Various baby food myths circulating, what are the facts?

Have you heard of one or more myths about baby food? For example, "don't give eggs to babies", "it's okay for babies to drink fruit juice", and so on.

Although the nutritional needs of babies every day must be fulfilled properly, you also need to know the truth of various baby food myths. What are the baby food myths that often circulate in the community?

Myths about baby food that need to be known

Since babies begin to learn to eat complementary foods (complementary foods), parents need to pay close attention to the processing and feeding of babies.

You need to implement a regular MPASI schedule, design a baby MPASI menu, to pay attention to what foods and drinks can and cannot be given.

In addition to supporting their growth and development, proper food intake also prevents babies from having difficulty eating so as not to cause babies to experience nutritional problems.

Well, here are various baby food myths that need to be sought out the truth:

Myth 1: "Dinner can make babies have worms"

Every baby basically has different levels of hunger. One of the factors that determine is the habit of being given breast milk or baby formula milk.

In general, babies who are breastfed tend to get hungry faster than babies who are given formula (sufor).

This is because breast milk is easier for the baby's body to digest. So, when a breastfeeding baby gets hungry again at night does not mean that he has worms.

In fact, worm infection and feeding activities for babies are not related.

Worms is a disease caused by parasitic worms that breed in the human digestive system.

Worms is one type of disease that is common both young and old. Even so, worms are more common in children.

However, food that is dirty because it has been contaminated with worm eggs or a poor cooking process has the risk of preventing the worm eggs from dying completely.

These conditions can cause babies to experience intestinal worms.

Likewise, children can get worms if you or your caregiver don't wash your hands immediately after using the toilet, cleaning the baby's bottom, or gardening.

It is also important to make it a habit to always wash your hands with soap and running water before cooking dinner.

Moreover, the baby's body movements are still very limited. That is why, the biggest risk factor for worms for babies is through various equipment and tools that may have been contaminated with worm eggs.

Furthermore, the worm eggs accidentally enter the baby's body through the mouth.

These things allow worms to grow and develop in the baby's digestive system.

So, this is just a myth of baby food because it's not dinner that makes babies have worms.

However, it is uncleanness in caring for the baby that increases the risk of the baby getting worms.

Myth 2: "Hiding vegetables in baby food so that he likes vegetables"

Actually, hiding vegetables in baby food so that he likes vegetables is just a myth.

Most parents prefer to hide vegetables in baby food dishes rather than showing them openly.

Hiding vegetables in baby food is intended to get around babies who don't like to eat vegetables.

Vegetables are processed in such a way as to keep them mixed in the food without being noticed by the little one, for example, behind an omelette.

The baby's daily nutritional needs will still be fulfilled, but this method will not make the baby aware of the benefits and taste of fresh vegetables.

Well, things like this can continue to carry on until he is an adult. Another solution, there is nothing wrong with showing vegetables openly on the baby's diet.

To make it more interesting, you can be creative with various vegetable recipes for children.

Take for example, broccoli is formed into people's hair, carrots into the shape of flowers or sun, and so on.

So, over time the baby grows and is familiar with vegetables so that it can break the myth of baby food about hiding vegetables.

Don't forget, introduce the benefits of various types of vegetables while accompanying the baby to eat so that he also understands that eating vegetables is important.

Myth 3: "Baby food should not be added with flavorings"

The myth about the next baby food that is still often heard is that you should not add flavorings to your little one's diet.

On the other hand, babies are only allowed to eat bland foods without the added flavor of salt, sugar or micin.

This baby food myth is clearly not true. In fact, babies should be introduced to various types of food flavors from an early age.

The reason is, as early as possible is the best time to accept and get to know a variety of new tastes.

Taste recognition has also been started since exclusive breastfeeding, namely through the food eaten by the mother.

So, don't hesitate to introduce various flavors gradually from 6 months of age. Take for example by introducing bitter vegetables, savory taste from fish, or sweet taste from fruit.

In fact, it's fine if you want to add flavorings like sugar, salt, and micin to baby food.

With a note, additional flavorings such as sugar, salt, and micin are given in sufficient amounts.

