The secret for parents to choose snacks for babies

Snacking is one of the very important milestones of your baby, so choosing the correct snacks for your baby is extremely important to help your baby develop physically and mentally.

Parents should pay attention to choosing appropriate foods for each stage, which can cause the risk of allergies, as well as cause choking ... for babies to eat safely and effectively.

How to choose snacks for babies

When your baby is about 6 months old, you can introduce your baby to a wider range of foods so that he or she will gradually get used to weaning in the following months.

Baby snacks suitable for this stage:

♦ Meat, poultry and fish: You should cook meat to soften, mince and remove bones.

♦ Eggs: Cook thoroughly to ensure the baby's digestive system.

♦ Dairy Products : Yogurt and cheese are good choices for babies. However, milk should not be given to children under 1 year old.

♦ Cereals containing gluten: legumes, seeds, rice ... cooked into porridge, soup or nuts, nut butter. Do not feed your baby whole grains to avoid choking.

♦ The dishes for feeding loading : Let baby try to eat biscuits, bread, pasta dishes, pasta cooked, as well as soft fruits (bananas, pears, mango, avocado) and vegetables cooked soft (carrots , sweet potatoes, broccoli) ... these dishes are suitable for active weaning method.

At about 7-9 months old, many babies can eat 3 small meals a day. You should try to choose suitable snacks for your baby to fully absorb protein, carbohydrates and fat.

At around 9-11 months of age, many babies can eat food that is cut into small pieces. You can also offer stiffer foods, such as apples, carrots, crackers and breads. At this age, most babies can eat 3 meals a day, including a dessert, such as yogurt or fruit.

At 1 year of age, most babies can eat food with family members at meals. At this stage, many babies can eat 3 small meals plus 2-3 snacks daily.

However, keep in mind that each baby is different. Your baby may eat more or less depending on his or her needs.

Foods parents need to avoid solids

While baby snacks should be diverse, there are some foods that parents should avoid feeding their babies, including:

♦ Honey: Never give honey to babies under 12 months old because it can bring a risk of botulism poisoning , a serious form of food poisoning in humans.

♦ Undercooked eggs : Uncooked eggs can contain the bacteria s almonella , which can make children suffer from intestinal diseases.

♦ Unpasteurized dairy products: Pasteurization helps to kill the bacteria that cause infections in milk. Therefore, pasteurized or pasteurized dairy products are the right choice for young children.

♦ Sugar, salt, or processed foods or drinks: They often provide very little nutrients. Plus, sugar can damage a child's enamel. The kidneys of young children can not tolerate too much salt, so you should avoid adding salt and salt to your baby's dishes.

♦ Whole seeds: Do not give whole seeds to children under 5 years old because of the high risk of choking.

♦ Small fruits like rambutan, longan ...

♦ Low-fat products: The amount of fat that children need in the diet will be relatively more than adults.

5 tips to make weaning easier for the whole family

The weaning process will no longer be your baby's tears or parents' fatigue thanks to the following 5 tips:

1. Children often love the sweet taste. Therefore, you should try to train your baby to like to eat vegetables before eating fruit to limit the possibility that he or she does not like to eat vegetables in the future.

2. Give your baby a variety of foods, avoid giving the same food many times. If your baby doesn't like certain foods, try combining them with foods they like until they get used to.

3. Do not force babies to eat more than they need, children often stop eating when they are full.

4. Create a relaxing atmosphere for meals and do not put too much emphasis on children making the dining room a "battleground". This will encourage babies to experience new foods more and create a positive relationship with eating.

5. Try to feed your baby with the family. Children tend to enjoy eating foods they see around them.

Some things parents need to note during the baby food phase

Weaning is almost the first time a baby is exposed to foods other than breast milk. Therefore, parents need to note a few things for babies to eat safely and effectively.

Your baby has a food allergy

Each person has different characteristics, so the possibility of your baby being allergic to certain foods is very likely. The risk will be much higher if the family has a history of food allergies , allergic rhinitis , asthma or eczema (eczema).

A food allergy is a reaction caused by the body's immune system to food. Children have an incomplete immune system and intestinal tract, so if they come into contact with foods with high allergenic properties, they will easily develop allergies.

Food allergy often causes signs such as: erythema, dermatitis, urticaria, swelling of the skin or edema of the oral mucosa; nausea, stomach pain, and digestive disorders; itching, watering eyes, nose ... In some cases, food allergy can be fatal.

The foods that often cause allergy are: peanuts (peanuts), almonds, seafood, eggs, milk ... Milk allergy is the most common case. In addition, fruits can also cause allergies, typically: blueberries, pumpkin, tomatoes, potatoes, mustard ... Additives used in food such as benzoate, salicylate, monosodium glutamate ... also Risk of allergies.

To prevent allergies or treat food allergies, parents should consult a specialist and maybe perform some tests to ascertain the cause of the allergy. If the baby has food irritation and identifies the cause, parents must change their child's eating habits, exclude allergenic foods from the diet and be more careful in using food. for children.

Baby choked and choked when eating

Choking can be a significant concern when a baby begins to be given solid foods. However, choking is a completely normal part of learning to eat. It acts as a safety reflex to prevent a child from choking.

The signs of a choking food when a child opens their mouth and pushes their tongue forward, wheezing or coughing, and blushes. It is important not to panic or worry if your baby chokes.

However, choking is much more serious. It happens when food blocks the airways, meaning the baby can't breathe properly. Signs include: baby's skin gradually turns blue, unable to speak or cry. Children may also start to cough or have the most serious case: loss of consciousness.

Here are some helpful tips to reduce your child's risk of choking when eating:

♦ Let baby sit up straight, do not laugh while eating.

♦ Never neglect your baby while he or she eats.

♦ Avoid foods with a high risk of choking, such as nuts, small fruit, popcorn, meat and fish with bones.

♦ Do not force your baby to eat too much food at the same time.

If your child is choking, you should calmly take first aid steps when your baby chokes while eating . Taking a first aid course can be helpful for parents. If your baby's condition is severe because he is unable to cough up food, take him to the emergency room.