John Myers
Which snacks are suitable as baby meals? When can babies drink tea? When it comes to feeding our little ones, parents are faced with full supermarket shelves – and even more questions. We give you an overview and help you with frequently asked questions.
Baby snacks – which foods are suitable for the little ones
Have you had a successful start with complementary foods and are considering offering your baby different snacks in the afternoon? Then you will quickly find out: The supermarket shelves are full of baby snacks – and the refrigerator at home also causes questions thanks to the abundance of various foods. What is suitable for the little ones and what is not?
Fruit, for example, is one of the ideal baby snacks. You can offer a piece of banana, mild pear, or a few pieces of peach (peeled) from about six months. You should wait for strawberries, blueberries, and Co.: Soft fruit is only suitable as a baby snack when children are around ten months and older. Because the fruits are classified as allergenic and should therefore not be on the menu too early, there is also a risk of swallowing.
There are also many ready-made products, such as corn snacks for babies, rice cakes, millet rings, spelled sticks, biscuits, and fruit bars. Here it is important to pay attention to the age recommendations on the packaging. Snacks made from corn, millet, or rice are usually suitable for children aged eight months and over, while fruit bars are suitable for children aged one and over. It is worth studying the list of ingredients for all products: take a close look. How much sugar does it contain? What was processed? In the case of fruit bars, for example, the amount of sugar can vary significantly – from six grams to 15 grams per bar. As with all foods, the dose makes the poison. There’s nothing wrong with having a baby snack box with various nibbles ready for when you’re on the go. You can also bake simple biscuits made from fruit pulp and oat flakes yourself in no time at all. Form small balls out of the mixture. Bake in the oven at 175 degrees for around 15 to 20 minutes – the delicacies are ready. After all, every child likes variety. But don’t get your child used to too many sweet snacks. It may then spurn fruit.
Tea, water & Co.: Which baby drinks are suitable?
Babies drink mother’s milk from the start – or a unified pre-food if breastfeeding is not possible for various reasons. The amount a baby drinks usually adjusts itself. If you need water to mix baby food, you can use water from the tap in Germany. Opinions differ as to whether it needs to be boiled. However, most parents boil the water for the first six months.
If you are concerned that your baby is not drinking enough, you should talk to your midwife or pediatrician. You can also find tips on how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk in our Breastfeeding and Breastfeeding Problems section.
So if breast milk or the bottle initially replaces food and drink, when are babies allowed to drink water? You should offer your baby water to drink at the latest when your child eats the third meal of porridge. Tap water is usually safe, and there is no need to buy special baby water. Tea for babies, such as unsweetened fennel tea or caraway tea, is also an alternative. The herbs are beneficial for the small stomach, especially in the case of abdominal pain. It is important with fennel tea that you cover the tea when preparing it so that it retains its beneficial effect.
In addition to a variety of baby teas, you will also find juices such as apple or carrot juice in stores. Babies don’t need these drinks – they’re much more likely to accustom them to a sweet taste. In addition, the high content of fructose is unhealthy and the acidity of the fruit promotes a sore bottom. If your little darling gets by with water, there is no reason to resort to juices. But how much do babies who eat three meals or snacks drink? At this point, around 200 ml of water per day is sufficient. If it is hot or your child has a fever, the need for fluids increases. Only from the age of one and when the family diet starts do children have a higher fluid requirement. Initially, this is around 600 ml per day, from the second birthday 700 to 800 ml per day.
