Why not give the baby sugar until he is 2 years old?
The harms of sugar are well known and accepted in adulthood: it causes obesity, diabetes, bad eating habits and many other common problems resulting from excess of sweets.
So why would childhood be any different? Habits are established precisely at this age , when we believe that giving chocolate to a small baby is synonymous with making him happy. The consequences in adulthood are obvious.
Do we just want a happy baby or a healthy adult in the future?
There are plenty of reasons to stop giving sweets to babies and encourage healthy eating. That’s why we’re going to show you in this article some reasons not to give your baby sugar before the age of two. If you’re still not convinced, read on.
Index
1 – The baby is learning to feed
First and most important of all: before the age of two is the culmination of learning about food . No wonder we call this phase food introduction .
It is during this period that the baby discovers their preferences, experiences different flavors and textures and develops eating habits that will lead to life .
Take advantage of this phase to encourage healthy eating. Always have fruits and vegetables at home, prepare recipes with natural ingredients and avoid sweets and processed foods as much as possible.
2 – Addictive Sugar
Several studies show that sugar is as addictive as drugs like cocaine , for example. When consuming sweets, the brain receives stimuli that generate the sensation of pleasure, which establishes the addiction.
If many of us adults already have difficulty managing our food urges , imagine for an immature being like a baby.
Knowing about sweets and treats, the baby can become so addicted that he will want to eat them at every meal.
3 – Sugar consumption can aggravate the selectivity phase
The habit of consuming too many sweets can cause severe selectivity in later childhood years. Selectivity usually happens between 2 and 7 years of age, when most children want to eat the same foods all the time and not try anything different .
And as common as selectivity in childhood, the mother is also eager to see her child eat more, ending up offering foods he likes, such as sweets and cookies. It’s the famous “better than nothing” – which is a big mistake.
4 – Sugar is the main cause of tooth decay
First, it is necessary to clarify that baby teeth can indeed have cavities and that they can be painful for the child. The consumption of sugar linked to poor brushing is the leading cause of childhood caries.
And as brushing a young baby’s teeth is always a challenge, it’s difficult to guarantee that brushing will be perfect, 2-3 times a day and always before bed. In this way, the prevention of caries is compromised .
One of the best ways to prevent tooth decay at this stage is not to consume sugar and encourage the habit of brushing your teeth after meals or at least 3 times a day.
#Tips
read the labels
Many processed foods contain a lot of sugar. That’s why it’s important to learn to read food labels . Pay attention to ingredients like syrups, dextrose, maltose, galactose, maltodextrin, sucrose and glucose – they are all sugars .
prepare healthy recipes
Here on the blog you can find delicious recipes that are zero sugar . The most successful is the banana pancake with oatmeal , but there are many options for making delicious snacks and meals without including sugar in the baby’s food.
talk to the baby
Explain speak naturally what is not age-appropriate . Avoid saying “yuck”, “yuck”, saying it’s bad or anything like that. The child will see many people consuming sweets and it won’t be long before he understands that it’s not that bad. When she decides to give it a try, you won’t have an argument.
The best thing is to say that the food is not for his age and that it can be bad for his health, offering another viable option instead.
bank your choices
It is not easy to maintain this position in a society that links candy to child happiness. But always try to respectfully explain your choices , and if you insist, emphasize that you are the mother and the decision has already been made .
After 2 years, take it easy
According to the recommendation of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, sweets should be avoided for up to 2 years. But that doesn’t mean that when you are 2 years old you should completely release the sugar.
Don’t force it, let it happen naturally . At a party, for example, if the child shows interest, let them prove it. Don’t put everything you’ve got so far to lose.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.