What To Feed The Baby For Complementary Feeding
Along with breastfeeding, it is very important to strengthen the baby’s growth and development through complementary feeding, which helps to fortify the child’s needs and nutrients, especially between 6-24 months of age, the most delicate phase that requires maximum care for your well-being.
But what to give the baby as complementary food? This is the question that arises in mothers when, from six months onwards, the child begins to ingest baby food and solid foods.
First of all, we must take into account that it is not a question of replacing breast milk, as this is the superfood that children need for their development in the first months of life.
Second, the foods that should be provided to the child must be rich in nutrients, vitamins, micronutrients, rich in energy, rich in iron, calcium, proteins, calories and minerals that contribute to the baby’s growth.
Complementary food according to age:
From 6 months to 8 months
During this period, the baby is entering the food world. The mother begins to follow the feeding that until then was exclusively breast milk with fruits and vegetables.
Try giving them yogurt, baby food or small pieces of fruit and vegetables (pear, apple, banana, plum, zucchini, broccoli, green beans, pumpkin, carrot, celery, leeks); children’s food pastas, cereals (quinoa, oats, rice), soft breads, biscuits and olive oil.
The food supplement will satiate the baby more and extend the hours between meals.
From 9 months to 12 months
When the child is taking its first steps and consuming more energy, complement breastfeeding with natural yogurt without sugar, fresh cheeses and fresh dairy products, egg yolks, chard, spinach, watercress, pudding, jellies, creams.
Try giving her creams made from beef and chicken broths. Make pork of beef, chicken and ground pork. It’s also a good time to give him a try on some sausages, butter, sugar, honey and grains.
From 18 months to 24 months
From a year and a half, try to make your baby eat fish or seafood broths. Crushed nuts will help to contribute to digestion. But be careful that he is not allergic.
Some grains like white beans are recommended. You can also consume processed or matured cheeses and seafood.
Introducing your child to new flavors will make him tolerate food and diversify his tastes. Cocoa, chocolate and cow’s milk are other foods you can turn to.
How much food to give the baby
During the exclusive period of breastfeeding, the child ate every three or four hours. With the incorporation of solids these times will be prolonged.
However, there is no defined amount or frequency of food portions that the baby should consume, it is advisable to incorporate it naturally so that it discovers textures, temperatures and flavors.
Children under the age of three should eat 5 or 6 times a day, as this proper diet helps their nutritional process and benefits their digestive and teeth development.
Use the child’s own utensils, the spoon with which the food is provided must be small and rounded so as not to damage the baby’s gums, it must be well supported and with bare hands for you to feed them, drinking water is important. once you start providing him with the food. Try to get the water to be in its natural state.
Baby food, mashed potatoes or small pieces of food will keep him fuller, even he can sleep through the night, remember that the process in his eating and family environment depends on his growth, mental and physical development and the growth of psychosocial development.
Signs Your Baby is Satisfied
- The baby presses his lips together.
- Throw the food, take it out of your mouth.
- Turns around, turns your head sideways.
- Play with food.