Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
First Foods For Baby - What Foods You Should Introduce?
Once your baby is a little older, you might be wondering when you can start feeding them regular food. You can’t keep breastfeeding them forever, right? Below is a detFirst Foods For Baby - What Foods You Should Introduce?ailed guide to what and how you need to introduce their first solid food.
What is the Right Time to Introduce Solid Food to your Baby’s Diet?
The exact time to start the introduction of solid foods is largely dependent your baby’s developmental progress. However, the golden period for this is when they hit the 4-6 month mark. Anything earlier and there is a chance of their intestines giving your child trouble as they are still developing. If you wait for too long, there is a risk of your child showing resistance to being introduced to solid food due to their comfort zone being rooted in breastfeeding.
Signs that your Baby is Ready for Solid Food
Observing your baby is fascinating, and you’re bound to catch a few of the signs such as:
She can sit upright without any assistance. This is essential as eating solid food while she is lying down increases the chances of food going down the wrong pipe.
Babies can get a little apprehensive about solid food and tend to thrust out anything they can with their tongue. As a test, mix a little solid food along with your breastmilk and feed it to your baby. If you don’t see her spit out any of the solid food, your baby is okay with solid food.
Your baby is likely to start showing interest in the food you eat. This means they may watch you with an intense gaze while you eat or make attempts to grab onto your spoon or fork.
You notice that your baby’s motor skills are refined enough that they can perform a rolling action with it.
You notice that your baby can open her mouth wide enough for solid food to enter.
How to Introduce First Foods to Infants?
You can use a combination of solid food and breastmilk to help them transition to solid food.
Give them small amounts no more than a tablespoon at a time.
Once they start getting used to the foods, you can start mixing things up such as yoghurt and apple.
List of Best First Foods for Babies
Starting simple is key as your baby’s digestive system as it is still in its nascent stages. Remember to keep them upright while serving the following foods:
1. Apples
Apples serve as a good starter food as babies love its sweet and sour taste. Its high fibre and low-fat content make it a healthy delight. When you’re serving them, go with the pureed form without its skin.
2. Beetroot
Many babies have an instant liking for this so make sure beet is boiled well enough for it to melt in their mouth. Beetroots have high nutritional value as they are a rich source of folic acid which helps in brain development.
3. Pears
Pears add a good amount of roughage to your baby’s digestive system. They also contain a good amount of phosphorus and calcium which aid the bone-building process. Remember to peel the skin, remove the seeds and serve in a pureed form.
4. Meat
Fish and chicken are ideal meats for your baby as they require the least amount of energy to get digested. They are a rich source of protein and keep anaemia at bay. Fish should have all its bones removed otherwise it could distress her throat. For best results, make the meat into a puree to avoid any incidence of choking.
5. Curd
While ideally suited for infants who’re 7-8 months old, many paediatricians recommend this as a first food due to its soft texture. It is an excellent source of calcium and helps revamp your little angel’s digestive system.
6. Banana
It's sweet taste, and soft texture make it a front-runner in baby foods. Its high folate content helps in the upkeep of brain activity and is known to improve the mucosal lining of the stomach.
7. Sweet Potato
Sweet potato for baby first food is a good choice as its soft gooey texture is relished by infants. It also contains beta-carotene which helps improve their vision and boost the immune system.
What If your Baby Refuses First Food?
Avoid forcing anything on her. You can try out different food variations until she picks something that she likes.
Precautions to Prevent Choking
Ensure they are upright to minimise the risk of food going down the wrong pipe.
Avoid nuts as they are small enough to get stuck in the windpipe.
Make all the solid foods into a puree or mash them up thoroughly before feeding.
Items like grapes, peas and popcorn are known choking hazards.
Make sure your child is alert and active before feeding her.
You can purchase a high chair with a firm base so that she doesn't sink into her seat. This minimises the chances of you accidentally shoving the food inside her mouth too hard which can cause choking.
How Much Food Will Be Enough?
How much a baby will eat depends on her appetite and mood. Avoid giving her more if she turns her head away or begins to cry.
Things to Keep in Mind
Playing with our food is usually frowned upon, but you need to make an exception here. Infants are inquisitive and may refuse to eat something without proper inspection.
You can try feeding breastmilk or formula food using a bowl and a spoon. This can help your baby transition towards solid foods as it familiarises her with the use of utensils.
Avoid adding sugar and salt to any of her meals. While salt can damage your baby’s kidneys, sugar has been linked to increasing the chances of diabetes and obesity.
