Hot
chocolate, ovaltine and cocoa drinks, fenugreek and dill seeds, moringa
and other herbs are some of the elements that constitute many mothers’
diets in the first six months after the birth of their babies. This is
not to mention the jugs of porridge and bone soup, black beans and
traditional vegetables that they have to take religiously all in a bid
to increase their breast milk and ensure their little ones have enough
to drink. So when the babies hit the 6 months mark it’s a period of
celebration for most mothers not just because they have exclusively
breastfed for 6 months but also because they no longer have to worry
about the quantity of breast milk they have since the baby is now
allowed to take a little more than just breast milk. The mother no
longer has to be overly concerned about what they eat and of course, the
extra weight that comes from eating all manner of food, can now be
shed.
It
is indeed a major milestone that however, brings in new challenges
because the breast milk is no longer adequate for the baby and the
mother has to start complementary feeding. While on breast milk the
mother would never have to worry about preparation or whether the
nutrient value of the milk was adequate, because the breast milk comes
ready to drink meaning no preparation is required except warming and it
is nutritionally whole with the full complement of nutrients that the
baby requires for growth and development.
The
transition to family food by complementary feeding is critical because
if it is not done in the right way, the growth of a baby who was
flourishing on breast milk could be slowed and in some circumstances the
baby growth can be stunted. Poor food handling during this time can
result in infections like diarrhoea that further affect the growth.
Hence, a lot of caution has to be exercised during this period to ensure
that the gains made during the period of exclusive breastfeeding are
sustained.
What is complementary feeding?
Complementary
feeding is the introduction of food to a baby’s diet in addition to the
breast milk. It is recommended that complementary feeding begins from
six months of age up to 24 months so as to ensure that the baby receives
adequate nutrients to continue growing strong and healthy.
Before
six months of age, the mother’s milk in combination with the babies
nutrient reserves stored in the infants body when he was growing in the
uterus, are usually adequate to meet the nutritional requirements for
optimal growth. However, by six months of age, the baby has used most of
the nutrients that had been stored and needs extra.
The
other reasons why complementary feeding should commence at six months
of age is that the babies’ growth and development is very rapid at this
age, hence, they require additional nutrients to sustain adequate growth
and development during this period. Also their digestive system has
matured adequately to be able to digest other foods apart from breast
milk.
The quality and quantity of food
It
is critical that complementary feeding be practiced in a manner that
ensures that the quality and quantity of food the baby receives is
adequate to sustain optimal growth and development. The nutritional
value in the food being given to the baby has to be adequate. In this
regard, the baby should receive food from all the classes i.e proteins,
carbohydrates and vitamins.
The
frequency of feeding should be optimum i.e., the food should be
introduced gradually beginning with around two feeds a day and gradually
increasing to whole meals and snacks like the rest of the family.
The
consistency of the food should be carefully changed as the child grows
i.e., the food should not be too thick or too thin. Large sized shaped
pieces of food should be initially avoided as they can easily choke a
child. The variety of food provided during this period should be
adequate to cover the child’s nutritional needs. Avoid giving the child
only one type of food.
As
a way of maintaining optimum quality, parents should ensure that the
risk of food contamination is minimized. In order to reduce the risk of
infection to the child, the caregiver should prepare and give the food
in a clean environment and observe simple measures like proper hand
washing before handling the baby’s food and thoroughly cleaning utensils
used by the baby.
How do you encourage the baby to feed?
The
transition from breastfeeding to eating may be challenging to most
babies and effort needs to be put into making the process easier. It is
important to make the process as smooth as possible so that the baby can
easily adapt.
The
caregiver should be sensitive to the child’s cues for hunger and
respond appropriately. Do not let the child cry for food before they’re
fed. Feeding the child when they’re too tired or sleepy limits the
amount of food they can take. The food should be at the correct
temperature, a baby may find it difficult to eat food that is either too
hot or too cold.
The
baby should not be forced to feed and neither should they be punished
even if they’re reluctant or fussy feeders. The caregiver should be
patient and encourage the baby to feed. The baby should be allowed to
take all the time they need without being rushed. It’s okay for a baby
to play in between feeds as long as they continue to eat.
