The digestive system of our babies like the rest of the body has its own maturation process. That is why there are foods that our son should not eat until his body is ready to digest them correctly, and others that are also prohibited by the possibility that they can choke and cause drowning.
During the first 12 months, the main foodis milk. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively during the first six months of age. From this moment, our child needs to be incorporating new nutrients, so according to what our pediatrician indicates, it is when we can introduce new foods and textures.
Proper nutrition during your first years of life will be fundamental to your health for the rest of your life.
Below we detail what foods you should not incorporate during your first year of life and why.
1.Salt
It is not recommended to add additional salt to meals in the first months of life. During this time it is enough with what they already provide food.
Excess salt is not good, neither during childhood nor during maturity. But in the case of our babies, a high excess of salt during its development, can produce future problems such as hypertension or damage your kidneys.
Neither are canned foods or broth tablets recommended because of their high salt content necessary to lengthen their shelf life.
Salt is good, as long as it is in its proper measure.
2.Dried beans
The nuts are not recommended , not only during the first year of life, if not until five or six years of age . Why? They are the most frequent cause of childhood choking. A lot of caution! In addition, peanuts, nuts, almonds … are highly allergenic foods.
3.Honey
Honey can contain the bacteria responsible for transmitting botulism , which can cause serious problems. That is why it is not advisable to give honey to children under one year, as it can produce toxins in your intestine, which is still in development. When it has matured there will be no problem in combating this bacterium.
It is also not recommended because it could suffer allergy to pollen.
4. Skimmed
The most important thing for us is that our children grow up healthy and strong. For this reason products such as milk, yogurt, cheeses … should not be skimmed and should be taken in small quantities. Our body, and especially that of our baby, needs fats, a source of calories that promotes growth.
We do not recommend cow’s milk during the first year of life because of its high protein intake. After 12 months you can take it, but whole.
5. Large fisheries
Large fish such as swordfish, shark, pike or bluefin tuna contain large amounts of mercury . This metal can be toxic and affect the correct development of the nervous system of children. We should avoid this type of fish until three years of age. Nor is seafood recommended until two years.
Whitefish is more appropriate at this stage.
6.Raw Non-Veg
Foods such as raw or undercooked eggs, meat or fish can create serious infections such as anisakis or salmonellosis among others. So these foods during this period better well done.
7.Hunting
Game meat may contain lead, so it should not be consumed until at least 6 years of age. Lead can cause kidney problems and affect intellectual development . It is also not recommended to take this type of food during pregnancy.
8. Sugar
Excess sugar in children can cause overweight children, decay and other dental problems and even diabetes . This is because sugars provide so much immediate energy that insulin can suffer unhealthy falls for a child’s body. It is not recommended to add sugar to food until 2 years of age.
9. Industrial bakery
The industrial bakery is characterized by its high content of trans fats , harmful to health. In addition they usually contain oils such as palm or coconut, unhealthy.
So we recommend that if you want to give your baby some bread, make it homemade or make sure that the ingredients are as healthy as possible.
10. Jellybeans
The trinkets have a large amount of sugars, gum and dyes , not recommended in these ages. The large amount of empty calories that they contribute can cause childhood obesity and the excess of sugar, as we have mentioned previously, favors the appearance of dental problems such as cavities.
11. Refreshments
There is no better drink for a child than water. Soft drinks contain excess sugar , which we have seen previously contraindicated that is in excess. They do not contain any nutrients and can cause the child to get full and then not want to eat other things that give him the nutrients and vitamins he needs for his growth.
Of course, it should not be said that caffeinated beverages are completely forbidden . In children they produce irritability and hyperactivity.
12. Spinach or chard
Spinach and chard, although containing a large amount of vitamins and minerals essential for development, also contain nitrites. This excess of nitrites in children younger than 12 months can cause hemoglobin, which causes difficulty in breathing due to the lack of oxygen in the blood . So we should look for the contribution of vitamins and nutrients in other types of vegetables.
Spinach and chard, although containing a large amount of vitamins and minerals essential for development, also contain nitrites. This excess of nitrites in children younger than 12 months can cause hemoglobin, which causes difficulty in breathing due to the lack of oxygen in the blood . So we should look for the contribution of vitamins and nutrients in other types of vegetables.
Healthy and balanced diet
After this small guide you have to be careful and follow the pediatrician’s instructions. Little by little your digestive system will be prepared to discover new flavors and textures on your palate. We have to wait for the right moment to give it new foods.
A balanced diet and healthy eating habits since we were little, will benefit our son during his development and in his maturity: they will grow healthy and will become stronger.
