WHEN AND HOW TO INTRODUCE FRESH JUICES INTO BABY DIET
Juices are a rich and fresh drink to add to your baby's meal. But if not introduced properly, it can cause more harm than its benefits. Here's how to cautiously add fresh juices into your baby's diet menu.
- Babies should be completely breastfed until 6 months old.
- In the 6th month, you can start off with diluted vegetable and fruit juices in addition to breast milk or formula milk though not necessary.
- If the baby is sufficiently breastfed - water is enough as an additional drink.
- If you are feeding your baby non-veg food (meat broth, egg yolk, soups, etc) after 8 months, there's no need to feed additional fruit/vegetable juices.
- If you are bringing up your baby as vegetarian - diluted juice with meals helps the baby's body to absorb the iron (good for baby's blood) from food.
- Diluted juices are easily digested - 1 part fresh juice (no sugar) to 10 parts cooled, boiled water.
- For 24 hours time period - give only 120 ml - a higher intake can cause diarrhea.
- Offer at mealtimes and never at bedtime - to protect the baby's teething.
- Don't give sweetened squashes / packaged juices - causes tooth decay.
- Offer fresh fruits and vegetables over juices - mash, puree, bite-sized finger foods - saves vitamins and fibers that are lost in juices.
0 Comments