Food tips for healthy diet. Food?

Hello mom After 6 months of age,  u can start giving baby weaning food. Give soft food items initially,  cook the food well,  and make nutritious baby recipes,  Also go slowly one by one new item os to be added. As when u start solids, baby may get digestion issues initially,  Also give water to baby sips by sips in adequate amount which is important  for the digestion of food. It s a continuous process to make baby to have food. So have a consostent efforts.

(I) Firstly if the age of the baby is just 6 months and above, then the rule is to consider starting complimentary foods, One food item at a time ---> Once a day ONLY (few scoops only after direct breast feeding) ---> For a week ---> If baby doesn't have loose stools/ vomiting or any other signs of dislike or allergy, then to consider to stop that.... (II) And then if no issues then ---> To add this to the list of foods that baby can be given without any issues. These first foods are usually ---> Over-boiled Rice water/ ganji (easiest to digest and hence first to consider starting) ; Ragi Powder mix (rich in Calcium) ; boiled / mashed potatoes / boiled apple , etc... [Note: (1) Try NOT to give MULTI-GRAIN foods in the BEGINNING itself (just after 6 months), it is complex for digestion and difficult to make them eat as such. (2) NOT TO GIVE WHEAT based preparations till 1 year of life. (few babies with hidden celiac disease tendencies will be triggered earlier and more vigorous than expected, hence rule is to AVOID wheat and wheat based products earlier on). (3) CONSIDER EGG or EGG products only after 11 months to 1 year.] (III) When baby has developed a good habit of absorbing these foods properly (point no II), then to make them part of the meal every day, by adding then at different times, initially post direct breast feeds, then independently if baby tolerates food with no major issues. (IV) The period between 6 months to 1 year is a healthy transition phase to introduce many new items, which can be healthy, nutritional, and easy to digest for delicate infant gut. (V) And the transition also means that the reduction of Direct breast feeds being made compulsory at the same time, with increased intake of other foods. As the idea is to get the baby to have ONLY about 1 to 2 cups of Milk per day (each being about 150 to 180 ml) by first birthday. And to make sure that these cups don't form first part of teh day, which if given then there is high chance of baby's tummy being full by the time healthy breakfast is ready to be eaten, and then the forcible feeding happens, unknowing to most Mothers, that the Milk being given repeatedly as the first few meals of the day, has been the Most important Culprit here as it may take considerable time for it to absorb, leading to bloating and non-likeability for the babies to have any interests in other foods. And the vicious Cycle of more milk ---> More dislike for any other sources of food ---> Then parents being worried about the baby not accepting any newer foods!!!. [Note: Breaking Milk consumption habit in the first part of the day (especially before lunch) is the most important part of the Day which is unknowingly a Missed opportunity for Mother's to give introduce other complimentary foods]. (VI) Also, consider meeting your Pediatrician, to see if there is a need for Iron/ Vitamin D supplementation, as Iron is usually required beyond 4 months of age as a supplement for all newborns as breast milk has insufficient quantity of the same to replenish the iron stores of the body. Result being ---> Low Iron ---> Borderline or Anemia ---> Irritable Babies ---> Possibilities of baby disliking the newer foods even through they may taste good....!!! For Vitamin D ---> It is indeed essential to continue beyond 6 months too, as there are hardly any good sources of Vitamin D that can be given to the Babies. And sunlight for Indian babies might be totally insufficient, to help improve the desired levels to normalcy. Also, with growing babies especially when they start being on their feet (9-10 months), take all their upper body torso strengths on their knees and hips, they need sufficient calcium/ vitamin D in their diets, which is normal or low in most Mothers to begin with. Complimentary foods also lack them mostly during this Important phase of Development, and hence considering to add them (Iron/ Vitamin D beyond 6 months), is a necessity to be considered strongly especially babies have been very difficult to be fed with newer items of foods. (VII) To make sure the fewer times the babies get Milk, TRY TO NEVER GIVE IN BOTTLES, and those on Direct Breast Milk occasionally, Must NEVER ever be fed in Sleeping Position / 0 degrees at neck angle. (Always imagine us being in horizontal position ---> And try to take even water in that position correctly, most of us, we CAN'T.... And hence does the Baby...). So at least 35-40 degrees above the baseline while feeding through direct breast feed (Or Bottle) MUST be mandatorily maintained, as sometimes this can be the reason for some milk regurgitating up and going into small tubes at the back of throat ---> Into baby's middle ears ---> Causing intense irritation in Baby's ears ---> And hence Babies trying to rub their hairs at the back / rub ears directly.... If you notice this then it is a sign saying that Feed is being probably given in improper position... And You may need to correct it back to 35-40 degrees followed by burping everytime to ensure no gaseous distension forces part of the food to come up and repeat this process. (VIII) If baby has crossed the stage of 1 year, and still has issues with food intake, then most common culprits are overzealous intake of Milk every day, improper timings of Milk, and non introduction of simple folds at the right times. This is the time to introduce egg (If you are Eggiterians), add highly protein rich foods, introduce Curds regularly, Paneer, Boiled Protein Pulses - Few times a day ---> Rajma, Chole, Peas, Beans ---> Over-boiled and mashed.... Etc.

To consider meeting your Pediatrician, in case of Irritation being shown by the Baby, as it can be ear Inflammation/ irritation due to anemic tendencies/ or any other causes which may need to be addressed.

(1) Exponential DECREASE of Milk by 1 year of Age to only 2 glasses we day (150-180 ml per day). (2) Watch for signs of heightened irritability when introduction of likeable, tasty newer foods. Also note if there is shorter attention span than normal. Easily distracted when other play items shown OR irritated when play items being taken slowly and steadily OR paleness of the lips, face in general. May be signs of Anemia which may need to be addressed to. (3) NEVER ever introduce Junk foods, bakery products, Never encourage others at home to bring them to the Baby/ child without the Mother's permissions. Babies/ children never know initially what is right or wrong for them unless we show THEM the wrong things more often, and then believe that Baby/ Child is refusing other normal foods. (4) By 1st year of age, Children must be in a position to have everything we have on our plates in the breakfasts, although more mashed OR reduced spicy versions of it so as to develop a Family Meal time habit and NO separate food intake by Mothers going behind or running behind them and baby/child needing distractions like Phones or TV screens to make sure that they have a normal meal. (5) Avoid Screen exposure - TV/ Phone/ Tablet or any forms. Rule is to try to avoid them as much as possible till 7 years of Age. And then consider gradual introduction with restrictions on screen on-time.