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Breast Milk Complementary Foods Can Be Started with the Following Menu

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the right time to provide complementary feeding is when the baby is 6 months old. The food provided must also be in accordance with the portion and nutrition needed at that age. WHO recommends complementary foods that are given breast milk must have proportional carbohydrate, protein, fat, and vitamin and mineral content. This is important for babies who are experiencing growth period. In addition, the processing and serving of food needs to be done hygienically to minimize the risk of being contaminated with bacteria and impurities.

Recommended complementary breastfeeding menu

Perhaps many parents are confused about what menu to choose to be given as complementary foods for breast milk. Some guidelines below might be used as a benchmark to overcome this confusion.
  • Simple food

  • Simple food here means that food is made from only one ingredient without the addition of sugar or salt. It is recommended to wait 3-5 days before introducing the next new food. That way, if your child experiences a reaction in the form of vomiting, diarrhea or allergies, parents can recognize it and no longer provide these types of food to him.
  • Baby cereal

  • Other complementary foods that can be given to babies are special baby cereals. This cereal is a food that many parents choose. How to make it enough to mix a tablespoon of cereal with 60 ml (4 tablespoons) of breast milk or formula milk.
  • Meat, vegetable, or fruit porridge

  • When the baby is familiar with complementary foods, parents can start introducing porridge made from meat, vegetables or fruit. The introduction of this type of porridge should also be done in stages. So that babies are not surprised, vary the provision of porridge made from meat, vegetables or fruit every five times serving. We recommend that the porridge served does not contain salt or sugar.
  • Finely chopped food

  • The majority of babies aged 8-10 months can already consume solid food which is finely chopped in mini portions. Some foods that can be served this way are soft-textured fruits, vegetables, pasta, cheese, and undercooked meat.
  • Foods that contain iron and zinc

  • Both of these nutrients are very important for the growth and development of your child. So, don't forget to give your little one complementary foods that contain both of these nutrients.
The frequency of complementary feeding will increase as the baby approaches one year, where the baby may be able to eat three times a day. In addition, parents can also provide snacks in the form of small pieces or mashed to Little.

Providing complementary feeding breast milk must be patient

During the six months of his life, Little is always given milk or formula milk. Naturally, if the baby rejects food other than what they usually eat. When the baby refuses or is not too interested in the food provided, parents need not worry because this adaptation process will not last long. Introduce new foods one by one. Wait a few days before Little is introduced to the next new food. Thus, parents can identify what foods can cause allergies in infants. Parent patience is important, considering this is a transition period from exclusively breastfeeding to solid food. This transition period is a very vulnerable time. If this period cannot be passed smoothly, then the baby may experience malnutrition. Providing complementary foods breast milk is one of the keys to supporting the growth and development of babies. Therefore, parents need to prepare these foods in accordance with the nutrients needed by the Little One. If you have tried to provide various types of food but your child still does not want to eat, or if you have difficulty determining the right complementary feeding, you can consult with your pediatrician.

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