Weaning mother feed to introduce soft foods is a major decision. Ideally, the age that is recommended by health practitioners all over the world is 6 months but if you feel that your baby has a bigger appetite or shows signs that he is ready for the switch then you can start as early as 4 months but not before.
BABY IS READY IF:
๐SITTING WITH SUPPORT : Baby can sit in a high chair with support.
๐CAN HOLD HEAD UPRIGHT: Holds his head and can turn it to both the sides.
๐COORDINATED MOVEMENTS the baby has developed hands, eyes and mouth coordination and can grasp object and take it to his mouth.And can close mouth around a spoon .
๐SHOWS INTEREST IN FOOD : watches you eat the food or gets excited upon the sight of the food
๐CAN SWALLOW : If cant swallow, they will spit it out.
๐STILL HUNGRY AFTER A MILK FEED: It happens when mother feed is not enough and if that’s not the issue then its simply a sign for a growing baby.
๐คทHOW TO GET STARTED?
โถ๏ธIDEAL TIME: weaning should never be tried when the child is very hungry. It will only make him frustrated and irritated and he will not be a good sport. And it should’nt either be tried when he is too full as then he will have no space for the extra food. So it’s better to give it a try when the baby has had half his milk.
โถ๏ธTEXTURE: make a very smooth puree like texture for the baby that is thicker than milk but easy to gulp down. You can begin with apples, pears, sweet potatoes or carrots. Wash them, peel them, cook them, blend them. No sugar, no salt.
โถ๏ธNUTRITIONAL CONTENT the baby will drive all his nutrition from the milk. At present this food is just being given to develop his swallowing reflex and let him discover new textures and tastes.
๐คทHOW MUCH TO GIVE.
You can begin with one teaspoon of pureed food or one teaspoon iron fortified cereal once a day. (1tsp Cereal mixed with 4-5 tsp breast milk or formula milk).
It can then be increased to one table spoon to once a day and then twice a day gradually.
๐ WHAT NOT TO GIVE !!
HONEY๐ฏ (not before 1year)
EGG ๐ฅ (not before 9months; yolk first then white)
COW MILK ๐ฅ(not before 1year)
NUTS ๐ฅ(not before 9months gradually one at a time… paste>chopped> whole. That too while watching them throughout)
HOW TO GIVE ??
๐You need to follow three days rule. That means you must keep a gap of 3 days between two new foods.
In order to let the baby develop taste and also to check out for allergies. As you are just introducing new foods along with breast milk or formula milk. So start with a very small quantity.
๐Always start at lunch time, then breakfast and lunch and lastly dinner.
๐Breast milk and formula milk should not be exposed to heat. So font cook anything in them.
๐No salt, sugar or honey.
๐ฅฃWHAT CAN YOU GIVE??
๐Mashed banana
๐Stewed/pureed apple
๐Well steamed and pureed vegetables like carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin , french beans
๐Pulse soup (moong dal ka pani)
๐Rice Water (Chawal ka pani)
๐Iron fortified cereal
#6monthsdiet
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#DrHala, #childdoctor,#childrendoctor,#childspecialist,#happymommies,#kidshealth,#letsdoit,#letsraisethemtogether,#letsRaiseThemTogether#happyParenting,#pediatricianonthego,#wecandoit, #weaning, #Semisolids, #honey, #nuts, #decreasemotherfeed, #introducingsolids, #switchfromfeedtofood
Itโs very helpful. Thank you Dr. Stay blessed.
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JazakAllah.
Glad to hear that!
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In how much quantity can we start weaning?
My baby is 4.5 months and sheโs giving all the signs to start weaning
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Teaspoon to tablespoon is enough
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Can I give boiled rice to my 7 months old baby?? As he interests in boiled rice
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Boiled mashed rice can be given to the baby
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