As the infant’s digestive system matures and grows, exclusive milk (breast milk or formula) feeding can no longer meet all of the infant’s energy and nutrient needs, and the infant’s food needs to be converted to adult solid foods. If other foods are introduced properly, not only can they meet the nutritional needs, but they can also develop infants’ love for various foods and their ability to feed themselves. 1. The time to add complementary foods Infants weigh more than 6,5-7,0kg at 4-6 months of age, indicating that the development of the infant’s digestive system has become more mature, such as the development of enzymes, the development of chewing and swallowing ability, the eruption of teeth, etc.; there is a vertical neck, hand to mouth movement and other action development, you can start to introduce other foods. Infants 4 to 6 months of age is the “critical window” for adding complementary foods. It is recommended that infants be added to complementary foods no earlier than 4 months of age, and no later than 8 months of age, mostly 4 to 6 months of age. 2, add the principles (1) add the order The principle of adding the first other food should be supplemented with iron nutrition, easy to digest and not easy to allergic food. Iron-fortified cereals are mostly the first food to be added. Next are other first-stage foods, such as pureed fruits, roots and legumes, and other vegetables. The first-stage foods for infants mainly help train infants’ chewing and swallowing skills and stimulate the development of taste, and can be supplemented with a small amount of vitamins and minerals nutrition, and the intake should not affect the infant’s total energy intake or change the growth rate; after 7 to 8 months of age, they are gradually transformed into second-stage foods for infants until the transition to adult foods; to ensure the main nutrients and high energy density, infants from 7 to 12 months of age should still maintain the amount of milk ( In order to ensure the main nutrients and high energy density, infants from 7 to 12 months of age should still maintain the amount of milk ( 800ml/day or so), and the amount of other food intake has a large individual difference, in order not to affect the intake of milk. For infants, milk intake should be limited to the amount that does not interfere with the intake of staple foods (at least 500ml/d). (2) Gradual adaptation Infants need a process of adaptation to accept a new food, so it is appropriate to try each food 10-15 times (5-7 days) until the infant gradually accepts it before trying another new food. The introduction of a single food can stimulate the development of the infant’s sense of taste and can help to observe the infant’s adverse food reactions, especially food allergies. The amount of new food should be increased gradually from less to more, i.e., from one spoonful at the beginning, i.e., “from less to more, one to more”, until 6 to 7 months of age when it can replace one to two times the amount of milk. (3) Food texture conversion Infant food texture should change with age to promote the development of infant oral function. For example, at 4-6 months of age, infants should use pureed food to train oral coordination and swallowing ability; at 7-9 months of age, they should use minced food to help them learn to chew and increase the energy density of food; after 12 months of age, they can try the same type of food as other family members, and before 3 years of age, they should avoid food that can easily cause choking, such as peanuts, melon seeds and other nut foods. (4) Feeding skills development The level of development of infants’ feeding skills is related to the development of feeding habits and growth of young children. For example, infants learn to take food from a spoon when they are 4-6 months old; they are trained to drink from a cup when they are 7-9 months old; they are trained to grasp food with their hands when they are 10-12 months old; finger foods can help infants eat, increase their interest in eating, and help them coordinate their eye-hand movements and develop independent eating ability. Feeding arrangements In addition to early nursing on demand, infants should be nursed or fed at regular intervals after 3 to 4 months of age, and should not be fed at night after 4 to 6 months of age so as to introduce other foods and develop good eating and sleeping habits. The number of regular meals is related to the age of infants and children, stomach capacity, energy density of food and the amount of food eaten at each meal, generally 5-6 times/day. Each meal time for children is 20-25 minutes (<30 minutes), and should not be eaten between meals. Infants (1) 0-3 months old: breastfeeding on demand; after 3 months old, gradually feed regularly; (2) 4-6 months old: breastfeed regularly, about once every 3-4 hours, 5-6 times/day; after 4 months old, no more breastfeeding at night; (3) 7-12 months old: regular meals, 5-6 times/day, including 4-5 times milk and 2 times cereal. (2) Infants: Two main meals, 2-3 dairy and nutritious snacks, and controlled snacks between meals. 1 to 2 year olds should eat at separate meals and encourage themselves to eat; after 2 years olds should eat independently. Children should decide on their own how much to eat and not be forced to eat. They should not play, watch TV or be chased and fed by parents while eating; fixed meal times and places help children establish good eating habits. Children may consume appropriate formula or liquid whole milk or yogurt (not milk drinks).