Superfoods and Beyond: A Basic Guide to Raising a Healthy Baby

By: Jayde Johannsen

There's no doubt about it: those first couple of years of parenting are a very stressful time for anyone, even those adults who have already been moms and dads before. Making sure that your child is always safe and happy isn't actually that difficult, but most good parents spend a lot of time worrying, and are constantly trying their best to make sure that things go well during those oh-so-important formative years.

One of the biggest and most crucial steps in raising a child is starting out on the right path to health and nutrition. There have been a number of different studies, especially in recent years, that discuss whether or not breastfeeding is ultimately more beneficial than feeding a child a bottle of formula, and many of the actually medical benefits of breastfeeding have been ruled as inconclusive, with the conclusion drawn that it is the closeness and safety that is the main benefit. However, other studies have shown that children who are breastfed are less likely to have problems with obesity later on in life, so for mothers who can do it, it is often an excellent start to a child's life of healthy eating.

Many people think that allergies cannot take place in very young children, but research shows that close to seven percent of infants already show their propensity for food allergies. Sometimes, this allergy includes cow's milk and formula, so for those parents who are trying to find a suitable and healthy alternative, be advised that goat's milk is an excellent choice. In fact, goat's milk is actually closer to human's milk than milk from cows, though it is important to consider whether or not iron and vitamin B12 supplements are a good idea for your infant, since there is a shortage of them in goat's milk. Many countries outside of the United States actually prefer to use goat's milk for infant formula.

While infants start eating solids anywhere between six months and one year, the optimal age to begin on solids is between four months and six months old. Signs that a child is ready to begin on solids are that he or she shows significantly more interest at feeding times, seems hungry even after bottle or breast feeding is over, and is starting to have a less pronounced reflex to immediately remove solids from his or her mouth.

When it is time for your child to switch to solids, it is important to consider how truly significant this life step is. How you begin your child on solid food will greatly influence his or her health in later years, especially if you opt for organic solids made at home versus canned or jarred baby food that is high in artificial chemicals and preservatives. Making your baby's food is actually less time consuming than you might think, and ultimately is far greater for the health of your child.

When starting your child on solids, it might take a little while to acclimate from liquids. It is very important to remember to not put solids into a bottle. You want to differentiate between eating and drinking, and an important way of doing that is to keep food as something served with a spoon and liquids as something that come out of a bottle. If at first, solids are a little bit of trouble to switch to, don't hesitate to supplement your child's diet with milk or formula. It can take a little while to make the switch.

The best foods to start out with are fruits such as apples, bananas, and pears, and vegetables like carrots, peas, and potatoes. Make sure if you are preparing these at home to steam them rather than boil them, as that will keep more helpful vitamins and minerals in them. After about six months of these fruits and vegetables, most parents start to add in other things like bread and pasta. At a year of consuming solids is the earliest time possible to add stronger proteins, like meat or tofu. Be sure that all proteins are cooked thoroughly, and do not add fish until the very end.

Setting the groundwork for a healthy diet will not just help your child's infancy, but also his or her adult life, significantly. The right nutrition from the beginning is a hugely helpful tool for life.

Article Source: http://www.yesparenting.com/articles

Jayde Johannsen, a mother of two understands the importance of a set dining area for her children. As such, she recently published the Baby High Chairs website, helping parents find the right high chairs for babies.

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