Baby Food Safety

It is very essential that you feed your baby nutritious food and also ensure the baby's food safety. Since babies have lesser immunity than adults, it is important that you keep yourself updated about possible feeding dangers and protect your little one from food illnesses such as food poisoning. Food poisoning is very common in India. Feeding mishaps may occur due to many reasons. For example, minute glass splinters that are not very easily visible can get passed on to the baby food.

Tips to Ensure Baby's Food Safety

The "Do" Aspects of Baby Food Safety

• Wash your hands with warm and antibacterial soap very thoroughly. It is a good practice to wash your hands as often as possible and before every feed. If you happen to touch any raw meat or blow your nose or wipe your mouth as you feed your baby - do remember to wash your hands once again.
• Keep the baby food containers clean and dust free. You can either wipe the tins with a damp cloth or show them under the tap before breaking the seal.
• Store the baby food in a cool dry place away from extreme temperatures.
• Always serve the baby from a clean feeding bowl. Do not serve directly from the container.
• Keep utensils needed to cook the baby food and the surfaces on which it is prepared very clean.
• If your doctor allows you to feed your little one eggs, cook them well before serving him the eggs. Raw eggs can breed bacteria.
• If the fruits and vegetables are not organic in nature, wash and peel them before feeding your baby.
• If you think a food item may be stale, do not hesitate to throw it out.
• When you are traveling, try and carry unopened dehydrated food containers with you. Add water when it is needed at the time of feeding.
• Offer juice and other liquids only in small quantities so that he eats more of other nutritious solid food.
• Wait for about 4 days before you introduce a new food. This will help you determine if your baby is allergic to any particular food.
• Discuss with your doctor about the homemade foods that you can give your baby.

The "Do Not" Aspects of Baby Food Safety

• Do not leave cuts or wounds open while feeding your baby. Dress them with a bandage. This prevents infection from passing on to your baby.
• Do not buy food containers that have seals which have been tampered with.
• Do not tap the top of a baby food container in an attempt to open it. If the container is made of glass, it may break and the glass splinters might pass into the food unnoticed. Use a bottle opener on the side to open it. Discard the opener if you find it has become rusty or too difficult to clean with repeated using.
• Do not keep left over food from a bowl for the next meal as this can turn out to be a breeding ground for bacteria.
• Remember to use one spoon for a serving. If you want to mix some more formula after feeding the baby, do not put the used spoon into the container. Use a fresh spoon.
• Avoid heating your baby's food in a microwave as it can get heated unevenly. To check if the food is of the right temperature, drop a bit of the food on your wrist to see if it is warm. Never put the spoon with which you are planning to feed your baby into your mouth. If you do so to check the temperature, use a new spoon for your baby.
• Never give your baby unpasteurised dairy products.
• Avoid cow's milk till your baby is about a year old. This is to prevent your little one from allergy.
• Do not mix cereal and formula together in a feeding bottle as this could choke your baby.
• Do not allow your baby to sleep with a feeding bottle. This can cause teeth cavities.
• Do not offer your little one corn syrup or honey until he is a year old.