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    Question ID:   2431         Current Version: 1
Question: What everyone feeding a baby should know?
Category: Family & Relationships > Parenting
Keywords: health, care, bottle, milk, food, parenting, child, infant, tip, feeding, baby
Type: what
Rating:(0 ratings)    Views: 392    Discussions: 0   In Watch Lists: 1  

 
    Answer:

The African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," could describe feeding a baby today. With an increasing number of homes where both parents work or the household is headed by a single parent, the number of people helping with childcare can approach village-like proportions. Baby sitters, older brothers and sisters, grandparents and other relatives, neighbors and daycare providers all may take a turn.

Unfortunately, the number of beliefs about feeding babies may equal the number of caregivers! Many of the feeding practices formerly used with children are no longer recommended for today's infants. A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education showed that over time, mothers received conflicting and sometimes inaccurate information, particularly from relatives and friends.

A parent may advise someone else on how much, what and when to feed an infant child. But, the following 14 important feeding practices may not be mentioned. Assuring infants receive adequate nutrients, served in a safe and age-appropriate way, during their first year is essential to their growth and development.

1. Wash Hands. It's important to wash your hands before preparing food or formula for a baby -- or others, for that matter! According to a Penn State University study of mothers with infants less than 4 months old:

  • 32% said they don't wash their hands after changing their baby's diaper;
  • about 15% said they don't wash their hands after using the bathroom;
  • about 10% don't wash their hands after handling raw meat;
  • about 41% don't wash their hands after petting animals; and
  • about 5% don't wash their hands after gardening or working with soil.

Not washing hands could result in infant diarrhea from the bacteria picked up by hands in the activities cited.

2. Breast Is Best But Bottle Is OK. Whenever possible, breast milk is best during the first year of life. If breast-feeding isn't possible, an iron-fortified infant formula is an acceptable choice. Specialized formulas are available if an infant is allergic to regular infant formulas. The baby's pediatrician can advise on the best choice. Proper formula dilution, mixing and storage are very important; follow directions carefully.

3. Heat Bottles Carefully. Do not heat baby bottles in the microwave. Microwaves can heat unevenly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that children's mouths and throats can be severely burned by bottles heated in the microwave.

Although some babies will drink a bottle straight from the refrigerator, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises most babies prefer milk warmed to room temperature. Warm the bottle by holding it under a running hot-water faucet or putting it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. Shake well and test milk temperature (see below) to make sure it's not too hot before feeding.

Test the temperature of milk by putting several drops on your wrist. When you can barely feel the temperature on your skin, the milk is ready for the baby.

Do not save milk from a used bottle to use at another feeding; dispose of it instead. Refrigerate opened cans of ready-to-feed or liquid concentrate formula. Use within 24 hours after opening or follow the directions on the label.

4. How-To's On Cow's Milk. Avoid serving regular cow's milk until infants are 1-year-old. Before then, infants may experience an allergic reaction, stomachache and low blood iron. When you begin serving regular cow's milk, serve whole milk. It's recommended children drink whole milk until age 2 as reduced-fat or no-fat milk doesn't have enough fat and calories for a growing baby. Don't switch to a lower fat milk until the baby's doctor recommends this change.

5. Nix Mixing Cereal And Formula In The Bottle. Do not serve cereal mixed with formula from a bottle. There's no proof this practice helps babies sleep better through the night. Plus, there is a possibility of a baby choking when served cereal from a bottle. Also, a baby tends to fill up after eating a certain volume of food. Putting cereal in the milk may give a baby too much cereal and not enough milk. This could lead to a lowered nutritional intake.

6. Hold Baby When Bottle-Feeding. Babies who are put to bed with a bottle are more likely to have cavities. There is also a possibility of choking.

7. Limit Juice. Serve only 100 percent juice and in small quantities so it doesn't interfere with the infant eating other nutritious foods. AAP recommends giving juice only to infants who are approximately 6 months or older and who can drink from a cup. AAP recommends offering no more than a TOTAL of 4 to 6 ounces of juice a day to infants.

8. Hold Off On The Honey And Corn Syrup. Do not serve infants honey or corn syrup during the first year of life. These foods may contain botulism spores that could cause illness or death in infants. They do not cause problems for older children and adults.

9. Slow Down On Adding Solids. Not all babies are ready to begin eating solids at the same time. AAP recommends breast milk or a prepared iron-fortified infant formula be the only nutrient fed to infants until 4 to 6 months of age. A baby's physician can advise the best time to start a particular infant on solids.

10. Make The Proper Introductions. When introducing new foods, try only one at a time and start with single-ingredient foods. Avoid serving mixed ingredient foods until each food has been given separately so you can tell if a baby is allergic to a specific food. Begin by serving about 1 to 2 tablespoons and then increase the amount as baby wants more. Wait a week before trying another new food so you can tell if there are any allergic reactions to it.

Iron-fortified rice cereal is usually the first cereal offered, as babies are least likely to be allergic to it. It's frequently recommended to continue fortified baby cereal through the first year of life.

Infants may be allergic to egg whites; wait until about 12 months before offering this food. They may be able to tolerate egg yolks around 8 months. Follow guidelines given by the baby's physician.

11. Serve Solids Safely. Transfer an amount you feel baby will eat from the baby food jar to a dish. Throw away any food left uneaten in the dish. Avoid feeding directly from the baby food jar. Bacteria from a baby's mouth can grow and multiply in the food before it is served again. Too many bacteria can make a baby sick. Refrigerate food remaining in the jar and use within 1 to 2 days after opening, unless directed otherwise by the baby's healthcare provider.

Check that the safety button in the lid of a baby food jar is down and that the lid "pops" when you open it. Do not use the food otherwise. Do not use food from jars with rusty lids, either.

12. Microwave Carefully. Do not heat baby foods in their original containers in the microwave. The heat is uneven and can produce "hot spots" that can scald a baby's mouth and throat. Also, the food in the jar may "blow up" in your microwave. Baby foods can be served cold, at room temperature or warmed.

To safely heat baby foods in the microwave:

  1. Spoon a portion from the container into a microwave-safe dish.
  2. Heat for a few seconds until food reaches a lukewarm temperature, stir and let stand a short time. Stirring prevents "hot spots" in the food that can burn the baby's mouth.
  3. Taste before feeding the baby. USE A CLEAN SPOON TO FEED BABY and throw away any leftovers or uneaten portions.

13. Follow The 2-Hour Rule. Once opened, don't leave baby food solids or liquids at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Bacteria can grow to harmful levels when food is left out longer than this.

14. Check For These Chokers. Avoid serving foods that may choke an infant, such as nuts and seeds, raw carrots and celery, whole kernel corn, raisins, large chunks of meat or cheese, popcorn, chips, pretzels, adult dry cereal, grapes, berries, cherries, unpeeled fruits and vegetables, hard candies, pickles, hot dogs, marshmallows (regular or miniature), and peanut butter. In general, avoid foods that are round and firm, sticky or cut in large chunks.

As infants grow into toddlers, they can begin eating these foods if cut into small pieces. Laurel Branen and Janice Fletcher, feeding young children in Group Settings, University of Idaho -- advise foods should be no larger than 1/4 inch for toddlers and 1/2 inch for preschoolers.)

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