Can babies eat complementary food when they are 5 months old?
Babies begin to have an increased demand for breast milk or milk powder when they are around 5 months old, which is really a big problem for new parents. If you want to add complementary foods at this time, you will have a question – can babies eat complementary foods when they are 5 months old?
1. It is reasonable to start adding complementary foods to babies at 5 months old
5 months is the period when babies gradually develop into the oral motor stage. During this period, babies may become particularly curious and like to try new things. If complementary food is added at this time, the baby\’s interest can be tapped and the baby can gradually learn eating skills. In addition, after the baby is 5 months old, the amount of nutrients his body needs also begins to increase, and breast milk or milk powder alone can no longer meet his nutritional needs. Appropriate addition of complementary foods can supplement the nutrients needed by the baby and promote the healthy growth of the baby.
2. There are steps to add complementary foods
Adding complementary foods is to supplement the baby\’s nutrients, but improper addition will affect the baby\’s digestion and absorption, cause allergies and other problems. Therefore, supplementary food must be added step by step. It’s best to start with pureed vegetables without too many additives, such as pumpkin, carrots, peas, etc. The amount of complementary food added each time should be from small to large, and gradually increased. At the same time, it is necessary to observe the baby\’s performance to see whether he has symptoms such as illness or diarrhea, whether he is suitable for adding complementary foods, and whether he has developed to the stage where he can add complementary foods.
3. Don’t add too early or too late
It is not possible to add complementary foods too early or too late. Adding complementary foods too early will cause the baby\’s immature gastrointestinal tract to digest and absorb those foods, which will lead to problems such as indigestion and diarrhea. Adding complementary foods too late will cause serious nutritional deficiencies in the baby, resulting in the child not growing taller and lagging in intellectual development. Therefore, it is very important to appropriately add complementary foods when the baby is about 5 months old.
4. A reasonable diet
Adding complementary foods does not mean that your baby can no longer drink breast milk or formula. Breast milk or milk powder is still the baby\’s main source of nutrition, and the role of complementary food is to provide the baby with additional nutrition and diverse tastes. Therefore, when adding complementary foods, they should be completely matched with the diet. For example, when your baby is eating milk powder, try not to add complementary food at the same time. It should be added after 2-3 hours. In addition, depending on the baby\’s appetite and physical condition, it is also a good choice to give the baby extra meals.
Conclusion
It is suitable for babies to add complementary foods when they are around 5 months old, but the introduction of complementary foods must be done step by step, not too early or too late. You must be careful when adding and matching food, and don\’t be greedy for diversified tastes and have adverse effects on your baby. Properly adding complementary foods can promote the baby\’s physical development and provide a solid guarantee for the baby\’s healthy growth.
