Everything you need to know about complementary feeding

The World Well being Group (WHO) and the primary pediatric scientific societies advocate that infants be completely breastfed for the primary 6 months.

From 6 months, infants start to need different vitamins and will complement milk with totally different vitamins. That is what is named complementary feeding. Suggestions on this topic fluctuate extensively and lift many questions for folks.

17 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT COMPLEMENTARY NUTRITION

We have listed the solutions to essentially the most ceaselessly requested questions in transitioning to complementary feeding.

1. When to begin?

To ensure that the child to begin taking in different meals, his intestines, kidneys and immune system should be prepared. However, it’s important to be prepared on the neurological stage as properly. The newborn ought to find a way to sit up, present an curiosity in meals, and the extrusion reflex (tongue thrust reflex) ought to disappear. This often occurs round 4-6 months in most infants.

As we talked about earlier, the present advice is to proceed unique breastfeeding for up to 6 months. Though infants receiving synthetic formulation typically observe the identical pointers as breastfed infants, the timing of initiation of complementary feeding just isn’t properly established.

There isn’t a consensus for untimely infants both, and it’s important to individualize every case, considering the psychomotor growth of every little one; It might be possibility to begin at about 6 months.

2. Which meals to begin with first?

There’s at the moment no proof that it’s higher to begin with any explicit meals. Every household will select the one which most closely fits their wants. Nevertheless, since these are very obligatory vitamins at this age, meals wealthy in iron and zinc ought to be given precedence.

We are able to supply your child nearly any meals from 6 months of age. It is suggested to give meals separated from one another for two or 3 days to affirm that the child tolerates the vitamins properly.

3. Crushed or stable?

This choice ought to be made by every household after receiving data about each strategies. Complementary feeding with purees and porridges is well-known. The so-called Child-Led-Weaning (BLW) technique has gained recognition lately, and consultants say it may be a viable different, offered the correct preliminary data is acquired. In BLW, the child is obtainable totally different meals (principally stable) and decides for himself what, how and the way a lot to eat.

If we do determine on mashed meals, you ought to begin providing much less mashed meals (for instance, mashed however extra lumpy) between 8 and 9 months and regularly enhance the feel.

4. How a lot ought to they eat?

As with breastfeeding and synthetic formulation, complementary feeding ought to proceed on demand and respecting infants’ starvation and satiety alerts. Infants have an innate potential to regulate their consumption. It’s standard for them to take only one spoon or suck just a few items at first; the quantity they are going to obtain will enhance regularly. Keep in mind that milk stays the primary meals all through the primary yr of life.

Solely care ought to be taken with the quantity of protein that kids get day by day, regardless that they eat on demand. At 6 to 12 months of age, 20-30 grams of meat per day or 30-40 grams of fish per day or a small egg is often adequate.

5. If he doesn’t need to eat sure meals, ought to he be insisted?

Infants even have tastes and it’s common for them to initially refuse sure meals. Analysis reveals that in some circumstances, a meals might need to be tasted up to 15 occasions earlier than liking it. Breastfed infants appear to settle for new tastes higher.

If the child does not like one thing, you can proceed to supply it, however at all times with out forcing it. Feeding or rewarding or punishing meals with varied movies ought to by no means be an possibility for them to eat higher.

6. Can salt be added to meals?

Since infants’ kidneys usually are not but mature, it is suggested to keep away from salt earlier than the age of 1. The World Well being Group recommends that infants get lower than 1 gram of salt per day for the primary 12 months of their life.

7. When can they eat sugar?

Most consultants advocate avoiding free and added sugars in kids below the age of two. Explicit consideration ought to be paid to cereal porridges that comprise honey or added sugar, or comprise a excessive proportion of free sugar, though they’re with out added sugar.

WHO recommends avoiding sugary drinks and desserts, in addition to juices or smoothies. Sugar consumption in kids older than 2 years shouldn’t exceed 5 % of whole calorie consumption (roughly 15 g for youthful kids).

Honey ought to be prevented for at the least the primary yr of life as a result of there’s a danger of botulism.

8. Ought to some meals be delayed due to the chance of allergic reactions?

Even if a few years in the past consultants advisable delaying allergenic meals (fish, eggs, varied fruits, legumes) till 9-12 months; With the present proof, it isn’t advisable to delay any meals due to the chance of allergy. As a result of it has been seen that by giving these meals later, the emergence of allergy just isn’t prevented and even vice versa. Nevertheless, it is suggested to introduce new meals separated from one another for 2-3 days.

