It is necessary to practice safe heating procedures when preparing your children’s menu. You might be used to cooking everything safely, but other family members and babysitters might not know how to heat meals and bottles properly. You may choose to invest in something like the best baby food maker, which comes in handy when other people are looking after your children, but is not necessary. You can introduce your tot to meals at different temperatures, or you can stick to room temperature.
Safe Food for Infants and Children
Weak immune systems make food poisoning dangerous to children. This is why you ought to be informed about various ways of handling the first food for baby. Below are tips and guidelines on the matter.
- The Best First Baby Food
How do you introduce baby food to your toddler? Although giving your child the first solid product is an incredible milestone, you should remember that the best first food for baby is breast milk for the first 6 months after birth.
From 4 to 6 months, most infants are ready to eat solid meals, which are used to complement breast or formula milk. By this stage, babies can swallow solid ingredients. Apart from breast milk, you can start feeding simple infant dishes that contain sugar and salt. Wait several days before introducing a new diet to see whether the child has a reaction, like diarrhea or rashes.
- Baby Food for 6 Months Old Kids
When your baby is 6 months, he/she is ready to try different solid dishes. But how do you introduce baby food for six months old? Start by offering a few tablespoons at least 3 times a day.
As your child gets used to the meals, you can change the texture. Begin with watery or puree meals and then move to mashed ones. Allow a few days to ensure that the infant is not allergic to any of the given products.
- Solid Foods
How do you incorporate solid food into your child’s diet? You can introduce it in any order you wish, however, focus on poultry, pureed meat, iron-fortified cereals, and beans. These foods provide essential nutrients for your baby.
This is a great period to experiment with a different recipe for baby food once in a while. You can even make this more fun by pureeing using a blender for baby food and storing it for later consumption. Remember to use a glass microwave-safe container whenever you heat the baby’s eating to maintain hygiene.
- Finger Foods
Introducing finger food for baby can be exciting and nerve-wracking; however, this is an excellent time to teach him/her how to eat on his own. There are no rules about when babies can start eating finger foods. But, you can look for signs, for instance, when you notice the tot is trying to grab the spoon.
Also, if babies can sit on their own, it means they are ready for finger foods. You also don’t have to wait for your baby’s teeth to show to start giving solid ingredients. Babies’ gums are strong enough to chew soft solid foods.
When starting your baby on finger foods, it is necessary to offer small, soft products that are easy to digest. As the infant grows, you can change the texture. With time, their tongues develop the ability to control food, and they can chew better, especially parts that break easily. A 1-year-old will deal with the meal better than a 6-month-old.
As you and your child experiment on different finger foods, avoid sticky, large, or foods that don’t dissolve easily because they are choking hazards. Carrots, hotdogs, grapes, nuts, candy, and popcorn should be saved for later. Be cautious when choosing finger foods for the infant because most adult products have too much salt.
Conclusion
Introducing new foods to your baby’s diet can take you to a whole new level; however, you ought to maintain safety and hygiene. When reheating, check the temperature before feeding the infant. Also, remember that you should reheat food only once.
What products does your child love? Please leave a comment.
Author’s Bio
Rachel Burns is an experienced copywriter and photographer with a design diploma. She works with startups, entrepreneurs, bloggers and companies from around the world. In addition to writing articles and promotional materials, she enjoys hiking, reading, cooking and spending time with her family.
