match your baby's demands. So try to feed your baby as often and for as long as he wants to boost your supply. You could also try expressing your milk after each feed. Removing leftover milk in your breasts will help you to produce more milk. Read our article on low milk supply for more help.
It could also be that you're struggling to get your baby latched on to your breast. If your baby isn't latching on well, he'll struggle to get enough of your milk. You may mistake this for a problem with your supply. Take a look at our visual guide to help you decide if your baby is latching on properly.
If you can, make things easier for yourself by asking your spouse or family member for help and support. During night feeds, your husband could help by passing your baby to you when he wakes for a feed, and burping and settling him afterwards. If your baby will take a bottle of expressed milk, your husband could share some feeds with you.
Experiencing breastfeeding problems such as painful breasts, blocked ducts and cracked nipples can add to your stress. Rest assured there are plenty of ways to get help. Ask your doctor or speak to a breastfeeding specialist, or look at our directory of breastfeeding organisations.
You could also ask your doctor if there's a breastfeeding support group near you. These groups are a great way to chat to other new mums and get advice on breastfeeding. Sharing and swapping experiences with other new mums in our community will help you realise that you're not alone.
Be assured that when you and your baby are breastfeeding happily, you will feel much more relaxed. You'll then be able to enjoy the special time you and your baby can have together during his feeds.
What is Milk Allergy and lactose intolerance?
Milk allergy and lactose intolerance are two very different things though one is often confused with the other.
Milk allergy is when your baby's immune system reacts to proteins in milk. It is a common allergy and babies who have eczema are more likely to suffer from it. In fact it is the most common food allergy during infancy all over the world and can occur in purely breast fed babies also.
Lactose intolerance is when your baby has difficulty digesting the lactose, or the sugar, found in milk. This is much rarer than milk allergy during early childhood although it can occur temporarily after a bout of gastroenteritis.
Milk allergy
Your baby can be exposed to cow milk protein either through cow's milk-based formula milk or through your breastmilk if you have drunk or eaten dairy produce. Even butter or ghee contain milk protein. If your baby is allergic to this protein, she might have an immediate reaction in which case you might notice the following symptoms:
her face will flush and show a rash
she's likely to have watery eyes and a stuffy nose
it's also possible she'll feel sick or have diarrhoea
you might notice blood in her stools
she might be extremely irritable and fussy
rarely, a baby may have a more serious reaction called anaphylaxis.
Though allergic reactions to milk can be immediate, delayed allergic reactions are common too. With a delayed reaction, you might notice that your baby has:
eczema
reflux
colic
diarrhoea with or without blood
constipation
failure to thrive (not putting on enough weight)
These symptoms are common in early childhood and an allergy is only one possible explanation. Your doctor will be able to find out whether your baby has an allergy by doing a skin prick test or a blood test. But as with most allergies, the history you provide to the doctor and a physical examination of your baby are often enough for him to give a diagnosis.
If it is an allergy causing your baby’s symptoms and you are breastfeeding, your doctor will advise you to cut all dairy products from your diet including ghee, breads or biscuits made with milk solids and all other forms of dairy products.
If your baby is allergic to milk and is formula-fed, talk to your doctor before changing formula. It may not be the answer simply to switch to a soya-based product, because babies with milk allergies can react to this too. Almost 30 percent of babies who are allergic to milk will be allergic to soya as well. If your baby is allergic to both milk and soya, she will need a formula that is hypoallergenic, meaning she won't react to it.
It can take up to two weeks for your baby’s symptoms to disappear once you have stopped taking milk products or changed formula feed. But the good news is that most children will grow out of their milk allergy by the time they are three. You will know whether your baby is still allergic to milk only by reintroducing milk products to her diet very gradually and observing whether she reacts to them. Your doctor will guide you as to how and when to start doing this.
Lactose intolerance
If your baby is lactose intolerant, it means she has difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk. This happens when the body doesn’t produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. The symptoms of lactose intolerance are:
abdominal pain
gurgling
bloating
diarrhea, which can lead to a diaper rash
Your baby might develop lactose intolerance for a short period after she has had a stomach infection. This gets better on its own. Lactose intolerance is very common in adults (almost 70% of all adults in India have lactose intolerance) but it usually starts anytime after the age of 5 years. Lactose intolerance before that is very rare. Lactose intolerance is not life threatening but it is permanent.
