Misconceptions about Starting Solids

The Top 4 Myths and Facts
– By Jenny Sigler, Parenting & Pregnancy Writer

Most parents have heard reputable people-their doctor, family members, and other parents-say that it’s safe to introduce solids to their baby when she is around four to six months old. (A “solid” is defined as any food other than breast milk or infant formula.) What you aren’t often told is that most children are not developmentally ready to digest solids until at least six months of age or later.

Due to this advice and other misconceptions, many parents find themselves trying to spoon feed a tight-lipped infant. If your mother or even your doctor says your baby is ready for solids, don’t be afraid to question their advice-especially if their reasoning involves any of the following misconceptions.

Misconception #1: Weight is an indicator of readiness for solids.

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and World Health Organization (WHO) state that solids can be introduced at six months and beyond-regardless of whether a child has doubled his birth weight (a common myth), or is a petite or large baby. Some parents theorize that a larger baby has a greater need for foods besides breast milk or formula; others think that adding rice cereal to their baby’s diet will help him gain weight.

Fact: Not only do breast milk and formula contain more calories and fat than most foods offered to infants, but they boast more nutrients and vitamins as well. Therefore, if a child is experiencing slow weight gain, it is actually more advisable to delay solids and continue with nutrient-rich breast milk or formula. True solid readiness hinges upon a baby’s digestive tract maturation-not his weight. In the early months of a baby’s life, his digestive tract is immature and unable to filter out harmful substances and likewise facilitate the absorption of nutrients.

Misconception #2: Cereal will help my baby sleep through the night.

You may or may not hear this wives tale come from a doctor, but well-meaning family members or friends may suggest this method.

Fact: There is no medical evidence to support this idea. In a controlled study done by the Pediatrics Department at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 106 babies were given a bottle of formula containing a spoonful of rice cereal per ounce at five weeks old and four months old. Even when reducing the definition of sleeping through the night by two hours, no significant or consistent trend was found in increasing the baby’s sleep. Putting cereal in a bottle puts your baby at risk for choking. In addition, the nutrient content of this combination is diluted and is linked to obesity later in life because of the high caloric intake.

Misconception #3: If baby shows interest in your food, drools, tries to grab your plate, she is ready for solid foods.

This is the main sign that most parents cite when deciding to expand their baby’s diet beyond breast milk or formula. Though important, it is only one of many cues that your baby is truly ready to take the leap into solids.

Fact: More important to your baby than satisfying her little belly is feeling that she belongs. Developmentally, she expresses this need by mimicking mom or dad, and that includes their eating habits. If you want your baby to participate in meal time, but she just isn’t ready for solids yet, try offering a “momsicle” made from frozen breast milk or formula.

Misconception #4: A baby needs solid food to ensure he’s getting plenty of iron.

Many doctors tend to be concerned about your baby’s iron intake, and commonly recommend an iron-fortified cereal when your baby is four to six months old. Premature babies, infants born to women with uncontrolled diabetes, and babies who are given cow’s milk anytime during their first year of life are at greater risk for iron deficiency. Before assuming that your baby needs iron supplementation through foods or vitamins, ask for a hemoglobin test. If tests show your baby needs iron, then an iron-fortified formula is the best and most common option.

Fact: Healthy, full-term infants have iron reserves that last at least six months after birth. A study conducted by Dr. Pisacane of Napoli University found that at seven months, exclusively-breastfed (no solids, juices, or supplements of any kind) infants had “significantly higher hemoglobin levels at one year than breastfed babies who received solid foods earlier than seven months”.

Get All the Facts

The World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, and many other worldwide health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding (or formula feeding) for at least the first six months of a baby’s life. Many children thrive on breast milk alone for up to 12 months of age. Ounce for ounce, breast milk and formula have higher caloric, nutrient, and fat contents than solid foods.

Starting solids too early has risks, including an increase in food allergies and higher risk of developing diabetes. Waiting until your baby shows all of the signs of readiness for solids are your best and safest option. Inform yourself on the topic of solids by talking to your pediatrician and researching well-respected sources before offering your baby solids that she might not be ready for.

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Bantu Bayi Tidur Lena

Adakah bayi anda berjaga apabila dia harus tidur dan tertidur apabila dia harus berjaga?

