Patient's question:
My little baby is four months old. Before this, I have been breastfeeding, but now I have started working. I work for ten or more hours a day, so I breastfeed the baby in the morning and evening, and give him cow's milk during the day. Is this okay? Can I also add some supplementary foods? (For example: glucose, water, egg yolk, etc.) I don't know what the best way to feed is. How often should the intervals be?Doctor's answer:
How to Add Solid Foods to a Baby's Diet1-2 Months Old Baby
Breastfed babies do not need water or juice. For formula-fed babies, this period requires regular hydration and the addition of some juice and vegetable broth.
2-3 Months Old Baby
It is necessary to add foods rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in the growth and development of infants, the production of blood, and the health of bones. As the baby grows, the nutrients in breast milk or formula may not meet their body's needs. This is especially true for formula-fed babies, as the milk or formula must be heated multiple times before consumption, destroying much of the vitamin C. Therefore, it is essential to supplement vitamin C separately.
Fresh vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamin C, particularly those with an acidic taste like oranges, red berries, and tomatoes. Vegetables can be made into vegetable broth to feed the baby. To preserve vitamin C, the water should be boiled first, then the cleaned and chopped vegetables added to the boiling water. The pot should be covered and removed from the heat once it boils again. Keep the lid closed until the broth cools slightly, then pour it into a bottle, adding a small amount of salt or sugar. It is best to consume it on the same day. Fruits can be prepared in the same way to make a broth or squeezed into juice (from oranges or tomatoes) and diluted before feeding.
3-4 Months Old Baby
Begin supplementing with iron, a key ingredient for blood production. Iron is the main component of hemoglobin. Before birth, the mother's body has already prepared a certain amount of iron reserves for the baby, but