If your baby is lactose intolerant and formula-fed, your doctor may advise you to give her lactose-free formula milk for a short time.
Lactose intolerant children who have started on solids can have some dairy products like yoghurt without any problem and small amounts of ice-cream, cheese, cottage cheese or paneer (unlike in the case of an allergy when all milk and milk products can trigger a reaction).
http://www.babyandnames.com
Milk allergy and lactose intolerance are two very different things though one is often confused with the other.
Milk allergy is when your baby's immune system reacts to proteins in milk. It is a common allergy and babies who have eczema are more likely to suffer from it. In fact it is the most common food allergy during infancy all over the world and can occur in purely breast fed babies also.
Lactose intolerance is when your baby has difficulty digesting the lactose, or the sugar, found in milk. This is much rarer than milk allergy during early childhood although it can occur temporarily after a bout of gastroenteritis.
Milk allergy
Your baby can be exposed to cow milk protein either through cow's milk-based formula milk or through your breastmilk if you have drunk or eaten dairy produce. Even butter or ghee contain milk protein. If your baby is allergic to this protein, she might have an immediate reaction in which case you might notice the following symptoms:
her face will flush and show a rash
she's likely to have watery eyes and a stuffy nose
it's also possible she'll feel sick or have diarrhoea
you might notice blood in her stools
she might be extremely irritable and fussy
rarely, a baby may have a more serious reaction called anaphylaxis.
Though allergic reactions to milk can be immediate, delayed allergic reactions are common too. With a delayed reaction, you might notice that your baby has:
eczema
reflux
colic
diarrhoea with or without blood
constipation
failure to thrive (not putting on enough weight)
These symptoms are common in early childhood and an allergy is only one possible explanation. Your doctor will be able to find out whether your baby has an allergy by doing a skin prick test or a blood test. But as with most allergies, the history you provide to the doctor and a physical examination of your baby are often enough for him to give a diagnosis.
If it is an allergy causing your baby’s symptoms and you are breastfeeding, your doctor will advise you to cut all dairy products from your diet including ghee, breads or biscuits made with milk solids and all other forms of dairy products.
If your baby is allergic to milk and is formula-fed, talk to your doctor before changing formula. It may not be the answer simply to switch to a soya-based product, because babies with milk allergies can react to this too. Almost 30 percent of babies who are allergic to milk will be allergic to soya as well. If your baby is allergic to both milk and soya, she will need a formula that is hypoallergenic, meaning she won't react to it.
It can take up to two weeks for your baby’s symptoms to disappear once you have stopped taking milk products or changed formula feed. But the good news is that most children will grow out of their milk allergy by the time they are three. You will know whether your baby is still allergic to milk only by reintroducing milk products to her diet very gradually and observing whether she reacts to them. Your doctor will guide you as to how and when to start doing this.
Lactose intolerance
If your baby is lactose intolerant, it means she has difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk. This happens when the body doesn’t produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. The symptoms of lactose intolerance are:
abdominal pain
gurgling
bloating
diarrhea, which can lead to a diaper rash
Your baby might develop lactose intolerance for a short period after she has had a stomach infection. This gets better on its own. Lactose intolerance is very common in adults (almost 70% of all adults in India have lactose intolerance) but it usually starts anytime after the age of 5 years. Lactose intolerance before that is very rare. Lactose intolerance is not life threatening but it is permanent.
If your baby is lactose intolerant and formula-fed, your doctor may advise you to give her lactose-free formula milk for a short time.
Lactose intolerant children who have started on solids can have some dairy products like yoghurt without any problem and small amounts of ice-cream, cheese, cottage cheese or paneer (unlike in the case of an allergy when all milk and milk products can trigger a reaction).
http://www.babyandnames.com
When to introduce growing up milk?
If your baby is under a year old, don't feed her growing-up milk.
You may have seen growing-up milk in super markets, chemists and specialised baby care stores. However, growing-up milk is marketed as being suitable for toddlers aged between one and three.
Growing-up milk has vitamins, minerals and prebiotics added to it. It also has higher levels of iron than other formula milks. Once your baby is six months old, she can get all the iron she needs from a combination of solid food and breastmilk or formula milk.
