When your little one is 4-6 months old, you can start giving him various types of healthy food for his baby as a companion to breast milk. Not only does it meet the growing nutritional needs of your little one, these healthy foods are also good for their growth and development.
Breast milk contains a variety of important nutrients for babies. However, as babies get older, their nutritional needs increase and breast milk is no longer sufficient to support their growth and development. Therefore, additional nutritional intake is needed from healthy food as a companion to breast milk (MPASI).
However, before giving healthy food to your baby, you should pay attention to the baby's readiness to accept solid food. The best time to introduce solid foods to your baby is when he is already able to eat.
Generally, signs that your baby is ready to eat will appear when he reaches 4-6 months of age. The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) recommends giving solid food to babies starting at the age of 6 months.
Signs your baby is ready to eat
Babies who are ready to eat solid foods usually show several signs, such as:
- The body weight has doubled from its birth weight
- Able to lift neck and head
- Starting to show interest in what people around him eat
- Looks hungry even though just given milk
- Able to hold food in mouth
If the baby has shown the signs above, it means he is ready to be given solid food.
Healthy Food Choices for Babies
There are several healthy food choices for babies that you can give your little one, including:
1. Cereal
Mothers can give cereals made from whole grains that have been fortified with iron in them. Mothers can also mix it with breast milk, formula, or mineral water.
2. Yogurt
Mothers can introduce yogurt to their little ones when they are 6 months old. The high calcium and vitamin D content in yogurt can support the development of bones and teeth.
In addition, your little one will not get sick easily because yogurt can increase his endurance and is good for supporting heart and brain health. However, choose plain yogurt without added sugar.
Mothers can add mashed fruits, such as bananas, apples, or avocados. Mothers can also give additional breast milk or formula to make the texture of the yogurt thinner and easier for the little one to swallow.
3. Green vegetables
Some types of green vegetables, such as spinach, are known to contain iron and folate which are good for the health of the little one's body. The content of iron and folate is known to help the body produce hemoglobin and support the growth of nerves and brain.
4. Broccoli
Broccoli contains a variety of important nutrients, such as calcium, fiber, folate, as well as various vitamins and minerals. Thanks to its nutritional content, this vegetable is good for maintaining your little one's immune system and maintaining a healthy digestive tract.
5. Nuts
Nuts are a source of food that is rich in protein and fiber which is good for bone formation and digestive health for your little one. Although this food is a source of healthy food for babies, you need to be careful if your little one has a peanut allergy.
6. Orange
Oranges are one of the fruits that you can make as a healthy snack for your little one. Not only delicious and refreshing, oranges are also rich in vitamin C, folate, and potassium which can maintain the immune system.
7. Pumpkin
Pumpkin has a naturally sweet taste and soft texture. Besides being easy to digest, pumpkin is also rich in vitamin A and vitamin C which are known to be good for boosting your little one's immunity.
8. Meat
Meat does have a chewy texture and is difficult for babies to chew, especially babies who have not yet grown teeth.
However, you can process it by boiling it for a long time so that the texture is soft, then cut into small pieces or mashed. Meat is known to be good for babies, because it contains protein, zinc, and iron.
Things to Pay Attention to When Giving Food to Babies
Giving healthy food for babies at the age of 4-12 months is not meant to pamper the tongue, but to fulfill their nutritional needs. So, avoid foods that contain a lot of added flavours, including sugar.
Keeping your little one away from foods that are too sweet can prevent them from tooth decay. To give a sweet taste, Mother can add breast milk, formula milk, or fruit in her food. Also avoid giving him foods that contain a lot of salt.
In addition, avoid giving your child types of food that are suspected of causing health problems, such as undercooked eggs, types of marine fish that are suspected of containing mercury, raw shellfish, foods with high saturated fat content, and low-fat foods.
However, keep in mind that you don't need to rush to give healthy solid foods to your little one. Introducing solid foods too early can actually increase the risk of obesity, eczema, food allergies, asthma and respiratory infections in babies.
By providing healthy food for babies according to age, your little one can grow well. Consult a doctor if you want to know more about healthy food options for babies aged 4-12 months. Doctors can recommend various types of food according to the needs of your little one.