1. When to start adding baby complementary foods
In the first six months of life, breast milk or formula can provide all the nutrients your baby needs. Therefore, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, complementary foods should be introduced to the baby 6 months after birth. If you choose to introduce solid foods between 4 and 6 months of age, talk to your pediatrician first.
2. How to start adding baby complementary foods
When you are ready to introduce solid foods to your baby, start with a thin puree of a single food. Cereals such as rice cereal, muesli or port biscuits. Only give your baby a small amount of complementary food each time, and gradually increase it to 2-3 times a day.
3. How to choose suitable baby food supplements
In addition to grains, vegetables and fruits are also great first attempts. It is recommended to start with a single vegetable or fruit, such as carrots or bananas. Wait until your baby has accepted a single vegetable or fruit before gradually introducing other varieties.
4. How to avoid allergic reactions
When you introduce fresh foods to your children, be sure to watch them for any adverse reactions. If your baby has an allergic reaction, stop using the food and consult your doctor. Also, try giving your baby some breast milk or formula before introducing new foods to help relieve possible allergic reactions.
5. How to ensure that babies receive adequate nutrition
To ensure that your child gets adequate nutrition, it is recommended to continue feeding breast milk or formula while adding complementary foods. In addition, you can also try to add foods containing iron and vitamin C, such as red meat, chicken, fish, oranges and strawberries.
6. How to gradually switch to an adult diet
As your child grows, you can gradually introduce a wider variety of solid foods and slowly reduce the amount of breast milk or formula. By the time children reach 1 year old, they should be able to eat the same healthy diet as adults. However, along the way, make sure you always focus on the nutrients your child needs and avoid giving them foods high in sugar and salt.
Infant complementary food introduction schedule
To help new parents better understand how to introduce complementary foods to their babies, here is a simple schedule:
6 months: Add thin pastes of single foods, cereals such as rice cereal, oatmeal or port biscuits.
7 months: Introduce a single vegetable or fruit, carrot or banana, etc.
8 months: Gradually increase the variety of vegetables and fruits, and try to add foods containing iron and vitamin C.
9 months: You can try to add protein-containing foods, such as red meat, chicken, fish, etc.
10-12 months: Children should be able to eat the same healthy diet as adults and begin to gradually reduce their intake of breast milk or formula.
