Harnessing health hazards
You can keep your baby safe and healthy when weaning by doing the following:
- Wash your hands before handling and preparing bottles and food, and before feeding your baby.
- Wash all fruit and veg thoroughly. The UK government advises peeling fruit and veg if they’re not organic, because farming chemicals can cause stomach cramps. Peel is also a choking hazard.
- Sterilise all bottles and feeding equipment until your baby is 12 months old.
- Remove potential choking hazards from your baby’s food: Check fish and meat for bones, remove stones and pips from fruit, and cut up food into small pieces.
- Cook meat, fish, and poultry thoroughly to kill off parasites.
- Make sure your baby’s food isn’t too hot: Taste it before serving to check the temperature.
- Store food in the fridge in a sterile lidded container for up to 24 hours. Do not re-store food once your baby’s spoon has been in it, as saliva can spread bacteria.
- Remember to defrost frozen food thoroughly before serving.
- Keep surfaces for raw meat separate: Don’t prepare other foods on the same surface.
- Don’t microwave your baby’s food or milk, as it can develop hotspots that can burn your baby’s mouth.
- Don’t reheat food more than once. If you’re using jars, heat up the amount you expect your baby to eat and refrigerate the rest.
- Never leave your baby unattended while he’s eating, in case he chokes.
Weaning your baby on to solid foods is an important step in his healthy development and a huge learning curve for both you and your baby. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from your health visitor if you’re not sure about something.
Posted in Children's Health
