Complementary foods
Complementary foods
Like many things in the development of your baby, the introduction of complementary foods usually happens naturally. Your baby starts to take interest in the food you’re eating at the age of 6 months. It can sit upright with minimal help, it can hold its head without help for longer periods of time. It can bring its hands to the mouth and with its lips it can take porridge from a spoon on its own.
Further information (recommendations, FAQs,...) on the subject of complementary food...
How should we start?
It is best to start in a relaxed atmosphere without pressure or constraint, regardless of the time of day. Start with 2-3 teaspoons of pureed complementary baby food (mostly vegetables). After the feeding of the complementary food you can breastfeed your baby or give it a bottle. Little by little your baby will eat more. Continue breastfeeding your baby as long as you and your child want. Longer breastfeeding prevents allergies and infections! The first baby food should not be given before the 17th week of life and if possible not after the 26th week of life.
What’s the next step?
A slow and careful introduction of the complementary food is no longer recommended. Rather, it is good if it is oriented on the offer from the family table but without the addition of salt, hot spices or sugar.
Which foods are recommended?
Daily vegetables, fruit, cereals, 1x daily a portion of high quality protein: meat (30g) or fish (char, salmon, trout) or egg or legumes.
Which foods are not suitable?
Honey, salt and salty foods, hot spices, ham, bacon, sausage, reduced-fat foods, raw eggs, raw fish, raw meat, curd, cheese, pudding, cocoa, sugar and sugary foods, lemonades, small foods like nuts, seeds, grains, berries, sweets, chewing gum, fish with bones.
Can give cow milk to my baby?
Yes, even during the first year of life cow milk may already be given, 100-200ml of whole milk, natural yogurt or buttermilk for the preparation of the complementary food.
May my baby eat cereals before the age of 6 months?
Yes, contact with gluten-containing cereals in an amount of about 7g/day (½ slice of sugar-free rusk, a piece of bread, 1 tbsp cooked pasta, 1 tbsp flakes, 1 tsp semolina or flour) is recommended between the 5th or 7th month of life. To continue with breastfeeding while introducing cereals prevents the development of celiac disease, wheat allergy and type 1 diabetes mellitus.
We parents have many allergies? What should my baby not eat?
Even with inclination to allergy, there are no prohibitions or restrictions. Fish, egg and finely ground nuts may already be given in the first year of life.
My baby does not want to drink. What should I do?
Babies usually start to drink as soon as they eat firmer foods, which means at around 10 months. Before that, they receive enough liquid through the milk and complementary food. This you can notice when your baby is active and its diapers are full (urine) several times a day. It is ideal to offer water from suitable drinking or beak cups. Alternatively, you can give unsweetened tea; your baby does not need juices or other sugary drinks.
My baby does not like complementary food. Is there an alternative?
Yes, you can try finger food. Cook vegetables (for example broccoli), potatoes, meat in larger pieces and let your child try and eat with its hands. This method is called baby-led weaning.
Can I also use complementary food jars?
You can also use complementary food in jars for your baby. It is important to ensure that no sugar (declared as fructose, glucose, glucose syrup, honey, maltodextrin, maltose, sucrose), salt and no flavouring is added and that only few ingredients are used.
Literature/Recommended reading:
Essen und Trinken im Säuglingsalter, Mag.Ingeborg Hanreich, Hanreich-Verlag
Baby-led weaning, Das Grundlagenbuch, Gill Rapley, Tracey Murkett
Mein Kind will nicht essen, Dr.Carlos Gonzales, LaLecheLiga
Das vegetarische Baby, Irmelda Eckbrecht
