Do you have a baby at home? Are you looking for information on safely feeding your baby? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we will discuss some important safety tips for feeding your baby. Keep reading to learn more!
Before You Feed the Baby
Always wash your hands before feeding your baby, after handling raw meat, and after changing diapers or touching pets. Inspect the food container that you are using. Discard any leaking or swollen pouches or jars that the safety button has popped. Spoon into the baby dish the food you are going to use.
Safely Feeding Your Baby
Heating Baby Food
You can heat the baby food to room temperature or slightly warmer. Refrigerated or frozen foods need heated to 165 degrees and then allowed to cool to room temperature or slightly warmer. Use an electric baby food dish or place heat resistant dish in a saucepan with about an inch of water. Heat the pan to simmer-not boiling.
Microwaving Baby Food
Microwaves create hot spots in the food and may burn the baby. If you choose to use the microwave, cover the food, heat only for about 15 seconds, remove, stir and allow to rest for a few minutes. This causes the temperature of food to even out in the dish. Don’t microwave meat.
With all methods, stir the food, wait 30 seconds, and use your own spoon-not the baby’s- to test the temperature of the food.
Storing Left Over Baby Food
Once the baby food jar is opened, it must be used up within three days or within twenty-four hours for meat. Store leftover food in the refrigerator. Toss out any food that has been at room temperature for more than two hours.
Don’t cross-contaminate
Treat the baby’s food dish and spoon as you do the baby’s bottle, and sanitize after each use.
The baby spoon is for the baby, do not place it in your mouth.
Never double dip by feeding out of a jar and then re-using the same jar again. If you feed out of a jar, you must throw away any food remaining in the jar.
Freezing Baby Food
You can freeze extra food. Use a clean ice tray and spoon into each cube the amount your baby will eat at a serving ranging between two teaspoons for young babies and three tablespoons for older babies. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer. When the food is solid, move the cubes into a food-safe plastic bag for storage.
Or you can use a clean cookie sheet and place one to two tablespoons of baby food in separate areas on the tray. Cover and place in freezer. When solid, place in a freezer bag and label with the date. Use within one month.
Defrosting Baby Food
You can defrost frozen baby food by putting it in a refrigerator or under running water. Don’t thaw in standing water or on the counter. Heat the baby food following the procedure outlined above. Don’t re-freeze foods and throw away any uneaten food.
FAQ
Is it OK to feed out of the jar?
Yes, it is okay to feed the baby out of the jar. However, if the baby does not empty the jar, you must throw the remainder away. Feeding directly from the jar may transfer bacteria from the baby’s mouth to the jar.
Do you warm up baby food?
Baby food can be served cold, at room temperature, or slightly warmed. Refrigerated homemade baby foods should always be thoroughly reheated to 165 F and then cooled before feeding them to your little one because of the risk that they could cause illness if not refrigerated long enough after cooking.
Can I microwave baby food?
When it comes to safely feeding your baby, you may wonder if it’s safe to microwave food. The answer is yes, you can microwave food for babies as long as you take some precautions.
First, make sure that the food is cooked all the way through. You don’t want your baby to eat anything that’s undercooked.
Second, always check the temperature of the food before giving it to your baby. You don’t want them to burn their mouth on hot food. Thoroughly stir the food as microwaves create hot pockets. Then allow the food to cool for a couple of minutes which helps distribute the heat throughout.
Third, use glass or ceramic containers only. Some plastics may release toxins.
For thorough coverage of safely feeding your baby, please read Food Safety for Moms-to-be.
Image credit: serezniy / 123RF Stock Photo
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