Patient's question:
My baby is four months old and has been on mixed feeding. I want to start complementary feeding for my baby. Should I give the yolk of an egg before or after milk, or between feedings? How should I feed fruit juice?Doctor's answer:
Hello:From birth to 12 months, a baby's dietary progression is very rapid. Initially, they can only drink milk, but around 4 months, they can start eating pureed food, and by about 5-6 months, they can be fed with vegetables. The principle of introducing vegetables is the same as for other foods: add them one by one, don’t give too many different new foods at once.
When a baby can eat vegetables, start with some milder-tasting and easier-to-accept options, such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, green peas, and cabbage.
Spinach contains nitrates, which can hinder a newborn baby's ability to transport oxygen in the body. Therefore, it is best to eat it sparingly before the age of one. Additionally, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watercress, broccoli, and some fruits like mangoes, papayas, loquats, persimmons, and apricots are rich in beta-carotene. So, don’t eat too much of them in one day. While excessive beta-carotene will not cause poisoning, it can turn the skin orange-yellow.
From Juice to Whole Fruit
Around 5-6 months, you can start giving your baby diluted juice, such as one teaspoon of juice mixed with two or three teaspoons of cool boiled water, or you can give them fruit puree, starting with one teaspoon.
Fruits should also be introduced one by one. Initially, you can give softer fruits like bananas, apples, seedless watermelon, and papayas. Canned fruits are best when preserved in water or juice, not syrup.
Three Types of Vegetables Suitable for Babies
You can choose fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables to feed your baby.
(1) Fresh vegetables: Wash, peel, and chop them, then cook in boiling water until just tender but not overcooked, as this will cause them to lose nutrients.