Weaning

Introduction :

Healthy child is born to the mother who keep to healthy food habits during her pregnancy. Learning healthy eating behavior at an early age is very important to lay a good foundation for the future health of the child.

What is weaning

Process of introducing semi-liquid to semi-solid foods other than breast milk.

When to start weaning

The American Academy of pediatrics recommends feeding a baby only breast milk for the first 6 months of its life, and continuing breastfeeding until the child is at least one year old and for as long after that as the mother and child both wish to continue.

Why start weaning at 6 months

Breast milk sufficient for the growth of the baby only till 6 months of age.

Breast milk output starts to decline thereafter but baby’s physical and mental development continues at a very fast pace till the end of 2 years.

Weaning latest by 6 months failing which will lead to malnutrition.

The rate of increase in length and weight declines but still the child is growing in size.

Food contain complex form of nutrients. Child is ready to digest theses complex CHO protein and fats by 6 months of age, and enzymes to digest complex nutrients are fully activated now.

How it initiate weaning and progress

Consistency:

Introduction of right consistency of food at the right age is important to develop good food behaviors.

Essentially follow the sequence:

Breast feeds (0-6 months)

Semi-liquid (after 5-6 months) Easy to digest, smooth and gentle on baby’s stomach.

Semi-solid (after 8-9 months) Baby now needs food with taste and texture.

Semi solid (after 10 months) Baby now needs food that satisfy his urge to chew complex taste and texture.

Solid diet including variety of food items (1-1.2 yrs).

Frequency:

Energy requirement on a per kg basis is 3 times more than the adults in infants and 2 times more than the adults in case of children till 2 years  of age.

Children have to be fed frequently since they can eat small amount at a time due to their little capacity.

Till 5-6 months- Child is given breast feds on demand i.e. 9-10 times over 24 hours.

From 6-8 months- As the child grows, his requirements increase and he starts to accept larger volume and thicker consistency at a time – feed him 7-8 times/day.

From 9-12 months- Child normally eats 6-7 times per day and each time.

By 12-15 months- Child eats at least 6 times per day.

By 18 months- child’s eating schedule of 5-6 times / day gets fixed 3 regular meals- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner and 3 in-between healthy snacks- midmorning (recess time), evening at 4:30-5 PM bedtime.

Volume:

Children have little capacity due to their smaller surface area. Initially accepts small amount but as he increases in size, accepts larger volume.

Till 5-6 months

Few spoons to 30 ml at a time.

From 6-7 months

50-75 ml/g at a time.

From 7-8 months

75-100 ml/g at a time.

From 9-12 months

100-150ml/g

What to feed?

Liquid supplements-

Supplement breast milk with undiluted cow’s milk, buffalo’s milk, DMS milk. Mother dairy milk or whichever is easily available.

Semi liquid to semisolid supplements- Powdered rice (murmura/rice flakes), mashed banana, boiled & mashed potato, suji, daliya, sabutdana, boiled & mashed vegetables, washed dals, kichri etc.

From 6-7 Months

Introduce (along with BF Fresh Milk)

Mashed banana/ custard

Powdered murmura/ riceflakes in milk+ sugar+ oil  Khichri (Liquid consistency)

Washed moong dal+ rice+ fat

Biscut / bread/ suji in milk+ Sugar+ Oil.

Boiled mashed potato/ halwa.

From 8-9 Months

Continue breast feeds

Fresh milk (includes curd)

Banana OR any other

Seadonal fruit

Suji/ sago/ Dalia in milk + Sugar+ Oil.

Kichri (semisolid consistency)

(dal+ rice+ oil) OR rice dal

Biscuit / bread in milk+ sugar+ fat potato+ vegetable.

From 10-12 Months

Continue breast feeds

Fresh milk (includes curd)

Banana OR any other seasonal fruit.

Suji/ sago/ Dalia/ sevian in milk+ sugar+ oil (Thick)

Khichri )semisolid consistency)

(dal+ rice+oil) OR rice –dal

Biscut/ bread/ chapatti/ paratha (by 1 year)

Potato + any other vegetable.

Curd/ paneer/ groundnut/ Egg.

Conclusion:

Weaning is to be initiated at 6 months in order to prevent malnutrition and also for the better growth and development of the growing child.

Thanks,

Health-January-2013