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8 Months Old Baby Food Ideas
Your eight-month-old baby is at a stage where he is curious about everything. With a tooth or two, your baby must be grinning its way to becoming a toddler. By eight months of age, babies master the art of gulping down mashed food and slowly they even start chewing on the solid foods. Your baby is in growing stage right now, hence you will have to make sure that the foods you give him help develop his chewing skills as well as meet his dietary requirements. Read this article to find out what foods you should include in your eight-month-old baby’s diet.
Video: Food Ideas for 8 Month Old Baby
https://youtu.be/ZlUV5s_InLg
Food Ideas for an Eight-Month-Old Baby
A wholesome diet that comprises of foods rich in carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals is essential for a growing eight-month-old baby. There are many natural food substances that offer a right mix of these nutrients. Typically, food for an 8-month-old baby should include one or more of the following.
1. Fruits
Fruits are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and other micro nutrients. Apart from the regular fruits like apples, bananas, papayas, chikoo, etc., you can also include some fruits like kiwi, strawberries, pomegranates, etc. Fruits that are cut in the shape of long cubes make for excellent finger foods for babies. So, cut the fruits in different shapes and give them to your child.
2. Vegetables
At eight months of age, your baby can start making a switch from mashed vegetable puree to small cubes of steamed vegetables. You can incorporate a variety of vegetables into your baby’s diet. Add the veggies to khichdi or make a steamed vegetable bowl. You can slowly introduce vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, green peas, and pumpkin can be slowly introduced into his diet.
3. Fish
Fish is a very nutritious food that can be given to babies as young as eight months. Fish like tuna, salmon, rohu, etc., that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are very good for the growth and brain development of babies. Fish can be given to babies in the form of puree or as soup.
4. Tofu/Paneer
Tofu or paneer is made out of soy milk and cow’s milk respectively. They are rich in protein and very good for developing babies. Tofu can be given to babies who are lactose-intolerant or are allergic to paneer.
5. Chicken
Chicken is believed to be one of the healthiest foods for babies. It can be typically started at the age of seven months and is usually given in the pureed form or as soup. The broth or the juice in which the chicken is cooked is also nutritious for babies.
6. Cheese
Cheese made out of pasteurised milk is a great source of calcium for growing babies. The processed cheese available in the market makes for a great snack for babies to munch on. You can give cheese to your baby but, give it in limited quantities as too much of anything could result in an upset stomach.
7. Eggs
Eggs are a wholesome food as they contain good fats and healthy proteins. You can give a boiled egg to your baby in bite-sized pieces. Some babies are allergic to eggs, so you must watch out for any warning signs of allergy in babies.
8. Yoghurt
Thick yoghurt made from cow’s milk can be given to babies, especially in summers. There are many fruit flavored yoghurt available in the market that make for excellent snack options for babies. They not only provide good bacteria for the gut but also serve as a great source of essential vitamins and minerals.
How Much Food Should a Baby Eat at This Stage?
Most often eight-month-old babies feed actively but sometimes they may throw tantrums while eating and get distracted away from food due to their new-found mobility. Babies who start crawling by this age, usually feed on the go as they show more interest in exploring the things around them. A typical eight-month-old baby should have three solid meals and two snacks along with at least two sessions of breastfeeding or formula feeding.
Food Schedule
Here is a sample food schedule for an eight-month-old baby.
Morning- Wake up and nurse for a few minutes (about 200 ml)
Breakfast - 1 cup of pureed veggies or anything else in breakfast
Mid-morning Snack - Half a cup of fruit/yoghurt/boiled vegetables
Lunch- 1 cup of cereal
Nap time
Evening Snack - Breast milk or formula milk (about 200ml)
Dinner - 1 cup of porridge/pureed veggies/cereal
Night - Breastfeed before putting him to bed
Video: Diet Plan for a 8 Month Old Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vidBgid-h8Q
A Sample Food Chart/Meal Plan for an Eight-month-old Baby
Here is a sample chart that you can use as a guideline for your eight-month-old baby.