According to the Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI), food for babies aged less than one year should still be added with flavorings such as sugar and salt to taste.

This additional flavor is allowed to make the child more enthusiastic about eating.

If all this time your little one tends to refuse food, try to remember whether you added flavorings such as sugar, salt, and micin.

There is a possibility that the baby has difficulty eating because he thinks the food tastes less delicious for him.

In addition to making the baby want to eat, adding flavorings can also help develop a baby's appetite in the future.

Myth 4: "Babies can be given fruit juice from an early age"

Babies who are over six months of age are allowed to eat complementary foods, including consuming various foods and drinks.

However, if the baby is less than 12 months or 1 year old, fruit juice for babies is not permitted, including packaged fruit juices.

The recommendation against giving fruit juice to babies who are under a year old is based on new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Pure fruit juices do contain lots of vitamins for babies, but that doesn't mean they can be a substitute for whole fruits and vegetables.

Instead of getting more nutrients, fruit juice is actually not good for children's health because it is high in calories and sugar, but low in fiber.

Take, for example, a medium apple contains 4.4 grams of fiber and 19 grams of sugar. When juiced, just one cup contains 114 calories, 0.5 grams of fiber, and 24 grams of sugar.

Therefore, only serve the fruit whole instead of serving it in the form of juice so that the fiber needs of children are still met.

Not only that, giving fruit juice to babies can also make them full quickly because of their small stomach size.

This of course has an impact on the baby's decreased appetite so that he does not want to eat heavy anymore because he feels full.

Myth 5: "Babies shouldn't eat eggs"

Many parents are worried that their little one will get high cholesterol when given eggs. Eits, wait a minute, this is actually just a myth of baby food and is clearly not true.

Eggs are a great source of protein and contain lots of iron and zinc, which are essential for the baby's growth.

However, before giving eggs to children, first determine whether the child is allergic to eggs.

If you have a history of egg allergy, your doctor may advise you to wait until your child is 2 years old before introducing eggs.

Myth 6: "Babies have to snack often"

In addition to eating at the main meal, babies also need snacks in sufficient quantities. Because if it's too much, baby snacks tend to contribute to excess calorie intake.

What if the baby is hungry but it's not time to eat? Take it easy, because your little one will actually be fine with a diet of three main meals a day and one to two healthy snacks.

Routinely implementing a baby's feeding schedule is great for training his sensitivity to hunger.

You can provide snacks for babies in the form of fruit or vegetables. Type of snack or snack others can also be given as baby snacks in smaller portions than main meals.

Myth 7: "Introduce the baby to vegetables before giving him fruit"

In fact, there are no specific rules and sequences for introducing certain foods to babies.

It is okay to start feeding babies with sources of carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals from the age of six months.

In fact, it doesn't matter if you give vegetables together with fruit or one of them first.

Because there is no evidence that babies who are introduced to fruit first can have more difficulty accepting vegetables or vice versa.

Launching from the Healthy Children page, babies do have a tendency to like sweetness.

That is why babies like breast milk which is their first food and drink because it has an original taste that tends to be sweet.

Even so, feeding in any order will not affect a baby's preference for certain types of food.

Babies generally continue to learn to like a variety of other food flavors if you are introduced to a variety of foods early on.

No need to worry, babies who receive vegetables or fruit first can still easily eat other foods.

The key is to familiarize your baby with a variety of tastes and textures of food as they get older.

Myth 8: "If children don't like certain foods, just let it go"

When babies start refusing to eat at the new feed 1-2 times, usually the parents will give up and conclude that the baby doesn't like it.

This is actually another myth about baby food. This habit should not be continued because it can make babies tend to be picky about food.

Children usually need time to try food until at least 15 times are offered.

Serve again and again the food and be sure that the child will like it slowly. At the beginning of their introduction to certain types of food, babies may still be surprised by their new foods.

Don't give up on offering as many new foods as you can.

You can also combine new foods with their favorite foods to provoke your little one's appetite.

Only when you have given about 15 times the same type of food but the baby still refuses it, you can conclude that he really doesn't like it.

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