Expert advice on how to introduce complementary feeding in the baby

After six months, the child must begin to consume foods other than breast milk. The ideal is to introduce them progressively, both flavors and textures.

After six months of age the baby requires greater amounts of specific nutrients such as iron, calcium and vitamins A, C and D, that breast milk cannot meet during this time. However, it does not mean that it must eventually have. The World Health Organization recommends that this is maintained even up to two years of age.

It is therefore vital to offer a varied diet that mitigates these nutrients for growth and development, especially in these months of progress and skill acquisition, such as sitting (six months), crawling (eight), standing (ten) and walking (per year).

The idea is to promote not only the development of different organs of the baby’s digestive system, but his sense of taste through the taste buds. The baby has to get used to chewing or swallowing to adapt to new textures and flavors, otherwise, you have to give all liquid to prevent clogging.

It is important to consider also that the early introduction of solid foods in the diet of the baby (before six months) predisposes to the development of food allergies, especially if your family history. According to experts, these are the signs that tell the ideal time for starting complementary feeding:

• The child is able to maintain a sitting position (sitting) with little support.
• Control his head.
• Support his weight with his forearms.
• Reach an object and food from the hand of his mother.
• She puts her hands or objects in their mouths.
• Explore his fingers and wrists.
• Opens mouth when spoon touches his lips.
• Lacks extrusion reflex: tongue thrusting out.
• Able to move the food back and swallow.

Food choices for complementary feeding

Select the right foods will allow your baby to enjoy this moment and avoid indigestion, weight and allergies. Do not forget that breast milk remains the most important food in the diet of your baby. “Pediatricians recommend going to give food to the extent that the child’s neurological development is progressing, then go from baby food to something more solid,” says the doctor Pedro Duarte. According to the specialist, it helps strengthen the small muscles of the face, encouraging her to talk and improve the chances that has teeth.

Offer your child foods high in iron for their growth, these are found in red meat, liver and chicken. Incorporate them in the cream and then include them mashed or shredded.

• To encourage the child to eat vegetables, feed it with stewed carrots, spinach, squash, beans, beets, peas and cucumber from when starting complementary feeding.
• A Vegetable smoothies can add them bananas and tubers such as papaya and cassava. Never add salt to the preparations of the baby, even if it seems dull, it is better that the child knows the natural flavor of foods.
• Prepare jams and fruit juices that are acidic, but fleshy, like apple, pear, banana, papaya and mango.
• Prepare shaped cereal porridge with milk. Introduce them, preferably in the following order: rice, corn, oats, wheat and barley.
• Legumes such as peas, beans and lentils are well cooked cream served initially and later in purees. abc

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