The topic of this article is the abundance of commercial snacks marketed for infants and toddlers. Little ones need to have snacks, usually one or two a day. I advocate considering snacks as a mini-meal or a smaller version of the food you would serve at a meal. Here is information that may make you think twice about what you buy, and give you healthier options. Mom shopping for snacks...so many to choose from! As with many commercial and processed foods, marketing tactics co

I am following up on my recent article on edibles (food) as choking hazards, with one on non-food choking hazards. Although this article does not relate to food, it does involve the things that little ones put in their mouths, attempting to eat them, and the dangers involved. I have emphasized this many times, but all parents should be trained in infant and child CPR, to learn what to do for a choking child. Hopefully, you will never witness this situation, but knowing what t

Feeding your child table food and what the rest of the family eats is exciting. This article is a reminder that little ones don’t chew well and that most any food can be a choking hazard. Children should never be left unattended while eating. Preventing choking is one of the reasons we childproof our homes, don’t buy toys with tiny pieces, and require older siblings to put away tiny toys, out of the reach of younger ones. We purchase items with childproof caps, keep shiny obj

This month we will tackle toddlers and their eating habits. Once your baby is over a year and enters toddlerhood, they often become picky eaters. Foods they previously loved, they no longer want; they may eat the same thing for days, then suddenly will not touch it. Toddler girl covering her mouth and refusing to eat a bite of broccoli - part of toddler territory! What’s a parent to do? Sometimes, we just want them to eat…anything! This article will help you through this phas

Once your baby is a year old, they can transition from breast milk or formula to regular milk per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations. Before a year, babies can’t digest milk well since the protein and minerals in cow’s milk are more than an infant’s kidneys and intestines can handle. Cow’s milk has a higher protein concentration than baby formula and can lead to iron deficiency and bleeding in the intestines. Toddler being poured a cup of milk. Mixing mi

Can babies have water? That question is common for pediatricians. The answer is yes or no, depending on the age. Babies should not be given plain water until 6 months of age. Until then, only breast milk or formula provides all the fluid and nutrition they need. Once an infant is 6 months, they only need a few ounces of water daily since they continue to drink a substantial amount of either breast milk or formula. Up to 4-8 ounces of water is enough. Once they are past a year

Allergenic foods are designated as The Big 9. These include: milk and dairy eggs wheat soy peanuts tree nuts fish shellfish sesame Common allergenic foods including eggs, milk, wheat, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, and peanuts, with the words allergy food written on a chalkboard. What are the signs to watch for? What if my baby reacts? When is it safe to offer these foods? Can more than one be given at a time or on the same day? These questions and more are answered in this arti

I have stated in many posts that little ones should not have whole nuts before the age of four since these are a choking hazard. Nuts in the form of smooth nut butter are acceptable. Photo of a variety of whole nuts which should not be given to children under four. When is it safe to introduce nut butter to your baby, and how to do so? Can only nut butter be used? How much and how often? These questions and more will be answered here! Peanuts and tree nuts are common food all

During infancy, babies get all the protein they require from breast milk or formula. Meat and seafood provide an additional protein source for infants six months and older. As stated in previous posts, it is best to start with vegetables, to get a baby used to non-sweet food, and then progress from there. Sources of meat and seafood - chicken, beef, and salmon - all of which are great protein, iron, and zinc sources. Meats are a great iron and zinc source at a time when babi

Babies can have yogurt as early as 6 months. Yogurt is a great food to add to their baby food repertoire. Yogurt has numerous health benefits for your baby, including protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and B vitamins. Yogurt with live, active cultures contains probiotics which are bacteria that are good for the gut and promote a healthy gut microbiota. Bowl of plain yogurt - a healthy choice What Type of Yogurt Should be Given? For the first two years, babies should be

Now that your baby has tried a variety of cereals, what is the next step? Happy baby eating baby food. I encourage parents to start with vegetables for several reasons: Vegetables have fiber and are less likely to cause firm stools. Vegetables add great variety to the diet. Offering these will help to influence your child’s palate in favor of these. Vegetables are some of the least likely allergenic foods. Jars of a variety of pureed baby foods and the raw foods they are ma

Now that your baby has achieved the half-year mark, it is time to introduce new foods. First foods often include baby cereals to introduce spoon-feeding. There are many choices! This article will give you some guidance on cereals options. Picture of infant sitting in high chair being spoon-fed cereal. Baby cereals come from grains that are ground to make a paste or puree when mixed with liquid. Breast milk or formula is ideal for mixing cereal since these are familiar tastes

A child’s vegetable intake often declines with age. Achieving the recommended daily vegetable intake of 2-4 servings is difficult. There are things a parent can do that is the focus of this article. Why are vegetables important? Vegetables provide multiple health benefits including fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and plant-based antioxidants not provided by other foods. They help in preventing constipation and feed the gut microbiome. Eating vegetables adds fiber a

"Many new parents ask when can babies drink water and it is one of the most common questions pediatricians hear. Can babies have water? That question is common for pediatricians. The answer is yes or no depending on the age. Babies should not be given plain water until 6 months of age. Until then only breast milk or formula provides all the fluid and nutrition they need, making the question of when can babies drink water one every new parent needs to understand." Once an i

The dangers of raw unpasteurized milk children should never be given is a warning every parent needs to hear. I read a newspaper article last month regarding raw, unpasteurized milk and its potential benefits, but that it also can contain the bird flu virus. As a pediatrician, I wish to warn parents regarding unpasteurized products, whether milk, cheeses, or juices. Raw milk can come from cows, goats, sheep, or buffalo. Pasteurizing extends the freshness and shelf-life of m

Are you familiar with the gut microbiota? Research shows that there are more microorganisms living in our gut than there are cells in our...

Once your baby is a year old, they can transition from breast milk or formula to regular milk per the American Academy of Pediatrics...

Depiction of the brain as half drawing and half foods that are good for the brain, such as seafood, berries, nuts, and vegetables. Did...

Feeding your child table food and what the rest of the family eats is exciting. This article is a reminder that little ones don’t chew...

During infancy, babies get all the protein they require from breast milk or formula. Meat and seafood provide an additional protein...