Just like Goldilocks, infants can be a little strict about the temperature of their food. You can test it yourself by either tasting it directly or using your wrist to feel how hot or cold it is.
Once the milk teeth start coming out, start giving them slightly crunchy or chewy food so they can improve their chewing abilities.
Never mix new solid foods that you are introducing to your baby as it may be difficult to pinpoint the source of an allergic reaction. You can start adding new solid food every four days.
Contrary to popular belief, cow’s milk is not a good option as it is difficult for babies to digest it and can cause lactose intolerance.
Avoid giving them solids when they are sick or in a bad mood as they may associate it with an unpleasant experience.
If your baby is active and moves around a lot, you can fasten her onto a chair with a strap. However, avoid it if your baby is uncomfortable with the strap as it can make them anxious and lose interest in eating.
Avoid giving her honey as it can cause infant botulism which is fatal.
Watch Out for Food Allergies
While introducing the first foods for your baby, avoid giving her foods that have a high risk of causing an allergy. These include items like eggs, shellfish and peanuts, and can be given once the baby is a little older, such as eight months. To find out if your baby may be allergic, set up a baby first food schedule. Feed them early in the morning to see for any reaction later during the day.
Babies are creatures of habit and need to be weaned off breastmilk/formula in a phased manner. The initial few weeks may prove to be difficult as they might be resistant. However, with a little bit of patience and consistency, your baby will be munching on solid food in no time.
Also Read: Rice Water for Infants Read more
Check out this new Memory
Vema rajitha
Mom of a 6 yr 5 m old girl, 1 yr 8 m old girl and 1 yr 8 m old girl
1 min ago
Recently I click this pic and I loved it
1 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Naga Lakshmi
Mom of a 7 m old boy
1 min ago
#stylishbaby
1 Likes
0 Comment
Suggested for you
Should Parents Reward Good Grades with Money
All parents want their children to do well at school, and are willing to do whatever it takes for them to succeed. For some parents, this includes rewarding good grades with money or bribing kids to do well. The question is — are these methods good or actually effective in the long run?
Giving kids pocket money is a subject that has been discussed widely and is still something about which many parents are on the fence. But if you thought deciding to give kids a regular allowance was confusing enough, what would you think about paying them for good grades at school Yes, this has recently become a topic of discussion, as many parents and even some schools have begun to offer financial incentives in a move to get kids to work harder for their grades.
The Reality of The Money for Grades Situation
While on the surface, giving cash for good grades seems like a simple bribe, going deeper we find that this topic is much more complex than it first seems. For many parents, it’s just a form of offering incentives to work harder, while others think that associating everything with a financial reward can create wrong ideas about money. The truth is that kids learn a lot about personal finance and money management from their parents, and a ‘money for grades’ system can have an impact on that.
Why Rewarding Good Grades with Money Isn’t A Good Idea
Now coming to you, should you bribe your child to get good grades? If you’re wondering whether this system will work at your home, it makes sense to take a good look at it.
1. The Experts Agree
Most child experts are skeptical about the idea of money for grades because of the focus it puts exclusively on results and not on effort. A child could try his best and still not get good grades; withholding his reward in such a situation would de-motivate him and send him the wrong message that his hard work doesn’t matter.
2. Our Educational System Is Often Biased
To quote Albert Einstein, “Everybody’s a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”. A child may not be good at getting high grades, but he may be talented in other areas, which get ignored in a pay-for-grades system.
3. No Consideration for External Factors
A student’s grades may depend on several external factors beyond his abilities. Probably the teacher wasn’t skilled enough, or the exam was too hard. Judging him on these factors is both unfair and discouraging.
4. Not The Right Approach to Studies
When learning is associated with a financial reward, it changes the way the child approaches his studies. Studying now becomes a chore, a means to an end, where it actually should be a process that must be enjoyed, where the learning itself is its reward. A child who enjoys a certain subject should study it for the pure joy of learning, rather than because there’s a payment at the end of it.
5. An Expensive System to Maintain
While initially this system may succeed in getting a lazy child to work harder, once the child gets into a routine of scoring high grades, the incentives don’t make much sense anymore.
Why Financial Incentives May Sometimes Work
Now, in spite of the arguments against giving kids money for good grades, there are some situations where this may actually reap benefits.
1. When The Child Is Already Handling Money
This may help him further to realize the role money plays in life.
