Food diversification: what are the risks?

Food diversification is a mandatory step in the life of the infant. While in theory, the gradual introduction of food for the baby seems more simple, things are different in practice. Small dietary errors can cause many diseases that we are sometimes difficult to imagine ...
Dietary errors

Dietary errors

Milk is the main food during the first few months after birth. It contributes to the development and maturation of the various organ systems of the infant.

Food diversification is usually performed at the age of 6 months to avoid dietary errors and may be the cause of health risks in infants. Indeed, although still immature, at the age of 6 months, the digestive system is ready to begin to digest certain foods. Hence the need for a gradual diversification.

Dietary errors during a food diversification are mainly related to:

- A lack or excess in certain nutrients, both in qualitative and quantitative terms (fatty acids, iron, calcium, protein, sodium, ...)

- The administration of food containing gluten

- Excess salt and sugar

- The reduction of the daily quantity of milk

The risks of dietary errors

The risks of dietary errors

Dietary errors during a food diversification bad conduct are responsible for some anomalies sometimes difficult to control. The risk of developing these reactions are even higher when the baby was born prematurely.

Allergies are the main diseases caused by a dietary error. They can manifest as eczema, asthma or edema and swelling. This is called a food allergy. The risk of developing allergies are even more increased when the infant has atopy. In this case, it is important to pay attention to certain foods such as eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans ...

Celiac disease is common in infants predisposed during the administration of food containing gluten.

Excessive intake of protein, salty foods, sugary foods can be harmful to the infant. Indeed, parents tend to abuse of these products to enhance the taste of food. The risk of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure when the baby grows up, is high in case of error during a dietary food diversification. Cow's milk may be responsible for these diseases because of excess protein, sodium, potassium and phosphorus.

Even if food diversification, milk must remain essential food and basic infant to cover calcium needs, needs essential fatty acids and iron requirements. The introduction of other foods tends to reduce the daily amount of milk in the diet can cause a calcium deficiency and iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can cause anemia, predisposing the infant to the risk of failure to thrive, delayed psychomotor development and various respiratory and ENT infections. Thus, the milk must not be reduced or replaced by other foods.

Thus, a new food should be introduced so isolated, and should be given twice to avoid possible allergy (at least once per week), it also helps to know exactly the food causing possible intolerance.