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 1
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Idli with a little ghee or butter
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Rice-carrot porridge
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Jowar (sorghum) puffs + apple puree
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 2
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Idli with a little ghee or butter
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Carrot-beetroot soup
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 3
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Idli with a little ghee or butter
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Idli with a little ghee or butter
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Roti dipped in dal
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 4
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sweet potato + poha (flattened rice) powder
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Tomato- masoor dal (red lentil) soup
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Roti dipped in dal
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 5
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Beetroot- broccoli- mushroom soup
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Sweet potato + poha powder
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Roti dipped in dal
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 6
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Beetroot- broccoli- mushroom soup
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Bajra (pearl millet) – moong dal (green gram split) khichdi
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 7
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sooji (semolina) upma (soft, strained, with tadka) + boiled and grated broccoli
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Dal (lentil) -spinach soup
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Millet- moong dal (green gram split) soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 1
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sweet potato + poha (flattened rice) powder
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Egg yolk (boiled) or homemade paneer (cottage cheese)
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Millet- moong dal (green gram split) soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 2
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sooji (semolina) upma (soft, strained, with tadka) + boiled and grated broccoli
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Egg yolk (boiled) or homemade paneer (cottage cheese)
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Tomato-masoor dal (red lentil) soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 3
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Jowar (sorghum) puffs + apple puree
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Spinach-pumpkin puree
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 4
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sattu (barley) mix
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Idli with a little ghee or butter
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Millet – moong dal (green gram split) soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 5
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sattu (barley) mix
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Ragi (finger millet) – tur dal (red gram) puree
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Bajra (pearl millet) – moong dal (green gram split) khichdi
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 6
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sattu (barley) mix
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Mashed sweet potato + murmura (flattened rice) powder
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Lauki (bottle gourd) -rice porridge
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 7
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Rice- carrot porridge
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Ragi (finger millet) – tur dal (red gram) puree
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 1
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Stewed apple + murmura (puffed rice) powder
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Wheat sheera (soft)
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Bajra (pearl millet) – moong dal (green gram split) khichdi
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 2
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Stewed apple + murmura (puffed rice) powder
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Sooji (semolina) upma (soft, strained, with tadka) + boiled and grated broccoli
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Mashed sweet potato + murmura (puffed rice) powder
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 3
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Stewed apple + murmura (puffed rice) powder
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Sattu (barley)mix
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Ragi (finger millet) – tur dal (red gram) puree
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 4
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Jowar (sorghum) puffs + apple puree
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Tomato- masoor dal (red lentil) soup
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Spinach-pumpkin puree
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 5
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Egg yolk (boiled) or homemade paneer (cottage cheese)
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Carrot-spinach puree
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Ragi finger millet) – moong dal (green gram split) soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 6
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Mashed papaya
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Idli with a little ghee or butter
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Lentil- sweet potato soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 7
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Mashed papaya
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Carrot-beetroot soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 1
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sooji (semolina) upma (soft, strained, with tadka) + boiled and grated broccoli
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Palak (spinach)khichdi
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Idli with a little ghee or butter
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 2
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Egg yolk (boiled) or homemade paneer (cottage cheese)
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Tomato- pumpkin soup
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Millet- moong dal (green gram split) soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 3
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Egg yolk (boiled) or homemade paneer (cottage cheese)
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Beetroot- broccoli- mushroom soup
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Lentil- sweet potato soup
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 4
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sattu (barley) mix
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Stewed apple + murmura (puffed rice) powder
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Roti dipped in dal
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 5
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Carrot-beetroot soup
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Mashed sweet potato
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Ragi (finger millet) – wheat sheera
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 6
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Mashed carrot
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Sweet potato + poha (flattened rice) powder
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Spinach-pumpkin puree
Diet for a 8 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 7
Early morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast
Sooji (semolina) upma (soft, strained, with tadka) + boiled and grated broccoli
Mid-morning
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch
Palak (spinach)khichdi
Evening
Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner
Cheesy potato
Video: 8 Month Baby Food Recipes
https://youtu.be/NAH8XHYBoYY
Food Recipes for an 8-month-old Baby
Apart from the regular pureed foods that your baby is now used to having, you can try some of these new recipes to tickle your baby’s taste buds. Here are some interesting Indian homemade baby food recipes for an 8-month-old:
1. Broccoli Soup Recipe
Broccoli is nutritious and tastes delicious too. Here is how you can make broccoli soup for your baby.
Ingredients
Butter -1 teaspoon
Broccoli florets - 1 cup
Pepper powder - A pinch
A pinch of salt
How to prepare
Add the butter in a pan and allow it to melt.
