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Step-by-Step Guide to Weaning Your Baby

Discussion in 'Breast Feeding' started by IL_Admin, Aug 1, 2010.

  1. IL_Admin

    IL_Admin Administrator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    You have diligently breast fed your baby for the first 6 months. Breast feeding or formula feeding was a routine that you and baby got adjusted to, and now that 6 months are up, it is natural to feel nervous about how you are going to wean your baby. Armed with these basic guidelines and some creativity from your side, weaning can be a fun process for both you and your baby.

    According to the Ministry of Health, babies should be exclusively breast fed for 6 months. After 6 months, breast milk alone is not sufficient to provide the required nutrients (such as iron) for your baby, which is why other foods need to be introduced. The process of gradually replacing breast milk with other foods is called weaning and it takes place over a period of 6 months to a year.


    Basic guidelines
    • Start one food item at a time, and introduce a new food every week, so you can observe how your child’s body reacts to each food. Keep a check for any colicky crying, skin rashes, itchy eyes or diaper rash.
    • Start with small portions such as 1 to 2 teaspoons and gradually increase to half a cup (vati/katori).
    • Start with liquids or liquefied solids and purees with a gradual increase in thickness and volume.
    • Expose your baby to natural flavors of food by using minimal salt and sugar.
    • Start by replacing one breast feed or formula feed with a weaning food and gradually increase the frequency of these foods so that by 9 to 10 months of age, your baby has 3 to 4 meals per day other than the 3 to 4 feeds of breast milk or formula.
    • Ideally, continue breast feeding baby through the weaning process, reducing the number of feeds gradually.
    First foods: 6 to 7 months

    These must be liquids or finely mashed or pureed solids. You can introduce the foods, one a week, as given below.
    • 1st week: Mashed banana or stewed and mashed apple.
    • 2nd week: Mashed soft cooked rice.
    • 3rd week: Pressure cooked and mashed thick dal.
    • 4th week: Soft khichdi made from rice and moong dal.
    Second foods: 7 to 9 months

    These foods can be coarsely mashed so that your baby can start getting used to textures in food.
    • Fruits like chikoo, mango, papaya, pears.
    • Khichdi made with rice-dal or dalia (broken wheat) and dal.
    • Idli with dahi.
    • Milk shakes.
    • Kheer.
    • Boiled vegetable purees made from cauliflower, carrot, pumpkin and sweet potato or thick soups.
    • Raagi or semolina porridge.
    If your doctor permits, you can use cow’s milk to make porridge, yogurt and kheer.

    Third foods: 10 months onwards
    • Food can be served in small bite sized pieces.
    • Most of the family food can be served keeping the spice levels to a minimum, e.g., rice, dal, rotis, parathas, vegetables, dosa etc.
    • Finger foods like carrot sticks, cucumber pieces, boiled green peas can be fed to the baby under supervision.
    • Non vegetarian options include egg yolk, chicken, fish and meat. Egg whites should be preferably given after one year.
    Hygiene precautions
    • Everyone handling baby’s food should wash their hands well with soap and water.
    • Both cleaning of utensils and cooking must be in boiled or filtered water.
    • Chopping board, knives, spoons, kitchen towel and all such items must be clean.
    • Try and prepare all meals fresh.
    • Do not leave prepared food uncovered at any point of time.
    • While traveling, always carry baby’s food and water in food grade boxes.
    Written by Nandita Iyer for Indusladies.com. A medical doctor by qualification, Nandita Iyer’s passion lies in food and nutrition. A mother of a one and a half year old, Nandita loves writing about parenting and toddler nutrition. She has written for several publications including Men's Health and Complete Wellbeing.

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    Last edited: Aug 12, 2010
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  2. vjbunny

    vjbunny IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear IL-Admin
    Thank You for sharing this valuable post....
     

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