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Giving Beetroot to Babies - A Healthy Diet Option
Once your baby has hit the 6-month mark, it is recommended that you slowly begin to introduce her to solid foods to help her gain essential nutrients. A solid-food diet can supplement breastfeeding or formula feeding to give your baby an overall healthy diet. With its ample nutritional benefits, beetroot is an excellent choice for your baby’s first few solid-food experiences. However, consult your baby's doctor before you can give any new food items to your baby to make sure it's safe for her.
Is Beetroot Safe for Babies?
Like most vegetables, beetroot is safe for babies and can be introduced to your little one once she has started consuming solid foods. Packed with nutrients, beetroot is known to aid development in infants and can be easy on their palette as well. Start with small quantities and give the beets in a form that your baby will easily be able to digest.
Nutritional Value of Beetroot
Beetroot is a good source of several nutrients. A comprehensive nutritional value chart of beets is given below.
Nutrients
Nutritional Value per 100 grams
Water
86.9gm
Protein
1.95gm
Carbohydrate
6.18gm
Energy
35kcal
Iron
0.76mg
Fibre
2.8g
Phosphorous
36.3mg
Sodium
69.4mg
Calcium
16mg
Magnesium
33.2mg
Zinc
0.35mg
Thiamin
0.01mg
Niacin
0.21mg
Folate
97.3ug
Vitamin C
5.26mg
Vitamin A
0.09mg
Vitamin K
2.98ug
Vitamin E
0.09mg
When to Give Beetroot to a Baby?
Unsure about when can babies eat beets? Most paediatricians suggest that beets should be introduced to babies after 8 to 10 months. You can discuss with your baby’s doctor before you add beets to your little one’s diet. Limit the quantity of beetroot to 1 or 2 teaspoons, as it is rich in nitrates which may be hard for your baby to digest. You can cook or steam the beets as they are more beneficial than uncooked beets.
Amazing Health Benefits of Beetroot for Babies
Beets are a good source of nutrition and minerals, owing to which they offer a number of health benefits to babies.
1. Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
Beets have an abundance of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, B, C, K, and E, and potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, etc. These are known to prevent and lower the risk of several diseases in kids including, diarrhoea, night blindness, beriberi, angular stomatitis, rickets, glossitis, osteomalacia, etc.
2. Lowers the Risk of Anaemia
Rich in iron content, beets will reduce your baby’s risk of anaemia. Iron promotes the production of red blood cells, provides oxygen to different parts of the body, and also aids in the development of your baby's brain.
3. Promotes Digestion
Beets are rich in fibre and can soothe the digestive system, improve digestion, and prevent constipation in babies.
4. Boosts Immunity
Beetroot is also known for enhancing the immune system due to the antioxidants present in them. This is particularly important for babies as their immune systems are still developing.
5. Cleanses the Body
Paired with cucumber and carrot juice, beetroot juice is known to cleanse the body, especially the gallbladder and the kidneys.
Precautions to Take While Feeding Beetroots to Infants
Introduce beets slowly to your baby and do not give her more than 1 or 2 teaspoons before she is one year old. After that, you can increase the quantity a little, but still, keep it under a few teaspoons. Give your baby other vegetables that she will find pleasant like carrots and potatoes. Your baby may not like the earthy flavour of the beets and may take some time getting used to it.
Also, introduce only one vegetable or fruit at a time. Wait for four days to see if your baby reacts adversely to beetroot. If you notice any allergic reaction, consult a doctor immediately.
How to Cook Beets for a Baby
When you are cooking beets for your baby, the best way to prepare it is by steaming or boiling it. This makes it easier to make purees out of the beets which your baby can easily digest. Steaming also makes the Vitamin A beta-carotene bio-available, which means that your baby’s body can easily use it once it is consumed.
Get fresh medium-sized beets (as they are more tender) and rinse them thoroughly. Cut off the greens of the beets and peel them. You should always peel the beets as the skin is harder to digest, even for adults. To cook them, you will need to:
Boil water in the saucepan.
Slice the beets and add them to the water.
Cook them for 15 minutes or until they are tender.
Drain the beets and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Puree them in a blender until you achieve a smooth consistency.
Simple Homemade Beetroot Recipes for Babies
Here are some simple beetroot recipes that can enhance the flavour of the vegetable for your baby.
1. Purple Potatoes
This recipe is simple and fun for both you to make and your baby to eat.