Even when your baby reaches toddlerhood, she's not likely to need growing- up milk. There's no evidence that growing-up milk is any better for your child than cow's milk.
When your baby is a year old, she can have cow's milk as a main drink. By then, your baby will be gaining a large part of her nourishment from solid foods. And of course, if you and your baby are happy to continue breastfeeding, that's fine too. As long as she's having a variety of food, she should be getting all the minerals and vitamins she needs.
If you are concerned that your child isn't eating well or that she may have a nutrient deficiency, discuss it with your doctor. He may suggest vitamin drops or offer tips to enrich your baby's solids diet.
http://www.babyandnames.com
If your baby is under a year old, don't feed her growing-up milk.
You may have seen growing-up milk in super markets, chemists and specialised baby care stores. However, growing-up milk is marketed as being suitable for toddlers aged between one and three.
Growing-up milk has vitamins, minerals and prebiotics added to it. It also has higher levels of iron than other formula milks. Once your baby is six months old, she can get all the iron she needs from a combination of solid food and breastmilk or formula milk.
Even when your baby reaches toddlerhood, she's not likely to need growing- up milk. There's no evidence that growing-up milk is any better for your child than cow's milk.
When your baby is a year old, she can have cow's milk as a main drink. By then, your baby will be gaining a large part of her nourishment from solid foods. And of course, if you and your baby are happy to continue breastfeeding, that's fine too. As long as she's having a variety of food, she should be getting all the minerals and vitamins she needs.
If you are concerned that your child isn't eating well or that she may have a nutrient deficiency, discuss it with your doctor. He may suggest vitamin drops or offer tips to enrich your baby's solids diet.
http://www.babyandnames.com
Wednesday, 6 April 2016
Six Common Sleeping mistakes
1: Setting your expectations too high
You’ve probably heard about babies that sleep through the night at eight weeks or take two hour naps, twice a day. It’s hard not to wonder why your baby isn’t following suit.
It’s important to understand that all babies are different and that waking up at night is perfectly normal, and very common. Most babies are not able to sleep through the night without a feed until at least three months or four months old. Many babies wake for night-time feeds until they are at least six months old. So you’re not alone.
It’s also worth remembering that your baby isn’t able to tell the difference between night and day until he’s around two months to three months old. This doesn’t mean you can’t start teaching him the difference though, so make daytime feeds chatty and fun, and night-time feeds quiet and soothing.
2: Putting your baby to bed too late
When you've been at work all day, it can be tempting to keep your baby up so you can spend more time with him. Or maybe you hope he'll become so tired, he'll eventually flake out.
Whatever the reason, it's not a good idea to keep your child up. When babies get overtired they find it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. They tend to wake up earlier than if they went to bed at a more reasonable hour, too.
It’s much better to have a bedtime routine in place and stick to it. Don’t wait until your baby is yawning and rubbing his eyes to put it into action. Even 15 minutes to 20 minutes of extra sleep can make all the difference.
3: Relying on motion to send him off to sleep
Have you ever breathed a sigh of relief as your baby snoozes in his car seat or baby swing? While this can provide you with a well-deserved break, don't fall into the trap of relying on motion to get your baby to fall asleep. It's impractical to have to take your baby for a drive every night.
It's fine to use motion to soothe your baby if he's upset or fussy. Just don't make it part of his regular bedtime routine.
4: Over-stimulating your baby before bedtime
While you may have put a mobile above your baby's cot for comfort, the rotating toys, sounds and lights can be a distraction. Watching them may keep him awake rather than teach him that it's night-time.
It's much better to put your baby to sleep in a darkened room. Don't worry about him being afraid. He's too young to have developed night-time fears. A fan or white noise recording may also help, as it will muffle any noise from the rest of the house or outside.
Before, or as part of your bedtime routine, try to wind your baby down with relaxing rather than energetic games. Lullabies and gentle nursery rhymes will calm him and help him to understand that it’s time to sleep.
5: Skipping your baby’s bedtime routine
With a baby, you might assume that a routine consisting of a bath, a book and a lullaby isn't yet necessary. Or maybe you feel too tired some days to continue with it.
But having a series of calming, pleasing activities before bedtime is important, as it prepares your little one for sleep.
