There are four important areas of infant feeding that parents need to know more about:

ALLERGIES:
As many as 25 percent of babies may have allergies, with symptoms from runny nose to asthma, colic, irritability or skin conditions.

Are allergies in the family history? Unfortunately, babies in families with a history of allergies are likely to have them too. But you can do some things that may reduce the risk of your baby developing food allergies.

Breast feeding is beneficial, especially if the mother avoids eating highly allergic foods like eggs and milk.

Delay starting solids until six months or older if you have a family history of allergy. This may postpone or even prevent some allergies. Check with your baby's medical caregiver.

When you do start solid foods, provide foods with low allergic potential. Babies are most likely to be allergic to corn, wheat (especially the protein, gluten), eggs, milk, soy and citrus (oranges and lemons-not citric acid). Read the labels for potential allergens such as soy ingredients like lecithin, barley malt, lemon juice, and spices and flavors like onion powder.

Introduce one new food at a time, to help detect food allergies.

MICROWAVING:
Make baby's food warm, not hot. A few minutes at full power can superheat food and make it explode right out of the jar. Also, the jar may not feel hot to you but its contents could burn your baby's mouth.

Do not microwave breast milk or infant formula, to reduce risk of burns and to avoid destroying some of breast milk's natural immunity factors and vitamins.

For solid foods, below are microwaving guidelines:

Do not microwave meats.

For other foods, follow the label instructions. Generally, microwaving baby food is a matter of seconds (15 for small jars; 30 for larger) on medium power.

Gently stir food after warming to eliminate hot spots.

Test the food temperature yourself before feeding.

WATER:
Most parents worry about giving enough water. But too much "pure water" does not supply the nutrients your baby needs.

Use either bottled or tap water to prepare infant formula according to label directions.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that healthy infants not yet receiving solid foods usually require little or no extra water, except in hot weather. Seek a doctor's advice when fluid intake is low or fluid losses (such as sweating) are high (especially when your baby is sick).

Use water to dilute juice or prepare baby cereal. If baby is eating high-protein foods or your doctor recommends extra water, offer one or two ounces at each meal.

Do not give pure water to babies with diarrhea or vomiting! Get advice from your doctor about using a special oral rehydration solution.

JUICES:
Juices should not replace infant formula or breast milk, which are the foundation of your baby's diet for the first full year.

Juice has nutritional value, providing water, natural sugars, potassium and vitamin C, but it is not nutritionally complete.

Introduce a mild single juice like apple, pear or white grape, one at a time, with three or four days before starting the next. Then try combinations. (For orange juice, wait till baby is nine or twelve months old.)

Before feeding adult grape juice, check the label for sulfites, which can trigger asthma in susceptible individuals.

Dilute juice with water, initially, to improve tolerance. Mix one part apple juice or pear juice with one part water, and one part grape juice to two parts water.

Limit juice to 8 ounces a day. Juice can displace other foods that your baby needs.

Juice and other sweet fluids in contact with your baby's teeth can cause "nursing bottle caries" syndrome. This is why Beech-Nut baby juice labels state:

"Protect your baby's teeth; do not put baby to bed with a bottle."

If you have questions about Beech-Nut baby foods or infant feeding, visit Beech-Nut on the Internet: http://www.beech-nut.com (NAPSI)