Is traditional weaning good for babies?

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Weaning according to the traditional method is still applied by many young parents because this method is quite suitable for Vietnamese culture and can help children fully absorb energy and nutrients from foods. However, the implementation of weaning according to the traditional method for children also needs parents to learn how to do it appropriately to help the effectiveness of this process be the highest.

1. What is the traditional weaning?

Currently, there are many ways to help children gradually get used to food and transition to a solid diet other than breast milk, including the traditional weaning method. Traditional weaning involves things like pureeing foods and then mixing them together to form a dish for your baby.
Weaning according to the traditional method makes it easy for babies to switch from breast milk to diluted foods and then to solid foods. With food for children according to this method, the traditional weaning menu for babies will be pureed food and this method also helps the child's digestive system to work better and more smoothly. Unlike other weaning methods such as self-directed weaning, which allows children to decide what food they want to eat and how much to eat, traditional weaning requires children to be With the help of parents, children will have enough opportunities to be provided with more energy and nutrients according to their recommended needs. Moreover, weaning according to the traditional method is passed down by grandparents, so often young parents are confident and comfortable to apply traditional weaning to their children.

2. Basic principles applied to children using traditional weaning methods

Traditional weaning is also done based on some basic principles such as:
According to the guidelines of the World Health Organization WHO, parents should only introduce solids to their children when they are 6 months old, and for the Traditional weaning methods, similarly, should be applied at this time. Parents should avoid giving their children solid foods too early because at this age the child's digestive system has not yet developed, which may cause adverse side effects for the child's development.
Children's daily menu is built with all 4 groups of substances including:
Nutrients that provide carbohydrates or carbohydrates often found in foods such as cereals, potatoes, tubers... provide the necessary energy and fiber for children. The group of nutrients that provide fat includes foods such as cooking oil, animal fat, butter, cheese... that help provide energy in the most concentrated form. Fat helps children's bodies have good skin, and helps children easily absorb good fat-soluble vitamins, and develop brain cells and nervous system. The group of nutrients that provide protein is found in many foods of animal origin such as meat, fish, eggs, shrimp, crab, eel, frog... to help build the body's muscle mass and synthesize it. antibodies protect the body. The group of nutrients that provide vitamins and minerals includes foods rich in vitamins and minerals such as green vegetables, ripe fruits... these substances are intended to regulate the activities of the child's body, especially rich in anti-apple fiber. constipation in children. The most important rule to remember when implementing traditional weaning is to feed children in sufficient quantities, not force them to eat, and not depend on technological means to attract children to cooperate. during feeding. Parents can put their children in the high chair and give them healthy eating habits.
Parents need to pay more attention to changing the coarseness of the food when the child gets used to the process of weaning, helping the child feel excited about each child's meal.

3. The appropriate stages can be implemented for children to eat solids according to the traditional method.

To implement weaning in the most effective way, parents need to follow each specific stage:
The stage where the child eats powder combined with pureed meat, fish, and vegetables. The applicable age for this stage is about 5 to 6 months old. Children will be eating flour or porridge cooked at a ratio of 1/10 combined with chicken broth, vegetable broth... and foods that are carefully simmered, then filtered through a sieve and obtained a smooth, soft mixture. Breast milk is still a valuable source of nutrition for babies at this stage, so parents should not force children to eat too much food. The purpose of this stage is to help babies get used to foods other than breast milk. However, it is advisable to avoid giving children foods that can cause allergies such as crabs, snails, shrimps... in the early stages when giving them solid foods to start eating. Food for children: At the beginning of this period, parents can give their children 2 meals of powder and 1 meal of porridge. Porridge is cooked with broken rice grains and does not need to be pureed as before, which can increase the coarseness for children to practice mandarin and increase their chewing and swallowing skills. Children's food menu cannot lack vegetables such as carrots, kohlrabi, sweet potatoes, potatoes. ... along with foods that provide protein such as field fish, eel crabs... At this stage, children start teething, so they may have problems related to sore gums, fever, digestive disorders. ... so parents should avoid forcing children to eat but should divide meals to help children eat more.
The stage of children eating whole grain porridge: Starting from the age of 10 to 12 months. Whole grain porridge helps children get used to soft and rough foods gradually. Porridge can also be thicker than during the thickening phase of the dish. Parents also teach their children how to get used to spoons and forks so that children can eat their own meals. In particular, allowing children to sit at the same table and chairs with the whole family and eat together with the family will help them be more excited when using food.
The stage of starting to teach children to eat rice. At this time, children can eat a lot of foods like adults. Parents can practice feeding their children crushed rice with chopped food. At this stage, in addition to perfecting chewing and swallowing skills, children are also more proficient with using spoons, forks... and eating meals by themselves. However, to build a menu for children at this stage, parents should choose a variety of foods so that their children's meals are plentiful.

4. Things parents should not apply when training children to eat solids according to the traditional method

Parents should remember to absolutely avoid foods that can cause choking for children such as nuts, raw vegetables, popcorn...
Limit distractions while children eat such as television, phone... Parents should practice feeding their children with the family to help them quickly integrate into healthy eating habits.
Do not be too hasty in the process of helping children get used to solid foods. Parents should be patient and encourage the child as much as possible to get the child's cooperation.
Parents should not give their children too many foods when starting solids, let them enjoy each food so that the child can enjoy the full flavor and texture of that food. .
Parents need to pay attention to create a comfortable atmosphere to help children get excited about the meal, so avoid creating stress or forcing children while eating.
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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