Tag: formula

Food for Thought

| March 7, 2013

Weaning your baby from the breast or bottle is an exciting time for you and your baby. You’re about to introduce new tastes, textures and foods that will help provide the nutrients your baby needs to develop and grow into a healthy child.

Waiting until your baby is ready to process solid food lessens the chance of developing food allergies. Health experts recommend full term babies begin weaning at six months to give baby’s digestive system time to mature. At six months babies start to need a higher level of nutrients, especially iron, which they can’t get from breastmilk or infant formula alone.

Nutritionally, babies still need breastmilk or infant formula until they’re one year old and emotionally your baby receives a great source of comfort and security from nursing.

In the beginning weaning is all about taste and exploration. For the first couple of weeks offer a teaspoon or two of solids once a day when baby is slightly peckish. Pureed pear, apple, sweet potato, parsnip and carrot are sweet tasting and gentle on baby’s tummy. Ripe banana and avocado can be mashed to achieve a smooth consistency. Baby rice and baby cereals are a good introduction to grains and can be mixed with your baby’s usual milk.

It’s beneficial to introduce foods one at a time over a few days to check for any allergic reactions. Foods that most commonly cause allergies are wheat, eggs, shellfish, milk, nuts and seeds. You should seek urgent medical help if you think your baby is having an allergic reaction.

weaning

Foods to avoid when weaning are salt, sugar and low fat foods which are nutritionally unsuitable. Honey is a source of sugar and should not be given to babies under one year as it can contain bacteria. Cow’s milk should only be used in cooking until baby is at least one year. Nuts should not be given to children under the age of five due to the risk of choking.

Let your baby lead the way. At six months I started to wean my baby with pureed fruit and vegetables and by seven months she was showing an interest in using her fingers to eat so we moved to more of a baby-led weaning approach.
Take things slowly to give you and your baby time to adjust to weaning and allow baby to enjoy a variety of foods. Weaning is an incredible developmental stage for your baby. Eat together as a family, have fun and accept things will get messy!

mummy and me magazineLydia Oliver – Nutritional Advisor Only Best For Baby

This article was published in the March 2013 edition of Mummy and Me Magazine

I offer one to one nutrition programmes for breastfeeding, post pregnancy weight loss, weaning, weight management and health. Contact me.

Travelling with a Baby

| February 11, 2013
John Lewis Shape Sorter

John Lewis Shape Sorter and Stacking Cups

My baby and I travelled all the way from London to Auckland. We flew across the globe together and had a stopover in Hong Kong for a night to refresh ourselves and catch up on a few hours of sleep.

The build up to our flight from London started a couple of weeks before our departure. I didn’t want to think too much about the flight as it would kick start butterflies in my stomach, whilst I wondered how I was going to manage such a long journey on a plane with my baby.

The very thought of leaving hubby behind in London for 8 weeks was daunting. Knowing how much he’d miss us and how much we’d miss him made it almost impossible to fathom. On the bright side we’d Skype daily and Imogen and I would be spending Summer with our family and friends in New Zealand whilst hubby was busy at work in London during the coldest months of the year.

It was the bit in the middle, the journey, that I didn’t want to do. I tried to keep as calm as possible. I was going to travel across the world with my baby. Just me and my baby! I found it easier not to dwell on it too much and put all of my energy into the preparation of fun activities for us and what we’d need to pack in our on-flight luggage.

Here’s my list of on-flight essentials that I’d travel with again:

Fun Activities

Food and Drink

  • Organic Baby Pouches and age appropriate baby snacks
  • Formula Milk Powder in formula pots

Essentials

  • Nappies
  • Nappy Bags
  • Sudocrem
  • Baby Wipes
  • Sachets of Calpol and Nurofen, should they be needed
  • A change of clothes for you and your baby
  • If your baby is walking Baby Reins are brilliant when you’re at a busy airport and queuing for check-in and security

Knowing how hard it was travelling that distance myself made me realise how important it was to make it fun experience for my baby. And last but not least a positive attitude, a strong resolve and a calm approach all helped.

What are your tips for flying with a baby or toddler?

Benefits of Breastfeeding

| October 28, 2012

No doubt you will have heard Breast is Best.

Despite this there’s still a lot of debate when it comes to feeding and what’s best for your baby.

Exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding with breast milk and formula or exclusive formula feeding?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) published a statement in January 2011 indicating findings show exclusive breastfeeding up to the age of 6 months is best for babies, as it helps to achieve optimal growth, development and health.

This statement on breastfeeding by the WHO is for all babies, not just babies in developing countries.

My thoughts are that if you can breastfeed and if you want to breastfeed then it’s best for Mum and baby to breastfeed. Nutritionally, emotionally and physiologically.

Here are just some of the Benefits of Breastfeeding

  • The fat in breast milk is more digestible for babies, compared with cow’s milk, so there’s a greater absorption of fat-soluble vitamins into baby’s bloodstream.
  • The hormones in breast milk promote baby’s growth.
  • Breastfeeding will give your baby the best start and allow them to grow and develop at optimal levels.
  • Breastfeeding decreases the risk of your baby developing infections as Mum’s breast milk provides antibodies for her baby.
  • Breastfeeding can help to reduce Mum’s risk of developing breast cancer.
  • Breastfeeding is the best way to burn calories, and you get to sit down and put your feet up at the same time!
  • Breastfeeding gives Mum and baby regular skin-to-skin contact which nurtures bonding and provides great emotional benefits.
  • There’s a reduced risk of breastfed babies developing childhood diabetes.
  • Breast milk provides baby with protection against allergies, eczema and asthma.

 
What are your thoughts on the benefits of breastfeeding?