2. When You Have Customized The Requirement
Rather than focusing on an A+ grade, a parent could base the incentive on how hard the child tries, or if he’s been getting a C, he could be offered an incentive to raise it to a B. This motivates the child better as he works hard towards a more achievable goal rather than one that is doomed to disappointment.
3. For Students Who Are Naturally Bright, but Lazy
They can be roused from their lethargy to work towards their full potential with a financial incentive on the horizon. When they realize what they’re truly capable of, they’re likely to continue working hard for pure pleasure.
Finally, should parents pay for good grades? As with most things related to parenting, it is hard to place a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ label on this. Deciding what to do will depend upon each child’s and family’s circumstances, and you can use the points mentioned above to consider if it’ll work for you. The important thing to take care of is that the child still enjoys learning, and does not consider it a chore or something to be done with — an attitude many adults have about their jobs! Encourage your child to focus on working hard and assure them that if they do so with full integrity and sincerity, the results are sure to follow, and they will eventually succeed. Read more
Suggested for you
आप क्यों नहीं हो ऐडवाली मम्मा जैसी, ऐडवाली मम्मा ज्यादा अच्छी होती हैं!
नहीं बेटा तुम अभी नही जाओगे 5 बजे के बाद जितना मर्जी खेलना "मेने कहा।
"लेकिन मम्मा मैंने ग्लूकोज पी लिया और ठंडा पाउडर भी लगा दिया और ऐड वाली मम्मा ने बोला ना कि अब सूरज कुछ भी नहीं बिगाड़ सकता", नमन ने तर्क दिया।
बेटा ऐसा नही होता, बहुत धूप है बाहर। बस तुम नही जा सकते, लू लग जायेगी।
आप बिलकुल भी अच्छी मम्मा नहीं हो। वो ऐडवाली मम्मा भी तो जाने देती हैं," नमन जोर से अपना बैट पटक कर रूम में चला गया।
मैं उसे बाहर नहीं जाने दे रही थी। अभी 15 दिन पहले सनस्ट्रोक हुआ था। 2 बोतल ड्रिप चढ़ाई, जानें कितने जतन किये तब ठीक हुआ, आज फिर दोपहर के 3 बजे कैसे जाने दे सकती थी। नमन 10 साल का है उसे लगता हैं कि मैं उसकी माँ ,अच्छी नहीं है. ऐड वाली मम्मा ज्यादा अच्छी होती हैं। उनको सब पता होता है, वो बच्चों की दोस्त होती हैं और उनकी सारी बात मानती है और हमेशा अच्छी चीजें खाने को देती हैं,क़भी गुस्सा नहीं होती।
ऐसा नमन अकेले नहीं सोचता,बल्कि लगभग सभी बच्चे सोचने लगे हैं, कितनी अच्छी होती है ये ऐड वाली मॉम्स।
ये मम्मा टिफिन में परांठा नही भेजती है, बिस्किट, केक,जूस का पैक हीं भेजती हैं।
ये कपड़ों पर दाग धब्बे देखकर मुस्कुराते हुए कोई बात नही बेटा कहती हैं।
ये ब्रेड जेम सॉस के लिए मना नही करती।
ये स्कूल से आते ही इंस्टंट नूडल्स खिलाती है।
दूध नही पीना तो ऐसे बिस्किट खिलाती है जिसमें ऑलरेडी दूध है।
ये चॉकलेट, चिप्स खुशी से दिलवाती है और खुश होती हैं कि पोषण मिल गया।
ये इतनी खूबसूरत, यंग होती हैं कि बच्चों की दीदी लगती हैं.बच्चों को गर्व भी होता है उनकी खूबसूरती पर।
ये है हर समय टिप टॉप रहने और बच्चों को उनकी फेवरेट चीज़ देंने वाली स्मार्टमॉम्स।
लेकिन हम रियल माएँ ऐसी नही होती.हमको तो पूरी हिटलर की नानी बना दिया है इन ऐड वाली मॉम्स ने बच्चों की नज़रों में।
हमे पता है कि सुबह 7 बजे से 2 बजे तक बच्चे बिस्किट केक के सहारे नही रह सकते इसलिए परांठा या सैंडविच जिसमें ढ़ेरों सब्जियां डाल दिया करती हैं और फ़्रूट बॉक्स अलग से बनाती हैं।
हम पैकेट जूस के बजाय हम घर में मेहनत से फ़्रेश जूस बनाती है।
हमें कपड़ों पर दाग धब्बों पर गुस्सा आता है क्योंकि कीचड़ के साथ कीटाणु भी लगे होंगे, कपड़ों के दाग भी आसानी से नही जाते।
बिस्किट में कितना दूध है ये हम सब जानती हैं, इसलिए घण्टों तक दूध लेकर इनके पीछे पड़ते हैं ताकि ये गिलास खत्म करें।
हम जैसी माँ नूडल्स तो स्कूल से आते ही कभी नही देती, बल्कि माथा-पच्ची करके हेल्दी रेसिपी बनाती हैं और पीछे भाग-भाग कर खिलाती हैं।
चॉकलेट से दांत खराब हो जाएं और चिप्स भूख भी खराब करती है। क़भी कभार तो ठीक ओर रोज तो नही देती।
महंगी, बेफिजूल चीजों की बजाय कोई फ्रूट खिलाना हम ज्यादा पसंद करती हैं।
हमें सारे घर को व्यवस्थित करने,, बच्चों का ख्याल, खाना कपड़े,होमवर्क सब में हमारे पास पर्सनल ग्रूमिंग का टाइम ही नहीं है, तो सुंदरता तो दब गई हैं कहीं।
(जैसा एक में बताया कि पर्सनल ग्रूमिंग के लिए पूरे हफ्ते में 1 घण्टा भी नही मिल पाता.)
