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This page describes
at length on the topic of feeding babies.
HOW TO FEED BABY
Place a tablespoon of precooked baby cereal in a clean dish and
moisten it with the baby's formula or with sterilized milk. Some babies like
their cereal mixture thin, others seem to prefer it a little thicker. Trial and
error will show you the consistency your baby likes best, although most babies
blow or spit out the first few feedings. Eating foods of this consistency is a
new experience for him, and at first he may spit them out because he doesn't
like the feel of the food in his mouth.
Hold the baby in a semi-sitting position, with his head cradled on your arm, or
use one of the little seats especially designed for infants. Place a very small
amount of cereal on a teaspoon, or after-dinner coffee spoon.
At first, he'll squeeze most of what you give him out on his chin. You'll have
to shovel it off and scoop it back in more than once, but with a few more
feedings, he'll get the hang of eating this new way.
If this is your first baby, you're probably wondering how to tell when he's had
enough. It's impossible not to know! The baby will turn his head, refuse to open
his mouth, or definitely spit out the unwanted food. Don't worry, it doesn't
take a mind reader to tell.
Never coax or force a food down your baby. If he refuses a specific food, repeat
the same food the next day. Once vegetables and meat are introduced, he may not
like one or two of them. If this happens, drop the offenders for the time being.
The baby may change his mind in a month and accept them.
This can be a messy business, especially if Baby should sneeze, so protect
yourself with a plastic apron and the baby with a bib.
VEGETABLES
You can
begin vegetables at four months. Offer the vegetable for his noon meal. It makes
little difference which one you give first, but do not give more than one kind
each week.
If the baby becomes fussy, irritable, develops a rash, spits up the vegetable, or has loose stools, you know it's the vegetable
he's getting that week that's causing the trouble. Stop giving him that particular one
and proceed to the next vegetable.
However, if no difficulty develops, start a new food each week. Once a food is tried and proves acceptable, you can
any time.
MEAT
At five months meats can be started. Introduce them
one
at a time at weekly intervals as you did with the vegetables.
The meat adds protein, iron, and vitamin B complex to the diet.
ALLERGENIC FOODS
Highly allergenic foods, such as wheat, eggs, and orange juice
should be postponed to the littler part of the first year. This is especially
important if there is a family history of allergy. Discuss this with your doctor
and start these foods at the ages he recommends.
EGG YOLK
Egg yolk is a good source of iron along with the
cereal and meat. It is
recommended to be started at six months old.
FRUITS
What about fruit? Infants are willing to accept fruit it sin early age.
Should the baby balk at taking cereal, one can try adding a little fruit to his
cereal. If this does not work, stop the cereal and continue with the fruit. In a
few weeks, try
the cereal again. The baby may take it more readily now.
Fruit provides a source of carbohydrates, vitamin A, and vitamin C. They may be
added to the baby's diet between 3.5 and 4 months of age.
The addition of fruit to the baby's diet will also help minimize problem of
constipation when you switch the baby's milk formula to regular cow's milk.
VITAMIN C
If you are giving vitamins containing vitamin C,
orange juice is
unnecessary; because so many babies are allergic to orange juice, give it only
if the doctor recommends it.
CEREAL
Cereal can be started quite readily at 3 months. It is a good source of
carbohydrates, in the form of starch, protein, and iron. It is a bland food
which the baby can easily digest. You have a wide range of cereals from which to
choose. Special precooked baby cereals are available on the market. All you have
to do is mix them with warm formula, milk, or water and they are ready to use.
When the doctor says you can begin solid foods, ask him with what cereal he'd
prefer to have you start. You'll probably begin with rice—the least allergenic.
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