HEATING INSTRUCTIONS Microwave oven Conventional Hob
HANDY TIPS
ARTICLE 2: WHAT SHOULD YOU FEED YOUR BABY? One of the most commonly asked questions by parents is ‘what can I feed my baby at his/her particular age?’ In this article I will attempt to put in a nutshell, a list of foods which are suitable for each stage of development and which foods to avoid. A word of caution here: this list is merely meant to be a guide and if you feel at all unsure about what food to give your baby, you should consult your doctor or midwife. 4 – 6 months Cereals: baby rice 6 – 8 months Cereals: baby rice, rice, pasta 8 – 10 months Cereals: rice, barley, oats, bread (try wholewheat rather than white) 10 – 12 months Foods to Avoid Honey: This should not be given to children under 12 months as there is a risk that it can cause infant botulism. Nuts: Peanuts have been known to cause severe allergic reactions. If there is a family history of allergies it is best to avoid giving peanuts to your baby until he is about 3 years old (again, consult your doctor or midwife). Where there is no history of allergies, peanut butter can be given after 12 months. Whole nuts should not be given to young children under 5 due to the risk of choking. Eggs: Can be given from about 8 months but make sure it is fully cooked and not runny. Gluten: This is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. If there is a family history of gluten intolerance, babies should have a gluten-free diet (eg. buy baby cereals and rusks which are gluten-free). If you suspect that your baby is gluten intolerant, consult your doctor or midwife.
ARTICLE 1: TIPS ON INTRODUCING SOLIDS TO YOUR BABY For the very best start in life, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and health agencies worldwide recommend that babies are breastfed exclusively for the first six months. During this time breast milk or formula provides all the nutrients your baby needs and should remain the main source of nourishment. After 6 months, your baby will reach a stage where she will need to supplement her milk diet with solid food. For example, after 6 months, her stores of iron that she was born with will have been used up and you will need to introduce iron-rich foods in her diet. Between 6 – 24 months babies grow rapidly and their energy, mineral and vitamin requirements increase although their stomachs are still relatively small. During this period, babies need foods which provide a lot of nutrients in a small quantity (nutrient-dense food). There is no perfect rule as to when to introduce solids – this just all depends on your baby. If you feel that your baby may need solid food before she is 6 months old, you should talk to your doctor or health visitor and seek a professional opinion. However, most experts agree that solids should not be introduced before 17 weeks after your baby is born as her digestive system is too immature and there is a greater risk of developing allergies. First Foods: Baby Rice Once you decide to introduce real foods into your baby’s diet it is best to start off with rather plain foods such as baby rice. I would recommend that you start off with any of the commercial baby rice cereals – although these are refined, they are usually enriched with vitamins and iron (check the label and make sure there is no hidden salt and sugar). Baby rice is also easy to digest and the plain taste of rice will make the transition from milk to solids easier on your baby. You must remember that it is also important not to reduce your baby’s milk intake at this stage as this will remain his main source of nourishment. Other Suitable Foods It is also advisable to start introducing one type of food at a time to see if your baby is allergic or intolerant of certain types of food. For example, give your baby pureed carrots for 3-4 days and then move on to pureed pears. However, once weaning is established you should feel free to experiment with combining different flavours and textures (provided always that the food you give to your baby is suitable for his age). See Gourmet Goo’s range of delicious flavours at www.gourmetgoo.com At this stage, you could try giving your baby fruits such as pureed apples, pears, banana and papaya. You could also try vegetables such as carrots, potato, sweet potato, pumpkin and cauliflower. Texture Make your purees extra runny and smooth (almost like a drink) as this is what your baby has been used to so far. At this stage the objective is to get her use to the different texture and taste of solids, and also to get her use to eating from a spoon. Before this your baby received a continuous supply of milk from the bottle or breast, but now she has to learn how to move the food around her mouth and to swallow that food. Cooking Equipment The most useful piece of equipment will be your blender to mash and puree your baby’s food. A two-tiered steamer is also quite useful as you can boil one kind of vegetable in the bottom pot and steam another on top. At the beginning, your baby is not able to eat huge quantities so it is useful to freeze individual portions of puree in an ice-tray. Just pop one out when you want to use it.
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