When To Start Giving Solid Foods To The Little Ones?
According to experts, many parents take a long time to start giving solid foods to their children. Do you know why?
When a little one begins to bite his hands it is not only a signal of the first teeth that are born but it means that the little one is preparing to eat. You will notice that he will repeat this gesture with everything that comes his way and once put in his mouth he will start chewing it.
If you feed him only baby food and baby food, he will quickly get tired of this type of consistency but at the same time he may not feel the curiosity to taste new flavors. So, it’s time to give your little one solid foods .
The baby’s nutrition is the basis of his health.
When to give solid foods to the little ones?
All studies indicate that breast milk is the best food for the baby during the first months of life, after six months, however, this breastfeeding must be accompanied by a solid diet guided by the needs of the baby : interest in food and neurological maturity .
A little one who eats solid foods must have the ability to handle the mixture in his mouth without risking choking. This also reduces the risk of suffocation. When to start giving solid foods to your children?
In moments like this, the “baby led weaning” is introduced which helps the little one to be an active part in his nutrition and to prevent childhood obesity.
What is baby led weaning?
It is a method of introducing complementary nutrition based on replacing puree with solid spoon foods. Thus the child is able to eat independently.
The key to this technique is that the little one will eat the same foods as the rest of the family adapted to their needs. It is equivalent to giving solid foods to the little one as an alternative to shredded foods.
The same foods served at the table are offered to the baby such as : green beans, potatoes, bananas, pears, etc. By touching their own food independently, the baby can experience different sensations. Chewing on the other hand will strengthen the muscles in his mouth. Gradually you will see that it will get used to it and your appetite will increase.
When the baby is full of food, you can offer him breast milk or powdered milk, depending on the needs.
Through this method the little one plays an active role in his diet : choosing the quantities he ingests and learning to manage the feeling of satiety. This technique helps prevent childhood obesity cases.
Basic recommendations of the method
To ensure that the little one gets the necessary nutrients, does not choke, it is very important that parents keep an eye on the baby’s nutrition.
- Offer foods that provide enough energy.
- Continue with breastfeeding.
- Introduce foods that provide iron on a daily basis.
- Control the baby and adapt the food to his needs.
It is important to remember that 1 to 3 year olds have a much faster growth rate than adults. This is why it is normal to be surprised to see that a 2-year-old child eats as much as an adult.
The benefits of baby led weaning
- Promotes breastfeeding.
- Helps to acquire healthy habits.
- Establishes adequate eating habits linked to satiety signals.
- Promotes the child’s psychomotor development.
- It promotes the acceptance of foods shared with the family with a great variety of textures and flavors.
- It follows a greater consumption of healthy foods.
- He is more respectful with the baby.
- Conceives complementary nutrition as learning.
- The baby eats whatever he wants regardless of the quantity.
