Patient's question:
I am breastfeeding, but my mother suggested adding complementary foods. I don't know which foods are nutritious to add.First follow-up question: Thank you. I also want to ask: How should I prepare scrambled egg yolks? Are there other complementary foods? Can you list them for me? Can fruits be eaten? Which ones? How much is appropriate? How should I arrange his complementary food schedule daily?
Doctor's answer:
Hello:1) Gradually adapt the infant. Start by getting the child accustomed to flavors like soup, juice, etc., to pique their interest. You can dilute adult soup 2–3 times and cool it to body temperature before feeding it to the child before breastfeeding. Juice can be fed directly with water added, or mixed with formula.
(2) Gradually increase the amount and variety of complementary foods for the infant. When introducing a new food, do so gradually, starting with a small amount and gradually increasing it. Hasty introduction can lead to failure. At 4 months of age, start with egg yolk, introducing 1/4 at first. After a week, if the child’s appetite and digestion are normal, increase to 1/2, and gradually increase to a whole yolk. At 6 months, the child can start eating whole eggs. Do not introduce two or more new foods simultaneously. First introduce a new food the child has never eaten before, wait until they adapt, and then introduce another new food.
(3) From thin to thick, from soft to hard. Infants aged 1–3 months can drink gruel, vegetable soup, juice, etc. As they grow older, gradually introduce thin porridge, soft noodles, biscuits, etc. If a child does not like a new food the first time, it may lead to disinterest later. Therefore, the first time introducing a new food, make it softer and more palatable to make it easier for the child to accept and avoid overly hard food causing vomiting.
(4) From fine to coarse, from powder to pieces. Complementary foods must be made as fine as possible. Fresh vegetables should first be fed as soup, then pureed, and finally as small vegetable pieces.
(5) Frequently vary the types of food. Offering a wide variety of foods can not only meet the infant’s growth needs