Sebagai ibu bapa yang baru menimang cahaya mata, kehadiran bayi seringkali menyebabkan anda tidak dapat tidur lena pada waktu malam. Bayi anda tidak mempunyai jadual tidur. Dia tidur pada bilabila masa dan seberapa lama yang mungkin. Ini boleh meletihkan anda, terutamanya apabila bayi anda kerap terbangun pada tengah malam. Tetapi jangan bimbang, dia akan tidur dengan lebih tetap lebih kurang usia 6 bulan. Sehingga itu, di sini diterangkan bagaimana anda dapat membantu bayi anda tidur:

• Tetapkan satu rutin. Anda perlu membezakan tidur di waktu siang dan tidur di waktu malam. Pada waktu siang, biar bayi anda tidur di dalam bakul bayi, katil anda atau kereta sorong. Katil bayi hanya digunakan ketika waktu malam. Pada waktu malam, tidurkan bayi anda pada waktu yang sama dan pastikan bilik itu gelap.
• Mendodoi dengan lembut. Tidurkan bayi anda dengan mendodoikannya di lengan anda atau menyanyi. Ini akan mengambil masa kerana anak anda mungkin akan terjaga setiap kali anda meletakkannya di katil bayi.
• Menghisap. Sesetengah bayi akan berasa tenang dengan menghisap dan perkara ini akan dikaitkan dengan puting. Puting dapat menyebabkan masalah pergigian. Oleh itu, ia tidak digalakkan.
• Balutan. Masukkan tangan bayi anda dengan selesa tetapi tidak terlalu ketat di dalam selimut yang nipis. Ini akan membuatkan bayi anda berasa selamat dan membantunya tidur dengan lebih nyenyak.
• Menggosok. Gosok perut bayi anda secara berirama untuk membuatnya rasa lega dan membantunya tidur dengan nyenyak. Jangan ubah rentak gosokan kerana ia mungkin akan mengganggu bayi anda. Hentikan gosokan apabila matanya sudah tertutup
• Mengurut. Urut bayi dengan urutan asas untuk membantu bayi tidur lebih lena.

Bagaimana saya boleh menidurkan bayi semula jika dia terjaga pada waktu malam?

Tunggu beberapa minit untuk melihat sama ada bayi anda akan tidur semula. Jika bayi anda masih menangis, angkat dan dukung bayi anda untuk seketika atau beri bayi anda susu. Letakkannya kembali ke dalam katil bayi apabila dia berhenti menangis. Jika dia menangis lagi, tenangkannya dengan suara anda untuk menunjukkan anda masih bersamanya. Tunggu 5 minit sebelum memeriksa keadaan bayi anda sekali lagi. Tepuk bayi anda tetapi jangan dukungnya melainkan dia meragam dengan teruk. Rapikan selimutnya dan beredar.

Lakukan perkara di atas setiap lima minit sehingga bayi anda tidur semula. Selepas setengah jam, jenguk semula bayi anda setiap 10 minit. Lakukan untuk beberapa minggu bagi membantunya mendapatkan jadual tidur yang lebih sempurna.

Di mana dan bagaimanakah bayi anda perlu tidur?

Biarkan bayi anda tidur di dalam bakul bayi atau katil bayi, bukan di dalam “kain sarung” atau “buaian” kerana bayi mudah terjatuh. Untuk mengelakkan kematian di katil bayi, biarkan anak anda tidur secara melentang dengan kaki di hujung katil bayi. Selimutkan bayi anda dengan kemas supaya selimut itu kekal di bawah bahunya dan tidak terlucut lalu menutup kepala bayi. Jika anda fikir bayi anda tidak tidur dengan baik, dapatkan nasihat dari pakar pediatrik.

Sumber dari: http://www.mypositiveparenting.org/bm/paediatrics-bm.htm#

Sleepless in Parentville

Rujuk artikel ini di http://www.parenting.org/archive/precious/life_lessons/Dec03_Feb04_sleepless.asp

Sleep deprivation. It’s something I’m sure you’ve experienced more than once since your baby came home. Losing sleep is part of your job description as a parent. And it doesn’t matter if you have a toddler or a teen.

Feeding a hungry infant in the wee hours of the morning, rocking a sick child to sleep in the middle of the night – these are the moments that keep you awake at night.

According to most sleep specialists, if you try to take a catnap here and there to makeup for sleepless nights, you won’t get the real rest you need. As a result, you may start experiencing memory loss, diminished alertness or illness.

So what is a busy parent to do? Here are a few strategies to help you get that much-needed shuteye:

• If you have a spouse, take turns being the on-call parent at night. While one gets a night of uninterrupted sleep, the other has a bonding experience with baby.
  
• If Mom is breast-feeding baby, she can use a breast pump to prepare extra bottles. Having extra bottles ready means Dad can handle overnight feedings a few times a week.
  
• If you’re a single parent, ask a grandparent, sibling or close friend for some relief. Their help, even one or two nights a week, can give you some rest. If possible, you might consider restructuring your job. Maybe you can work from home part of the week or take advantage of flex time.

Your life has changed, and your schedule will have to revolve around your new priority – your child. That doesn’t mean you have to be sleep-deprived the rest of your life. Manage the changes to your lifestyle. Ask for help. Delegate responsibilities.

You might just find you have the time to get the sleep you need.