Editorial

5 Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Baby During Her First Years

weaning and the introduction of other types of solid foods for babies below the age of one can be tricky business. while it may be tempting to expand their diet

5 Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Baby During Her First Years
  • PublishedAugust 31, 2015

weaning and the introduction of other types of solid foods for babies below the age of one can be tricky business. while it may be tempting to expand their diet by including treats such as chips or soda,there are a certain types of foods nutritionists recommend should not be anywhere near a child’s diet until well past the age of one.The foods include;

1. Honey

While honey is renowned for its immune boosting and disease fighting qualities, it is also a carrier of a toxic bacterium, Clostridium Botulinum, responsible for the rare yet potentially fatal disease, botulism.

According to experts, most children succumb to botulism due to a weakened immune system in the intestinal tract where the bacteria resides.

2.Citrus

Found in tropical fruits such as lemons and oranges, the acid is great in fighting off infections such as colds and flus but it is not recommended for children below the age of one. This is because the acid can be quite uncomfortable for the baby leading to stomach upsets.

3.Whole milk

If you can, and for as long as you can, or at the very least up to the age of one year, avoid cow milk and instead feed your baby on breast milk or formula, and more so exclusively especially for the first six months of their life.

This is because cow milk is not only difficult to digest due to the high concentrations of protein and minerals, but also lacks all the nutritional requirements such as enough iron and vitamin C needed for the healthy development of an infant.

4.Low fat foods

Babies need more fats in their first year due to developmental growth spurts, which need a large amount of calories.

5.Sugars and salt

This can be in its granular or incorporated form through sweets, chocolates, crackers and other forms of candy. The same goes for fizzy drinks, which add little nutritional value, and fruit juices.

While fruit juices may seem like an odd choice, it is better to give fruits in their wholesome state as juice contains higher levels of sugar and acidity. Breast milk has the right amount of sugar and salts needed to sustain a healthy, well-developed child.

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