The growth of a baby is a staged process. As they gradually grow up, a single diet of breast milk or formula may no longer meet their increasing nutritional needs. Therefore, when the baby gets a bit older, parents should gradually introduce solid foods as complementary food. But what should you do if a ten-month-old baby shows disinterest in complementary foods?
Ensuring that complementary foods are nutritionally comprehensive, well-matched, and easy to digest and absorb, whether homemade or commercially available, is the core of scientifically introducing complementary foods. Parents should add foods based on the baby’s actual age and start with small amounts, gradually increasing the quantity. During this process, closely monitor the baby for any allergic reactions; if skin redness or eczema occurs, the specific complementary food should be stopped. It is preferable to prepare complementary foods fresh, and if preparation is done in advance, they should be re-steamed before consumption. The increase in variety should be based on the baby’s digestive capacity and nutritional needs, progressing step by step.
When faced with a baby’s rejection of complementary foods, parents need to recognize that eating complementary foods is a learning process that requires time and patient training. Here are some strategies to help the baby adapt to complementary foods:
1. Seize the critical period of 6 months for introducing complementary foods, providing the baby with rich nutrition in a timely manner. 2. Add food types in the correct order, starting with grains, gradually transitioning to vegetables, fruits, and then to meats and egg yolks. 3. Offer complementary foods when the baby is hungry, as they are more likely to accept new foods during this time. 4. Set fixed times for complementary feeding to help the baby develop regular eating habits. 5. Be patient when introducing new flavors, as it may take multiple attempts for the baby to accept them. Each flavor should be allowed to be fully accepted before changing to another. 6. If a breastfed baby is particularly dependent on the mother, attempt to have other family members feed the baby complementary foods to reduce this dependency. 7. Avoid using toys to distract the baby during feeding, as this may diminish the baby’s interest in complementary foods, which could be detrimental to their acceptance of them in the long run.
Through these methods, parents can more effectively guide the baby to enjoy complementary foods, promoting healthy growth.
