Solid food feeding guide
For excellent health and development in your baby and young child, fully breastfeed for about 6 months. Thereafter, breastfeeding is continued with solid foods to 2 years and beyond. Solid foods given to the child more than 6 months of age, complement but do not replace breastfeeding. The purpose of giving solid foods is to supply additional energy and nutrients (fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals etc.) to the baby.
Solid foods feeding schedule:
Age 6 months
+ 1 week Cereals for breakfast
+2 weeks Cereals for breakfast and rice porridge for dinner
+ 3 weeks Cereals for breakfast and rice porridge for lunch and dinner
How to feed?
Always feed breastmilk before giving solid foods. At the first feed, place the spoon on his lower lip and allow your baby to suck and lick the food. Later, place the spoon in his mouth when your baby accepts the food.
Porridge can be pureed or blended till 7 mon ths of age. There is no need to blend after 7 months so your baby learns to chew food.
Active feeding.
Practice active feeding and that means talking, singing, playing or reading to your child while he is eating. It is not a good idea to let the child moves around while being fed.
What to add to the home cooked porridge?
Rice, various vegetables, tau foo (beancurd) and meat (chicken, fish, pork, beef). The amount of chopped meat added is roughly about the size and thickness of your child’s palm at each meal. A small amount of salt can be introduced only after 1 year old.
Fruits
Soft mashed up fruits are given as snacks after 7 months . Fruit juices are not advisable as these contain only water and fruit sugar but no fiber.
Click here for the SECRET report
