Breast feeding is alone adequate&
sufficient to maintain optimum growth & development of an infant up to 6
months after which it is necessary to introduce more concentrated energy rich
nutritional supplements as breast feeding alone is not sufficient to meet the
energy requirements of the growing child so weaning is preferred
Weaning:-
It is a process of gradual &
progressive transfer of the baby from breastfeeding to usual family diet.
Weaning food must be:-
· Liquid at the starting then semisolid &
solid foods to be introduced gradually.
· Clean fresh & hygienic, so that no
infections can occur.
· Easy to prepare at home with the available
food items & not costly.
· Easily digestible, easily acceptable &
palatable for the infants.
· High in energy density& low in bulk
viscosity & contains all nutrients necessary for the baby.
· Based on cultural practices & traditional
beliefs
· Well balanced, nourishing & suitable for
the infant.
Principles of introduction of weaning foods:-
· Milk is the main food for the infant so
additional foods must provide extra requirements as per the needs of the baby
that must be obtained from good quality food items & should be handmade.
· Small amount of new foods to be given in the
beginning & gradually the amount should be increased in a week.
· New food to be placed on the tongue of the
baby so that the baby can feel the taste & consistency. The baby may spit
the food out but with patience the feed must be given again to get accustomed
with it. A single weaning food is added at a time.
· Additional food can be given in the day time.
Initially it can be given once then twice or thrice.
· New food to be given when the child is hungry
but do not force foods.
· Observe the problems related to weaning
process. The infant may have indigestion, pain in abdomen, weaning, diarrhea,
skin rash, especially in case of food allergy & psychosocial upset of the
baby.
· Weaning to be started at 4-6 months of age but
breastfeeding to be continued till 2 yrs or beyond.
· Delayed weaning results in malnutrition &
growth failure.
Complimentary food items:-
The word complimentary literally means
“in addition to something to improve the gross result”. Thus complimentary food
items are those food stuff which are given in addition to breast feeding to
increase the net caloric intake necessary for the optimum growth of the child.
4-6 months:-
| To be introduced by fruit juices like grape
juice
| Within one or two weeks new foods to be
introduced like suji , biscuit soaked in milk, vegetable soup, mashed banana,
mashed boiled potato.
| Each food should be given with one or two
teaspoons at first for 3-6 times per day. The food should not be over
diluted& within 3-4 weeks the amount should be increased to half a cup.
| Breast feeding should be continued.
6-9 months:-
| Food items to be given in this period includes
mixture of rice & dal khichdi , pulses, mashed & boiled potato, bread
or roti soaked in milk or dal, mashed fruits like banana, mango, papaya, stewed
apple, etc.
| Egg yolk can be given from 6-7 months onwards.
| Curd & khir can be introduced from 7-8
months.
| By the end of 6-9 months the infant can enjoy
to bite biscuits, a piece of carrot or cucumber.
| The infant can have these foods for 5-6 times
a day & the amount can be increased gradually.
| Breast feeding should be continued.
9-12 months:-
| More variety of house hold foods should be
added.
| New food items like fish, meat, chicken, can
be introduced during this period.
| The infant can eat anything cooked up at home
but spices & condiments to be avoided.
| Feeds need not be mashed but should be soft
&soft well cooked.
| Breast feeding should be continued.
12-18 months:-
| The child can take all food items cooked at
home & needs half the amount of mothers diet.
| Number of feeds can be four or five according
to the child’s needs.
| Breast feeding should be continued especially
at night.
6-8 MONTHS
Daily requirements(6-8months):-
Weight = age in months + 9 kg
2
=8+9/2 kg
=8.5kg
According to Segar,s
Upto 10kg, 100
Kcal/kg
Caloric
requirements = 100KCal/kg body weight
= 100รป8.5
=850 Kcal
Protein requirement = 2.8gm/kg body weight
= 19.6gms
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