You can create any routine you like for your baby. Just make sure it's a series of relaxing steps that happen in the same order at about the same time every night.
If your baby still has an evening feed, try to place this at the start of your bedtime routine, rather than at the end, so that your baby doesn’t associate feeding with sleeping. This may help him to settle himself if he wakes up during the night.
6: Not being consistent with your baby
If you’ve decided to start sleep training your baby, it’s important to be consistent in how you handle his night-time wakings, as well as how you put him down to sleep every night. It’s tempting to revert to feeding to sleep, or rocking to sleep, especially when it seems nothing else will work.
Be confident that your baby will soon learn to self-settle if he’s given the chance. When he wakes up during the night, tell him it’s time to sleep. Gently shush and pat him to reassure him, then leave the room. You can return in a few minutes if he’s still not settling and repeat the process. You may have to do this dozens of times when you first start sleep training.
To help your baby understand when it’s bedtime, try to keep the same routine in place every night. A warm bath, a last breastfeed or bottle, a quiet game and a few lullabies will help your baby drift off to sleep.
http://www.babyandnames.com
1: Setting your expectations too high
You’ve probably heard about babies that sleep through the night at eight weeks or take two hour naps, twice a day. It’s hard not to wonder why your baby isn’t following suit.
It’s important to understand that all babies are different and that waking up at night is perfectly normal, and very common. Most babies are not able to sleep through the night without a feed until at least three months or four months old. Many babies wake for night-time feeds until they are at least six months old. So you’re not alone.
It’s also worth remembering that your baby isn’t able to tell the difference between night and day until he’s around two months to three months old. This doesn’t mean you can’t start teaching him the difference though, so make daytime feeds chatty and fun, and night-time feeds quiet and soothing.
2: Putting your baby to bed too late
When you've been at work all day, it can be tempting to keep your baby up so you can spend more time with him. Or maybe you hope he'll become so tired, he'll eventually flake out.
Whatever the reason, it's not a good idea to keep your child up. When babies get overtired they find it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. They tend to wake up earlier than if they went to bed at a more reasonable hour, too.
It’s much better to have a bedtime routine in place and stick to it. Don’t wait until your baby is yawning and rubbing his eyes to put it into action. Even 15 minutes to 20 minutes of extra sleep can make all the difference.
3: Relying on motion to send him off to sleep
Have you ever breathed a sigh of relief as your baby snoozes in his car seat or baby swing? While this can provide you with a well-deserved break, don't fall into the trap of relying on motion to get your baby to fall asleep. It's impractical to have to take your baby for a drive every night.
It's fine to use motion to soothe your baby if he's upset or fussy. Just don't make it part of his regular bedtime routine.
4: Over-stimulating your baby before bedtime
While you may have put a mobile above your baby's cot for comfort, the rotating toys, sounds and lights can be a distraction. Watching them may keep him awake rather than teach him that it's night-time.
It's much better to put your baby to sleep in a darkened room. Don't worry about him being afraid. He's too young to have developed night-time fears. A fan or white noise recording may also help, as it will muffle any noise from the rest of the house or outside.
Before, or as part of your bedtime routine, try to wind your baby down with relaxing rather than energetic games. Lullabies and gentle nursery rhymes will calm him and help him to understand that it’s time to sleep.
5: Skipping your baby’s bedtime routine
With a baby, you might assume that a routine consisting of a bath, a book and a lullaby isn't yet necessary. Or maybe you feel too tired some days to continue with it.
But having a series of calming, pleasing activities before bedtime is important, as it prepares your little one for sleep.
You can create any routine you like for your baby. Just make sure it's a series of relaxing steps that happen in the same order at about the same time every night.
If your baby still has an evening feed, try to place this at the start of your bedtime routine, rather than at the end, so that your baby doesn’t associate feeding with sleeping. This may help him to settle himself if he wakes up during the night.
6: Not being consistent with your baby
If you’ve decided to start sleep training your baby, it’s important to be consistent in how you handle his night-time wakings, as well as how you put him down to sleep every night. It’s tempting to revert to feeding to sleep, or rocking to sleep, especially when it seems nothing else will work.
Be confident that your baby will soon learn to self-settle if he’s given the chance. When he wakes up during the night, tell him it’s time to sleep. Gently shush and pat him to reassure him, then leave the room. You can return in a few minutes if he’s still not settling and repeat the process. You may have to do this dozens of times when you first start sleep training.