इन विज्ञापनों ने हमारी छवि को बच्चों की नजरों में खराब करने में कोई कसर नहीं छोड़ रखी.(निजी संस्था के सर्वे के अनुसार 45% बच्चे अपने माँ को बेहतर माँ नही मानते और 27% माँ के समर्पण की कोई तारीफ नही करते। )
अंत में इतना ही कह सकते है कि ऐड वाली मॉम्स ने हमारा अस्तित्व ही हिला रखा है, हमे अब बच्चों को भी अपना प्यार साबित करना पड़ता हैं।
हमें माफ़ कर दो बच्चों पर, हम ऐड वाली मम्मा नही बन पाएंगी।
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
Suggested for you
Kung Pao Chicken
This one is a typical Chinese dish prepared from chicken, peanuts and bell peppers and is has a sweet, sour and spicy sapidity to it. This easy to cook dish can go as a perfect starter or can be served with rice as a main course dish. Try out this recipe and do tell us how your version of Kung Pao chicken turned out.
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
4 People
15-20 Minutes
25-30 Minutes
Ingredients
For Marination
1 & 1/2 pound boneless chicken (cut into cubes)
1/4 tsp white pepper (ground)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Shaoxing wine or white wine
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp cornstarch
For Sauce
2 tbsp chicken stock
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp shaoxing wine or white wine
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp cornstarch
2 - 3 tbsp peanut oil
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 zucchini (cut to cubes)
1/2 cup roasted peanut
2 stalks celery (cut lengthwise)
2 - 3 garlic cloves (minced)
2 tsp minced ginger
1 scallion (cut lengthwise)
8 dried red chilli or 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Method
Step 1
Marinate chicken with all the ingredients mentioned under ‘for marination’. Keep aside for 15 - 20 min.
Step 2
In a bowl, combine soya sauce, wine, vinegar, sesame oil, corn starch, chicken stock and sugar. Mix well until blended. Sauce is ready, keep aside.
Step 3
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a kadhai on high flame. Wait until it starts smoking. Now, add the chicken and cook for about 2 -3 minutes. Keep stirring continuously. Transfer this chicken into a bowl.
Step 4
In the same kadhai, add 2 tbsp of oil and in the same manner wait until it starts smoking.
Step 5
Add bell peppers, zucchini and celery. Keep tossing and stirring for about a minute. Now, add the peanuts and combine well.
Step 6
Shift the vegetables to the sides of the kadhai and add garlic, ginger, scallions and chilli in the centre. Stir this well for about half a minute.
Step 7
Now, add chicken and sauce. Mix well and allow it to cook until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked completely.
Step 8
Serve this sweet and sour chicken immediately.
Nutritional Information
Calories
581 Kcal
Proteins
35.8 g
Fat
43.6 g
Carbohydrates
16.8 g
Cholesterol
99 mg
Sodium
1170 mg
Potassium
321 mg
Tip -You can avoid wine if you don’t prefer it. It won't have a marked effect on the taste, and will still taste good. Read more
Suggested for you
When people say no one can prepare you for a baby. It's actually 100% true. Babies... even though they can't do more than smile, poop, eat, and cry (and oh lord, the cry!!) they make sure they turn your world around in their initial months 😂
As a first time mother I had a lot of time to prepare for my baby's arrival. I planned, I researched, I shopped, took classes to learn how to handle newborns and waited impatiently for the arrival of my little bundle of joy.