9. Can any fruit and vegetable be consumed?

Infants can eat any fruit from 6 months. As for greens, consultants advocate avoiding massive inexperienced leafy greens (chard, spinach) due to the chance of metahemoblobinemia (a blood illness). Kids aged 1 to 3 years can eat small quantities of chard or spinach (up to 45 g/day).

10. Can any fish be consumed?

From 6 months, infants can eat fish. Solely very massive fish ought to be prevented. Massive fish reminiscent of bluefin tuna, pike and swordfish shouldn’t be consumed. These fish are massive predators and accumulate lots of mercury, which may have an effect on the mind growth of infants. Due to this fact, it isn’t advisable for youngsters below the age of 10, pregnant ladies or breastfeeding moms. Kids aged 10-14 shouldn’t eat greater than 120 grams of those fish per 30 days.

11. How do I promote the egg?

Historically, the introduction of eggs is delayed as a result of it’s an allergenic meals. With the accessible data, it may be launched from 6 months. It is vital to begin with small parts and regularly enhance it to serve it properly cooked.

12. How a lot milk ought to they drink once we begin complementary feeding?

As we talked about earlier, non-dairy vitamins are complementary and milk stays indispensable and will proceed to be accessible on demand.

If breastfeeding is sustained and the child is fed 4-5 occasions a day, he won’t need different dairy merchandise. It is suggested that formula-fed infants take at the least 500 ml per day.

13. When can he eat yogurt?

Infants shouldn’t drink cow’s milk as the primary drink earlier than the age of 1. However after 9 or ten months, they’ll have dairy merchandise, together with small quantities of cow’s milk or yogurt.

There are additionally yogurts available on the market which might be made with a follow-up formulation and are due to this fact labeled “appropriate from 6 months”. Nevertheless, the rationale for beginning complementary feeding at 6 months is that milk is inadequate to present all of the vitamins they need and should be supplemented with different meals. Appropriate from six months of age, these “first yogurts” don’t add any extra vitamins to breast milk or formulation.

14. Are varied fortified formulation required?

No. From 12 months, kids can drink cow’s milk. Nevertheless, let’s do not forget that WHO recommends persevering with breastfeeding for two years or extra so long as the mom and child need.

Wholesome kids who observe a diverse food plan don’t need another dietary supplements or particular diets to get all of the vitamins they need.

15. When are grains launched?

Cereals might be supplied after 6 months. Sadly, one of the best time to introduce gluten to keep away from celiac illness is unknown, and suggestions have modified through the years as totally different scientific research are carried out.

Presently, the European Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Vitamin (ESPGHAN) recommends introducing gluten between 4 and 12 months of age and recommends avoiding massive quantities initially, though it isn’t identified how a lot infants ought to be getting.

The presentation of cereals just isn’t essentially within the type of porridge; Most porridge available on the market accommodates a excessive quantity of sugar. And, in fact, a nursing mom doesn’t need to categorical milk to make porridge. Many grains reminiscent of bread, pasta, rice, oatmeal might be tried.

16. How do I know if I’ve a meals allergy?

This is without doubt one of the most typical questions dad and mom ask about complementary feeding. The meals that almost all ceaselessly trigger allergic reactions are milk and eggs, adopted by fish, nuts and a few fruits.

In IgE-mediated meals allergic reactions, patches of pores and skin often seem inside a couple of minutes (lower than 2 hours) after ingestion of the meals in query. In essentially the most extreme circumstances, respiratory signs (shortness of breath, wheezing) and/or digestive signs (nausea, vomiting, stomach ache) can also happen.

In non-IgE-mediated allergic reactions (usually referred to as intolerance), the predominant signs are digestive signs, often extra refined, and seem hours after ingestion of meals.

17. My child is ingesting little or no water, ought to I be frightened?

When our infants begin complementary feeding, it is time to give them water. Nevertheless, we should not neglect that they proceed to obtain important quantities of milk (and lots of meals reminiscent of puree or fruit have a excessive water content material).

Due to this fact, it’s standard for them not to need to drink water initially (for many who proceed to breastfeed, breast milk stays their most important supply of water). Hold providing water although, however by no means power it.