To help your baby understand when it’s bedtime, try to keep the same routine in place every night. A warm bath, a last breastfeed or bottle, a quiet game and a few lullabies will help your baby drift off to sleep.
http://www.babyandnames.com
Five Best Food For babies
1. Vegetables
Give your baby a wide variety of vegetables as soon as you start weaning. Starting your baby off with vegetables early may mean he carries on eating and enjoying them when he’s older.
Vegetables add colour, texture and variety to his meals. They’re high in vitamins, minerals and fibre too. Vegetables help healthy growth and development, and may help to protect against some diseases in the long term.
It's easier to give new vegetables to your baby from the start of weaning. If you wait until he’s older, he’s more likely to reject unknown foods and unfamiliar flavours. If your baby pulls a face when he first tries a new vegetable, it may not mean he dislikes it. He may just be surprised by the new taste.
Some vegetables, such as kale, brussels sprouts, and watercress, are full of goodness but have a strong flavour that your little one may need to learn to like. Don’t try to coax him into eating it if he doesn’t accept it at first. Be patient. Leave it off the menu for a few days and try again. You may need to offer new vegetables at least eight times before deciding that your baby doesn't like them.
Try tempting your baby with sweeter-tasting vegetables too, such as parsnip and sweet potato.
If your baby prefers finger foods rather than pureed or well-mashed foods, let him get on with it. He may like the feeling of being in control of his food rather than being spoon-fed. Try giving him cooked green beans, steamed broccoli florets, or soft-cooked fingers of carrot, for example.
2. Fish
You can give your baby well-mashed or flaked fish from six months onwards. Fish is particularly good for your baby. It’s a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish, particularly oily fish such as fresh salmon and mackerel, are important for your baby's brain development.
When you give your baby any fish, make sure it’s cooked thoroughly. It should begin to flake and be opaque. Always check the fish carefully and remove any bones.
There are some types of fish that your baby shouldn't eat. Shark, swordfish and marlin have traces of mercury in them, which may affect your baby’s growing nervous system.
If you're worried about food allergies, there’s no need to delay introducing fish. Rest assured that there's no evidence that introducing fish later on makes allergy less likely.
3. Poultry and red meat
Meat is an excellent source of protein and a good source of nutrients such as iron and zinc. It also contains a small amount of vitamin D. When your baby is six months or seven months, the stores of iron that he built up when you were pregnant are starting to run out. So it's important to introduce other sources of iron into his meals.
Once your baby is happily eating pureed or well-mashed fruit and vegetables, you can move on to poultry and red meat. Although you may not think of meat as an obvious weaning food, pureed or blended poultry or meat is a great food for your baby.
Start with soft, cooked poultry, such as chicken. Then you can introduce red meats, such as pork, beef or lamb.
Always take care to cook any meat thoroughly, until the juices run clear, and remove any bones.
4. Pulses and beans
Pulses and beans are another good source of protein and iron. They’re quick and easy to cook to a soft texture that your baby will be able to manage, and are good substitutes for meat or fish.
If your baby is eating a vegetarian diet, try to give him pulses, such as beans, lentils or chickpeas, twice a day. Other meat alternatives which are also good sources of protein are thoroughly cooked eggs or tofu.
Try mixing lentils or other cooked pulses, such as chickpeas, with vegetables or fruits to help your baby to absorb the iron in them. For example, you could try giving your baby well-mashed or pureed lentils with carrots or sweet potatoes. The vitamin C in the vegetables helps your baby's body to absorb the iron.
It’s fine to use tinned pulses and beans, but check the label to make sure there’s no added sugar or salt.
5. Milk
Although your baby is eating solid food, his regular milk is still an important food for him as a source of calcium and other nutrients.
When you first start introducing solid foods, your baby will be eating very small amounts of food, probably just one teaspoon or two teaspoons per meal. He’ll still be getting most of his nutrients from breastmilk or formula milk. So keep giving him regular breastfeeds, or between 500ml and 600ml of formula milk a day, as his main drink until he’s a year old.
You don’t need to give your baby follow-on milk. His usual milk and a variety of solid foods will give your growing baby all the nourishment he needs.
