10 Little Known Ways to Keep Your Baby’s Food as Safe and Healthy as Possible
This week I talked about the Melamine scare in Chinese powdered infant formula that has caused tens of thousands of babies to develop kidney stones. I wanted to share with you some tips on keeping your baby’s food as safe and healthy as possible, because even without the worry of Melamine, we still need to be mindful of a few other things.
♦ Always check the expiration date on all food fed to your baby. Infant formula and commercially prepared baby food both will have a date printed on the packaging… if it is after that date, DO NOT use the product.
♦ Make sure that you sterilize all baby bottles before using them for either breast milk or formula.
♦ If your baby does not finish an entire bottle in one sitting… DON’T save it. Throw it away and make a fresh bottle for the next feeding.
♦ Make sure to test the bottle’s temperature on your wrist prior to feeding your infant to ensure that you do not burn or scald a small child’s mouth. Always make sure that you use a bottle warmer or hot water to warm a cold bottle… DO NOT place a bottle in the microwave because it causes uneven heating of the liquid.
♦ When you are buying baby food in the store do not purchase jars that are sticky or stained on the outside. Always make sure that the jars you are buying have the safety seal still pressed in on the top of the jar. If you ever open a jar and do not hear the popping sound made by the safety seal… do not use that jar.
♦ If you open a jar of baby food, and do not use it all in one sitting, make sure you use the remainder of the food within two days. Keep the jar in the refrigerator between feedings and warm the cold baby food up in a food warmer or on the stove, do not use the microwave.
♦ If you know that your baby will not eat an entire jar of baby food at one sitting do not serve from the jar. Instead pour the amount needed into a separate bowl to prevent germs from your infants saliva spoiling the rest of the jar.
♦ Be aware of food allergy symptoms: Rash, itchy skin or eyes, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, and others. If you ever feed your child a new food and notice any of these symptoms develop in them stop giving that food and notify your child’s doctor right away.
♦ Keep in mind that some common food allergies for children are coming from cow’s milk, egg whites, peanuts, fish, corn, wheat, soy, shellfish, and citrus fruits. Many doctors recommend waiting until after a child is one year old to start any of these foods, be sure you check with yours before you do.
♦ Always introduce one new food at a time to make sure that your child does not react to them, that way if they do it is easier to determine which new food they have a reaction to.
“Keeping our children safe when we feed them involves making smart choices and watching out for problems as they arise. If you suspect any health problems with your child as a result of food or formula contact your pediatrician right away. Most food problems can be addressed quickly and easily by making healthy food choices or finding alternatives that best fit your child’s needs.”
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