Add broccoli florets to it and sauté for a few minutes.
Cover the pan with a lid and allow it to cook.
Once the broccoli cools, blend it to make a fine paste in a blender.
In another pan, add some butter and add the broccoli paste to it. Allow it to cook and add the salt and pepper powder to it. Feed the baby once it cools down.
2. Fish Puree Recipe
If you love eating fish, your little one will like it too. Learn the recipe of fish puree. It’s easy-to-make and tastes delicious!
Ingredients
Cleaned and prepared fish
Water - 1 cup
How to prepare
Boil the water in a vessel.
In a small vessel take the chopped fish and place this vessel inside the vessel containing water.
Allow it to cook. The colour of the fish should change to white once it cooks completely.
Grind the cooked fish to puree and add the salt and jeera powder to taste.
3. Apple Ragi Porridge Recipe
Ragi, also known as finger millet or nachni is high in proteins, calcium, and iron. It also helps a baby gain weight and you know apples are always good. So include ragi in your baby’s diet by making yummy apple and ragi porridge!
Ingredients
Grated apple - 1 cup
Ragi flour - 1 tablespoon
Ghee - 1/2 teaspoon
Water - 1.5 cups
How to prepare
Take the ragi flour in a bowl and slowly add the water to it. Mix it well making sure that no lumps are formed.
Heat some ghee in a pan and add the ragi mixture to it.
Stir continuously till you see the bubbles forming.
At this stage, add the grated apple pieces to the porridge.
Allow the apple pieces and ragi to cook well. If the porridge turns thick, dilute it with water and bring it to the required consistency.
Once it is cooked, turn off the flame and add a drop of ghee before giving it to your child.
4. Suji Upma Recipe
Upma is a healthy breakfast and is enjoyed by both adults and kids. So how about introducing this tasty breakfast to your child? Learn the recipe here -
Ingredients
Suji - 1/2 cup
Finely chopped veggies (of your choice) - 1 cup
Curry leaves - 5-6
Ghee -1 teaspoon
Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Water- 2 cups
Salt- 1/4 teaspoon
How to prepare
Heat one tablespoon of ghee in a pan and roast the suji until it turns brown. Once done, transfer it to a large dish and keep aside.
Next, heat some ghee in the pan and add the mustard seeds to it.
Once the mustard seeds splutter, add a cup of vegetable and cover it with a lid, allowing the vegetables to cook.
Then add 2 cups of water and salt to taste.
When the water comes to a boil, add the suji and stir continuously to make sure no lumps are formed.
Cover the pan with a lid for some time. Add a teaspoon of ghee then switch off the flame. Feed once it cools a bit.
5. Carrot Wedges Recipe
Carrots are nutritious and are very good for the eyes. Carrot wedges are a perfect finger food which you can give to your little one as a snack. Here’s how you can make carrot wedges.
Ingredients
Carrots (cut into wedges) - 1 cup
A pinch of salt
Pepper powder - A pinch
Ghee - 1 teaspoon
How to prepare
Boil the water in a pan and when it comes to a boil, add the carrot pieces.
Allow it to cook to a biting consistency. Then turn off the flame.
Heat the ghee in a pan, add the carrot pieces to it, and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Add the salt and pepper powder and mix well.
Switch off the flame and allow it cool. Once it cools, give it to your baby.
Feeding Tips
Keep these tips in mind while feeding your 8-month-old baby:
Remember that breast milk or formula milk should remain the primary source of nutrition for an eight-month-old baby. Besides starting with solid food, doctors recommend one or two sessions of feeding for babies up to one year of age.
Avoid giving cow’s milk to your baby, until he turns one.
If there is a history of any food allergy in the family, especially for dairy products, watch out for the signs of allergy in your baby. Also, speak to your doctor about the possibilities of your child inheriting such allergies.
Avoid giving deep fried foods to your little one. Try to incorporate steamed fruits and vegetables in his diet.
Always feed the baby in a particular position and location every day. This develops a strong connection in their mind between food and the place where they are being fed. For example, if you make your baby sit on a high chair to feed him solids, he will associate it with food.
Keep the consistency of the food a little grainy and do not mash it completely. It will help your eight-month-old baby to transition from mashed to solid foods.
