Foods that Babies Should Avoid Eating Too Early
Many impatient parents add complementary foods too early or add foods that babies are not suitable to eat yet in order to help their babies grow faster and better. This can lead to digestive problems and allergies, and can even hinder growth and development.
Which foods should babies avoid eating too early?
4-6 months old: Don't make homemade rice paste
During this age, babies usually start with rice flour and other pureed foods as complementary foods. Some parents think that homemade rice paste is safe and healthy, but it is low in iron and has a low energy density. Wheat products can also cause allergic reactions. Therefore, it is recommended to wait until 8 months old to add homemade rice paste. At this time, it is better to buy rice flour from a major brand at the supermarket. High-protein foods such as eggs, meat, fish, and shrimp should be added after 6 months. Fruit juice has no nutritional benefits for babies under 6 months old, so it is also recommended to add it after 6 months.
7-8 months old: Don't eat spinach and radish
If there are no allergic reactions, babies at this age can start adding complementary foods that are closer to adult food. However, some vegetables, such as spinach, beetroot, and radish, are high in nitrates and may cause high iron hemoglobin syndrome, leading to symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, and vomiting. The frequency and amount of these vegetables should be controlled when adding them. If the above symptoms occur, the consumption should be immediately stopped and the baby should be taken to the hospital for examination.
Fish with high mercury content, such as bigeye tuna, is not suitable for adding. Shrimp, freshwater tuna, salmon, cod, and catfish with lower mercury content are more suitable for babies to eat. For fruits, it is recommended to give babies fresh fruits or pure fruit juice, instead of fruit juice drinks. The daily intake of fruit juice should not exceed 180 ml to avoid affecting the intake of other foods and causing malnutrition. Apples, pears, plums, and cherries contain a lot of sorbitol. Excessive consumption may cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating, so the intake should be controlled. The protein part of eggs is high in protein content, which may be difficult for babies to digest or cause digestive symptoms, so it is recommended to eat them after one year old.
9-12 months old: Eat less tropical fruits
During this age, the intake of grains can be increased appropriately, but salt, sugar and other seasonings should not be added. Fruits that are prone to allergic reactions, such as mangoes, pineapples, and kiwis, should be added with caution. Fruits with high sugar content, such as lychees and longans, should also be eaten less and added after one year old if possible. It is also time to encourage babies to eat with parents at the same table and encourage them to feed themselves. This not only increases the baby's interest in eating, but also develops their hand-eye coordination and independence.
After one year old: Avoid junk food
The choice of baby's food can gradually approach that of adults, becoming more diverse, and seasonings such as salt and sugar can be added appropriately. However, do not let children eat health supplements or honey casually, as they may contain hormones. Fried foods and puffed foods are low in nutrients and contain many food additives. Various fruit juice drinks, dairy drinks, and carbonated drinks have high sugar content or contain caffeine and various additives. Cakes, ice cream, chocolates, and other sweets are not suitable for children to eat.
What Babies Shouldn't Eat Too Early When is it good for babies to eat complementary foods What foods are good for babies to eat
When can babies start eating complementary foods
The World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, and UK Department of Health all recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months. After 6 months, complementary feeding can be introduced to babies. Breast milk can provide all the necessary nutrients for babies, including water, for the first 6 months. Infant formula, as a substitute for breast milk, can also meet all the nutritional needs of babies before 6 months old.
6 months is the time when babies start to adapt to different foods and the best time for different food structures and feeding methods. The consideration of authoritative experts is the baby's digestive system and the nutritional issues of breast milk, so if conditions permit, it is best for mothers to breastfeed their babies exclusively until they are 6 months old and then gradually introduce complementary foods.
If some babies or mothers cannot continue exclusive breastfeeding for various reasons, complementary feeding can also be started from 4 months old, but it should not be earlier than 4 months and not later than 6 months.
In addition, the addition of complementary foods also needs to be determined based on the baby's growth and development. Generally, the following criteria are considered: the baby's head and neck muscles have developed well, they can hold their necks upright independently, making it convenient to eat solid foods; swallowing function is gradually coordinated and mature, they no longer spit out the food on their tongue; the digestive enzymes in the digestive system are able to digest different types of food.
Early Stage of Complementary Feeding: What is good for babies to eat
1. Rice flour: When starting complementary feeding, it should begin with rice flour. Compared to other complementary foods, rice flour is the least likely to cause allergies in babies and is often used as the first complementary food. You can start by giving the baby about 5 grams of rice flour (equivalent to one tablespoon) mixed with warm water to a thin paste consistency. To make it easier for the baby to accept, the rice flour should be diluted or mixed with formula milk. If the baby has good digestion and normal stools, you can increase the amount of rice flour to 10 grams every 3-5 days.
2. Egg yolk powder: Since egg yolk is high in nutritional value, it is often used as a complementary food for babies. Making egg yolk as complementary food is also relatively simple. Boil the whole egg, let it boil for 10 minutes after boiling, and cook the egg thoroughly. Then separate the yolk from the egg white as soon as possible. Start with 1/4 of an egg yolk, mix it with a little warm water, rice soup, milk, or fruit juice to make a paste, and feed it to the baby with a small spoon. When the baby can eat it smoothly, gradually increase it to 1/2 an egg yolk, once a day.
3. Semi-liquid starchy foods: The principle of adding complementary foods is to start with thin and gradually thicken. After the baby is adapted to liquid complementary foods, you can gradually add semi-liquid starchy foods, such as rice porridge and egg custard. Semi-liquid starchy foods are soft and easily digestible, easy to chew, and contain less dietary fiber. They can promote the secretion of digestive enzymes in babies, exercise their chewing and swallowing abilities.
4. Vegetable and fruit puree: Common fruits and vegetables that are often made into puree include apples, peaches, strawberries, bananas, as well as potatoes, pumpkins, and carrots. Fruits can be scraped into puree directly with a spoon, while vegetables need to be steamed until they are fully cooked and then scraped into puree for the baby to eat. When giving the baby vegetable and fruit puree, also follow the principle of starting with a small amount. Start with a small spoonful, gradually increase to a tablespoon when the baby is adapted, and do not rush to avoid the baby developing aversion.
