How do you want your child to eat - A must-read for wise mothers

Author: Li Yingji
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Weaning is a training to cultivate a child's independence. Breast milk not only contains immune substances that can keep children away from illness but is also rich in nutrition. However, as children grow, breast milk alone gradually cannot meet their nutritional needs for growth. This is why the necessity of introducing weaning foods arises. After a child is born at 4–5 months, breast milk or formula alone will no longer meet their nutritional requirements for normal growth and development. Moreover, the iron, zinc, and other nutrients stored in their bodies at birth will be depleted. Additionally, children around 5–6 months will begin to show interest in foods other than breast milk and formula. As they start teething, the functions of their digestive organs also begin to develop, and their ability to digest and absorb nutrients gradually strengthens. These are all reasons to start introducing weaning foods.
In summary, the purpose of weaning is to supplement the essential nutrients for a child's growth that breast milk cannot provide, helping them to grow healthily and train them to eat independently, thereby fostering their independence. In this way, weaning helps support a child's physical and mental development and guides them toward healthy growth, which is one of the important duties of a mother. Weaning is very beneficial for a child's physical and mental health.
The ideal time to start weaning is when a child is 4–5 months old. Before this age, a child's digestive system is not yet capable of digesting foods other than breast milk. However, as weaning foods are introduced, the child's digestive organs gradually strengthen, progressing from liquid foods to semi-solid foods and then to solid foods. The first step in weaning is using a spoon. A child gradually becomes accustomed to the hard spoon while learning to swallow and chew food, which is the beginning of basic eating practice in life.
Weaning also helps with a child's mental development. A child who is only breastfed may start showing a desire to feed themselves at a certain stage. This might appear as mischief to a mother, but in reality, it reflects the child's growing interest in things. If a child's eating desire is interfered with or scolded for not eating neatly, the desire may completely disappear. Therefore, it is best to place a plastic mat or newspaper under the child so that any dropped food falls onto it, while also fostering their autonomy. If a child is always fed by their mother, they may grow up to be overly dependent. However, it is essential to guide them when mistakes occur during meals, such as "do not play with food" or "this is too hot," and never ignore these instructions just because the child does not understand.
When to start weaning depends on various criteria. Some believe it should begin when a child weighs 7 kilograms, others when they can consume more than 100 milliliters of formula at a time, and yet others when they are 5 months old. While there are many opinions, one thing is certain: when it is time to wean, the child will give signals, such as watching food with their eyes while adults are eating or drooling excessively when they want to eat something. These signals typically appear around 4 months of age, which is