What you need:
2 medium beetroots
1 carrot
2 potatoes
Water
How to make:
Wash all the vegetables, peel them, and cut them into slices.
Boil some water in a saucepan and add the sliced vegetables.
Cook them until they are tender.
Drain the water out and puree them in a blender.
You can add salt to taste.
2. Beetroot Soup
You can also make a delicious beetroot soup for your baby’s first beetroot experience.
What you need:
Beetroots- 3
Potato- 1
Onion- 1
Vegetable broth- 2 cups
Yoghurt- ¼ cup
How to make:
Peel and dice the beetroots and potatoes and chop the onion.
In a saucepan, add all the ingredients except yoghurt. Add water in the and boil it.
Once the veggies are cooked, drain, and puree them.
Add the fresh yoghurt to this puree.
3. Beetroot Puree
Beetroot puree for baby is the easiest way to introduce beets to your little one.
What you need:
2 cooked beets
½ small onion (or carrots)
A pinch of ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons homemade applesauce
How to make:
Chop the onion.
In a pan, add some oil and sauté the chopped onions.
Puree the beets, sauteed onions, nutmeg, along with the applesauce in the blender.
4. Apple Beetroot Porridge
This delicious apple beetroot porridge is a delicious dish for a baby.
What you need:
1 beetroot
1 apple
Ginger
¼ cup oats
½ cup milk
How to make:
Peel and grate the beets, apples, and ginger.
Add all the ingredients in a pan and cook them for five minutes.
Stir the mixture until the veggies are cooked and soft.
If needed, you can add more milk into the porridge to achieve a smoother texture.
5. Mashed Beetroot
The simplest way to give your baby beets is to mash it.
What you need:
2 beets
1 apple
1 potato
How to make:
Peel and chop all the beetroot and potatoes.
Steam them until they are tender. You can add the apples at the end.
Once tender, mash them together, and make it into a puree.
Once your baby is ready to transition into solid foods, introducing her to any new food items like beets should be done gradually and after consultation with the doctor. Introduce only one vegetable at a time and give your baby’s body the chance to get used to it. If your baby shows any adverse reaction to any food, you must consult a doctor immediately.
Also Read: First Foods for Baby Read more
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Neural Tube Birth Defect in Babies
During the early stages of pregnancy, the core structure that develops into the spinal cord and the brain are formed. Due to some deficiencies and genetic factors, some foetuses develop these structures with some abnormality. These abnormalities stay and further get magnified as defects in the brain or spinal cord. These malformations are collectively called as neural tube defects (NTD). This article discusses the various aspects of this birth defect and the precautions that expecting mothers can take to deliver a healthy baby.
What are Neural Tube Defects?
Neural tube defects are birth defects that are characterized by abnormalities in the spine, brain or spinal cord of the developing foetus. It is one of the most common forms of birth defects in babies worldwide. These defects occur during the first month of the pregnancy and are detected in the first trimester itself.
What is Neural Tube?
The neural tube is a flat and tiny ribbon-shaped structure that develops in an embryo within the first few weeks of its formation. It is this primitive structure that gives rise to the brain and the spinal cord, in a fully developed baby. As this structure forms the basis of the vital organs, an abnormality in its development or differentiations results in a group of defects termed as neural tube defects.
Types of Neural Tube Defects
Neural tube defects are broadly classified as open neural tube defects and closed neural tube defects, based on the whether the brain and spinal cord are covered or not. Each of these has a number of subtypes, which are discussed in detail below.
Open type neural defect
In the open type neural defect, the brain and the spinal cord are seen outside the skull or the vertebral column. Meningitis is commonly found to be associated with this type of defect. The open type includes conditions like spina bifida, encephaloceles, iniencephaly, and schizencephaly, hydranencephaly and anencephaly.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a very common type of neural tube defect that is caused when the lower part of the spinal cord protrudes out of the body. It is usually found associated with damaged nerves in that region. Children with spina bifida are likely to have paralysis of the extremities, especially the leg and poor control of the urine and stool. There are three sub-types of spina bifida namely, spina bifida occulta, meningocele and Myelomeningocele. Spina bifida occulta is the mildest form of spina bifida, where, there is a small space in the spinal cord which does not have any implications on the brain or spinal cord. Meningocele is a condition that refers to a small protrusion of the meninges in the back. Myelomeningocele is a very severe form of neural tube defect that involves the protrusion of a small portion of the spinal cord and the surrounding tissue. It is characterised by intellectual disability caused by fluid accumulation in the brain and complete or partial paralysis of the leg.
