Welcome to week 23. In this update, we let you know how to spot a food allergy and what to do about it.
You and your baby
Week 23 news
By now, your little one may well have doubled in weight since they were born! This is the fastest a person will ever grow in their life. The main driving force behind this speed-growth miracle is protein, especially the kind found in a mother's milk. Protein is also vital to both baby's digestive and immune systems.
When you're starting your little one off on solid foods, keep an eye out for allergic reactions - about 1 in 12 babies have them. The most common symptom is an itchy rash around the face. If you suspect something, avoid that food until you've seen a doctor.
It's going to get messy! The first stages of weaning can mean serving food as an easy to swallow mush. With that in mind, it's a good idea to get yourself equipped with a hand blender or food processor. You can also push softer foods through a sieve to get the same effect. Lots of babies are fussy eaters at first, so try not to worry if it takes a few attempts before your baby accepts a new food.
When you start weaning, mealtimes may take longer than you think. Make sure you leave enough time - you'll be amazed at how long preparing, eating and cleaning up can take.
Tip:
Check insurance
If you're thinking of a longer trip, check your travel insurance covers all members of your newly expanded family.
Get some expert help
Remember our Careline team is always on hand to help. You can talk to our expert mums about weaning or anything else that's on your mind. Get in touch 24/7 using our live chat, by phone or by email.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The best way to feed a baby is to breastfeed, as breast milk provides the ideal balanced diet and protection against illness for your baby and also many non-nutritional benefits for both baby and mother. We recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional when deciding on your choice of feeding your baby. Professional guidance should also be sought on the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding. If you do choose to breastfeed, it's important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Infant formula is intended to replace breast milk when mothers choose not to breastfeed or if for some reason they are unable to do so. A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle-feeding, will reduce the supply of breast milk. If for any reason you choose not to breastfeed, do remember that such a decision can be difficult to reverse. Using infant formula also has social and financial implications which must be considered. Infant formula should always be prepared, used and stored as instructed on the label, in order to avoid risks to a baby's health.
