Children eat complementary foods by age: From 7-8 months

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Nguyen Thai Ngoc Chau - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.

At the age of 7 - 8 months, babies have started to get used to solid foods instead of just breast milk or milk replacer. However, due to an inappropriate diet, many children will have anorexia. So, what is the right way for children from 7-8 months to eat solids?

At this stage, the baby will show signs of getting less breast milk or alternative milk, however, the mother should give the baby breast milk or formula with a frequency of 3-5 times/day. Because breast milk is the most perfect source of nutrients, it is easy for babies to absorb and digest. Breast milk also acts as an antibacterial agent that helps strengthen the immune system in infants and young children. It is also a source of nutrients against allergies. In particular, experts recommend absolutely not to use cow's milk for children under 1 year old.

From 7-8 months old, solid foods become the main source of nutrition for babies. This is also the time when your baby is teething, so you should teach your baby how to chew food. However, in the first months of teething, foods that are salty or sugary are out of the recommended list.
Baby can try many different cereals and nutritional powders. Besides breast milk and milk replacer, canned nutritional powder provides a full range of nutrients for babies. Parents should choose nutritional powders from reputable nutritional product manufacturers. If parents use homemade flour, they need to ensure hygiene and full nutrition.
Giving your baby fruit will be a reasonable choice for children from 7 to 8 months old, because fruit will add more fiber and vitamins. But, you need to pay attention to the amount of fruit and fruit when feeding your baby, it depends on the baby's weight and how well the baby's body responds to the use of fruits and vegetables. The consistency of the food can be gradually increased according to the tolerance of the baby's body.
Cultivating the habit of independence for children is a very good thing that parents should gradually practice for their children, especially in eating. For example, with foods such as: soft cooked vegetables, washed and peeled fruits, cookies, toast... you can completely let your child hold and eat
However, for foods that children can hold and eat by themselves, should only give them a little, absolutely avoid foods such as sliced ​​apples, thin slices, sausages, nuts, candies, uncooked vegetables ..... it is very dangerous, can cause children to suffocate.

The first dish can be cereal flour. You can use cooked cereals and then grind them, gradually adding less salt, less cooking oil to stimulate children's appetite. Experts note that parents should use very little salt in the diet of young children. In addition, you should replace the powder with mashed fruit for strange mouth (can be replaced some days of the week) and pay attention to breastfeeding.

In many cases, when the baby has finished eating, he will not want to drink milk, parents do not worry too much and do not force the child to eat milk. When supplemented with a variety of solid foods, your baby will gradually increase the number of lunches and gradually skip milk, you can cut the milk meal at noon.
During this age, parents should divide the child's diet into 5 meals/day. Children eat 2 meals of powder 10% per day 200ml each day.
Here is a menu suggestion for children from 7 to 8 months old.
Morning: Breastfeeding (or formula); after 1 hour will give a little more juice (by spoon); About 10g will eat mashed vegetables or porridge mixed with milk. At noon, the ingredients will be: 10g rice flour, 200ml water, 10g minced pork, 10g green vegetables and 5g cooking oil. Baby's afternoon snack add a box of yogurt or sip a butter cookie, easy to dissolve sugar, still give your baby milk later. For dinner, if your baby is breastfed, you can give your baby an extra meal, not too late, choose an easy-to-digest menu, avoid carbonated vegetables that fill the stomach like cabbage, kohlrabi... In short... , at the age of 7 - 8 months, parents should start to teach children to chew. Babies need to learn to eat foods to adapt and mealtimes need to be changed regularly. Adults should also pay special attention to the child's feeding, must know how to create a good bond with the child, making the child feel more appetizing.
The period of baby eating solid foods is an extremely important period to help children develop comprehensively. Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiencies, causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption, etc. If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with supportive products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
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