Babies have always been a priority for parents throughout history. One of the most important aspects of caring for a newborn is feeding them.
But what were babies fed in ancient times? Let’s take a look at some of the most common practices.
Ancient Egyptian Babies
In ancient Egypt, babies were breastfed until they were about two years old. After that, they were given a diet consisting mainly of bread, beer, and vegetables. Wealthy families could afford to add meat and fish to their baby’s diet.
Ancient Greek Babies
Ancient Greeks believed that breast milk was the best food for babies but also felt it was important to introduce solid foods early on. Babies as young as three months old were given mashed up bread soaked in water or animal milk. As they got older, their diet would include soft foods like porridge and boiled vegetables.
Ancient Roman Babies
In ancient Rome, breastfeeding was considered a duty of every mother for at least the first year of her baby’s life. If the mother couldn’t breastfeed, wet nurses were used instead. Once the baby was weaned, they would be given a diet consisting mainly of porridge made from grains like barley and wheat.
Ancient Chinese Babies
In ancient China, babies were also breastfed until they were about two years old. After that, their diet would include rice gruel mixed with vegetables and sometimes meat or fish broth.
Native American Babies
Native American tribes had various methods for feeding their babies. Some tribes believed in breastfeeding exclusively while others introduced solid foods early on. Some tribes even chewed food and then fed it to their babies.
Conclusion
While feeding practices varied throughout history and across different cultures, one thing remains constant – the importance of proper nutrition for babies’ growth and development. Today, we have a better understanding of nutrition and can provide our babies with a wider range of healthy foods. However, it’s interesting to look back at how our ancestors cared for their little ones.