Just like all of our muscles, the eye muscles also need rest when they’ve been working for too long. You might have noticed that your eyes feel more relaxed when you rub them. Babies use their eyes to explore the world around them, and they get easily tired. Little ones don’t blink much either, so staring at different objects all day often dries the eyes.

When we blink, healthy tears are renewed and spread over the surface of the eye. Babies only blink a few times a minute, which causes dry patches on the surfaces, therefore, they need to rub their eyes to get rid of that unpleasant feeling.

Although eye rubbing helps us avoid discomfort, overdoing it isn’t good as it can lead to vision issues. When we rub our eyes, we reduce blood pressure, which slows down our heart rate by more than 20%. That’s because doing so stimulates the vagus and trigeminal nerves. This process is also known as an oculocardiac reflex.

But why would a baby feel better with a reduced heart rate? The oculocardiac reflex can even lead to cardiac arrest. We can conclude that excessive eye rubbing isn’t so healthy for babies, so make sure to put your little ones to bed as soon as they start doing it, because they’re probably just worn out, just like adults who rub their eyes!

Starting solid foods is a huge milestone for babies and a scary one for parents. Which foods are safe to introduce and when? What about yogurt, which is similar in texture to jarred baby food? Here’s some tips from the experts about when’s the right time to try yogurt and how to do it.

Babies can start eating yogurt as soon as you start introducing solid foods to them, which is around six months old. You’ll know it’s time when they start to show an interest in food and can hold their little heads up on their own.

While you may think that there’s a best order to introduce solid foods to your baby, there isn’t really. Yogurt can be a great first choice due to its smooth texture.

Yogurt can benefit your child’s growth and development as it contains various vitamins as well as protein, calcium, and phosphorus. It can be especially beneficial if your baby is struggling with other solids or weight gain due to its light consistency.

Full-fat yogurts are the best choice for babies since young children need more healthy fat, as healthy fat is important for the development of their nervous systems and brains. Many yogurts are also rich in probiotics, which are great for your little one’s developing gut biome.

You’ve probably heard that dairy products are a common food allergy, so if your baby has an infant formula milk protein allergy, you should probably skip the yogurt too.

Analyze your child’s reaction when giving them yogurt for the first time. Introduce new foods one at a time and only every three to five days to see if your baby is showing signs of allergies. These might include hives, itchy skin, swelling, or breathing problems.

The best yogurt choice for your baby is plain, full-fat yogurt made from whole milk. Avoid added sugars for children under age two, and never give honey to children under age one, as there are added sugars that can cause a severe illness called botulism.

The best you can do is to start with a small amount of plain yogurt and let your baby touch and taste it. Later, you can add mashed foods like bananas, strawberries, or savory foods. Avocado and oatmeal are also good options; just make sure that the pieces are small and mashed up enough.

While yogurt is a great option for babies over six months, avoid introducing them to milk before their first birthday as their digestive systems won’t be able to handle it.

After all, yogurt is a complementary food and not a supplement for breast milk or formula. Always consult a pediatrician if you have concerns about solid foods and your baby’s diet.