As a nutritionist working in a busy health shop I am faced daily with overwhelmed parents confused about what to give their babies to eat. Weaning your baby can be a time of confusion. Questions that are asked include \u2018Are they getting enough food?\u2019, \u2018Are they meeting their recommended daily allowances of certain nutrients?\u2019.<\/p>\n
The questions I like to ask are \u2018Are they eating real food?\u2019, \u2018Are you cooking your babies meals from scratch?\u2019. The food industry is loving this era of jarred and pureed \u2018baby food\u2019 while I\u2019m not convinced. Popular baby yogurts are heavily marketed as having \u2018added vitamin D and calcium for bones\u2019 while failing to mention almost 2tsp of sugar per pot. This is fuelling childhood obesity and increasing the risk of childhood diabetes in Ireland.<\/p>\n
What if your child\u2019s transition to solid foods were to be a more enjoyable (and messy) venture. A venture with less stress on parents and more focus on getting your child to eat wholesome foods together with the family. Baby Led Weaning is rising in popularity yet it is not a new concept. Prior to the invention of blenders and \u2018baby foods\u2019 in supermarkets, babies had been weaned onto foods that were eaten by the entire family. Aileen of Babyledfeeding.com<\/a> has made this transition an easy and enjoyable way of weaning, designing recipe packed with nutrients, while encouraging the baby the learn more about what food is.<\/p>\n The main aim of the game is to enable your baby to know what foods look like in their natural state so they develop a healthier relationship with food going forward. A diet low in salt, additives and excess sugar and high in nutrient dense vegetables that will fuel their bodies.<\/p>\n The first year of life is a time of phenomenal growth and development. An infants\u2019 birth weight doubles by 6months and triples by one year, a process not repeated at any other phase of a life cycle. A nutritious and adequate diet is required to support this huge growth spurt.<\/p>\n As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. An introduction of complementary foods and continued breastfeeding thereafter is recommended (WHO 2001).<\/p>\n By 6 months of age, an infant\u2019s stores of minerals such as iron, zinc and some fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin D) are decreasing while nutritional requirements are increasing. Neither breast milk nor infant formula milk intake alone is enough to meet your child\u2019s needs (FSAI 2011).<\/p>\n Iron is essential for healthy growth and development and is widely distributed in foods. Iron is found in large concentrations in dark leafy green vegetables (spinach, broccoli), red meats, chicken, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, chickpeas and dried apricots.<\/p>\n Phytates reduce iron absorption which is found in fibre containing foods such as bran, wholegrains and beans. While wholegrains and beans should be included in small amounts in your child\u2019s diet, bran is not to be given. Bran can impair absorption of iron and calcium and also decrease a babies appetite due to the high fibre content.<\/p>\n Zinc is a component of over 70 enzymes needed for the body to function optimally while also being involved in cell growth, immunity, would healing and bone formation. Zinc is found in legumes, seafood, beef, chicken, wholegrains, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.<\/p>\n With regard to Vitamin D, it can be made naturally when our skin is exposed to the sun. Due to babies sensitive skin however, it is advised that a baby isn\u2019t exposed to direct sunlight due to the risk of burning. Vitamin D supplements are recommended in Ireland of 200IU per day. Food sources include oily fish like salmon, mackerel and eggs.<\/p>\n There is a world of information out there on nutrition that can be overwhelming. Keeping meal times simple, nutritious and delicious will benefit the entire family\u263a<\/p>\nBuilding a healthy relationship with food<\/h3>\n
Iron<\/h3>\n
Zinc<\/h3>\n
Vitamin D<\/h3>\n