WeMoms
24 May 2022
All about... feeding your baby!
Bottle-fed or breast-fed, basic or specialized milk, diversifying before or after 6 months... Don't panic, here are a few principles to follow so that everything goes smoothly between you and the baby's stomach.
- First of all, start by trusting yourself. Your instinct is often worth a thousand pieces of advice, so listen to yourself and, above all, listen to your baby!
- Breast or bottle: that's the question... The answer is up to you and, even though there's nothing better for a baby than your milk, it's better to have a bottle given in a relaxed and good mood than being breastfed but uncomfortable.
- The important thing is that if you opt for the bottle you should follow your baby's evolution and choose milk according to age: before 6 months, it's first infant milk, from 6 to 12 months, it's follow-on milk and finally, from 12 to 36 months, we need the growth milk!
- And what about baby food? Here again, don't panic. As a general rule, we wait until your baby is 6 months old to start diversifying, in order to reduce the risk of intolerance.
- It's up to you whether you start with baby food or homemade food, but both will meet your baby's needs if you follow your pediatrician's advice!
- And the food chunks? Generally speaking, we start with very fine purées, then move on to ground food, and, finally, we offer little pieces of food. These should always be served separately, on a small plate from which baby can pick at will (or almost, don't exaggerate either!).
In short, as you can see, feeding your baby, whether at birth or at the age of one, is not an impossible mission. Trust yourself, trust your child and follow your pediatrician's advice. You can bet that your baby will enjoy her daily meals!
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In this article
Baby's feeding: stages to know
1
As soon as your baby is born, you can already imagine yourself in the kitchen, preparing delicious meals for him... Be careful, however, to respect the main stages of his diet.
- Less than 6 months: don't worry, it's all milk!
- From 6 to 8 months: things get more complicated with the arrival of food diversification.
- From 8 to 12 months: starchy foods and meats are gradually added to the baby's plate, to the delight of his taste buds.
- From 12 months: his diet is practically identical to that of the family, while remaining perfectly balanced, of course!
Baby's meals: diversification
2
Between the ages of four and six months, you'll be able to introduce new foods into your baby's meals: this is called dietary diversification.
- Following your pediatrician's advice, you will introduce new foods at mealtime.
- But milk must remain the essential component of your baby's diet.
- The first prepared meals should be in the form of purée or porridge.
- Between four and six months, include one vegetable a day, such as green beans, carrots, or potatoes, at lunchtime.
- Initially, give only one or two spoonfuls before gradually increasing.
- As soon as your baby has adapted to this, you can introduce vegetables at dinner, then compotes or crushed fruit at snack time.
The place of bottles in baby's diet
3
Even if you have chosen to breastfeed, sooner or later, the baby will also be bottle-fed. This accessory will then be an ally at mealtimes, sometimes until he is three years old.
- The bottle must meet several criteria: you will have to pay attention to its solidity, its container, its nipple, its flow rate according to the baby's age, its practicality when cleaning...
- It's up to you to weigh the pros and cons to choose the bottle that will be best suited to your baby.
- The most important thing, especially in the first few weeks and up to the fourth month, is to pay close attention to the sterilization of bottles, in order to avoid the proliferation of bacteria until the baby is immune.
The pacifier
4
Soothing and reassuring, pacifiers are often an essential part of your baby's life.
- Make sure the pacifier is age-appropriate. There are pacifiers for babies from birth.
- Use a pacifier clip to prevent it from falling out or getting lost.
- Keep your pacifier clean by washing and sterilizing it regularly.
- Carry it in a pacifier box.
- Choose a personalized pacifier with your baby's name.
- Help your child stop using pacifiers gradually between the ages of 2 and 3.
Which baby formula to choose?
5
Here are some tips on how to choose the right milk for your baby.
- 1st stage milk is suitable for the nutritional needs of infants from birth to 4-6 months.
- 2nd stage milk is suitable for babies from 4-6 months to 1 year.
- 3rd stage or growth milk can complete the child's diet between 1 and 3 years.
- For these three categories, there are hypoallergenic, organic, anti-regurgitation, powdered, or liquid versions.
- However, the best option is to breastfeed your baby whenever possible.
Water for the baby
6
Here are some tips to help you decide what water to give your baby.
- Breast milk is enough to keep your baby well hydrated for up to 6 months.
- For bottle-feeding, select water that is labeled as suitable for infant feeding.
- Mineral water should not contain too many minerals and should be low in nitrates.
- Sweetened water is not recommended, except in cases of colic, which helps to soothe it.
- Choose baby water with a reduced dry residue.
The little pots and compotes for baby
7
Delicious and easy to eat, baby food and compotes help you diversify your child's meals.
- Industrial baby food must meet very strict requirements to ensure that your baby is protected.
- You can give baby food to your baby from the age of 4 months.
- They help to start food diversification.
- Homemade compotes cost less than store-bought compotes.
- Choose a texture that is easy for the baby to swallow.
- Think of frozen vegetables and fruits to concoct your purees and compotes.
