How should mothers practice proper solids for babies?

When the baby starts to switch from breastfeeding to solids, the mother must be worried about how to effectively breastfeed her baby. The inappropriate method will make the baby lazy to eat and difficult to absorb nutrients.

When should we start offering solids?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that mothers should only start feeding babies when they are 6 months old, because at this time the baby's digestive system is now relatively complete to be able to absorb. foods that are thicker and more complex than breast milk.

From 6 months of age, the energy from breast milk is only enough to provide about 450kcal / day, meanwhile, the baby needs about 700kcal / day. Another reason for weaning is that from 6 months of age, the iron reserves are no longer available, so babies will lack iron if only obtained from breast milk, so supplementary foods will be a source of enough iron. to make up for that gap.

How to properly and effectively breastfeed your baby

Feed your baby from thin to solid foods; from sweet to savory

From sweetness to salty taste:  In the first 6 months of life, babies only know foods that are breast milk. Therefore, in the early stages of the weaning journey, mothers should take time for their baby's digestive system to gradually adapt by first feeding the baby from sweet foods. Monosodium glutamate flavored with milk, for example, will make babies more receptive to new foods thanks to their familiar milk flavor. After that, mothers can let the baby switch to salty flours such as meat, fish ...

From dilute powder to thick powder:  Since your baby's stomach needs time to adjust to new foods besides breast milk, don't forget the principle of feeding your baby from thin to thick.

Give your baby enough food

Your baby will not be able to grow well if they only eat a lot without providing all the necessary nutrients for the body. For the baby to develop well, when the baby starts to eat solids, the mother still breastfeeds him / her daily at least 3-4 times / day and 2 to 3 meals / day and then gradually increases. Baby weaning menu must be fully provided with nutritional groups providing carbohydrates, protein groups, fat groups, fiber groups and vitamins as follows:

Sugar flour group: rice, glutinous rice, flour, bread, noodles, pasta, vermicelli, pho, noodle soup, potato, corn.

Protein group: animal sources such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, shrimp, eel ...; plant sources such as soybeans, soy products and other legumes.

Fatty group: oils, fats, butter, oilseeds.

Vitamins and minerals group: vegetables, fruits of all kinds.

Avoid salt and fish sauce

Many mothers think that adding fish sauce and salt will help babies recognize the sweet and salty taste sooner. Stimulate the baby's taste buds when eating. But when babies are young, adding salt-fish sauce to weaning foods can cause the baby's kidneys to work too hard, not good for their health. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid adding fish sauce, salt and spices to your baby's snacks.

Do not force your baby to eat

When you first learn to eat, if the baby has "shown attitude" not to eat, the mother should not force the baby to eat. Instead, you can feed your baby more. Many mothers want their baby to eat a lot, so they even force them to eat solids. This is completely wrong.

The first is because this is still the weaning phase, which means adding new foods alongside milk - your baby's main food. Next, being forced to eat can cause your baby to form a negative mentality with eating. Scared the baby to eat solids. This is one of the main causes of anorexia so the mother should be very careful.

Give your baby soft, varied foods

When your baby starts weaning, mothers should prepare soft, thin snacks for babies to digest and divide them into small meals during the day. Avoid giving your child whole grain foods such as corn, taro, tapioca, etc., which will make it difficult for them to digest food and absorb energy.

Add oil, fat to baby's snacks

Many mothers often limit or do not add oil, fat to baby food. In fact, vegetable-based oils such as olive oil are rich in energy and easily dissolve other substances in the body such as calcium and vitamins.

Hopefully, with the way to feed your baby as guided above, your baby will always cooperate with you and eat big quickly!

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