Nutrition and weaning for 7 months old baby

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Post was professionally consulted with Level II Specialist Doctor Trinh Minh Chau with 21 years of experience in Pediatrics in Ho Chi Minh City, especially respiratory diseases. Dr. Chau currently has a working schedule at Tran Cao Van Clinic on Thursday mornings and at Vinmec Central Park Hospital on Saturday mornings (weekly).
When the baby is 7 months old, the baby will achieve a number of important physical milestones such as being able to sit on his own, growing his first tooth, etc. Therefore, it is important to provide a variety of nutrients during the period when the baby is growing. This very rapid growth is desperately needed. Here are some tips in formulating healthy meals for your 7-month-old baby.

1. How does a 7-month-old baby eat solids?

Compared to the first years of life when the only food is milk (breast milk or formula), babies at 7 months old will begin their culinary exploration with extremely interesting experiences for themselves. Accordingly, meals with a variety of ingredients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fruits) are essential. Moreover, the experience of foods will create conditions for the baby to gradually come into contact with food, the baby's intestinal system will develop more, avoiding the risk of food allergies in the future.
Besides, unlike at 6 months old, when going through this stage, babies have their first baby teeth. Therefore, instead of meals that are purely powdered, pureed porridge, mothers also need to practice their children's chewing reflexes with the hardness of food increasing over time, so that eating becomes a game. look forward to every day.

2. What should 7 months old baby pay attention to?

When the nutritional source from breast milk is no longer guaranteed, weaning foods will gradually replace in the nourishment of children. At this time, mothers not only need to choose a variety of food sources but also pay attention to provide more vitamins and nutrients needed in the baby's weaning meals.
2.1. Iron Iron is a key ingredient for making blood cells. The most easily absorbed sources of iron are red meat and dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. In addition, when giving children iron-rich foods along with foods containing vitamin C, iron absorption will be significantly improved.
2.2. Zinc Young children are more susceptible to infections when zinc is deficient. Zinc is found in beef, lamb, turkey, shrimp, pumpkin, sesame seeds, lentils, asparagus and yogurt...
2.3. Vitamin C Vitamin C is a very familiar vitamin, but when children lack it, they are prone to infections, often have sores in the oral mucosa... Vitamin C is abundant in many fruits and vegetables and especially in lots of strawberries, cantaloupe, citrus, papaya, kiwi, mango, broccoli...

2.4. Vitamin A The relationship between vitamin A and eye health has been well proven, helping to avoid blurred vision, dry eyes, night blindness... Good sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, carrots, and assorted varieties. orange and red fruits, vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables, whole milk, fish, beef and lamb...
2.5. Vitamin D The child's skeletal system develops rapidly during the period when they begin to learn to sit, walk and stand. Accordingly, the need for vitamin D is very large. In addition to regular sunbathing and outdoor physical activity, mothers also need to pay attention to supplement vitamin D in their meals through salmon, sardines, tuna, whole grains, cow's milk, and milk. sour cream and other dairy products.
2.6. Omega-3 When children learn to sit and crawl, their observation ability expands and their brain activity continuously develops. At that time, the role of omega-3 becomes extremely important. Therefore, mothers need to focus on foods such as catfish, sea fish and seaweed or dry nuts such as walnuts, chia seeds and flaxseeds by grinding them into powder. porridge.

3. Suggested menu for 7-month-old babies to eat solid foods

After starting to get used to a more solid diet from the sixth month, you can slowly diversify your baby's foods over the next month. So what can a 7 month old baby eat in his solid food? Here are some 7 month baby food options parents can refer to.
3.1. Fruit puree Fruit is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fruits such as apple, papaya, banana, watermelon, avocado, etc. are all ideal choices for a snack as well as a complete meal.
3.2. Green vegetables Green vegetables also contain many essential vitamins and minerals. All vegetables are suitable for mothers to cook, puree and cook in soups and porridge for babies.
3.3. Porridge porridge made from grains, beans and nuts is a great source of nutrition for young children. Specifically, cereals such as rice, wheat, oats, barley, millet, ... can be steamed and softened into powder, mixed in porridge mixture, increasing the taste of baby's meals.
3.4. Puree Meat Meat, such as chicken, fish, shrimp, crab, is a rich source of protein for babies. The processing method is also cooked, ground or pureed.
3.5. Eggs Eggs are a very convenient food that is a great source of essential fats and proteins. Eggs can also "transform" into various shapes in each meal for the baby. It should be noted that the intestinal system of the baby is still immature, no matter how it is processed, the mother should always remember to cook the eggs. Never give your baby raw or undercooked eggs.
3.6. Cheese Cheese made from pasteurized milk, widely available in the market. Not only is this food very rich in fat, protein and vitamins, but it also has a delicious taste that every child will love.
=>> See more How normal is the stool of a weaning baby?

4. Some notes when giving 7 months baby solid food

Don't force your baby to eat: Different babies have different tastes and preferences. This is the first "covenant" you need to remember. If your baby is uncooperative, stop and continue to breastfeed on demand. Parents may find it difficult to stand still and watch their child refuse to eat, but forcing the child to eat is unlikely to help. Instead, try to accept that your baby is not hungry right now and patiently wait until the next feeding time. At the next meal, try again, children inherently never let themselves go hungry for long.
See also: How to avoid turning meals into a "struggle"
Active eating: Encourage your baby to actively explore different foods by allowing them to eat foods with their hands. At this age, children tend to get bitten by everything they can get their hands on to help ease their gums. What is more exciting when food will act as a toy for children, both playing and absorbing.
Experience: Don't be a barrier for your child to explore the world of food just because you don't like to eat something. In case the baby is allergic to a particular food, keep it in mind and stop for a few months; however, then try again with a smaller amount instead of abstaining.
See also: How to encourage children to try new foods?
Eat in the right place: Build a dedicated eating place to establish proper eating habits. This habit will create an association between the place and the food in the baby's mind, making feeding less of a chore.
Ensure hygiene: Baby food always needs to be cooked. Raw fruits must be soaked in water many times. Utensils used to make baby food should also be cleaned and disinfected in boiling water. The reason is that at this stage, the child's intestines have to come into contact with new foods and face a very high risk of infection.
In short, 7-month-old babies need to build a healthy, nutritious diet to provide energy for the body and the developing brain. This is also the most exciting time when babies start to eat solid foods and get used to different tastes. Parents' dedication, patience in care and warm hearts in each weaning meal will create a good foundation for children's eating habits in the future.
Besides, parents also need to supplement their children with essential micro-minerals such as zinc, lysine, chromium, selenium, vitamin B1, ... to fully meet the nutritional needs of children. The addition of these essential vitamins also supports digestion, enhances nutrient absorption, improves anorexia, and helps children eat well. Parents can simultaneously apply dietary supplements and functional foods derived from nature for easy absorption. The most important thing is that improving your baby's symptoms often takes a long time. The combination of many types of functional foods at the same time or continuously changing many types in a short time can cause the baby's digestive system not to adapt and completely not good. Therefore, parents must be really patient with their children and regularly visit the website vimec.com to update useful baby care information.