Many parents may find that when their babies are about five months old, their eyes will stare straight at the adults while they are eating, their little hands will involuntarily reach out to grab them, and their little mouths will twitch and drool.
In fact, these cute little movements tell my mother: I am ready to try new foods!
At this specific time, adding some complementary foods to the baby appropriately will not only supplement nutrients other than breast milk, but also lay a good foundation for successful weaning in the future.
The best time to introduce complementary foods
Even if the baby shows signs of desire and wants to eat, authoritative organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics have given certain recommendations, that is, exclusive breastfeeding should be continued until the baby is six months old.
Because breast milk itself can meet all the nutritional needs of the baby before six months, including water.
Although the development of each baby is different, if the baby is gaining weight well at five months, showing great interest in food, and the tongue thrust reflex has disappeared, then you can consider starting with a small amount of single pureed food.
If conditions permit, it would be prudent to wait until six months before adding.
Nutritious and delicious pumpkin puree
Pumpkin is the first choice ingredient for many families to make complementary foods for their babies. It has a natural sweetness, and babies are highly receptive to it.
Prepare 100 grams of fresh pumpkin, peel and remove the flesh, cut into small pieces, and steam until cooked.
Use a spoon to crush the steamed soft pumpkin slices into a fine pumpkin puree. When the temperature drops to a point where it is not hot to the touch, pour a small spoonful of honey on it and stir evenly. Then you can feed it to your baby.
However, parents need to be reminded that babies under one year old are not recommended to consume honey. Therefore, the honey included in this recipe can be omitted, or it can be replaced with a few drops of warm boiled water.
Pumpkin is rich in carotene, which is very helpful for baby’s eye development and immunity improvement.
Simple and easy lotus root porridge
lotus root It has the effect of clearing away heat and promoting fluid production, which is especially friendly to babies with weak spleen and stomach.
Take out 250 grams of fresh lotus root, wash it, peel off the skin and cut it into small cubes, then add 100 grams of japonica rice.
First wash the rice to make it clean, then put the rice and lotus roots into the pot together, then add enough water, then bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat, and then cook slowly.
Cook until the rice grains bloom, the lotus root dices are soft and rotten, and the porridge becomes thick, you can turn off the heat.
If the baby is not very good at chewing, you can press the porridge again with a spoon, or use a blender to beat it into a paste.
Lotus root porridge has a soft texture and is easily digested. It is an extremely mild complementary food for babies with spleen deficiency and prone to diarrhea.
How to make two-color egg yolk mud
When your baby is five months old, you can start trying egg yolks. Egg yolks are rich in lecithin and iron, which are of great benefit to brain development and the prevention of anemia.
Prepare a fresh wood-fired egg, put it into cold water, then boil over medium heat until the water boils, then reduce to low heat and cook for 7 minutes. After turning off the heat, rinse it with cold water immediately, so that the eggshell will be easier to peel.
Take out the egg yolk and make sure to cook it until the egg yolk is golden brown from the inside to the outside. Use a small spoon to press it lightly and turn it into powder. It is considered cooked.
Crush the egg yolk and add appropriate amount Rice soup Make a paste.
If you want to have more nutrients, you can also make the boiled green cabbage leaves into juice, filter it and mix it with the egg yolk puree to make a beautiful two-color egg yolk puree.
Dietary taboos to note
The stomach of a five-month-old baby is still very delicate, so some foods cannot be touched for the time being.
For fruits that are prone to allergies such as mango and pineapple, as well as fruits with downy fruits such as peaches and kiwis, it is best to wait until the baby is a little older before trying them.
In terms of condiments, salt, MSG, soy sauce, and even chili sauce should not be added, because the kidneys of babies under one year old have limited capacity. If they eat salt, it will increase the burden on the kidneys.
In addition, there are various snacks, such as biscuits, candies, and drinks, which contain many additives and sugars. They are not nutritious, can easily damage the baby's sense of taste, and may also cause tooth decay.
Daily complementary food arrangement reference
It doesn’t have to be too complicated to add complementary foods at the beginning. You can start from once a day.
At eight o'clock in the morning, you can feed one-eighth of an egg yolk and mix it with 30 to 50 ml of warm water or diluted fruit juice.
Feed about 30 grams of vegetable puree or fruit puree at noon, and drink some rice soup.
At eight o'clock in the evening, you can try rice flour paste, which is also about 30 grams, with 30 to 50 ml of warm water.
As your baby adapts, slowly increase the frequency and weight.
Remember to only add one new food at a time and observe it for three or four days before adding the next one until there is no allergic reaction.
Hygiene must be ensured when making juice. It is best to drink freshly squeezed juice without adding sugar.
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