Patient's question:
My child started drinking formula milk when she was a month old. At two months, I gave her less milk and beans, as well as carrot juice. Now that she's three months old, what else can I give her?Doctor's answer:
Hello;1) Gradually accustom the infant to new flavors. Start by introducing familiar tastes like broth, juice, etc., to pique their interest. Dilute adult soup by 2–3 times and cool it to body temperature before feeding it to the baby before breastfeeding. Juice can be fed directly diluted with water or mixed with formula.
(2) Gradually increase the quantity and variety of complementary foods. When introducing a new food, start with a small amount and gradually increase it. Rushing the process may lead to failure. At 4 months, introduce egg yolk, starting with 1/4. If the baby tolerates it well after a week (with normal appetite and digestion), increase to 1/2, and then gradually to a whole yolk. At 6 months, the baby can start eating whole eggs. Avoid introducing two or more new foods simultaneously. Introduce one new food at a time, wait until the baby adapts, and then introduce another.
(3) Start with liquids and move to solids, and begin with soft textures before introducing harder ones. For infants aged 1–3 months, you can feed them broth, juice, etc. As they grow older, gradually introduce porridge, soft noodles, biscuits, etc. If a baby doesn’t like a new food the first time, they may develop a dislike for it later. Therefore, the first time introducing a new food, make it softer and more palatable to encourage acceptance and avoid (hard) food causing vomiting.
(4) Start with fine textures and move to coarser ones, and begin with mashed food before introducing pieces. Complementary foods should be as finely processed as possible. Fresh vegetables should first be fed as broth, then mashed, and only later as small pieces.
(5) Frequently vary the types of food. Offering a diverse range of foods ensures the infant’s growth is well-nourished.