Beginning the shift from breast milk or formula feeding to solid feeding is a curious and important period in a child's development that will impact deeply embedded eating habits. Children gain a variety of skills as they start to eat nutritiously dense foods, and parents occasionally struggle to determine when and if their child is ready to consume unused food as well as the best way to do so. It's important to develop a favorable relationship with a variety of energizing meals, and it seems that developing a preference for them at a young age may persist throughout childhood, adolescence, and even adulthood.
Around six months, you'll be able to start feeding your baby foods other than breast milk. It gets harder for babies to get all the nutrients they need from milk alone after six months. Additionally, most newborns are often able to take foods with textures and nutrient contents that differ from those of milk at this age. Foods for babies have traditionally been nutrient-dense and especially rich in a few essential nutrients, such as iron, protein, and calcium.
Additionally, as a baby gets older, their ability to handle foods of various sizes and textures changes. Older babies can frequently handle foods of all sizes and surfaces, however, younger babies perform best with puréed foods, as long as the food is offered appropriately and safely.
Given that they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, cancer-preventive agents, fiber, and protein, many people view beans as a dietary powerhouse. Beans can have a huge positive impact on your developing baby's health. When your baby is ready to transition from breast milk to solid foods, you should add beans to his diet. Beans are incredibly nutrient-dense and linked to a wide range of health advantages. A fantastic source of fiber is found in beans.
Your baby's diet can benefit from adding fiber-rich foods like beans to reduce constipation's negative effects and encourage regular bowel movements. Additionally, the specific fibers in beans help to promote a healthy population of intestinal flora. It seems that babies that consume more fiber tend to consume more nutrients, such as iron, magnesium, and potassium, than babies who consume less fiber. Additionally, you must start with lentils because they are simpler to process before introducing other varieties of beans like dark beans, garbanzo, pinto, etc. gradually. When giving beans to your baby for the first time, you can follow a few simple recipes where the beans can be pureed or mashed.
There are a few things to consider before introducing beans and lentils to your babies. Beans are high in fiber and, if you give your baby an excessive amount, may cause stomach-related problems including gas and diarrhea. When introducing beans to your baby, start with a small portion of around a tablespoon and gradually increase the serving size. Although beans are a good source of nutrients, they shouldn't make up the majority of your baby's diet. To ensure that your child is receiving a wide variety of nutrient-dense, whole foods, keep in mind to do so.
Last but not least, the majority of beans and lentils cannot trigger an allergic reaction in your child, despite the fact that they contain frequent allergens like soybeans and peanuts. In any event, it is possible, so it is best to check your youngster whenever you introduce an unused food into a regular meal.
PDO I Ayesa Gay A. Bejerano, RND
References:
When Can Babies Eat Beans?
https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/beans-for-baby
Beans for Babies – Benefits, Precautions and Recipes
https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/beans-for-babies-benefits-precautions-and-recipes/
Beans for Babies