Avoid adding salt and sugar in food if your baby is below one year of age. Many doctors advice against the use of both, as it puts unnecessary stress on the kidneys.
Eight-month-old babies usually get easily distracted while feeding, as they develop mobility and are curious about things around them. When your baby refuses to eat anything, try to feed in small quantities at different times.
Babies tend to gag or choke while nibbling on finger food. They may also accidentally bite a large chunk of food. Parental attention is very important while your baby is chewing on solids.
Prepare and store baby foods in steel or glassware. Avoid the use of plastic as it contains harmful chemicals that have a likelihood of entering the food.
At eight months of age, babies move around quite a lot and spend a lot of their time and energy in exploring the things around them. To make sure that your baby stays active and doesn’t get exhausted, you must ensure that he eats healthy food. So plan your baby’s food chart well in advance after consulting with a nutritionist. Include fresh fruits and steamed vegetables in his diet - it will provide him with the much-needed nutrition, and he will get into the habit of eating healthy foods.
Disclaimer:
Each child is different and so use these meal plans as a trusted guide as per your discretion. You can modify the meals according to your child’s preferences / requirements.
Never force-feed a child.
While preparing formula, please follow the instructions on the box and use the measuring spoon provided with it.
While introducing solid food to a baby, initially, one needs to prepare watery gruels/soups. As a child gets older, the caretaker/ mother has to increase the thickness of the liquids slowly according to the child’s capacity to swallow. Foods that are too thick can cause stomach upset/ unnecessary load; while excessively watery food might cause the child to remain hungry.
Some kids may eat less on some days and that is absolutely alright. However, if a child eats less for more than 3-4 consecutive days, please visit a doctor to guide further.
A child may eat less during the teething phase or if he/she may not be feeling well. You could increase breast milk /formula feeds on those days. Re-introduce the foods once the child is back to normal.
Don’t stop feeding if the child is suffering from diarrhoea.
You can alter the taste of the food by adding some natural flavours like cinnamon, jeera powder, lemon juice, curry leaves etc. if the child doesn’t accept the food initially.
If your child suffers from an allergy to nuts, gluten or eggs, please consult your doctor before feeding him/her any foods that may contain them.
Also Read: Food Ideas for 9 Months Old Baby Read more
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Alcohol During Pregnancy -How To Avoid & Its Effects
The adverse effects of alcohol on foetal development are well known and it is advisable that pregnant women stay away from it. It is important to understand how alcohol interacts with the body of a pregnant woman and her child, so its use can be restricted or avoided totally during pregnancy. Learn all you need to know about alcohol consumption, its effects and how to refrain from it throughout your pregnancy.
Is It Safe To Drink Alcohol In Pregnancy?
Alcohol could be called a legal drug which is also classified as a teratogen. A teratogen is a substance that is known to be harmful to human development, therefore if you’re asking, “Can I drink any alcohol while pregnant?”; No, it is not safe to drink any alcohol when you’re pregnant. Conception is quite often a surprise, and it may be several weeks to a month or two before women realise they’re pregnant and would have had several drinks during this period. If you’ve unknowingly had alcohol during first week of pregnancy, there’s no need to worry as it probably won’t harm the baby. However, drinking alcohol in the first month of pregnancy and continual drinking throughout the pregnancy puts the baby at the greatest risk, particularly during the first trimester.
How Much Alcohol Consumption for Pregnant Women is Too Much?
The problem with drinking during pregnancy is that there is no established lower limit to the amount of alcohol consumption which has been proven to be safe. Although a recent study on 5,628 women published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology by Dr.Fergus McCarthy and his associates from England, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia has shown that small amounts of alcohol in early pregnancy may not put the mother and baby at risk as much as previously thought. The participants in the study ranged from having three to seven drinks per week to more than seven drinks per week with “a drink” being defined as a glass of wine or less than 355ml of beer. Therefore occasional alcohol during pregnancy in the form of a drink may be okay, but since the amount that can cause harm is unknown, it’s best for pregnant women to abstain from alcohol.
