So much importance is put on what kind of food to feed a baby, but oftentimes, the importance of how to feed a baby is forgotten.
Food borne illnesses are nothing to scoff at. Every year in the U.S., more than 800,000 children under the age of 10 are affected by a food borne illness. Infants and young children are particularly susceptible to suffering from the symptoms of a food borne illness due because their immune systems are not yet capable of fighting off infections. To prevent any serious health conditions, it’s important that extra care is taken when preparing, serving, and storing your little one’s food.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), one of the best ways to prevent your child from being infected with a food borne illness is hand washing.
Your hands can easily pick up and spread bacteria to your baby, which is why you should wash your hands:
When preparing, serving or storing your baby’s food, it’s important to:
If you’re using a glass, hard plastic or disposable liner bottle, you can heat the bottle by:
After you have warmed the bottle, shake it to even out the temperature. Test the temperature of the bottle by placing a small amount of formula on your wrist. The formula should be lukewarm and not hot.
WARNING! Do not heat a bottle in the microwave. Several studies have shown that microwaves heat formula and baby food unevenly. Microwaves can create “pockets of heat,” which can scald a baby’s mouth or throat.
By following a few simple steps and taking a little extra time to prepare and serve your little one’s food, you can protect your baby’s health. For more information on the importance of food safety, please visit the FDA website.
Edited and reposted from October 2017