By the time your baby is a year old, he’ll be eating three meals a day, perhaps with one or two snacks in between. By then, you’ll find that he has dropped a milk feed or two. After that, you can give your baby cow's milk as a main drink if you want to.
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a25010529/five-best-foods-for-babies#ixzz4533EtzqJ
1. Vegetables
Give your baby a wide variety of vegetables as soon as you start weaning. Starting your baby off with vegetables early may mean he carries on eating and enjoying them when he’s older.
Vegetables add colour, texture and variety to his meals. They’re high in vitamins, minerals and fibre too. Vegetables help healthy growth and development, and may help to protect against some diseases in the long term.
It's easier to give new vegetables to your baby from the start of weaning. If you wait until he’s older, he’s more likely to reject unknown foods and unfamiliar flavours. If your baby pulls a face when he first tries a new vegetable, it may not mean he dislikes it. He may just be surprised by the new taste.
Some vegetables, such as kale, brussels sprouts, and watercress, are full of goodness but have a strong flavour that your little one may need to learn to like. Don’t try to coax him into eating it if he doesn’t accept it at first. Be patient. Leave it off the menu for a few days and try again. You may need to offer new vegetables at least eight times before deciding that your baby doesn't like them.
Try tempting your baby with sweeter-tasting vegetables too, such as parsnip and sweet potato.
If your baby prefers finger foods rather than pureed or well-mashed foods, let him get on with it. He may like the feeling of being in control of his food rather than being spoon-fed. Try giving him cooked green beans, steamed broccoli florets, or soft-cooked fingers of carrot, for example.
2. Fish
You can give your baby well-mashed or flaked fish from six months onwards. Fish is particularly good for your baby. It’s a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish, particularly oily fish such as fresh salmon and mackerel, are important for your baby's brain development.
When you give your baby any fish, make sure it’s cooked thoroughly. It should begin to flake and be opaque. Always check the fish carefully and remove any bones.
There are some types of fish that your baby shouldn't eat. Shark, swordfish and marlin have traces of mercury in them, which may affect your baby’s growing nervous system.
If you're worried about food allergies, there’s no need to delay introducing fish. Rest assured that there's no evidence that introducing fish later on makes allergy less likely.
3. Poultry and red meat
Meat is an excellent source of protein and a good source of nutrients such as iron and zinc. It also contains a small amount of vitamin D. When your baby is six months or seven months, the stores of iron that he built up when you were pregnant are starting to run out. So it's important to introduce other sources of iron into his meals.
Once your baby is happily eating pureed or well-mashed fruit and vegetables, you can move on to poultry and red meat. Although you may not think of meat as an obvious weaning food, pureed or blended poultry or meat is a great food for your baby.
Start with soft, cooked poultry, such as chicken. Then you can introduce red meats, such as pork, beef or lamb.
Always take care to cook any meat thoroughly, until the juices run clear, and remove any bones.
4. Pulses and beans
Pulses and beans are another good source of protein and iron. They’re quick and easy to cook to a soft texture that your baby will be able to manage, and are good substitutes for meat or fish.
If your baby is eating a vegetarian diet, try to give him pulses, such as beans, lentils or chickpeas, twice a day. Other meat alternatives which are also good sources of protein are thoroughly cooked eggs or tofu.
Try mixing lentils or other cooked pulses, such as chickpeas, with vegetables or fruits to help your baby to absorb the iron in them. For example, you could try giving your baby well-mashed or pureed lentils with carrots or sweet potatoes. The vitamin C in the vegetables helps your baby's body to absorb the iron.
It’s fine to use tinned pulses and beans, but check the label to make sure there’s no added sugar or salt.
5. Milk
Although your baby is eating solid food, his regular milk is still an important food for him as a source of calcium and other nutrients.
When you first start introducing solid foods, your baby will be eating very small amounts of food, probably just one teaspoon or two teaspoons per meal. He’ll still be getting most of his nutrients from breastmilk or formula milk. So keep giving him regular breastfeeds, or between 500ml and 600ml of formula milk a day, as his main drink until he’s a year old.
You don’t need to give your baby follow-on milk. His usual milk and a variety of solid foods will give your growing baby all the nourishment he needs.
