As parents, we all want to ensure that our children are healthy. Therefore, the brief information on nutrition in this article will give you some ideas on the necessary preparations or on what to expect.
• Vitamin supplements for babies
Babies who are exclusively breastfed is lacking in vitamin D. Hence, vitamin D drops may be necessary to make up for it. Preemies or premature infants need a multivitamin with iron supplement as they require the extra nutrient to ensure a healthy growth.
All babies will benefit from having DHA which is a fatty acid that boost brain development. The breastfeeding mom can take the supplement to pass it on to the baby.
I was doing both breastfeeding and giving formula and hence, I did not give any vitamin supplements to my kids.
• Signs of food allergy
The normal symptoms to look out for are eczema or a hive, vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms can appear instantaneously or after 24 hours of eating the offending food.
My kids were able to accept most food and does not suffer from any food allergy. My daughter was allergic to cow’s milk and I switched to plant-based and soy-based milk for her instead. My son had a friend who was allergic to chocolates and had to stay away from it. He also could not drink chocolate based beverages like Milo and Vico which are popular with kids.
• A picky eater
Most parents have encountered this problem with their children. Your child is a picky eater due to several reasons such as seeing you being fussy, he is not offered new foods often enough or it could be in his genes.
I have not met a child who could accept and eat everything that is put in front of him. My own kids have different preferences. I have one son who avoids vegetables in every meal and another son who avoids meat. The only way to ensure that they do eat is to offer a variety of dishes and to make the food interesting by cooking in various styles. For example, the one who does not eat meat likes to eat hamburgers instead. Hence once in awhile, I prepare beef or chicken hamburgers or hot dogs for him.
• Breastfed baby
Mothers know that their breastfed baby is getting enough to eat from the number of wet diapers, about 6 to 8 wet diapers per day. The baby should also be steadily gaining weight.
• Choking hazard
Small children are susceptible to choking due to their small throats and the lack of a full set of teeth. Do not give a young child under the age of 4 round foods like hard candies, nuts, and popcorn or whole cherry tomatoes. Cut up the food into smaller pieces to enable the child to chew easily before swallowing.
photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography