Diet for 6 months baby

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1. Why should babies eat solid foods at 6 months?

When the child is 6 months old, nutritionists often recommend that children learn to eat solid foods at this time. Because when the baby turns 6 months, the body has developed relatively completely, the weight of the body is doubled compared to the time of birth, the digestive system has been able to absorb solid foods.
In the first months from the time a baby is born, it can be said that breast milk is an essential source of nutrition for the development of the baby. However, when the baby is 6 months old, the baby's body needs more nutrients for healthy development, while breast milk at this time cannot meet all the necessary nutrients, so you should Start giving your baby solid foods at this age.
In addition, parents should also note that the process of introducing solid foods for children must be carried out strictly according to the principles of weaning for a certain period, usually starting from the 6th month and ending the process in the 6th month.
24. Besides, experts also recommend that babies should not be introduced to solid foods too early (under 6 months old) because their digestive system can only absorb liquid foods such as breast milk. . On the contrary, introducing solid foods too late (after 6 months of age) will seriously affect the child's development, such as growth retardation, weak immune system leading to a high risk of infections.

2. Signs that your baby is ready to eat solid foods

When the baby is 6 months old, many parents wonder if the baby is really ready for solid foods or not. This is an important milestone, helping babies get used to new foods besides breast milk. You can base on the baby's symptoms to decide to give your baby solid foods below:
Body weight is twice as heavy as at birth The baby has sat up by himself The baby no longer has a reflex to push food or foreign objects out of mouth Children have learned to refuse unpalatable foods by turning their head away. Knows to bring his mouth forward when parents feed Baby enjoys being fed

3. What foods should be given to children?

First of all, you need to keep in mind that, at this age, breast milk or formula is still the main source of nutrition for babies. Solid foods at this point are just a source of additional nutrients and you should still give your baby plenty of breast milk.
Usually, the first source of solid foods for babies is cereals, such as rice or oatmeal. However, some children show signs of not liking cereal, which is completely normal. It doesn't matter much for your baby if you skip the cereal phase and go straight to other pureed foods. Nutrition experts still recommend that mothers should let their children try cereal because this food not only contains a lot of iron, which is essential for the development of a 6-month-old baby, but also a bridge. It is important to create a favorable environment for children when they are just learning to eat solid foods.
If you're breastfeeding, avoid mixing breast milk with cereal during the first try to avoid wasting milk in case your baby doesn't eat them. At first, you should mix the cereal with a little water, until the baby can adapt and want to eat, you can mix them with breast milk.

For the first try, you should give your baby liquid cereal, then gradually increase the consistency. Give your baby only a few spoonfuls of solid food each time. When your baby gets used to it and wants to eat more, you can increase it to about 3-4 spoons / feeding. If your baby has been eating cereal well once a day for 1-2 weeks, try feeding him twice a day, and then start switching to pureed foods.
When introducing solid foods to your baby that he has never eaten before, offer them at least three days in a row before trying a new food. This helps determine which foods your child may be allergic to or intolerant of.
In addition, parents should also note that some later dietary habits of children often begin in infancy. A 2014 study found that babies who don't eat a lot of fruit or vegetables between the ages of 6-12 months may not be able to eat as much of these foods as they grow up.

4. What should not be fed to children?

Here are some foods you should not give your baby during this period, including:
Raw honey: can cause infant botulism. You should feed your baby after the baby is 12 months old. Cow's milk: cow's milk should not be given to babies at 6 months old because they can't be digested properly, even causing gastrointestinal bleeding in babies. Fish: Avoid giving your baby high-mercury fish, like tuna. Fruit juices: Natural fruit juices often contain a lot of sugar. Excessive sugar intake at this age has been linked to problems later in life. Giving children high-sugar fruit juices during infancy doubles the risk of obesity by the time a child is 6 years old.

5. Rules to keep in mind when giving solid foods to babies

The feeding of children with solid foods also needs to have certain implementation principles to ensure the comprehensive development of young children in a favorable and scientific manner. Here are some principles that parents need to keep in mind:
Use liquid foods similar to formula or breast milk so that your baby can get used to solid foods. In the early days, you should follow the "sweet-salty" principle, that is, feed your baby with monosodium glutamate first, then gradually switch to salty powder to add more nutrients to the baby.
Another important principle that mothers should also know, is the "less-more" rule. In the early stages, you should give your baby a small amount of food, then gradually increase as the child has adapted to solid foods. This method will be very useful for the "immature" digestive system of the child, helping him to absorb richer and richer sources of nutrients every day.
The principle of “thin-thick”, ie dilute first and thicken later. This method helps your baby's digestive system work more efficiently to digest complex foods.
“Coloring the bowl of flour” is also one of the important principles that parents need to pay attention to when teaching their children weaning. This principle is implemented based on the following 4 food groups:
Flour group: including flour, rice, pho, vermicelli, flour, bread, potatoes, corn,... Fat group: including fat, oil , cheese, butter,... Protein group: including fish, meat, milk, eggs, shrimp, soybeans, beans,... Group of vitamins and minerals: including fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition experts also recommend that, when cooking food for 6-month-old babies, they should not add salty spices such as salt or fish sauce to children's food to avoid adversely affecting their health and function. kidney.
Another rule that mothers should keep in mind is that children should not be forced to eat too much. Because of the fear that the child will not eat enough nutrients for full physical development, it has unintentionally imposed on the child an anorexia mentality, fear of eating. So, when your baby shows that he doesn't want to eat more, you should stop giving him solid foods for about a week and then resume them again so that he doesn't get too stressed or have an avoidant attitude when eating solids.
Nutrition for a 6-month-old baby starting to eat solid foods is very important, it affects the baby's taste later and directly affects the baby's immature digestive system. If the diet is not suitable, weaning is not correct, it will very easily cause digestive disorders. If you are confused and do not know how you should build a weaning diet for your baby, you can go to the Pediatrics - Neonatology Department of reputable medical centers for comprehensive nutritional advice for children. .
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
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 sources: webmd.com, healthline.com