The start of complementary feeding should begin at six months of life, and be carried out gradually until 18-24 months, maintaining breastfeeding on demand.
You should keep in mind that in the food transition…
– Increases the vulnerability to malnutrition in the baby, as it is a decisive stage in their diet. For this reason, it must be done at the right time and with the right frequency, which will always be recommended by your pediatrician.
-The quantity and quality of the food administered is also important. These must be introduced little by little, to avoid intolerances. In addition, when preparing food, hygiene must be extreme, and it must be prepared in safe conditions, that is, minimizing the risk of contamination by pathogenic microorganisms.
– There is a concept called active feeding, whose objective is to respond to the child’s requirements, that is, to stimulate the child and respond to the signs of hunger and satisfaction that the child manifests. This process should be done slowly, encouraging children to eat, but without forcing them. In addition, if the child rejects the food, it is important to try different combinations and textures, and to remember that for the child the act of eating is a period of learning and affection.
<b>Recommendations for the introduction of food in infants</b>
– The introduction into the diet of new foods should be progressive. That is, you should start with the foods that are easiest to digest and tolerate, and gradually increase. It is important to respect an interval of between 10 and 15 days after each change in diet or introduction of a new food.
– Gluten-free cereals and some fruits, such as apples or pears, should be the first foods for the infant. That is, the ideal age for the beginning is six months. It is important to observe tolerance and pay attention.
– Vegetables and white meat (chicken) will continue with this process.
– Later, around seven months, cereals with gluten and other types of meat, such as lamb, will be introduced. Subsequently, and after the tolerance period, the calf will be introduced.
– Around 10 months, boiled egg yolk, legumes and fish.
– Finally, we will wait a year for the egg white.
– Food should be administered in the form of puree or crushed, and increase its consistency depending on the tolerance and demand of the infant. The teats can be counterproductive to continue breastfeeding; always consult your pediatrician.
– This process continues until 18-24 months of age, being a process of adaptation and progressive introduction of new foods, configuring a complete and varied diet for the future.
Supplementary feeding
The introduction of the first foods other than milk presents more difficulties. Therefore, you should not worry if the little one often does not finish all the puree or porridge. In addition, to the fact of introducing foods other than milk into the child’s diet, it is added that some meals are less pleasant than others during the summer season.
– This is the case, for example, of very dense purées, especially if they contain meat. However, if the rejection of meat becomes a habit, it must be compensated with other foods: you can resort, for example, to dairy products, especially yogurt which, in addition to being rich in calcium and protein, is very refreshing.
– Likewise, one of the foods that the little one appreciates most in summer are fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in water and mineral salts, and which serve to compensate for the liquids that are lost through sweat.
– Juices intended for early childhood are also highly recommended, as they are very easy to digest and guarantee an excellent supply of vitamin C.