Babies Archives - Lutgard Musiime

When babies are ushered into this world, they are very dependent on us for literally everything including what goes into their bellies as food. Children are supposed to be exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of their lives and there after introduce solid foods alongside breastmilk, what we call complementary feeding.

When we introduce solid foods to our children, there is no doubt that we want to make their food as ‘tasty’ and enjoyable as we would want to taste it so we figure we can always add some sugar and salt to their food so that it is not as bland but your child DOES NOT need the sugar and the salt until they are one year. I know you are wondering why, and I will tell you.

Why No Salt and Sugar for babies till 1 year?

Why you should avoid adding salt to your child’s food

Compromised kidney function

Babies have just made an entry into the world and development is still ongoing. They have a delicate system and salt may effect their kidneys. Their kidneys are unable to process a high amount of added salt. As a matter of fact children below the age of one are supposed to have less than 1g of sodium per day according the Scientific Advisory Committee report on Nutrition (SCAN).

Kidney stones

Excess sodium from salt can cause the body to excrete more calcium in the urine. This calcium can form kidney stones that carries with it severe pain in the body, fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, burning sensation while urinating, and blood in the urine. I am not sure you want that for your baby.

Brittle bones

An increase in sodium levels in the body, in turn, causes excretion of too much calcium. We all know how important calcium is for a growing child, they need for the development of strong bones and teeth. Calcium depletion can lead to a condition called osteoporosis which makes the bones thin and brittle.

Hypertension

Did you know that just like in adults, babies too can develop hypertension also known as high blood pressure and high salt intake can cause it.

Dehydration

Last but not least, unlike adults, babies are not be able to indicate that they are thirsty, d until serious symptoms show up. Babies who have excess salt in their bodies are in danger of dehydration, as salt causes the body to lose water in the form of urine and sweat thus increasing their risk of getting kidney stones, joint and muscle damage, constipation, and liver damage.

Why you should avoid adding sugar to your babies food

Sugar lacks protein, fat, and nutrient density which babies need the most at this point in their life and when the sugar is in excess, can lead to an increased risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and dental caries.

It is also important to mention that babies have an innate preference for sweetness, so it’s important to give them ample time to develop a palate for healthy foods that do not contain added sugar. If this not done, the struggle to consume healthier options of food will be an uphill task.

Have you noticed that when toddlers are given sugar or foods with high sugar content they become hyperactive? The same will happen to your baby and the reason is that since sugar is absorbed into the blood very quickly, high sugar consumption causes the blood sugar levels to shoot up. This leads to higher adrenaline levels and causes hyperactivity in children.

Why should You Avoid Sugar and Salt in Your Infant's Diet

In conclusion

Babies’ sugar and sodium (salt) needs can be met in the breastmilk and the natural foods that they are consuming. The reason your baby could be resisting breastmilk could be that they were introduced to salt and sugar early and they are now missing out on the immense advantages of breastmilk.

Increase the variety of foods prepared for your baby as a way of adding flavor to your child’s diet and carefully read the nutrition labelling of manufactured foods for babies that you opt to buy taking into consideration that sodium and sugar content therein. Fruits like bananas are a good source of natural sugars so there is no need for added sugars.

I will end by saying DO NOT give honey to babies either.

See you next Wednesday

The feeding relationship: Introducing new food to your baby ...

Are you the kind of parent who is the high control freak? You will decide when and how much your child eats, the force feeder, the stick is not far away during meal time. Are you the type who leaves the child to feed themselves. The parent who believes that the child will eat if hungry and he or she stops eating, it means they have had enough to eat even if very little food was consumed. Or are you the type of feeder who feeds in response to the child’s cues or signals using encouragement and praise?

Responsive care refers to the behaviors and practices of the parents and family that provide the stimulation and emotional support as well as food and health care necessary for the child’s healthy growth and development. Infants are dependent on a caregiver to provide all their food. With age, the infant gradually develops the skills for relatively independent in eating as a young child such as picking up pieces of food and moving it to the mouth, choosing foods, and using feeding utensils. Similar to many other skills that the young child develops, responsive care practices related to eating can help, or hinder, the development of these skills and behaviors. While feeding a child, they might show they are ready for another bite by opening their mouth, leaning forward, or gazing at you. It is important to note that the pace of feeding should be driven by the child and not the feeder.

Responsive feeding is the reciprocal relationship that involves:

The child giving cues or signs or signals for hunger or fullness;
The parent noticing the child’s cues, the accurate interpretation of that sign, and responding to the sign in an appropriate way;
The child perceiving there is a response to his/her cue and that this response is predictable.

Non-responsive feeding may include a parent controlling the feeding and deciding when and how much is eaten, or a parent ignoring the child’s cues and limited interaction. Both types of non-responsive feeding can result in stressful mealtimes and overall family relationship difficulty.

Learning to like new tastes and responsive feeding

Another form of non-responsive parenting may occur when child cues are misinterpreted and food is seen as the solution. Have you seen mothers who say, the breast is the solution to every cry for the baby. Once the child begins to cry, without even thinking about it, the latch them onto the breast. This parent thinks the infant is not getting enough breast milk because the infant is crying soon after a feed. Some will give a tired toddler in the late afternoon who wants a cuddle and a rest some sweet biscuits and tell them to go off and play until it is family dinner time. Infants or young children need assistance that is appropriate to their age and development needs to support adequate nutrition.

Non-responsive feeding practices where the parent controls the feeding may result in overeating if, for example, children learn to eat when they are not hungry or that they should always continue eating until the bowl is empty. Eating until the bowl is empty at every meal may be beyond satiety and may be over-fullness. Finishing all the food in the bowl at every meal may mean that the parent does not respond to the child’s signs that he/she has had enough to eat. The baby or child learns to ignore the inborn mechanism for satiety and a new level is set where eating to over-fullness becomes the expected feeling. This exposes the child to over eating and may gain weight rapidly there by increasing the risk of lifelong obesity.

Steps to Responsive Feeding

Pay attention to the infant’s or child’s communication
Respond warmly and promptly
Feed the right food for the infant’s or child’s age and stage
Let the infant or child stop when they are full
Focus on being affectionate and nurturing

Benefits of Responsive Feeding

Responsive feeding helps to keep your levels of breast milk high and consistent, which naturally decreases any chances of painful feedings or blocked ducts. Oddly enough, the more milk your baby eats, the more milk you will produce—it’s part of the beautiful circle of life.
Babies who are fed using responsive feeding establish much better eating habits that carry into adulthood. When a strict schedule is implemented, babies are often fed past the point of fullness, which carries into toddler, teen, and adult eating habits which are using detrimental to their health.
I cannot begin to exhaust the bond that is created between you and the child. Unknown to you, mealtimes are an important learning environment where socialisation and language development takes place the most.

In conclusion responsive feeding only means that the parent observes, interprets accurately and responds appropriately to the signs or signals that the baby or young child gives. It is time to uncover the baby’s face as you feed them, pay extra attention to your toddler as they feed and enjoy the benefits of responsive feeding.

Babies

Why no salt and sugar for babies until they turn one