Food and drink for your summer baby
Summer is a lovely time to spend with baby. If he’s old enough, you can experiment with summer fruits and foods, letting him really get into it out in the open – a little on the wild side.
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There are however a few precautions particular to food and drink for baby over summer… the first being to make sure baby is hydrated at all times, and secondly to ensure that baby’s food is kept cool to avoid tummy problems.
Precautions for baby’s summer food
During hot weather, you should pay even more attention than usual to the preservation of food, particularly milk, which is susceptible to developing bacteria. Avoid fats, fried food and processed products as these can be harsh on the stomach.
Go for fresh produce and positively overdose on fruit, vegetables, greens, natural fruit juice and water if your baby is already eating. These are refreshing and also have a ready supply of vitamins, salt and minerals, and many other nutrients that support your baby’s system, ready for coping with the usual coughs and colds that will come when winter returns.
Give your baby light meals based on fruit, vegetables and well-cooked meat. Avoid fried foods and sliced meat, salty or spicy dishes, and also soups, creamy cheeses and butter. Try to avoid giving your child food bought from street market stalls as products may have been left out of refrigeration for long periods during the day: if you aren’t at home, always go for bottled mineral water as well.
If your baby is vomiting or suffering from diarrhoea, continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed, or give her normal meals just making sure that your baby is getting even more liquid than usual between meals. If your baby is already looking pale, he or she should be rehydrated immediately at a medical centre where a special serum will be administered.
For breastfed babies, this serum can be given between feeds. For bottle-fed babies or those on solid food, stop the usual feeding times for 4-6 hours and only give your baby the serum during this time. After this, you can go back to your baby’s normal diet.
At the slightest sign of dehydration, take your baby straight to a medical centre or the nearest pharmacy.
Summer baby and the risk of dehydration
Feared by all mothers, dehydration can happen even more easily when the baby is suffering from gastro-intestinal problems. With the heat, food can go bad more easily.
Once ingested, this can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, which cause your baby to lose essential water and minerals. The most obvious sign of dehydration is when there is less urine and it is very concentrated and dark. With babies, the tongue and gums will be less moist and eyes will be dry and dull. If your baby lowers his or her head in an abnormal way, this is another sign of dehydration. Further symptoms include lethargy and sluggishness, headaches and, in serious cases, even a loss of consciousness.
If your baby is suffering from diarrhoea, ensure he gets a large intake of liquid immediately, as the state of dehydration is caused when more water is being lost than is entering the body. You can also use a little grandmother’s remedy for your baby which is very effective and easy to make: ½ teaspoon of salt with two teaspoons of sugar dissolved in a glass of filtered, boiled water. Definitely do not give your baby ice cream or soda as not only are these not sufficient in restoring mineral levels but the sugar will also aggravate the diarrhoea.
Breast-fed summer babies and water
Theoretically, while you are breastfeeding your baby does not need any other liquid. Extra fluid may be needed, and this is usually when your baby demands a feed. If it’s very hot and your baby is showing signs of being thirsty, hshe will want to feed more and your body will automatically produce the milk. It's as simple as that.
Be careful though, as this is not to say that water is not needed. If the temperature surpasses what is normal, your baby (especially a newborn) can suffer from dehydration. Increase feeds and offer your baby some water with a spoon, keeping this separate from your usual feeding routine.
Once your baby is a little older and taking solids, water should be introduced as a regular drink and can and should be regularly offered during the day.
Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo
Posted 06.07.2011
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