Practical Consultation on Weaning Diet

Ha, Jeong Hun

Abstract

Weaning is the process of getting babies used to food other than breast milk or formula milk. Homemade baby food is preferable, including a varied selection of foods, starting from rice porridge followed by adding meat, vegetables, and fruits as appropriate. Baby food gradually becomes solid until the age of one when the babies can eat rice without further preparation. Avoid salt till the age of one, and even thereafter try not to make the baby food salty. Start adding meat from six months, and include meat on a daily basis when the baby is growing fast. Babies can self-feed by hand at 8 months of age and then can learn how to use a spoon. If the time to start weaning is too delayed or the way of weaning is not appropriate, feeding problems may ensue, which can potentially lead to developmental problems. It is important to remind that the weaning process is not just giving baby food as a source of nutrition for growth? It is a way of building a family bond and is a starting point of nourishing a healthy eating habit.