Sweets for my sweetie, is sugar for the baby?

Sweets for my sweetie, is sugar for the baby?

Babies are born with a preference for sweet foods. One of their first foods that is breast milk is sweet due to the natural sugar called lactose . There are reasons for avoiding sugars in your baby's first year: those who do not have sugary foods in their first year of life are less likely to crave them later. Also, delaying the introduction of sweet things also gives the baby the chance to develop healthier food preferences. It is a way of instilling healthy food habits early in life.

Remember...

• The best way to avoid problems is not to offer your baby foods and drinks containing sugar at all during her first year this includes milk formulas. Not exposing her to sugar is easier than trying to stop her from having it once she has acquired a taste for it.
• Sugar of all kinds-and that includes brown sugar, maple syrup as well as "natural sugars" such as fruit sugar (fructose), sucrose (table sugar) can be sources of empty calories that takes away your child's appetite without giving nutrients. They can also be sources of tooth decay especially with sucrose whose cariogenic potential is highest. Lactose found in breast milk and in milk formulas is least cariogenic among all sugars.
• A ban on sugar does not mean no sugar treats at all. Instead of cookies and candy, offer your baby healthier more nutritious snacks, such as apple, carrot or banana. There are also plenty of healthier favorites, such as muffins, pancakes, that you can offer instead of cakes.
• Once she is one year old, it may be harder to avoid sweet things, especially if she is more exposed to the outside environment. Also, when she has older siblings or doting grandparents who shower her with sweet treats. However, it is still worth keeping sugary foods to a minimum.

Do's and Don'ts when avoiding sugar