By the time your baby is a year old, he’ll be eating three meals a day, perhaps with one or two snacks in between. By then, you’ll find that he has dropped a milk feed or two. After that, you can give your baby cow's milk as a main drink if you want to.
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a25010529/five-best-foods-for-babies#ixzz4533EtzqJ
When can I give my newborn a bath?
Your baby needs to stay warm, so he won’t have a bath straight after he’s born. Your midwife will just wipe your baby and dry him using clean, warm towels. If your baby has creamy, white vernix on his skin, your midwife will take care to leave it on. Vernix is a natural skin cleanser and helps your baby's skin barrier to develop.
If you want to, you can give your baby a bath two hours after the birth. Just as long as your baby is healthy and full-term, his body temperature is normal, and the room is warm.
In some hospitals and birth centres, your midwife may help you to bathe your baby. However, you’ll probably give your baby his first bath some time after you get home.
When should I start giving my baby regular baths?
It's up to you. You may enjoy giving your baby a bath from day one. Or you may find it simpler to top and tail your baby using cotton wool and a warm, damp flannel or sponge.
You can carry on topping and tailing for the first week or so. You may feel you need time to recover from the birth and get used to handling your baby before you are ready to bathe him.
Newborns can lose body heat very quickly. So your baby's first bath should be quick but thorough, and last no longer than five minutes to 10 minutes. Make sure the room is warm, and close any doors and windows to stop draughts. Have warmed towels at the ready to wrap your baby up and cuddle him afterwards.
It's fine to give your baby a bath before his umbilical cord stump has fallen off and healed. Bathing your baby won't make an infection in the stump more likely, and it won’t slow down the healing process. Just be sure that you allow it to dry off properly afterwards.
For the first few weeks, you can bathe your baby using just water, or a little mild liquid baby cleanser. If your baby's skin is dry, you can add some baby bath emollient to the water. Bear in mind that the emollient will make your baby slippery to handle.
How often will my baby need a bath?
It’s up to you how often you give your baby a bath. Newborns don't need a bath every day, as they don’t get very dirty. Bathing him two or three times a week is fine during the month or so. Frequent baths may lead to dry skin, depending on what you use in the bath.
Bear in mind that if you live in a hard water area, too much tap water on its own may dry out your baby’s skin.
http://www.babyandnames.com
Your baby needs to stay warm, so he won’t have a bath straight after he’s born. Your midwife will just wipe your baby and dry him using clean, warm towels. If your baby has creamy, white vernix on his skin, your midwife will take care to leave it on. Vernix is a natural skin cleanser and helps your baby's skin barrier to develop.
If you want to, you can give your baby a bath two hours after the birth. Just as long as your baby is healthy and full-term, his body temperature is normal, and the room is warm.
In some hospitals and birth centres, your midwife may help you to bathe your baby. However, you’ll probably give your baby his first bath some time after you get home.
When should I start giving my baby regular baths?
It's up to you. You may enjoy giving your baby a bath from day one. Or you may find it simpler to top and tail your baby using cotton wool and a warm, damp flannel or sponge.
You can carry on topping and tailing for the first week or so. You may feel you need time to recover from the birth and get used to handling your baby before you are ready to bathe him.
Newborns can lose body heat very quickly. So your baby's first bath should be quick but thorough, and last no longer than five minutes to 10 minutes. Make sure the room is warm, and close any doors and windows to stop draughts. Have warmed towels at the ready to wrap your baby up and cuddle him afterwards.
It's fine to give your baby a bath before his umbilical cord stump has fallen off and healed. Bathing your baby won't make an infection in the stump more likely, and it won’t slow down the healing process. Just be sure that you allow it to dry off properly afterwards.
For the first few weeks, you can bathe your baby using just water, or a little mild liquid baby cleanser. If your baby's skin is dry, you can add some baby bath emollient to the water. Bear in mind that the emollient will make your baby slippery to handle.
How often will my baby need a bath?
It’s up to you how often you give your baby a bath. Newborns don't need a bath every day, as they don’t get very dirty. Bathing him two or three times a week is fine during the month or so. Frequent baths may lead to dry skin, depending on what you use in the bath.
Bear in mind that if you live in a hard water area, too much tap water on its own may dry out your baby’s skin.
http://www.babyandnames.com
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