The ABC of complementary feeding 2.0:

Introduce complementary foods to your baby. It can be an exciting and a little overwhelming experience. With so many viewpoints and suggestions at your disposal, it can be difficult to know where to start. However, simplicity and following your baby’s lead are crucial.

"Weaning," also known as complementary feeding, is the process of introducing solid foods to your child in addition to breast milk or formula. It’s an essential developmental stage that fosters their exploration of flavors and textures as well as the development of critical eating abilities.

We’ll walk you through the fundamentals of complementary feeding in this guide, which has been updated for modern parents. We’ll go over everything from what to offer first to typical problems you may run into so you can feel comfortable and confident about this new phase of your baby’s journey.

Aspect Description
Age to Start Begin introducing complementary foods around 6 months of age, when your baby can sit up and show interest in food.
Types of Foods Start with iron-rich foods like pureed meats and iron-fortified cereals. Gradually introduce a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Texture Begin with smooth purees, and as your baby gets used to eating solids, move on to mashed and then finely chopped foods.
Allergens Introduce potential allergens like peanuts and eggs early, one at a time, to monitor for any allergic reactions.
Quantity Complementary foods should supplement breast milk or formula, not replace it. Start with small amounts and increase gradually based on your baby’s appetite.

step-by-step system for the safe introduction of complementary foods to a baby

Make sure to read this text through to the very end if you want to introduce complementary foods to your baby in a simple and safe manner while preventing gastrointestinal distress, allergies, and constipation issues.

After more than 300 consultations on complementary foods since 2006, when I began working as a consultant on breastfeeding and introducing new foods, I came to the following realizations:

Every mother wants her child to eat well, gain weight and grew up healthy, but not everyone succeeds

The practice of introducing a child to a food other than breast milk (or a combination, if the child is receiving artificial feeding) is known as "power feeding."

There’s nothing complicated about this at first glance. I got the child some mashed potatoes in a jar and got it ready. But no!

The introduction of complementary foods is a very crucial moment for mom and child

With just one incorrect move, you can:

  • To upset the stomach to the child,
  • Discourage appetite for new food,
  • Create aversion to products,
  • Earn a severe allergy,
  • Face with constipation and severe anxiety in the child.

Errors in complementary feeding that lead to big problems:

1. An early introduction of complementary feeding occurs.

A newborn’s only food source by nature is liquids, such as mother’s milk.

The child’s intestines and stomach develop over time. They gain the capacity to process thicker, denser, and more varied foods.

If you start your child on complementary foods before this point, they will receive:

  • Constipation,
  • Allergies,
  • Stomach and kidney diseases

When the child is prepared, introduce complementary foods!

2. The late addition of dietary complements.

Sometimes the introduction of complementary foods is put off for a while because you are hesitant to do so or the child refuses to try new foods. However, there are crucial phases in supplemental feeding that should not be overlooked, just like in any natural process.

A youngster who is delayed in starting complementary foods:

  • Receives fewer vitamins and nutrients,
  • Refuses to try new foods,
  • Chokes when meeting a piece of dense food.

3. The incorrect products were selected for the initial complementary foods.

A few decades ago, a child was given apple juice as their first complementary food when they turned one month old.

As a result, there are numerous cases of gastritis in older children, gastrointestinal tract malfunctions, and kidney issues.

The introduction of semolina porridge, which contains nothing useful, was then advised. The body gets its calcium reserves from these simple carbohydrates.

These days, you can also find extremely dangerous recommendations that can ruin a child’s health by adding the incorrect items to their complementary diet.

4. Introducing complementary foods in place of breast milk.

When breast milk is given to a child concurrently with the introduction of complementary foods, it protects the child from allergies, facilitates the child’s absorption of new products, and continues to supply essential nutrients.

When we stop nursing, we give the child new food on his own, which he still can’t process completely.

5. Giving food at all costs.

Mothers try to feed their children while resorting to tricks and deception because they do not fully comprehend the complex task of complementary feeding. Cartoons are placed for the child’s amusement, food is placed beneath poems and jokes, and the child is clamped down and their mouths are opened to feed.

This is psychological aggression. Above the child and the severely unhealthy eating habits that seriously jeopardize the infant’s health.

Is it really so difficult to introduce complementary foods? How to do everything right and not harm the health of the baby?

In addition, complementary feeding is both complex and straightforward.

It is challenging to comprehend this sea of conflicting information on your own; you become perplexed about portion sizes, feeding schedules, and the proper sequence for introducing food items.

Easy, provided you employ a wholesome complementary feeding regimen. Every suggestion and point has been put to the test time and time again by mothers of infants under one year old. Using this system, I also started feeding my kids supplementary meals.

Here is the result you get by acting according to this system:

  1. The child tries new products with pleasure.
  2. The child"s health is strengthened.
  3. You do not spend a lot of time and effort on preparing food for complementary feeding.
  4. The child behaves at the table Purely and neatly.
  5. Eating with appetite.

It is a fact that this exists. Furthermore, validated multiple times.

You will discover how to introduce breastfeeding to your baby in a very straightforward way by taking the online course:

The "ABC of Complementary Feeding 2.0" helps parents introduce solid foods to their babies in a more modern way, facilitating a seamless transition from breast milk to a diet rich in nutrients and balance. It takes into account current research and practices while highlighting the significance of variety, timing, and safe food choices to support healthy development. By guiding parents through the feeding process with confidence, this method makes sure their child receives the proper nourishment at the appropriate time.

It’s crucial to handle the exciting stage of introducing complementary foods to your baby with care and patience. While guidelines offer a useful framework, it is essential to pay attention to your baby’s cues and needs in order to facilitate a more seamless process, as each child is different.

As your baby gets older, gradually introduce a wider range of flavors and textures starting with simple single-ingredient purees. This guarantees they get a variety of nutrients and aids in the development of their taste preferences.

Recall that the purpose of supplemental feeding is to enhance your baby’s growth in addition to breastfeeding or formula, not to immediately replace it. Be adaptable, make the most of the experience, and don’t hesitate to speak with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.

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Olga Sokolova

Experienced pediatrician and consultant on children's health. Interested in modern approaches to strengthening the immune system, proper nutrition and child care. I write to make life easier for moms and dads by giving proven medical advice.

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