The
baby should be engaged by talking to them and complimenting them as
they feed. Positive reinforcement will motivate them to eat more.
Distractions should be minimized. If the caregiver becomes harsh, the
baby might resent feeding and this will ultimately affect their food
intake and growth.
Ultimately
the caregiver should ensure that the feeding experience is interesting
and happy otherwise the baby may develop a negative attitude towards
feeding altogether hence compromising their growth and development.
FREQUENCY OF FEEDING
It is recommended that the feeding is commenced gradually and slowly increased as the baby grows:
- Between 6 and 8 months: the baby should be fed 2 to 3 times a day.
- Between 9 and 11 months: the baby is fed 3 to 4 times daily.
- Between 12 and 24 months: the baby is fed 3 to four times with additional nutritious snacks in between meals.
HOW TO PREPARE THE BABY’S FOOD
Food
preparation to a big extent determines the ease with which a baby will
take food hence, caregivers should be careful to ensure that the food is
appropriate for age and time.
High
standards of hygiene should be observed when preparing the baby’s food.
Care should be taken to ensure that hands are always washed with soap
and water before handling the food and before actually feeding the baby.
Fruits and vegetables should always be washed before preparation and
the baby’s utensils should be thoroughly cleaned.
It
is recommended that parents start their children on food that is easily
available and affordable in their local setting since this will ensure
that the baby’s food is always fresh. Cooked food should be preferably
used in a day because storing for future use risks the food being stale.
While
it is important to ensure that food is tasty, it is recommended that
the use of salt and sugar is minimal. Spices and herbs should be
initially avoided until the baby is ready to take family food.
How to introduce food
One
food should be introduced at a time to allow the child to get used to
it and also for observation of allergies and tolerance .i.e, do not
introduce two different types of food at the same time.
The
texture of food should gradually change from semi-solid food to solid.
By eight months babies can eat finger food and by one year most babies
can comfortably eat the same type of food as the rest of the family.
The
variety of food should also gradually change and increase as the child
grows i.e, alternate different proteins, carbohydrates and fruits at
different meals to get a good range of nutrients.
If
the locally available foods are not adequate in meeting the nutritional
needs of the child, then fortified foods should be considered to avoid
the risk of malnutrition.
COMMON CHALLENGES DURING COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING
There
are common challenges while introducing complementary feeding such as
lack of knowledge on the appropriate food to feed the child - many
parents do not have access to professional advice on complementary
feeding hence they rely on information provided by relatives and friends
which may not be adequate. As a result the quality of food is
compromised:
- Foods provided may be lacking or have insufficient quantities of essential nutrients including minerals and vitamins.
- The variety of food provided is too little and the baby gets bored and refuses to eat.
- The consistency of the food is inappropriate for their age hence difficult for the child to feed on.
A
lot of working parents are unable to stay at home with their babies
during this time because of work commitments hence, the children are
left with caregivers who may not adhere to recommended practices like
hygienic food preparation and proper cleaning of utensils.
Competing
economic priorities may be another challenge. A very small portion of
the family budget is allocated to food for the child because of other
pressing needs.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
Breastfeeding should not be stopped during this period. Breast milk is still important in
ensuring the babies get adequate nutrition hence should be continued as food is gradually introduced.
The
period between 6 months and 24 months is very critical for babies
because there is rapid growth and development and if the nutritional
needs are not adequately met this time, the baby can become malnourished
and affected for the rest of their life.
Malnutrition
experienced in the first two years of life is majorly due to poor
complementary feeding practices and can have long term irreversible
consequences because the brain and body development being affected.
The
long term consequences of malnutrition at this age include reduced
future learning abilities, reduced ability of the body to fight
infection and reduced economic output. Children are most vulnerable to
illness during this period because of the risk of infection during the
introduction of food and handling of food hence, a lot of caution should
be exercised during this period.
Attribution: Avallain Ltd
Hey mums. Just recalling that time when I had to begin weaning/complementary feeding for my child. I have a list of challenges I went though back then including what to feed, how often, the consistency of the food and how to tell if my child was getting enough. What was/is your dilemma? See here a helpful article.
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