Weaning | The Best Foods For Your Baby’s Health

Your little bundle of joy has turned 5-month-old and all you are thinking about is how to start weaning, when to give, how to give and most importantly, what foods are good for the kid and what are bad. There is so much information on every mom blog. But remember every child is different. Continue reading we will explain all the baby food your little munchkin needs and appropriate recipes for it too. 

What nutrients do babies need when weaning:

Yes, this is first and foremost question. Your baby is a tiny version of you. this mean tiny human beings are equipped with more or less same taste buds as you. they might not like a certain fruit that you enjoy so much. But remember, they sure will need that fruit to fulfill their nutritional requirements. 

Nutritional requirements should always be your first priority when considering a certain weaning food. Although babies pretty much need the same nutrition groups that the adult body needs. However, following nutrients are essential in order for them to achieve their monthly growth milestones:

• Vitamin A, D, E, K
• Fats
• Calcium
• Folate
• Zinc and potassium
• Iron 

Vitamin C Fruits for a weaning baby:

Fruits are always the best choice when it comes to introducing foods. Your baby’s stomach is the size of their fist. Don’t expect it to digest chunks bigger than its size. Therefore, fruit purees should always be the first step in weaning. Following fruits purees are recommended for infants:

• Banana: Rich source of potassium, zinc, magnesium. It provides energy and electrolyte balance. Also provides vitamin C which is an excellent antioxidant against metabolic toxins.
• Berries (Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, blueberry): Excellent supply of fiber, aids in digestion. It is also High vitamin C: provides anti-inflammatory properties helps against bacterial and viral infections, fever and allergies. 
• Neuronal development is also a very clear outcome of weaning with berries. It helps the exponentially developing nerves in the growing baby’s spinal cord and brain. 

(Plus-point: your baby is gonna look super cute with their face dripping with berry juice XO)

Iron rich foods for baby:

Iron is something that is largely transferred via breast milk owing to its lactose binding properties. Hence, your baby is unlikely to suffer from iron deficiency up until the first 6 months. However, when the weaning age starts; the consumption of breastmilk reduces during meal hours. This may lead to lower blood Hb in infants a.k.a. Anemia. It is therefore advised to feed the baby iron rich foods. Iron also helps in developing neurons. Iron containing foods that are easy on the tiny gut of your baby too are as follows:

• Apples
• Spinach
• Sweet potato
• Broccoli 
• Peas 

Good carbohydrate source in baby food:

   Your growing baby learning to sit up straight, trying to reach onto things in front of him and make contact with you through his/her sweet coos and macaws. All this requires energy. 

• For the body energy means useable ATPs. Carbohydrates are the excellent source of energy that your naughty patootie needs. 
• Carbs also provide hormonal release from brain. This leads to happier and cheerful baby. This is one of the reasons why after every feed, or fruity drink you feel your child is more alert and joyful.
• Cognitive improvement has been largely reported to improve after carb-based diet in infants. One study (glycemic response and health) showed positive memory improving effects amon infants. The study concluded that after glucose and fructose base diet; the infant is more likely to learn and remember new words. 

Some of the best carb-based food sources for your baby are:

• Beans
• Sweet potatoes
• Squash
• Sweet corn
• Carrots

Protein power for your weaning baby:

Babies are like those little power banks that charge run out of battery within a matter of minutes. You need to keep a supply of power to keep your them from becoming tired and cranky. Proteins are equally important in this regard. 

However, growing muscles put a huge strain on the protein requirement. Low protein intake during first few months of weaning can cause serious malnourishment and dietary diseases. These diseases include conditions like Protein Energy Malnourishment (PEM), kwashiorkor disease, stunted linear growth, delay in meeting physical milestones etc.

On average a weaning baby of 6month onwards requires upto 1 to 2 g protein/kg body weight in a day.

Your can source proteins from avocado, spinach and other green vegetables, lentils (soups), beans etc.

Calcium and Vitamin D foods:

Your baby can now sit up and want to crawl. You are taking the essential precautions such as baby proofing the house. But there is one more important thing that requires your vigilant attention and time. that is your baby’s bone and muscle strength.

Those little fragile rubber-like bones should become harder & stiffer with every passing day. the knee caps should be assembling to be able to carry the body weight, the arms should be able to crawl and push the body above the ground, the budding teeth need calcium to form a shape etc. 

Therefore, calcium and vitamin D can never be ignored. Although milk is an excellent source for both these ingredients. However, a weaning baby needs fast and ample supply of calcium.

Some of the famous calcium foods are:

• Papaya
• Green vegetables 
• Lentils
• Fortified cereals etc.

Take away:

Ever since you got pregnant you wanted to do anything to provide for your child’s health. It is no wonder that you are still looking for recipes that are both delicious and nutritious for your little rainbow miracle. Remember! Hit and trial along with consistency is the key to your child’s diet plan. Let your baby guide you through it all. In the meantime enjoy every step because they do actually grow up really very fast.