Going from milk exclusively to complementary feeding is a great milestone in the lives of babies. A process that in many cases is idealized, as is the case with motherhood in general. But that in practice, can be overwhelming for both baby and mother. Some babies find new flavors an incentive every day, they enjoy it and they love it.
But many other babies have a hard time accepting these new flavors and textures. Because going from the sweet taste of milk to foods with different flavors is not easy. However, it is a process that everyone must go through and with a lot of patience, they end up accepting, in most cases with great pleasure. To make this process the most satisfactory, discover what are the keys to complementary feeding.
Types of introduction to food
The food introduction process is slow and progressive, which will also last for a long time. The list of foods to implement in the baby's diet is very extensive and many of them must be postponed until the child acquires specific skills. Beyond age, it is necessary to take into account the specific needs of each baby.
Complementary feeding can be done by two methods. The traditional based on purees and porridges or the current and highly recommended (although not for everyone) Baby Led Weaning. The latter is based on the introduction of solid foods, it is also known as targeted complementary feeding and it consists of offering food in its original format and letting the baby choose what he wants to eat and at what pace.
The benefits of this method are numerous and more and more pediatricians are recommending it. Mainly because baby can discover food through the senses. Handling them while eating them, you can taste and discover them independently and most importantly, the baby eats the amount he needs at all times. That is, it somehow continues with an established self-regulation during breastfeeding.
The baby demands breast milk when he needs it and takes the amount he requires. However, this way of introducing food not suitable for all babies or all families. There must be certain circumstances first, such as the baby sitting up. On the other hand, there must be family consensus so that everyone respects this way of eating.
The keys to a successful complementary diet
In any case, either through the traditional method based on purees or with the current Baby Led Weaning, there are some keys to achieving a successful complementary diet.
- Very nutritious food: When starting the introduction to solid foods, the amounts that the baby takes are very small. Therefore, it is essential choosing nutrient-dense foods, so that your body takes full advantage of these small amounts.
- Choose food well: Make sure the food is in seasonThis ensures that they are close products, that they are at their optimum point of maturation and that, therefore, they are richer and healthier.
- One by one: Mixing several foods is not always a good idea, the taste changes and can become more difficult to assimilate. Let your baby taste each food separately and in different formats. For example, a boiled carrot, mashed or in whole pieces.
- Don't give up on the first: If your baby tries a food and does not like it, try offering it in a different way, mixed with milk for example. But if he keeps rejecting it, let him go for a while and try a different one. After a few days, try again as if it were a new food.
Listen to the instructions of your pediatrician, because it is essential to take into account the needs of each baby. However, all pediatricians have the same recommendations or guidelines regarding complementary feeding. Whenever you have doubts about whether you should introduce any food, it is advisable to ask specialists for advice.