At 3-4 months of age, children will show a marked increase in drooling and will be very anxious to see adults eating. If parents bring him/her something to eat (e.g. fruit), they will suck hard, not to mention how excited they are. Experienced parents will know that it is time to add complementary foods to their child’s diet. What is complementary feeding? Why do we need to add complementary foods? When to add it? How to add it? How to observe your baby’s reaction after adding it? How to let babies develop good habits from infancy? I. What is complementary food? First of all, let’s understand what is complementary food. Complementary food is everything that babies and toddlers eat except for milk and water. Babies are often fed with breast milk and formula after birth. Because the amount of vitamin D in breast milk is low, you should generally supplement your child with vitamin AD preparations 2 weeks after birth, which is the first complementary food your child eats. As your baby grows up, you can gradually add other complementary foods, generally at 4 months after birth. Second, the purpose and timing of complementary foods added: In addition to vitamin AD preparations, the appropriate time to add complementary foods is 4 to 6. Because at this time the baby’s nutritional needs increase, rapid growth and development, and rely solely on breast milk and formula can not meet the nutritional needs of infants; in addition, complementary foods can supplement the quality of breast milk and milk deficiencies, such as breast milk contains less vitamin D, iron, etc., and 4 to 6 months when the baby from the mother’s body to obtain iron and other elements depleted, all need to be ingested by mouth. Also, the baby is physically (e.g., digestive system, teeth, neuromuscular, etc.) and psychologically ready. For example, the amount of saliva increases significantly at 3 months of age, and the amount of amylase in saliva increases to prepare for the digestion of starchy foods; at 7-8 months of age, the secretion of protease in the gastrointestinal tract of babies increases, so they can be fed protein-based foods; at 4-6 months, the first teeth erupt, so they can try to chew and other foods; if, as mentioned at the beginning, the child sees an adult eating and is eager to taste it as well If, as mentioned at the beginning, the child sees an adult eating and is eager to taste it, it means that he or she is mentally ready. What are the dangers of adding complementary foods too early or too late if parents do not observe the above reactions of their babies? Adding complementary foods too early, because the baby’s gastrointestinal function is not perfect, adding complementary foods too early will increase the baby’s gastrointestinal burden, which may lead to the baby’s gastrointestinal dysfunction, appetite and digestive function; consuming too much undigested food and protein fermentation in the intestine may also produce substances harmful to the brain; for some babies with relatively good physical and adaptive capacity, although they do not show the above-mentioned reactions of maladaptation after adding too early, they may not be able to eat. For some babies with relatively good physique and adaptability, although they do not show the above-mentioned reaction of maladaptation, they may become overweight and have a strong appetite, which may become a cause of simple obesity later; overfeeding may also reduce sucking and the density or frequency of breastfeeding, which is not conducive to breastfeeding; because of the immaturity of the child’s intestinal development, adding protein-based foods too early may produce allergies. Adding complementary foods too late can lead to delayed physical and mental development and nutritional deficiency diseases, such as malnutrition and anemia, because they do not meet the nutritional needs of the child at the appropriate age. There is also an increased incidence of respiratory disease and diarrhea. Some studies have shown that improper addition of complementary foods may lead to impaired cognitive function in adulthood, reduced work capacity and labor productivity, and increased rates of chronic diseases in adulthood. In summary, the baby’s growth and development reached the above stage should be added to complementary foods, in addition, a variety of flavors of food stimulation to promote the development of the child’s sense of taste is also very significant. Third, how to add complementary foods and the principles of complementary foods added: Complementary foods added generally include the following principles: 1, from one to many: that is, when adding should add the same. If you add a food child diarrhea, rash and other adverse reactions, it can be found and removed in time; 2, from a small amount to a large amount: in order to let the baby’s gastrointestinal tract gradually adapt to a new food, add should be done from less to more. Such as adding egg yolk, first 1/8, gradually increase to 1/4, 1/2, until the whole egg yolk; 3, from thin to thick: this should be adapted to the child’s ability to chew and swallow food. For example, starchy food, you need to add rice soup, then add rice flour, gradually transition to rice porridge, thick porridge, rice, etc.; 4, from fine to coarse: for example, first add vegetable water, juice, then add vegetable puree, puree, 9 to 10 months later then add chopped vegetables, etc.; individual differences, flexible. Because the baby’s development varies early and late, the child’s temperament characteristics are also different, it will produce a variety of eating characteristics. For example, the child’s interest in food early and late, the speed of eating and preferences are also different. Parents should carefully observe and promptly meet their children’s needs and develop good eating habits. IV. What to add? — Nutrition basics about complementary foods The first thing you need to pay attention to when making complementary foods is the nutritional balance. Nutrients are broadly divided into four categories, namely: carbohydrates, mainly contained in various staple foods, such as various cereals porridge; protein, including plant or animal protein, such as soy, milk, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, etc.; fat, that is, a variety of fats and oils, when making complementary food for children try to use vegetable oils, because vegetable oils contain the above four nutrients for children when making complementary food, so that the application of the whole meal with the most reasonable. If this is not possible, the diet should also contain foods of category ①. This diet is called a basic mixed diet, such as porridge + legumes for small infants. The following points should be noted: two kinds of protein supplement can be used (such as beans and small fish), preferably animal protein, which can improve the bioavailability of protein; the general ratio of cereals to beans, meat and eggs is 2 to 3:1; the stomach capacity of children should be considered; no stimulating foods, coloring, spices and MSG; no seasoning before June, and a little seasoning can be added after June; the best cooking method is simple, time-saving and The best cooking method is simple, time-saving and can ensure the main nutrients. Another thing to keep in mind when making complementary foods for infants and toddlers is the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia. It is important to choose appropriate foods that are rich in iron and have a high absorption rate in the body. First of all, it is important to know that iron in food is divided into two main categories: heme iron and non-heme iron. The former is mostly found in animal foods and has a high absorption rate in the body; the latter is mostly found in plant foods and has a low absorption rate in the body. Therefore, it is best to use animal-based foods for iron supplementation. Foods rich in iron often include: animal liver, animal blood (content: 10-25mg/100g), fresh livestock, poultry and fish (1-3mg/100g). You can give priority to the above foods. The iron content of milk and egg yolk is actually not much, such as milk (0.3mg/100g) and non-heme iron, while egg yolk has a high content of 2~7mg/100g, but the absorption rate is only 3%. Therefore, it is not advisable to simply drink milk or simply eat egg yolk to supplement iron. Vegetables that contain more iron are rape (black green), capers, amaranth, etc., with a content of 5.4 to 5.9mg/100g, while spinach has an iron content of 2.9mg/100g, so it is not advisable to eat spinach for iron. Other iron-rich foods include kelp, cinnamon, black fungus, etc. Factors that promote iron absorption are vitamin C, meat, fructose, fat, amino acids; factors that reduce iron absorption are tea, coffee, milk, eggs, phytic acid, wheat bran, etc. V. How to add? — The type and order of complementary foods to be added. The types of complementary foods in infancy and the beginning of the addition of the time roughly: 2 weeks after birth to add vitamin AD preparations; 3 to 4 months to add vegetable water, fruit juice; 4 to 6 months to add rice flour, rice soup, vegetable puree, fruit puree; 7 to 9 months to add rotten porridge, rotten noodles, vegetable puree, fruit puree, egg custard, fish puree, meat puree, tofu, soy milk, slices of toasted bread buns, cookies; 11 to 12 months to add rotten rice, steamed buns, etc.. After 12 months, you can add all the foods that adults can eat, only slightly softer. You can refer to some parenting recipes for the specific practice of making complementary foods, but it should be noted that baby food is generally steamed and boiled, and fried and baked as little as possible. The production of complementary foods should also pay attention to several points: 1, the hygiene of tableware: the production and eating utensils used should be properly cleaned, boiled, disinfected, sunlight and other methods; 2, the bottle is only used for breastfeeding: do not use the bottle for feeding, feeding. Observation of reactions after addition – Adverse reactions to food Parents should also pay attention to observe their children’s reactions after the baby has eaten complementary foods, especially for the newly added complementary foods. After the addition of adverse reactions are divided into two categories: 1, food intolerance: an abnormal physiological reaction rather than an immune response. It is often seen in the consumption of some fruits such as mangoes, pineapples and foods containing added food ingredients. 2. Food allergy: Food allergy is an abnormal IGE-mediated immune response, which is often related to the protein content of food. Ninety percent of allergens in food are proteins. These allergens are often resistant to food processing, cooking, and can resist the digestive effects of the intestine. In addition, more than 90% of clinical allergic reactions are caused by eight types of highly allergenic foods: eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, peanuts, soy, nuts, and wheat. Therefore, parents need to pay extra attention when adding these foods. The common clinical manifestations of adverse food reactions vary with age. 0-6 months of young infants have the highest prevalence. Gastrointestinal symptoms are often the main manifestation, including persistent abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, etc. Infants older than 6 months of age have more skin damage, such as eczema and polymorphic rash. Chronic food allergy can also lead to poor growth and development in infants. A high risk factor for the development of allergies in children is a family history of allergic diseases. Studies have shown that children with a history of allergies in one parent have a 37% chance of developing allergic reactions; children with a history of allergies in both parents have a 62% chance of developing allergies. Therefore, parents who have allergic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma and other diseases should be more careful when adding complementary foods to their children. If a baby has an adverse reaction to the addition of complementary foods, the added food should be stopped promptly, and if the symptoms persist, the baby should be seen by a doctor promptly. Sometimes the doctor will take a medical history and perform an exclusion diet test if necessary. In terms of prevention, it is generally recommended that infants with a family history of allergies, exclusive breastfeeding for more than 4 months can reduce the occurrence of food allergies and that the addition of solid foods, especially eggs, fish, peanuts and cereals, can be delayed appropriately. If the child is allergic to a variety of foods, resulting in the inability to obtain some nutrients that are important for the child’s growth and development, long-term desensitization therapy is needed if necessary. Seven, the development of eating habits mastered some basic knowledge of making complementary foods, but should pay more attention to the individual differences in children’s feeding, and pay attention to the development of good feeding habits. At 7 or 8 months old, children will be very willing to grab spoons and bowls and eat on their own. Parents must protect the child’s desire to explore food, as this is the basis for the child’s enjoyment of food. They should help their child make food part of their exploration. Rather than refusing to let children try to eat on their own because they will pinch and grab messes. This is because active eating is an important strategy for preventing anorexia and picky eating in children.