What Effects Alcohol Can Have On Mother and Baby
So what happens if you drink alcohol while pregnant? Women have a lowered first pass metabolism of alcohol which makes more of it enter their blood stream and pass through the placenta and into the baby. The effects on women include:
Precipitation of preterm labour
Decreased production of breast milk
Risk of spontaneous abortion of foetus goes up 4 fold in the first trimester
Alcohol remains in the body of the foetus for longer as they do not process it the way as adults do. The alcohol in the foetus’s system prevents enough nutrients and oxygen from getting to the developing vital organs and causes Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASDs. An umbrella term for a range of disorders, FASD includes foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), alcohol related birth-defects, neurodevelopment disorders and neurobehavioral disorders. Some of the most common characteristics of FASDs in children are:
Abnormal facial features
Small head size and shorter than average height
Hyperactive behaviour and poor coordination
Learning disabilities, speech and language delays
Lowered IQ and poor judgment and reasoning skills
If one still wonders if drinking alcohol will affect pregnancy after the first trimester? Yes, it does. There is no safe time during pregnancy to drink alcohol even as they approach the end of the third trimester as the baby’s brain develops throughout the pregnancy. While drinking in the first trimester gives rise to abnormal facial features, drinking through the rest of the pregnancy gives rise to growth and central nervous system problems.
A new study conducted by Kelly Huffman, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside shows that the effects of FASDs can be transgenerational. The experiments conducted on laboratory mice showed that the exposed offspring displayed atypical gene expression and abnormal development which was carried over to the next generation of non-exposed off-springs. Therefore, not only is the unborn child of the drinking mother at risk but the future generations of the offspring can be affected by the prenatal ethanol exposure (PrEE).
Can I Drink Non-Alcoholic Beer and Wine When Pregnant?
The term non-alcoholic can be misleading in drinks such as wine and beer. These drinks do contain small amounts of alcohol that are typically half-a-percent or so while the regular alcoholic drinks contain more than 5- 8% alcohol. When consumed in higher volumes, the smaller percentages in these drinks can accumulate and hence any form of heavy drinking of even a non-alcoholic drink should be avoided if you intend to totally abstain from alcohol. Drinks labelled alcohol-free are relatively safer and do not contain any alcohol.
How Can I Avoid Drinking During Pregnancy?
Women who drink habitually must stop drinking if they plan to get pregnant or realise that they are pregnant. The habit may take time to get rid of and can be done with some strategy and determination. Here are a few tips to do just that:
Make a plan on how you can reduce drinking incrementally and set limits
Set a budget on alcohol spending
Get support from family and friends by letting them know of your decision
Make each drink smaller every time you go drinking
Slash down on the strength of drink and have beer or wine with lesser alcohol in them
Plan on have having several drink-free days every week
What Can I Drink Instead Of Alcohol In Pregnancy
Just because you have cut down completely on alcohol doesn’t mean you’ll have to miss out on your favourite drinks. Most of the cocktails that you enjoy can still be made non-alcoholic as a mocktail. If you’re in a party and everybody around you is having champagne, you can drink apple or grapefruit juice in a champagne glass to blend in. Then there are always healthy non-carbonated soft drinks and milkshakes that you can have.
I Am Unable To Stop Drinking Alcohol, What Can I Do?
Inability to stop consuming alcohol is a sign of dependence towards the substance. It is characterised by craving alcohol regularly, needing alcohol to cope with life in general and drinking in isolation. When you are pregnant, this is a dangerous condition and must be addressed immediately. Discussing it with your health care provider and subsequent rehabilitation must be sought at the earliest.
Also Read: Drinking Wine While Pregnant Read more
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I Am Happy With Motherhood
My name is Jaseena. I am a mom of 11-month-old twin babies; a girl, Nuzah, and a boy, Nazhan. The first six months caring for twin babies was challenging for me because I am a first-time mom with no experience. Later, it got easier and I am now enjoying every moment of life.
It was during the second month of my pregnancy that I found out I was pregnant with twins. That was was the most beautiful moment in my life. I started waiting for them; after eight and half months of pregnancy, I finally got to hold them.
Now they are at 11 months of age. At birth, they weighed only 2 kgs. I feared to take them in my hands because I thought I might hurt them. That time, my mom always cared for them, since I had no prior experience. I learnt from my mom how to bathe my babies, how to feed them, burp them, put on their diapers, trim their nails, and so on. My mom taught me everything.
After two and a half months, I started bathing my baby; it was quite an exciting and awaited moment. While bathing her, my baby girl would cry loudly. Mom would keep coming and asking what happened, as she was always worried about how I would hold the babies in my hands. After bathing them, I always used diaper rash cream before putting on a diaper, and then I'd dress the babies up. Every moment would make me happy.
