Tackling baby diets – the no nos

One of the important responsibilities of parents is to plan a proper diet for their baby. A balanced diet is essential for the proper growth and development of the newborn. The best diet for the newborn is breast milk. Breast milk has the ideal components for wholesome nutrition of the baby. Ideally, a child should be fed only breast milk for the first four months. Any solid food given to a child less than four months old may pose as a choking hazard for your baby.

 

The foods to be avoided in your baby’s diet can be broadly categorized into three groups, namely allergens which may cause allergies, the foods which may pose as choking hazards and the foods which are difficult to digest by the still developing digestive system of the baby. It is important that you keep in mind to include proper nutrients and more importantly exclude these food categories from your child’s diet plan. It is, therefore, essential to plan your baby’s diet in advance.

 

Some of the foods to be avoided in your baby’s diet are as follows:

 

• Honey: The cause of botulism, spores of Clostridium botulinum are caused by honey. The adult digestive system is developed to control the growth of these, but the underdeveloped digestive system of the baby is unable to stop their growth posing a threat to baby’s health.

 

• Citrus fruits and fruit juices: These foods may provoke an allergic reaction in your baby.

 

• Wheat and wheat based food products: Wheat is usually a component of most baby food products, but it is advisable not to give your baby wheat based food products if there is a history of allergies in your family. Wheat is known for its allergenic properties.

 

• White portion of eggs: The egg whites are rich in proteins and your baby’s digestive system is not fully developed to absorb that much protein. So it is essential to remember that you may include egg yolks in your baby’s diet but it is better to avoid egg whites.

 

• Peanut butter: An allergenic, peanut butter is one of the foods to be avoided in your child’s diet. It is also sticky in consistency and therefore may pose as a swallowing hazard.

 

• Nuts: Nuts are both allergenic as well as choking hazards for babies. If you want to include nuts in your baby’s diet, make sure they are cut into very small pieces.

 

• Shellfish: Babies are often allergenic to shellfish, so it is better that you avoid feeding shellfish to your baby, especially if there is a family history of allergies.

 

New parents should keep in mind that each baby has his or her particular nutritional needs and it is advised that you consult your doctor before devising a diet plan for your baby. In order to avoid choking hazards, you must give your baby small portions of food. While feeding vegetables or fruits, you must cut them into very small pieces, mash them or shred them.