Baby needs

Needs your baby

By 7 or 8 months yor baby is ready to move on to the next stage of weaning, with meals getting a little lumpier and finger foods making an appearance.

Older babies need more iron in their diets as their own stores start to run down after the age of about six months. They are also becoming much more active as they learn to crawl and then walk - and that means more calories are needed for energy and growth.

Your baby also needs a variety of nutrients in his foods, and to become used to a wide range of tastes as he grows. He can now chew, handle different textures and pick up different shapes more skilfully - eating fits in well with his newly acquired skills and experiences.

He also needs to practice his social skills, and joining in meals with other people gives a great opportunity for this. By the end of the first year, your baby will probably be able to enjoy almost all the same foods as you do, perhaps modified a little to make them more suitable for him.
Which milk?

Experts agree that babies aged up to a year should continue to be given breastmilk or formula milk or follow on milk as their main drink, rather than cow’s milk. Some experts feel that babies should be given no cow’s milk at all until they are a year old, because of the risk of allergies, while other experts advise that small amounts of full fat pasteurised cow’s milk can be used to mix with foods from six months onwards.
How much milk?

As your baby’s intake of other foods increases, he’s likely to need less milk. If you are breastfeeding, you can continue for as long as you and your baby want to. Your baby will naturally regulate his own intake.

When you do decide to cut down on breastfeeds, offer a drink in a cup at a time you’d normally expect your baby to want the breast. There is no point in trying to introduce the different sucking action of a bottle to a baby who’s over six months. Even if he is already accustomed to bottles, it’s still a good time to begin using a cup.

If your baby is still very keen on bottle feeds, you may have to take the initiative in dropping some of his formula intake - it’s easy for older bottle fed babies to fill up on milk, which may not leave much room for other foods. Decrease the amount of milk in each bottle so his intake over the day is less, and offer a cup instead of a bottle at some feeds.

By the end of the first year, the recommended amount of milk is 600 ml a day (about a pint) - and that includes milk from other sources such as custards and yogurt. More than this isn’t necessary, and some healthy babies take a lot less just because they don’t like it. A breastfed baby can feed as often as he wants to, but if he is only feeding once or twice, it’s sensible to make sure he has extra milk in a cup or in other foods.

Homemade food is good for baby health

Making your own baby food is easy and delicious. It is healthier and doesn't take much time to prepare. First, start with organic vegetables, if at all possible. Get yourself a steamer and begin cooking.

Clean your vegetables thoroughly. Most baby's love homemade carrots and sweet potatoes the best. You can also use squash, peaches or apples, whatever looks good for the season. All of these can be steamed together to make things quicker. Put some water in the bottom of your pot, put in the steamer and add cut up veggies and fruit. Steam the food until it is soft and let cool.

There is no need to season or add salt to steamed food as fruit and vegetables are naturally seasoned. Pick out any seeds or fibrous strings that could choke your baby.

Separate the steamed food and put each separately in a food processor, adding a little bottled or filtered water when needed to soften food. As your little one grows, you can leave larger bits of food in the mix. But for your baby, keep it smooth and creamy. Rinse the processor after each batch you make.

You can buy little jars or containers to use or even use ice cube trays to store your food. Freeze the steamed food in little portions so you any during feedings. These can be thawed overnight in the refrigerator or warmed in hot water. Always mix well and stick your clean finger in the food to look for hot spots. It is not a good idea to microwave the steamed food, as it can overheat and burn your baby.

Now you wiil start solid food for baby

Making the transition from breast or bottle to solid foods is a big event for both you and baby. Starting on solid foods is not just about nutrition; it is baby's exciting introduction to the world of new flavors and to the enjoyment of chewing and eating.
Here are some tips for starting out on the right foot with solid foods.

Track your baby's solid-foods progress with the chart below. Start baby on just one new food at a time. Watch for reactions. Then, after about five days, try another food. If baby doesn't like a food, give her a week, then try again

baby care-nutrition

Parents, especially mother should take nutritional diet, do modest levels of exercise and avoid stress. This is necessary for good health of the baby.

Baby care in ayurvedha

Ayurveda suggests pregnant women take herbs like shatavari. It improves the immune system of the mother and the baby. Chyavanaprash nutritional supplement is also suggested for the healthy growth of the fetus. Whole grain food items, milk, honey, ghee etc are also recommended for pregnant women.
The branch of Ayurveda that deals with pregnancy is Prasoothi Tantra. It tells about the nutrition and exercises a woman must follow during pregnancy. Ante natal care in Ayurveda includes suggestion of simple exercises, lifestyle balance etc to give a healthful, beautiful child. There are specific herbs and nutrition to take during different stages of pregnancy. Towards the end of pregnancy, there will be different processes going on to make labor easier.

Post natal care includes caring the mother and baby with medicated oil massages. Mother is also given herbal decoctions, medicines and nutrient supplements for immunity, proper actation and quick return to health. The baby is also given proper massages to open up
the pores of the skin, strengthen immunity and for complexion of skin.

What a wonder ful seen in my baby blog

True story from the show "Jon & Kate Plus Eight".. They are cute aren't they? The 6 babies are 3 years old now. Smarter and cheeky! Haahahah…. See how big they are already…
I got this in formation link from fun& funonly

Child care center

Full-day child care centers offer care and educational activities to groups of children in non-residential settings. They are often open all day and all year long to cover the hours needed by working parents. They offer children a place to play and learn away from home, with staff who are trained in child development. Most serve children from 3 to 5 years old. Some are designed just for infants, or just for school-age children. Others combine these different age groups. Some full-day child care centers now offer part-time options for parents who don’t need full-time care for their children.