2. Anencephaly
Anencephaly is the abnormality of the neural tube in the upper end, causing children to be born without a portion of the brain and the skull. The remaining part of the brain is very cluttered and disorganised. Children with Anencephaly are usually still born or do not survive for more than a few weeks of birth.
3. Encephalocely
During the formation of brain in the embryo, when the neural tube does not close properly leaving a sac like protrusion of the brain and its membrane, it is termed as encephalocele. This condition is relatively rare and is almost always accompanied by developmental disabilities, paralysis of the upper and lower extremities, seizures, hydrocephalus, ataxia, abnormalities of the face and head and problems with the vision. Some children who have encephalocele survive to have normal intelligence.
4. Iniencephaly
Iniencephaly is a rare form of neural tube defect that is characterised by exceptionally large heads that are tilted backwards. It is also often associated with absence of neck, distorted spine, defective spinal cord and cleft lip. Babies born with this disorder do not survive for long time after birth.
Closed neural tube defect:
In the closed neural tube defect, the neural tissue is not visible outside. It is covered by a patch of hairy or discloured skin. In this type of neural defect, the spinal cord is attached to the tissue of the back, preventing it from growing with age. Some types of closed neural tube defects are,
Lipomyelomeningocele : This is a condition where, a mass of fat tissue under the skin, tethers to the back bone preventing it from growing. It is visible as a large lump and is often associated with poor bladder and bowel control and weakness in the legs.
2. Lipomeningocele: Lipomeningocele is a condition where a small portion of the spinal cord protrudes out under the skin and gets attached to the tissues in the backbone. The protrusion affects the nerves radiating from that part of the spinal cord, giving raise to neurological defects.
Causes
The causes of neural tube defects can be one of the following,
Genetic factors: Neural tube defects are caused due to certain mutations in genes encoding the enzyme Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR). These variations can increase the likelihood of a child being born with neural defects. A family history of tube defects also increases the chances greatly.
Folic acid deficiency: Folic acid or vitamin B, is a very vital nutrient for the proper formation of the neural tube. Expecting mothers who have a deficiency of folic acid, have a higher chance of giving birth to a baby with neural tube defects. The folate plays an important role in the methylation process of the cytoskeleton, as part of the post translational modifications. These post translational modifications are vital in giving functionality to the proteins. Doctors usually prescribe folic acid supplements upto 400 micrograms per day to women in their first trimester to avoid these defects. Folic acid deficiency associated NTD accounts for nearly 70% of the cases, worldwide.
Uncontrolled diabetes: If the mother has uncontrolled gestational diabetes, there are high chances for the baby to have NTD. Maternal diabetes, particularly affects the genes set responsible for neural tube defects.
Weight gain: Obesity in the expecting mother is found to be a risk factor for the occurrence of neural tube defects.
Medications during pregnancy: Certain medicines, particularly those that are taken to control seizures, have an adverse effect of the organogenesis of the foetus. Anti-epileptic drugs like carbamazepine and Valproate have an increased risk of causing neural tube defects.
Smoking: Primary or secondary exposure to smoking, increases the chances of the mother to deliver a baby with NTD. The chemicals in the cigarette re likely to hamper the folate mediated methylation process.
Symptoms
Most children born with neural tube defects show one or more of the following symptoms,
Disability of the intellect, learning disabilities
Visual impairment in some cases
Paralysis of the extremeties
Deafness
Poor bladder and bowel control
Some children with severe cases of NTD may fail to survive, while some others survive to have normal intelligence. The symptoms can vary hugely depending on the severity of the defect.
How to Detect Neural Tube Defects?
Neural tube defects are usually detected when the baby is inside the uterus or soon after it is born. During pregnancy, a neural tube defect can be clearly identified through a simple ultrasound scan as early as 19 weeks. An anomaly scan done during this time of the pregnancy, captures any signs of spina bifida in the foetus.
A blood test, called triple screen test, done between 14-20 weeks of pregnancy, checks for elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). An elevated level of this protein is indicative of a higher risk of neural tube defects. When elevated levels of AFP are identified, the doctor recommends an amniocentesis to confirm the diagnosis of NTD. Amniocentesis is a process of drawing small portions of the amniotic fluid surrounding the foetus, to check for the various proteins. If the FAP is found elevated in this sample, the diagnosis is confirmed.
