Feeding your baby: 8 important eating milestones

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Dang Thi Ngoc Chuong - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital. The doctor has extensive experience in the diagnosis and examination of neonatal pathology - neonatal resuscitation.

For parents, one of the big stressors is baby food and the feeding process. Because each baby will be different in this regard. Furthermore, there are many milestones that need to be achieved when your baby is ready to start solids. This article will outline the child's eating milestones to help parents and caregivers understand and apply them to the baby.

Most pediatricians and experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that babies start solids when they're between the ages of 4 and 6 months. The baby then begins to lose the tongue thrust or tongue extrusion reflex, which is important for sucking the breast or bottle when they are young, but interferes with feeding.
Children at this age can raise their heads independently and raise their necks. If your baby can sit on his own with adult support and show interest in the foods adults eat, then this is the best time for him to get used to the food and prepare it. start the weaning phase. In case the baby is exclusively breastfed, it is advisable to wait until the baby is 6 months old to start introducing solid foods.

Start introducing solids with thin meals so that your baby can get used to new foods and also help them absorb and process foods with a thicker texture.
The specific procedure is as follows: introduce new textures gradually. The best place to start is with mashed banana or mashed avocado. You can use baby foods available in supermarkets. Then, from the finer stage of stage 1 to the slightly denser stage 2 and then the denser stage 3 (the baby is about 9 months old at this time).

When your baby is ready to eat solid foods, he can sit upright in a chair with support and he can support his own head and neck. Baby can sit in a high chair, but still need to follow safety rules for babies. That is to always lock the baby in with the chair. This helps the baby to focus during feeding. Moreover, it can help adults do the chores of preparing baby meals more easily.

Babies between the ages of 7 and 11 months often signal to adults that they are ready to eat a wider variety of foods by holding the food themselves.
Almost any food that is healthy, nutritious, and has a soft texture makes for a delicious treat. Foods that can be chosen for babies at this stage are: diced pasta; cooked and diced carrots, peas, and eggplants; diced chicken or tender meat; small sugar-free cereals... At this stage, avoid giving your baby grapes, hot dogs, nuts, and hard candies because they can be a choking hazard.
When children are at this age, parents should encourage them to use their hands to hold food so that they can explore and stimulate them to receive food better.

Almost as soon as babies get used to being spoon-fed, they'll want to pick up the spoon and put it in their mouth. Most babies don't have to learn how to use a spoon effectively until they're 12 months old. So, for younger babies who are interested in the action of a spoon, let them try it out. Try giving your baby a soft spoon while he's eating with another spoon. This way, the baby will get used to holding the spoon by himself and if the spoon is taken back, he will react immediately.

When you think your baby can really use a spoon to put food in his mouth, you should try more sticky foods for your baby to make. Those foods include: yoghurt, cheese, mashed potatoes... Or you can put some cheese on a spoon and then put a few letter shaped cereal on top. Babies can experience putting cereal in their mouths on their own.

Pediatricians still recommend waiting until your baby is at least 1 year old before giving her certain foods that are considered allergenic, such as eggs or fish. However, current studies do not demonstrate any benefit to waiting beyond one year of age to introduce these foods to your baby, unless there is a family history of food allergies or other foods. Another reason for parents to think that their baby may be affected by these foods.
There is no evidence that introducing potentially allergenic foods to babies under 1 year of age makes them more likely to develop allergies to those foods. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), says the baby's early introduction to these foods is great for them. However, many pediatricians remain cautious about foods that are shellfish and peanuts. Because allergic reactions to certain foods can be especially dangerous for your baby.

Babies do not need water for the first 6 months of life. They get all the water they need from breast milk or formula. Babies under 6 months old should not be given any kind of water, because babies at this age have small stomachs and water can fill their stomach very easily. Babies should be fully supplemented with nutrients from milk to develop both physically and mentally. When your baby starts eating solid foods (about 9 months old), he can start drinking from a cup with meals.

Mastering eating with utensils is a long process for each child. Most babies don't become really proficient at this activity by the time they turn a year old. Therefore, parents should find ways to encourage their children to practice in the safest way.
Parents should pay attention to their children's eating milestones, helping children to 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
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.

Reference source: webmd.com