Adequate and balanced nutrition is essential for healthy growth and development. The first 2 years after birth is the most important period for healthy nutrition. Due to rapid growth and development in this period, malnutrition may result in frequent illnesses. Breast milk is the most suitable food for a newborn baby. For this reason, it is recommended that the baby be fed only with breast milk for the first 6 months. Since breast milk contains immune elements, it protects the baby against diseases. It is known that it protects the baby against diseases such as allergies, obesity, diabetes and hypertension that may develop in the future. Whether breast milk is sufficient or not should be decided by your physician according to weight gain and height growth monitoring. In the absence of breast milk, which formula to continue with in case of insufficient milk should be decided in consultation with your physician. Under normal conditions, while breast milk is sufficient for infant feeding for the first 6 months, it is not sufficient on its own and needs to be supplemented with additional food.
How Should the Transition to Supplementary Food Be?
He should be in a good mood, hungry and in an upright sitting position. It should be tried with a single teaspoon of food, and it should be increased gradually according to willingness or not. If the baby is reluctant the first time you try it, it should not be perceived as anorexia. It should be tried again with an interval of 3 days. If he does not want to take it, he should switch to a new food to be tried again after 2 weeks. Additional foods should be prepared fresh, canned and frozen foods should not be given. The food to be given to the baby should be consumed within 2 hours after it is prepared, food that has been waiting at room temperature for more than 2 hours should not be given to the baby. Before preparing additional food, hands should be washed thoroughly and clean sterile containers should be used. It is recommended to give it with a spoon while giving additional food.
Fruit and vegetable puree, yoghurt should be the first foods to be given when starting complementary food. When preparing vegetable and fruit puree, a glass grater should be used to prevent loss of vitamins. When switching to complementary foods, the main meal should be breast milk, and the snack should be supplementary foods. The mother should not be hasty and stressed while feeding. It should be quite slow and calm, patient. Additional water can be given during the period when additional food is started. The baby determines the need for water. Sugar and salt should not be added to additional foods. Initially, it is in the form of fruit juice, vegetable juice, then gradually puree and puree. should be prepared in slurry form. Grain and rough foods should be started up to 10 months.
Additional nutrition 6-8. 2 meals a month, 1 tea glass for each meal, 3 meals between 9-12 months, 1 tea glass for each meal. Honey, mushrooms, sugar and salt should not be given to babies before 1 year of age. Hard foods such as nuts, grapes, uncooked carrots, sugar that can cause choking should not be given during infancy. Foods such as sausage and salami containing nitrites should not have a place in infant nutrition. Herbal teas, sugary instant juices, canned foods, instant soups, sweetened yoghurt, salty cheese, bitter and spicy foods are not suitable foods.
Transition to Additional Food List
0-6 months Nutrition
- Breast milk alone, or if breast milk is insufficient, formula can be given under the supervision of a physician.
- Fruit puree (can be prepared with apple, pear, banana, peach)
- Vegetable puree (can be prepared with carrot, potato, pumpkin, zucchini, green leafy vegetables)
- Yogurt (can be prepared with breast milk or can prepare follow-on milk by fermenting with 1 spoon of yoghurt)
- The yolk of the egg (in the 6th month, the cooked egg yolk is started as 1/8 and gradually increased, before the age of 1, egg white should not be given because it is more allergic)
- Molasses are a valuable food. It can be given after the 7th month.
- It is not recommended to give foods containing high nitrates such as radishes and beets early.
- Unsalted white cheese
- Lentil soup in the form of a thin paste, crushed should be given. From the 7th month, it can be vegetable puree prepared with minced meat. Ground beef should be ground 2-3 times.
- Legumes (such as peas, beans, lentils)
- Made with meat and chicken meals
- Vegetable dishes
- The oil to be used while preparing mashed pasta and rice dishes should be olive oil. Honey should not be given before 1 year of age. After the age of 1, it is the period of sitting at the table and eating with the family. A small amount of salt can be added to the meals.
What are the Symptoms of Allergy in Transition to Solid Food?
Babies may encounter allergy symptoms during the transition to solid food. Foods such as cow's milk, egg whites, seafood, hazelnuts, peanuts and walnuts are the most common allergens. are foods. Food allergy may develop within a few minutes of being given, or they may react up to 72 hours late. The most common are skin rashes, rectal redness, bruising on the lips, respiratory distress, diarrhea, constipation. Cow's milk allergy is common in infants, foods such as yogurt, cheese and butter may reveal allergy symptoms. This type of allergy may resolve spontaneously after 2-3 years of age. The way to recognize food allergies is to try each food one by one and gradually increase it by giving less. The food we are allergic to is excluded from the diet. You can consult a pediatrician for other questions that come to your mind during the transition to supplementary food in infants.
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