Baby grows upLittle by little, babies grow up and commence looking around for more solid food to fill their needs. So, at breakfast time gradually phase in soft fruits, such as a banana either mashed with some water or milk or, later on, peeled so that the infant can eat it without your help. (Independence soon sets in!) Also, you may offer some softened cereal or porridge, some of yours to begin with. Try sieving it for the first few days. Purchasing special baby foods is usually unnecessary, and many are relatively expensive. On the other hand, you may offer the baby these if you wish to, and many different varieties are available. I must admit that my four children all loved their tinned foods, and even now (aged over 21 years) still dig out a tin from the pantry occasionally. As I've often said, habits started in babyhood often persist. Food is no exception. Babies usually love sucking a crust, or piece of toast, or a rusk. Be careful to supervise this and do not leave the baby alone, for a chunk may inadvertently slip down the windpipe and cause trouble. The baby will soon start using a cup—you can show him the first few times, and he will rapidly follow the idea and soon become expert. Offer water or unsweetened orange juice. At lunch-time, offer some meat moistened with warm water. Later on, offer a piece of meat to suck. Or perhaps a largish chicken bone with meat hanging to it. Give soft fruit or pieces of vegetable such as tomato. Eggs are very useful and highly nutritious—you may spoon feed the baby with soft-boiled egg, or you may prepare a small sandwich from chopped-up or mashed-up hard-boiled egg. Evening meals may consist of cooked meat and vegetables. Add minimum or no salt or sugar to the food. If you are cooking the baby's food with the family meal, take it out first before adding salt or sugar to the rest of the family's food. It is best to offer vegetables separately, rather than mixed up in a messy hotchpotch. Unsweetened stewed fruit, plain dessert, custards or yoghurt are suitable. The baby will like something to chew on, so offer foods similar to those recommended for lunch-time. Adequate fluids are necessary, so always offer water. Gradually, as babies thrive and grow longer and heavier, they will want to increase the range and amount of food eaten. They will usually let you know when they are hungry and when they have met their needs. Little by little, their food intake and variety will become very similar to that of the rest of the family. Making a baby part of the family circle is important, and the sooner the child eats the same type of food the better. It is easier for the cook and it means that the baby is gradually taking his or her place in the social setting of the family. *11\87\2* General Health «On Line Pharmacy» |
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