Introducing Solid Foods to your baby

Breast milk is the most suitable “nutritional meal” for infants aged 0-6 months, providing all the necessary nutrients. However, in order to ensure that the baby receives sufficient nutrition and achieves proper development, complementary foods should be introduced. According to the World Health Organization’s Infant and Young Child Feeding Guidelines, complementary foods should be introduced after the baby reaches 6 months of age. This is when mothers may start to feel anxious about what kind of complementary foods to prepare for their babies – should they start with fruits or vegetables, or both? How much complementary food should the baby eat at once to be sufficient? Today, we will explore the four principles of introducing solid foods, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Principle 1: Gradually Introduce a Variety of Foods

To gradually introduce infants to new foods, it is recommended to start with one type of food, observe their reaction, and then introduce another type, allowing sufficient time for adaptation to each new food. Typically, it takes 7-10 days to adapt to a new food. Since each baby has different preferences and adaptability to food, it is important to approach it with fairness, patience, and persistence, without giving up easily. After each introduction of a new food, close attention should be paid to the baby’s digestion. If there are symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea , feeding should be paused, and a small amount can be reintroduced after a period of time.

Principle 2: Gradually Increase the Amount from Small to Adequate

To assist the baby in gradually adapting to new foods, it is recommended to add them in small to adequate amounts. For instance, when introducing eggs, start with 1/4 of an egg and gradually increase it to 1/3 to 1/2 of an egg after 3-5 days. Then, over the course of 1-2 weeks, gradually increase the portion size to a whole egg. This gradual approach helps the baby slowly acclimate to the new food. Remember to closely observe the baby’s response and adjust the amount accordingly based on their comfort and tolerance.

Principle 3: From Thin to Thick, From Fine to Coarse

To help the baby gradually adapt to a single type of food, it is recommended to start with a thinner and more liquid form and gradually thicken it. For example, for rice-based foods, you can begin with rice water, then transition to a thin porridge, followed by a thicker porridge, and finally, soft rice. The adaptation process should be gradual and based on the baby’s developmental readiness, ensuring that the baby’s transition to each form of the food is smooth and comfortable.

Principle 4: Avoid adding seasonings or flavourings

Adding excessive sodium from seasonings like salt or soy sauce can have adverse effects on the health of infants and young children. Additionally, introducing sugar too early can increase the risk of tooth decay in babies.

In reality, infants who have only been exposed to breast milk or formula do not have the same picky taste preferences as adults. Therefore, during the introduction of solid foods, plain and unseasoned foods are generally acceptable to them.

However, if salt or other seasonings are added too early to a baby’s diet, they may develop a preference for such flavours, making it difficult for them to accept foods without salt in the future. Therefore, it is important to cultivate a habit of low-salt and low-sugar dietary preferences for the child’s overall health. Parents should guide their children in developing this habit during the introduction of solid foods.