Benefits of Detecting Neural Tube Defects before Birth
Early detection of neural tube defects can be very helpful in effectively managing it after the baby is born. Some of the benefits of early detection are:
Preparing the parent: Although the news of their baby having a birth defect can be very difficult for the soon-to-be-parents, early detection of the birth defect can go a long way in preparing them physically, emotionally and financially. Counselling sessions can help them understand the risks involved in the pregnancy and in severe forms of NTD like anencephaly, they can be prepared for the loss of their child also.
Terminating the pregnancy: If the diagnosis of NTD is done during the first few weeks of pregnancy, the parents can discuss with their doctor about the possibilities of terminating the pregnancy at an early stage.
Mode of delivery: Once the diagnosis of NTD is made, parents can discuss with their doctor about the chances of having a normal vaginal delivery versus a C-section.
Ante-natal care: An awareness about the fact that the baby may require medical assistance soon after birth can help the parents choose the hospital with advanced neo-natal care, to support the baby soon after its birth.
Complications
Depending upon the severity and location of the neural tube defect and the extent of nerve damage, the complications can vary from one child to another. Some of the complications associated with NTD are,
Lack of bowel and bladder control, constipation is some cases
Deformities of the hip, foot and knee
‘S’ shaped bend in the spine called scoliosis
Varying degrees of paralysis of lower part of the body
Fluid inside and around the brain causing enlargement of the head
Problems with swallowing and breathing
Many of these complications can be overcome through surgery or medications.
Who is at Maximum Risk of Having a Baby with NTD?
Parents who have already had a child with neural defects or have close relatives who have children with NTD, have a high risk of having a baby with tube defect.
Treatment
Depending on the complications associated with NTD, the choice of treatment is made. Severe and fatal forms of NTD like anencephaly or iniencephaly, usually do not have any treatment. Other milder forms can be corrected with some of the available treatment options such as,
Surgery: Particularly in the case of open neural tube defects, surgery is usually performed to close the hole exposing the spine. In closed type NTD, where the spinal cord is tethered to the back, a surgery is performed to disengage the spine to allow it to grow.
Shunt to drain fluid: Many types of NTD are associated with hydrocephalus, the accumulation of fluid inside and around the brain. A small shunt (hollow tube) is implanted and used to drain the fluid. This greatly reduces the enlargement of the head.
Supporting aids: For children with disabilities in the lower extremities, supporting aids such as walkers, wheelchairs and crutches are suggested to improve their quality of life.
Medications: Bladder inconsistencies, constipation, etc. can be corrected with some medications. Catheters are also used to empty the bladder from time to time, for those children with bladder issues.
Prevention of NTD
One of the most effective measures of preventing NTD is to ensure a good intake of folic acid. While planning for a pregnancy, women can start taking supplements of folic acid in advance, in order to build up enough reserve in the body. The recommended dosage is 400 micrograms per day. Additionally consuming a diet rich in folic acid can go a long way in preventing NTD in the babies.
Can you Get Folic Acid from Food?
Folic acid is very much available readily in food substances and consuming it regularly before and during pregnancy can be helpful in preventing neural tube defects in pregnancy. Some of the food substances rich in folic acid are,
Green leafy vegetable, oranges and beans
Cornmeal and other corn based products
White rice
Bread
Pasta
Neural tube defects are one of the common types of birth defects affecting thousands of children around the world. Proper dietary habits rich in folic acid and a healthy lifestyle can greatly help in preventing the occurrence of NTD.
Also Read:
Common Breech Baby Birth Defects
Hole in Baby’s Heart Read more
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The Importance of Relationships in your Child's Upbringing
Each and every relationship in a child's life is important for his development. Relationships help him grow up to become a well-rounded human being. Let us see how important relationships can be in your child's upbringing.
The impact of a child’s “relationship environment” during his formative years is critical for developing him into a well-rounded human being. Interactions with parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, teachers and other adults actually build the base for how he will grow later. This “relationship environment” will determine a child’s future life, from his academic performance to his interpersonal skills. And this influence is multiplied many times over, if the environment is a joint family.
