Mistakes when introducing food to an infant
Mistakes when introducing food to an infant
When introducing food to the infant, you must pay attention to some important things and not make a series of mistakes that make the task difficult for the mother and harm the health of the child.
Mistakes when introducing food to an infant
Introducing solid foods to babies is a daunting task, especially for new mothers.
And several mistakes can occur when introducing food to the infant, which mothers can make during this stage unintentionally and which the mother must avoid.
Mistakes when introducing food to an infant
We will introduce you to the following some mistakes when introducing food to the infant to avoid them:
Introducing food at an early age
It is necessary to introduce solid foods at the appropriate age, that is, when the child is ready to eat, as he opens his mouth and expresses his desire to try new foods.
The appropriate age for introducing food to a child is 6 months and not earlier, and food should not be introduced too late, as this can slow down the growth of the child.
Stop giving the baby milk
This is one of the most prominent mistakes when introducing food to the infant, as introducing solid food to the child does not mean that he does not need his mother’s milk. The mother should not replace milk with solid foods, as the child will still need the mother’s milk to complete his nutritional needs.
Skipping important nutrients
Feeding the infant is very important, because it provides them with energy, contributes to the formation of blood cells, and helps the brain in growth. There are a number of important elements that must be introduced to the child, including the following:
Iron.
zinc;
Omega 3 fatty acids.
Vitamin D.
Skipping these nutrients can slow a child’s growth and development.
Overfeeding
Many mothers make this mistake when introducing food to the infant, and they try to give the child a variety of foods in large quantities, thinking that this is in the best interest of the child.
But it is necessary for the mother to realize how difficult it is to transition from liquid foods to solid foods, and that it will take some time for the infant to adapt to this taste and learn about different flavors.
Thus, the child’s signs of satisfaction should not be ignored, and he should not be forced to eat, but rather should stop feeding him when he expresses his rejection of him or his feeling of fullness.
Offer a lot of sugar
As adults, it is necessary to monitor the amount of sugar in a child’s diet, as excessive sugar intake can increase the risk of obesity, and therefore it is necessary not to give the child too much sugar.
Providing unsuitable foods that may cause infants to suffocate
The mother must be careful while feeding the infant so as not to cause him to suffocate, by giving him large and hard pieces that do not fit him.
The child should eat small pieces of food that are easy to swallow, and it is preferable to consult a doctor about the appropriate foods for each stage of his life.
In the case of trying a new food for the child, you should start with a very small amount, and make sure that this food does not cause an allergy to the child, such as eggs, peanut butter, and other allergy-causing foods.
The child is not self-reliant
After a few months of feeding the baby, the mother should give him the opportunity to try and eat the food himself, which is essential regardless of its messy and cluttered consequences.
This helps the child to love food and learn self-reliance, but the mother must monitor the child while he is eating himself.
Not showing a favorable reaction to the child
When the child feels that his mother is happy to eat food, he will accept it better, and therefore the mother must show her happiness and motivate the child when he eats to make him feel the value of this difficult task that he is doing.
Feed the baby alone
The child learns by watching others around him and this applies to eating as well. Therefore, the child should not be deprived of eating in the family to watch, imitate, and learn, especially with young siblings eating in front of him.
Draw the child’s attention to other things
Some mothers resort to drawing the child’s attention to other matters to facilitate the task of feeding him, and this may be a mistake when introducing food to the infant.
Where it is preferable for the child to focus on eating only by placing foods in front of him to touch, smell, and taste, and perhaps play with them, this method will be better to increase the child’s love for food, and not by distracting him with other things.
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