A term that actually caught my attention during all these was "exclusive breastfeeding " It means that the infant receives nothing but breast milk for the first 6 months of life. It has many long term benefits for both the baby and mom. So when I read about its benefits I was certain that I'm gonna exclusively breastfeed my child no matter what.
But is it actually that simple?
My labour pain started when I was 39 4 weeks along my pregnancy. While going into the labour room I told my doctor that I would very much like to have lots of skin to skin and breastfeed the baby immediately and luckily she was very supportive of it. The hospital staff made sure that my wish was granted. And here I was, holding baby Sophia for the first time. She looked beautiful and I was only wondering "Has she really come out of me?" "Is she the one who was kicking and punching me all these while?". After a good amount of skin to skin we moved on to the breasts and all hell broke loose for me at that moment. All the studies and the research didn't tell me that some babies takes time to learn how to latch. Baby Sophia hated my boobs and would cry incessantly when made to latch so much that we had to resort to formula. Seeing my baby being fed formula really shattered my heart but motivated me to maintain the supply and help with the latch.
It took us a month to establish both the latch and the supply but my baby and me, both of us didn't give up. We tried tried and tried some more and when it didn't work we cried and cried and cried a lot. After a lot of hard work and Lots of sleepless nights later here we are onto the 5th month of our journey and now it seems like a cake walk. My baby is of the happiest baby you'll ever spot but when things gets a little cranky there's always a boob to latch on 😝
So this is what I want to say this to all the expectant mom or moms who are struggling to breastfeed that breastfeeding is a game of demand and supply. So make sure you're latching your baby to the breasts as much as you can in the initial days. You might be tired, underslept and in pain but that's the only thing that's gonna work.Hang in there and keep trying it will happen for you too ❤
Happy Breastfeeding mommas!
Might do a detailed post about what worked for me and how I got my baby to latch soon!
Ciao! Read more
Suggested for you
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
13 hours ago
Q. hi,
my LT 10x18mm and RT 18x20mm and ET 6.5 , what if I intercourse after 2 days, can I do intercourse in ovulation day can become a pregent .
on ovulation day if we intercourse can become a pregent..pls advice..
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
9 hours ago
A. since the follicle size is 18 to 20 mm your ovulation may occur within 24 hours also so if you have intercourse with in that time it will be more effective to get conceived
your endometrial growth is not good enough for conception but still you can just try
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
12 hours ago
Q. Hlw dr its my 6th month pregnency can i intimate with my partner
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
12 hours ago
A. Hello dear! If your pregnancy is going on fine without any high risk factors then it’s okay. Still, would advise you to check with your doctor once before going further. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
9 hours ago
Q. My breasts feel full and heavy, but there’s no milk when pumping and during feeding baby —what do I do?
Abhaya Rajput
Mom of a 14 yr 4 m old boy
3 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much. But it is really very difficult to say anything without proper examination. It is advisable to get yourself evaluated by a doctor and follow doctors advise properly. You can also book online doctor’s appointment on FirstCry where the doctor can help you and guide you properly.
Thanks and take care
Dr Disha Patel has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
9 hours ago
Q. can I take medicine pcm n citrazene in pregnancy fir sore throats n fever
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
4 hours ago
A. dear mom.
better to take tab pcm for time being n do take steam inhakation couple of tines a day, follpw good home renedies for cold, taje more rest .
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
2 hours ago
Q. hi everyone good morning,
sorghum can I give to my 10 month baby is it safe or not please revert I waiting for your reply
Swati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
46 mins ago
A. Yes but first give in very small quantity to judge the reaction of your baby.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
14 mins ago
Q. #asktheexperts is it okay that the baby is kicking less than usual?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
11 mins ago
A. Yes it is the what part is that your child is kicking if you feel that there is a movement of your child whether it is a cake or slight movement also you know that your child is doing fine so there is no problem in that if the movement is less it’s completely alright
Check out this new Memory
sonam sawant
Mom of a 10 m old girl
New Memory
Cutie pie
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Kavish Bhingare
Guardian of a 10 m old girl
1 min ago
#stylishbaby
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Nalini Verma
Mom of a 1 m old girl
1 min ago
#stylishbaby
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive