Patient's question:
Doctor, my child is one year old and it's time to wean them, but she doesn't drink formula. What should I do? I'm so worried. She won't drink any formula, whether it's cheap or expensive. I want to ask what kind of things she can eat. At one year old, if she doesn't drink formula, what kind of diet should she have?Doctor's answer:
At 8-10 months, the baby can be fully weaned (from breastfeeding). The diet is mostly fixed to three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The transition includes moving from porridge to thick rice, from minced meat to shredded meat, and from pureed vegetables to shredded vegetables. Around the time the baby is about to turn one, special training can be provided to teach the baby to eat dinner by themselves, and breastfeeding must be completely stopped. If the baby is still exclusively breastfed, they may refuse to drink cow's milk, have poor appetite, and fail to meet their nutritional needs for growth. However, it is still necessary to follow a gradual approach when introducing complementary foods, starting with small amounts, moving from thin to thick, from fine to coarse, and introducing one new food at a time after the baby is healthy and their digestive system is functioning normally. After weaning, the baby will need approximately 1100-1200 kcal of energy and 35-40 grams of protein daily, as their nutritional requirements are high. Due to their poor absorption capacity, solid foods should not be introduced too early. Gradually add new foods to the existing diet, transitioning from liquid and semi-liquid to solid foods, always choosing soft and easily digestible options. For example, breakfast can include cow's milk or soy milk, eggs, or meat buns; lunch can consist of soft rice, fish, and vegetables, along with egg and shrimp skin soup; dinner can include lean meat and shredded vegetable noodles; mid-morning snacks can be fruits like bananas, apple slices, or pear slices; and afternoon snacks can be biscuits or sweetened water. The daily menu should be varied, with multiple rotations and revisions, paying attention to the balance of meat and vegetables to avoid repetitive meals. Additionally, cooking techniques and methods can also influence the baby's eating habits and appetite. If the food is appealing in color, aroma, and taste, it can enhance the baby's appetite, increase food intake, and improve their digestive and excretory functions. Wishing the baby health and happiness. The above advice is for the question "A one-year-old baby doesn't like drinking cow's milk." I hope it helps you. Wishing you good health!