FOODS TO AVOID DURING FIRST YEAR OF BABY

 FOODS TO AVOID DURING FIRST YEAR OF BABY

SALT : Don't add salt to your baby's food. Your baby doesn't need added salt (babies can't even taste salt until four months) and in fact, too much could damage his still fragile kidneys. 

HONEY : Don't give honey to baby,it will cause Infant botulism(it is life threatening disease).

EGG WHITE : Egg white causes an allergic reaction for some babies.Egg yolk can be given to baby during meal.

COWS MILK : Cows milk contains a protein called casein will irritate a baby's digestive track.

PRESERVATIVE FOODS : Canned foods like vegetables,fruits,soups etc are high in sodium can cause kidney problems to baby.

CHOCOLATE : Chocolate may cause infant allergies and cough.

NUTS : Powdered nuts can be used.If these nuts given in crunchy form may be it will struck in babies throat.And also some babies are allergic for some nuts. (eg:pea nuts).  

TAMARIND : Don't give tamarind juice for up to one year.We recommended not to give tamarind at all until baby has learnt to walk and is ready for all spices.

RAW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES : Don't give raw fruits and vegetables can cause digestive problems.citric fruits  like lime and orange can be avoided.vegetables high in sodium and citric acid can be avoided (eg:tomatoes).

SEA FOODS : Seafoods can carry a high level of mercury that may affect a young child’s developing nervous system,so it should be avoided.Fishes high in mercury are shark,sword fish,tile fish etc.After eight months we can give fishes that are not high in mercury.

Some choking hazards to watch:
        Observe your child not to swallow any large solid foods like hard beans,grapes etc.
        observe your child not to swallow any small solid foods like hard candies,nuts,seeds in fruits.
         

BABY CEREMONIES

Parenthood is one of wonderful feeling that every parent enjoys in their life and every one is very excited about each and every step or action of the baby done in their daily. The Proud parents always wish to celebrate every occasion that baby involves in their stages. Here are the some of the key milestone ceremonies in the baby first year time.

1. Namarkaran
2. Anna prasanna

NAMAKARAN

 Namakaran means naming of the baby.According to Hindu tradition,name is selected based on baby janma nakshatra.Baby's nakshatra is known by his/her birth time and date.This is a highly auspicious occasion for baby,parents and relatives.Namakaran is performed on the 21st day after child birth and in some customs they will perform this on 5th month after child birth.This tradition of namakaran is varies from region to region and custom  to custom.Namakaran is a social necessity and is an important duty of parents to select the best name for their child.


For this namakaran ceremony parents invites their all family members  to te occasion.Namakaran is either performed at temple or home.The priest do pooja  to God to bless and protect the child and also to have bright future.In the pooja priest make the parents to write the name of the baby in the rice plate with turmeric stick.The parents whisper the baby's name three times in the right ear.Finally the name is announced in front of all relatives.

Horoscope of the child that was written earlier is placed in front of the God and pray to get the blessing of the God. After rituals completed, the drops of milk is poured in the baby's mouth by babies parents and relatives. Now a days in some customs they are arranging some entertainment activities like dance programs and games to the children and giving gifts to the winners. At last tasty food prepared  served to the relatives to celebrate this auspicious occasion, if any parents are interested then they will give gifts and sweets to the visitors at the end of the function.


                              Best name should be selected to the baby in the namakarn ceremony will remains his or her identity in the society for rest of her life. It is always recommended to get the birth
certificate ready after this occasion.


Namakaran Album

Stage decoration and priest ready for namakaran ceremony.

Writing babies name in rice grains plate with turmeric stick.

Namakaran ceremony banner.

Whispering the baby name "Aishani" three times in baby's ear by her parents.

Putting milk in the babies mouth

Taking blessings from grand parents

Taking pictures with family members

ANNPRASANA

Annaprasna is the first solid feeding ceremony to the baby.This is usually performed according to the gender of the baby.For baby girls it is performed on 9th month or odd months.For baby boys it is performed on 6,8th months or evens months,in some customs it is believed that sixth month sixth day is the most auspicious day.According to the Hindu tradition annaprasana is the introducing of first solid food to the baby.It is also believed that annaprasna also helps the baby to catch the speech quickly. 

For this ceremony ,first parents should select good time and date by seeing nakshatram of the baby.Annaprasna is done either in some temple in presence of a priest or at home.Prepare the rice kheer also known as paravannam.Place this paravannam or rice kheer in front of God in a silver bowel with spoon.Silver bowel and spoon brought  by babies grand parents. After completing pooja,rice kheer is given to the baby by her uncle(mothers brother) at the muhurtham date.
 Annaprasana should be done after completing four months because baby digestive system is not fully developed to digest solid foods and this is not to be delayed for one year.It should be done before one year for good growth and development.

In annaprasna ceremony many articles are placed on banana leaf such as money,gold,pen,fruits,rice kheer or paravannam,knife,books etc.If it is girl we can keep kumkum powder and turmeric powder and flowers.After arranging these articles on banana leaf then allow baby to touch those articles by crawling.It is believed that whatever baby touches first will be their interest for the rest of their life.At theend of the ceremony baby will get blessings from their family members.Parents will will offer the best food for their family members and friends.And it is also a good idea of offering the food to poor,orphanage children etc on this annaprasna ceremony.

Up to now baby is feeding with milk from this annaprasna ceremony onwards we can feed baby with semi solid and solid foods.From this day we can offer our baby new tastes.Along with this food we should give the mother milk to the baby for good health.

MOTHER MILK IS THE BEST MILK FOR THE BABY'S HEALTH. 
Annaprasanna Album