Let us see how important relationships can be in your child’s life
Different People, Different Roles
From the point of view of a child, all adults represent authority. It is eventually that he learns to recognize the subtle differences in each adult’s role. While it is the primary responsibility of parents to bring up the child, grandparents can also pay a supplementary role here. Obviously, there should not be any blurred lines of responsibility or authority between parents and grandparents, as this will only lead to conflict.
Children often look up to their grandparents as storytellers and generally someone they can get their way with. This level of trust and comfort is also necessary for children. Uncles and aunts could be a great source of fun. Cousins could be playmates. All these different relationships give the child a chance to develop that particular faculty of mind. If the child looks at all adults as only authoritative figures, he will learn to distrust everyone.
Learning New Life Skills
Having a wide variety of relationships, right from childhood, can prepare children to build and nurture different relationships when they are adults. Children are very perceptive and absorb all that happens around them. These relationships help the child in understanding different life skills such as sharing, caring, placing trust, being responsible and accountable, etc. Also, warm and trusting relationships help children to cope with life’s ups and downs better and manage their emotions well.
Support
Not only can the other family members help parents, they can also be instrumental in helping the child directly.
It is possible that a child who is scared to say something to his parents, might confess it to his grandparents knowing that they will be more lenient and will be able to placate his parents if need be.
The parents might take parenting seriously, but an uncle or aunt could provide some levity. This will help in overall emotional development of the child.
Family members could also help the parents in case the child is sick or in case they are unable to attend school meetings or in case they are away.
Sharing the Responsibilities of a Special Child
If you have a special needs child, the support of family members could be invaluable. In situations where a child needs constant attention, family members could take over responsibility for a few hours, giving some much-needed break to the parents.
The parents too will have the satisfaction of knowing that the child is with someone trustworthy. And this is not only applicable to practical matters. Even when it comes to the emotional needs of a special child, the insight and knowledge of family members could make life easier for both the parent and the child.
What they Shouldn’t do
Although there are many ways in which family members contribute positively to a child’s upbringing, there are times when this could become a problem. What happens in most Indian joint families is that one patriarch takes all decisions which others in the family are supposed to follow. This doesn’t always work in everybody’s best interest. Some decisions should be the sole discretion of the parents. Otherwise, it can result in conflicts which harm rather than contribute to the child’s perception of the adult world around him. So, having well-defined roles for each adult can certainly help. Also, parents should have full confidence and trust in the adults they allow around their children.
Building positive relationships with adults early on in life enhances a child’s sense of well-being and social skills. A child will thrive in close, dependable relationships which provide him with love, security, motivation and interaction. Read more
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
17 hours ago
Q. why I am getting dizziness in my pregnancy
I am going with 3rd month of my pregnancy it's a very strong dizziness I feel at times means every day .....no other symptoms of pregnancy .Please help with elaboration .All okay means isn't part of this journey.
Read moreSwati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
7 hours ago
A. Do consult your doctor as soon as you can. It's important to find the real reason because without that, proper medication is not possible.
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
17 hours ago
Q. I am currently 32 week pregnant and had growth scan recently.My baby is in cephalic presentation.does this change after 36 week or does this remain the same?
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
9 hours ago
A. usually fixed. better to show to specialist always as they get the correct diagnosis. try to avoid self and extra medication that will only complicate this and create more damage to the child
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
7 hours ago
Q. it's my 5 month n I still didn't went for check up yet not even once is it okay if I go now or?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
7 hours ago
A. You should have started going from the very beginning itself once you get to know you’re pregnant but since you haven’t reached that now if you’re pregnancy has been healthy last five months please get it checked with your doctor also if you need to start with any supplements or diet the doctor would advise you after a ultrasound so please visit your gynaecologist
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. size chart is not correct for age of the baby
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. generally it is available from Indian academy growth chart download from Google. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Nikitha has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. Mera 8 month start hu white distance hora mere ko
Nikitha
Mom of a 9 yr 5 m old boy
3 hours ago
A. hello since u are a expecting mom this would require a proper medical attention and it is better to check with your doctor and your doctor will be able to guide you better on examination of the same and advise you accordingly
Akifa Tahreem has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
2 hours ago
Q. hello doctor, I'm 3 weeks pregnant. can we sleep on our belly or which side We can sleep on during pregnancy...
Akifa Tahreem
Mom of a 7 m old boy
56 mins ago
A. no you can't sleep in your tummy
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