During the process of feeding the baby, mothers have different views on when to wean. Some mothers start weaning their babies earlier to maintain their figure, while others consider the baby’s health more and choose to wean later. In fact, there is no unified best time for weaning, mothers can decide based on their own situation and the baby’s needs.
After weaning, toddlers around the age of 1 have limited chewing and digestion abilities and should choose soft, easily digestible, and nutritious foods. For example, staple foods can include soft noodles, rice porridge, and small wontons; recommended side dishes are minced meat, meat floss, smooth vegetable purees, and egg custard. In addition, milk is an essential beverage during the weaning period, as it is easily digested and nutritionally complete, providing the necessary nutrients for the baby’s growth.
Usually, within about a week after weaning, the baby’s appetite will gradually return to normal. Initially, there may be resistance to eating, and parents need to be patient and provide consistent guidance. If conditions allow, weaning around the age of one year will be smoother, as by then children can accept a greater variety of foods, including solid foods like rice, which helps alleviate the discomfort of weaning.
When introducing complementary foods, it is important to ensure a balanced diet, including staple foods such as various rice and noodle products, and a variety of side dishes such as fish, vegetables, and soy products, to ensure the baby receives comprehensive nutrition.
It is worth noting that frequently feeding the baby rice soaked in soup is not advisable. Although soup contains some nutrients, most nutrients are actually retained in solid foods, and long-term consumption of rice soaked in soup may burden the baby’s digestion. Additionally, trying to replace vegetables with fruits to address baby constipation is not recommended, as each has different nutritional components, and the fiber in vegetables is crucial for maintaining intestinal health, which fruit cannot fully replace.
Finally, once the baby can comfortably eat thin porridge or rice, the role of milk pudding as a transitional food is complete and no longer necessary. Continued reliance on milk pudding may affect the normal development of the baby’s teeth and chewing abilities. Therefore, timely adjustments to the diet structure are essential to promote the baby’s healthy growth.
