Your baby is ready to start with complementary feeding, but this moment usually generates many doubts in the parents, who ask how to do it, what foods to introduce first and what quantities are the most appropriate.
The Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) through its Nutrition and Breastfeeding Committees, has published a complete guide with the latest recommendations, based on scientific evidence, which we should consider when starting with complementary feeding.
What is complementary feeding?
Complementary feeding (AC) is a process by which the child begins to eat other foods than breast milk or formula, which until then had taken. This process should be done gradually, and never as a milk replacement but as a complement to this.
In Babies and more Supplementary feeding: complete guideWhen to start with complementary feeding
- If the baby is being breastfed, complementary feeding will begin from six months, as WHO recommends, breast milk should be given exclusively and on demand during the first half year of the baby's life.
In Babies and more Do you run out of maternity leave but want to continue breastfeeding? We tell you how to do it and what you should considerIf the baby is drinking formula milk, the incorporation of other foods can be carried out between the fourth and sixth month If the pediatrician recommends it, it is appropriate to wait for the child to be prepared to begin.
If the baby is premature, the start of complementary feeding must be individualized attending to its motor development and other peculiarities or circumstances that the pediatrician considers. But in general, it is estimated that a corrected age of six months may be appropriate to begin the introduction of solids in the diet of most premature infants.
Can I start offering food to my baby before or after recommended?
Pediatricians warn that offering food before four months or later than recommended can lead to significant risks to the baby's health, both short and long term.An early introduction of complementary feeding involves:
Increased risk of choking
Increased risk of acute gastroenteritis
Increased risk of respiratory tract infections
Replacement of milk intakes with other less nutritious foods
In case of breastfeeding, interference may occur in the bioavailability of iron and zinc offered by milk
In the long term, the early introduction of food carries a greater risk of atopic eczema, obesity and diseases such as type 1 diabetes
On the other hand, a late introduction of complementary feeding (beyond the seventh month) entails:
Increased risk of food allergies and intolerances
Important nutritional deficiencies (iron and zinc, especially)
Worse tolerance for new flavors and textures
Increased risk of impaired oral motor skills
Signs that indicate the baby is ready to start
Around six months, the baby has already reached the necessary maturity both neurological level, as renal, gastrointestinal and immune, to start introducing other foods in your diet.
But in addition, pediatricians recommend pay attention to other signals that will indicate to us that our little one is really prepared to face this new stage:
It keeps sitting with support
Shows interest in food, and is able to take food with their hands and bring it to their mouths
The extrusion reflex has disappeared, an innate reflex in babies that causes them to expel with the tongue any non-liquid food that enters their mouth
What foods to start with?
According to the recommendations of the AEP, "there are no better foods than others to start", as the guidelines vary greatly between regions and cultures. However, there are some basic recommendations that should be taken into account:
Start with foods rich in iron and zinc
Do not add salt or sweeteners, so that the baby gets used to the natural flavors of food. Recall, in addition, that salt can damage your still immature kidneys, and that sugar could cause both short and long term health problems.
Via Spanish Association of Pediatrics Further, it is recommended to introduce food in the diet one by one, and wait between three and five days to incorporate a new one, in order to observe its tolerance and detect possible allergy problems.
And it must be taken into account that sometimes allergic reactions do not occur immediately after intake, but may occur several hours or even days after taking a food. Therefore, if several new foods are offered at once or not enough time is left between them, in case of a reaction we would not know how to identify the cause.
In Babies and more of all but this: prohibited foods in the diet of babies under one year oldFruits and vegetables: what you should consider
Any fruit is good to start, provided it is offered naturally or whole, and not in juices. Pediatricians recommend alternating flavors so that the baby becomes accustomed to everyone, and offer it in different ways (chafadas, in pieces, crushed ...), taking special care with the way to offer those that involve a greater risk of choking, such as grapes whole or hard fruits like apple.
As for vegetables, remember that those with green leaves such as chard, spinach or borage should not be offered before the first year of life, because of its nitrite content.
Cereals: when to introduce gluten
There are various ways of introducing cereals in the baby's diet: powdered dissolved in milk, boiled and chafado rice, bread, pasta, corn cakes, quinoa, oatmeal ... Pediatricians advise against powdered cereals specific to infants who contain added sugars or honey in its composition.
As for gluten, the current recommendation is to enter between four and 11 months, and at the beginning in small quantities.
Meat and fish: high-protein foods
Red meat is one of the main sources of iron that should not be lacking in the baby's diet, as iron deposits are decreasing and from the sixth month increases the risk of developing anemia.
Also white meat, seafood and fish (including blue fish) are excellent foods, although it is recommended to avoid the consumption of large fish (for example, emperor, swordfish, dogfish, tuna ...) because of its high mercury content, and those seafood species with high cadmium content.
These foods can be offered pureed, cooked, crumbled or in small pieces when the child is older.
Eggs, legumes and dairy
The legumes and egg They are a great source of protein and iron, so they must also be offered periodically after six months.
As for the egg, for a time it was recommended to delay its introduction in children at risk of atopy or allergic history. However, new studies have shown that starting at six months you can start your introduction, and in case of allergy, you should know that early exposure to food could help overcome it.
In Babies and more The seven most common food allergies in babies and childrenAs far as dairy products are concerned, we can start offering natural yogurt and cheese starting at nine months, and whole cow's milk starting at 12 months. But if the baby is breastfeeding, it is important to note that breast milk should remain the first choice dairy, and offer it above any other.
BLW: what does the AEP say about it
The Baby-led Weaning (BLW) method or complementary baby-guided feeding, is to allow the baby to direct his feeding process, putting at his disposal adequate food for him to decide what to eat and how much.
For this, it is important that the child sits at the table with the family from the beginning, and let him experiment with his hands The different textures of food. Over time, we will introduce the cutlery.
Before starting with the BLW it is important to know what is the best way to present the food to the baby, what iron-rich foods should not be missing in your diet and how to prevent choking (although this information is essential for any family, regardless of the method of chosen power).
Thus, with the appropriate information and precautions, the AEP believes that "most families could practice BLW safely and effectively."
In Babies and more Baby-led weaning: everything you need to know explained by expertsOther basic guidelines for starting complementary feeding
But in addition to all the recommendations just mentioned, the AEP advises to take special care of the emotional framework in which this new stage will be developed:
Always keep in mind the Needs of the baby in terms of hunger and satiety, and respect their pace of development
Do not force the child to eat, in any form (blackmail, rewards, punishments, force, deceive ...)
If the baby refuses a food, continue offering it the following days without pressing
Do not comfort the child with food (obviously, it is not considered "comfort with food" the child's sucking of the chest in times of stress, pain or crying)
Be patient with the child, do not get angry, do not hurry, avoid distractions with toys or screens, and enjoy family meal
In Babies and more My son does not eat: what to do and what not to do if he has no appetite . We must take care of the diet so that it is varied and nutritious from the beginning, and never force to eat.Photos | iStock, Pixabay
