Infant nutrition: Take care of what you feed tiny tummies
Introducing solid foods to your baby before six months can lead to digestive problems and allergies. Follow expert recommendations to ensure your baby's health and well-being
Mothers may feel frustrated when their babies continue to cry despite being changed, fed, and comforted. While it’s understandable to want to prevent crying, some mothers may resort to overfeeding their babies. This can be detrimental to their health, as it can lead to digestive problems, allergies, and other health issues.
Infants who are introduced to solid foods before they are six months old may also be at risk for these same health problems.
Sesethu Soga, a mother of two from Burgundy estate, Cape Town, faced challenges with a low milk supply for both of her daughters.
When her first daughter was four months old, she decided to introduce solid foods before the recommended age of six months, as she found milk powder to be expensive, and wanted to supplement her breast milk.
Sesethu Soga is a mother of two girls living in Cape Town’s Burgundy Estate.
Photo: Sesethu Soga.
Soga says she was careful to avoid certain foods that could potentially cause her babies to experience diarrhoea, such as beans. She also avoided hard foods that contained salt, opting instead for homemade purees made from steamed vegetables blended with a little sugar.
When she went out, Soga would purchase jarred baby food purity for 0-6-month-olds.
“I realised that they were curious about the food we were eating at home, so I decided to introduce them to it after six months while still being cautious to avoid salty, sugary, or hard meals.”
Sesethu Soga
Phiwokuhle Myoyo from East London in the Eastern Cape is the biological mother of two children, but she has taken on the responsibility of additionally raising her sister’s three children.
Phiwokuhle Myoyo says it is advisable to avoid giving sugary foods to kids.
Photo: Phiwokuhle Myoyo.
From birth, Myoyo formula-fed her own children and, at four months old, began introducing them to amasi and spoon-feeding soft foods. She says she is careful to avoid giving her children added sugars, such as those found in fruit juices, as these can lead to weight gain and tooth decay, she says.
“I noticed my nephew experiencing tooth decay, which was caused by the consumption of sugary foods at a young age.”
Phiwokuhle Myoyo
Myoyo acknowledges that even fruit juices may not be the best choice for infants.
Mama, be mindful of what you feed your baby
Kids can choke on any type of food, but certain foods are riskier than others. Strong4Life recommends that parents closely supervise their children during mealtimes and other activities to prevent common choking hazards related to food.
Common foods that can cause choking are whole grapes, chunks of cheese, chunks of nut butter, popcorn, nuts and seeds, marshmallows, cherries with pits, whole cherry tomatoes, and hot dogs.
When to start feeding your baby solids
The Association for Dietetics in South Africa (Adsa) emphasises that exclusively breastfeeding your baby for the first six months of their life is the most natural method of feeding. After six months, breastmilk alone is no longer sufficient as the sole source of nutrition.
Estelle Venter, a registered dietitian, and spokesperson for ADSA), reports that a review conducted in 2018 on complementary feeding practices in South Africa found that the diets of numerous older infants fail to meet the standards for just an acceptable diet.
“It was reported that many babies between six months and one year are regularly given processed meats, soft drinks, sweets and salty crisps, which are all nutrient-poor foods that are not suitable for babies.”
Estelle Venter
Mbali Mapholi, a registered dietitian, explains that introducing complementary foods alongside breastfeeding is effective when the food provided to the baby is soft and easily digestible. This is why the initial solid foods are typically pureed and mashed, added Mapholi.
For safety reasons, children should be monitored at all times during self-feeding. Photo: Pexels
“We start with mashed, soft foods, and as they develop, the food becomes more textured and soft finger foods can be offered.”
Mbali Mapholi
Dos and don’ts
Mapholi tells Health For Mzansi that toddlers aged 12 to 36 months should have five small meals each day, and most of these meals should include starchy foods.
It is recommended to consume dairy products like milk, maas, and yoghurt every day. It is suggested to have 500ml of dairy to ensure your child gets enough calcium for strong bones and healthy teeth.
There’s also a list of nutrient-poor foods that parents and caregivers need to stay clear of:
Avoid tea and coffee as these drinks contain caffeine.
Avoid sugary drinks and juices which are high in sugar.
Vateka Halile grew up in rural areas of Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape. She was raised in a traditional family setting and found writing to be a source of comfort and escape. Vateka participated in an online citizen journalism course through Food For Mzansi, and her passion for health and medicine-related stories was born. Her dedication to community work and love for social justice and solidarity spaces is evident in her quality time with the community when she isn't working.
