Ready To Wean you’re Baby?
There is a lot of conflicting information as to how to wean babies off breastfeeding and get them used to eat solid foods. While every child’s needs are different, the first step is to wean the child from breastfeeding. While it may seem like a difficult task for some, a simple consultation with your lactation consultant can help. Nonetheless, here are some signs that can help you know your child is ready to wean. Then you can take the next step into what are the best food preferences for your baby’s nutrition.
Many of you might think about rushing to wean your child as it’s a common myth most have that delaying can lead to slower growth. Nevertheless, the reality is far more different. A child below 4 months of age lacks adequate secretion of digestive enzymes. They have an immature gut which is limited in what foods it can digest and absorb. Hence, do not hurry!
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that infants should be exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age. Post 6 months, the mother can start weaning the baby from breast milk.
Every child is different from the other in reaching their physical milestones at a different age. The same applies to the readiness to weaning.
Observe, assess and feed when:
● They can sit up well with no support
● They gain the ability to munch and move the food backward using the tongue
● Coordinate their hands to guide food to the mouth
Wait till the child is showing these signs of readiness, not based on the mother’s feeding schedule but the baby’s growing stage.
Type Of Food To Start With
Great care should be taken on the introduction of the right kind of food. This duration is decisive as the eating patterns will now form the basis of long term food preferences.
● Start small by offering food which is easy to digest and has a smooth and pureed texture.
● Do not overburden the baby, as their organs are not completely developed and can only digest the simplest compounds (emulsified fat, simple carbohydrates).
● Once your child reaches toddlerhood, it will be necessary to give him/her a wider variety of baby foods that offer the range of nutrients to help their growth.
● Do not add salt or sugar to the weaning food. As per WHO guidelines, only 5% of the total energy should come from sugar.
● Keep in mind to start with mono-cereal. Amongst the various weaning foods, Rice is the first food fed to the babies as it is gluten-free and easily digestible. Make sure to include a combination of cereals and pulse as they provide `a mutual supplementation of amino acids.
● The child is unlikely to accept the taste of vegetables and fruits (bitter & sour) unless they are exposed to them during the weaning phase.
● Move through all stages as it is vital to expose the child to different textures.
● A large nutritional gap is formed if you don’t increase their nutritional intake from complementary food.
● An alternative to increase the energy content and to lower the dietary bulk of traditionally prepared weaning food was by incorporation of Amylase Rich Food (ARF), mainly obtained from cereals. The preparation of ARF is very simple and can be done by mothers at home.
● There is a higher need for Energy, Iron, Zinc and Vitamin A, to prevent malnutrition and deficiency.
One of the most common fears among parents is the threat of allergic reactions. Lack of diversity in weaning food may pave the path to food allergies and intolerance. UNICEF guidelines recommend following a Minimum acceptable diet where the child should receive foods from 4 or more food groups. Furthermore, to spot any reaction to a particular food, introduce one food at a time and observe.
Preventing food allergies is not withholding allergenic foods, but to gradually include them. Common allergic foods are:
In most cases, it is noticed that the child outgrows the allergy becoming more resistant towards all kinds of food.
Weaning stage is a critical one. Up to 6 months, the child is completely dependent on the mother for nutrition and protection (immunity). They grow to be independent and start to come into greater contact with germs in the environment. It is observed that it is during this period when the child falls ill often as they have low immunity. Ensure that, weaning food prepared should be stored and fed in a hygienic and sterile way.
Keep A Check On The Developmental Stages
During these developmental years, poor nutrition has immediate consequences in constrained growth rate. If there is malnourishment in children at this age, it may even persist once they reach adulthood and may impact their cognitive and reproductive outcomes. Keep a monthly check on their feeding habits and growth rate. Follow these few simple rules and keep this as a time of fun and exploration.
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