After 3 months, my baby boy started smiling. Then I waited for my baby girl to smile. After 3 months and 4 days, she started smiling. When they smiled together I felt as though I am in heaven. That moment was so precious to me. After 4 months, they would hold a rattle in their hand. My husband purchased different types of rattles for the babies. When they made sounds with rattles it made them happier. Then they started holding formula bottles by themselves.
At 5 months I started to feed the babies cereal. I started with rice cereal then moved on to banana cereal. I always cooked different cereals and purées for babies and I cooked with lots of love. I always loved making special dishes for my babies.
At 5 and a half months, they started tummy time. In 6 months, my baby girl started moving while on her tummy but my baby boy always stayed where he was. It took him to reach 7 months of age to start moving. Now, they play together and at 8 months, they learned how to sit up.
Sometimes, the sleepless nights do stress me out. But when I see them smiling together, that lowers my stress levels and makes me happy. So yes, I'm busy enjoying motherhood!
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
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Learning activities for toddler like pre school type To help them to interact
Hi everyone
I am mom of 2 year 3 month old baby.
Right now my baby at the learning stage and he has quick observation Of everything. So that I have to manage everything according to his. I want to share that with all mom
When baby start to observe his around what happens, we have to careful about it. And to manage things accordingly.
They eagerly what to know about everything things, person, place and many more.
For that I started to tell everything to him what he found his near.
He trying to know about animals like cow hourse, cat ,dog, monkey etc.
He watched them TRy sound like TEm act like them and copy in front of me.
When they try to ask such things again and again to u it's necessary to handle this thing carefully. Don't scold them answer them. I manage whole room full of stickers like animals,bird, food, vegetable, alfabet, color, transport, little bit about space and things what is around us.
At his playing time he spent his more time to about these things instead of mobile. I tried to learn him rhymes with act so he enjoyed things more n more.
Tell him stories at the bed time in both launguage Hindi and English so that they understand both things.
I pasted chart paper on wall with big images so try to learn him color things in his own view instead of my view or others.
I enjoyed park life with him and he with other toddlers that why he didn't feel shy and he trying to coordinate with other baby like him or elders.
This is my personal experience or things what I do for his preschool so that when he interact with these things he didn't feel low beside he already know about these things.
I hope this is helpful for new mommies or others to interact with their own little one. Read more
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Sunita Mahato has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 m old child
8 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts How to increase quantity of milk production?
Sunita Mahato
Mom of 3 children
8 hours ago
A. to increase milk take latction supplement as lactare...
take green papaya bottle gourd bitter gourd fennel seeds garlic oats ragi dalia sabudana ...
regular pumping increase milk use Babyhug electric breast pump...
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
8 hours ago
Q. hi doctor from two days i am eating milk cream with sugar and i want to burn it in my stomach I am 5 month pregnant plzz help ??
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
7 hours ago
A. at present weight no exercise is other than moderate walking. 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
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
7 hours ago
Q. I am in my 8th month of pregnancy (last week), and for some reason I am continously facing lot of fatigue. I am feeling deprived of energy and I don't have any energy to do anything. resting isn't Helping in any way and taking small walks isn't too. what can be the possible reason and how to overcome this.
Read moreDr Ghouse
Paediatrician
7 hours ago
A. yes that can be both physical and psychological problems during pregnancy ok. 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
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
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6 hours ago
Q. hi,
pls advice , after hcg tigger injection can we do intercourse to conceive and till when we can do ...trying to conceive
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
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A. Hello dear! We understand your eagerness and concern. It is advisable to check with your consulting doctor regarding this matter. Clarify your concerns and follow your doctor’s advice. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
Charul Verma has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 7 m old child
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Q. Hello my baby is 20 months old he swallowed a earpod bur he is normal he eat as well as drink please suggest???
Charul Verma
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A. hi mom
mostly it will be out once he passes stool
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Rashmi has added a new answer
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Q. Hello my baby is 20 months old by mistake he swallowed a earpod but he is normal is eat drink plz suggest??
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A. It’s fine it should come out into the poop of your child within 24 to 48 hours a lot of mishaps happened with kids these days but these things since they are not edible they do not get digested which is why they come out into the motion
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