RELATED:
This woman was happy to give her niece a frozen treat while she was visiting
Image credits:Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
But when her sister realized that the snack was originally made for a dog, she started freaking out
Image credits:Logan Cameron/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits:throwARhesa10but
“You do have to be careful not to offer foods that are of inappropriate texture, shape or firmness to young babies”
Image credits:Kateryna Hliznitsova/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
“At 9 months of age, babies are still learning and developing skills around eating, such as self-feeding and oral motor skills,” Charlotte shared. “This is why you do have to be careful not to offer foods that are of inappropriate texture, shape or firmness to young babies.”
“For example, whole nuts are not recommended due to their shape and size. Whole grapes and round shaped foods such as large blueberries and cherry tomatoes aren’t recommended due to the risk they pose for choking,” the nutritionist noted. “Additionally, hard raw vegetables and foods like crackers and large chunks of cheese aren’t recommended for young babies without being adapted first.”
“When introducing foods for the first time, start with cooked, finely minced, ground or mashed meats, boneless fish, chicken, eggs, tofu and beans,” Kinga noted. “Also, small pieces of cooked or soft raw fruits and vegetables without skin are also good options. Iron-fortified cereals, regular fat-content yogurt, pureed soups and stews also work well at this stage.”
“To avoid the risk of allergic reactions, common allergens, such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame should be introduced separately starting at about 6-months of age,” Kinga told Bored Panda “Strategic inclusion of one food item at a time allows for identifying foods with possible allergy-inducing potential.”
“Lastly, babies are born with innate abilities to eat intuitively. Their body has accurate hunger and fullness regulating mechanisms in place, so parents are encouraged to feed little ones until they show early signs of food refusal,” Kinga says. “This can be a reliable indicator that they are done eating in the context of a meal or snack.”
“While furry friends often consume human-grade food choices, offering treats specifically prepared foranimalsto infants may come across as an insult”
Image credits:Ivana Cajina/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
“From a dog owner’s perspective, pets may be considered furry babies, yet parents of toddlers without pets often see a stronger delineation between animals and human offspring,” she explained. “While furry friends often consume human-grade food choices, offering treats specifically prepared for animals to infants may come across as an insult to petless parents.”
“From an ingredient point of view these are all safe ingredients to give to young babies,” Charlotte says. “Oats are nutrient-dense, bananas are often a firm favorite as a weaning food, and peanut butter is also a nutrient dense option for babies that can be given early on in the weaning journey.”
Kinga also warns that peanut butter is a common allergy trigger in infants. “Also, the texture and shape of the bites could be of concern, particularly if it is a frozen round shaped blob of food that can easily present a choking hazard,” she noted.
In this case, however, it’s possible that the mother was simply offended and found it insulting that her daughter was offered a “dog treat.”
“The fact of the matter is that in developed countries, such as North America, pets often have more variety and abundance of foods than what’s available for human consumption in less developed and impoverished countries,” Kinga continued. “Humans often want to assert moral superiority and maintain access to superior foods compared to their animal counterparts.”
“These lines often become more blurred when it comes to pet nutrition. Animal companions often become family members with equal or superior privileges to humans in most families,” she explained. “Jane may not see it this way, however the aunt may look at their pet as a family member just as her 9-month old niece, and not strictly distinguish between animal versus human-grade food. Many people prepare pet foods from scratch with high-quality ingredients often rivaling commercially prepared foods intended for human consumption.”
So why is it so important to always get a parent’s permission before feeding something to their child?
“Parents and guardians may have a dietary plan, preference or restriction in place that they want to honor, forhealthor religious reasons,” Kinga added. “Feeding infants and toddlers is even more challenging, as parents are gradually introducing new foods, textures, possibly allergy-inducing foods in addition to breastfeeding or providing infant formula.”
“It is recommended to have open dialogue in families and circles of friends about eating preferences. Also, parents should advocate for respecting their wishes and desires when it comes to feeding their kids,” the dietitian continued.
“Often, parents feel violated when aunts or grandparents secretly sneak in foods they would not normally allow for their children. In hopes of helping kids develop a healthy relationship with food, open and transparent discussion would help prevent eating challenges down the road for growing kids,” Kinga says. “If immediate caregivers and extended family and friends are on the same page about food choices, kids are not receiving mixed messages about food and can hopefully develop a more harmonious relationship with food.”
Image credits:Andrej Lišakov/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
While parents have the final say in what foods their kids are given, Kinga added that it’s best for them to avoid having strict food rules for their children. “Parents are certainly ‘gatekeepers’ of what foods come into the household and kids are in charge of communicating how much they want to consume of certain foods,” she noted. “As kids grow older, start school or have money to purchase occasional meals or snacks outside of the house, they will notice how their peers may eat a wider variety of options, possibly more ‘processed’ foods.”
“Early strict food rules in households often predispose growing kids to overindulgences and possibly feelings of guilt when consuming foods that are not acceptable in their homeenvironment,” the expert continued. “This can certainly set off an unhealthy relationship with food and overconcern abouthow toeat ‘right.’”
“Extended family and friends certainly need to follow the family’s medically or religiously warranted food requirements, however they can certainly initiate discussion when they notice overzealous food rules, limiting a multitude of foods,” Kinga says.
“While most growing bodies and adults benefit from a diet based on predominantlywholesomeingredients and home cooked meals, inclusion of some convenience items is also warranted given the time crunch today’s families’ face,” she noted. “Aiming for balance and variety in one’s diet can be achieved without having to follow a plethora of restrictive food rules and compulsive label reading practices.”
“Ensure your family chooses whole grains, obtains good sources of plant and animal protein options, includes an abundance of fruits and vegetables, enjoys dairy products in moderation and reaches for heart healthy fat options,” the dietitian says. “Eating more decadent meals for specialoccasionsor holidays should not be guilt producing as long as we attend to our hunger and fullness cues, and don’t look at these occasions as opportunities to overindulge.”
The majority of readers sided with the author, noting that the snack she gave her niece was harmless
However, some thought that the woman was in the wrong for giving her niece a snack without her mother’s permission
Thanks! Check out the results:Rugilė Žemaitytė
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Relationships
