5 Reasons to Add Complementary Food to Baby

1. Supplement the deficiency of nutrients in breast milk

With the growth and development of infants and the increasing demand for nutrients, only breast milk or milk can’t supply the nutrients needed; the secretion of breast milk is reduced; the storage of iron and zinc in infants is reduced. Because of the above reasons, the addition of auxiliary food other than dairy products is very important.

2. Enhance digestive function

Adding complementary food can increase the secretion of saliva and other digestive fluid, enhance the activity of the digestive enzyme, promote the development of teeth and enhance the digestive function, and train infants’ chewing and swallowing ability.

3. Establish good eating habits

The weaning period is an important period for infants to form their first impression of food. In terms of the selection and production methods of supplementary food, attention should be paid to nutrition, digestibility and hygiene. If the method is applied properly, it is the basis of forming good eating habits in the future.

4. Promote the development of the nervous system

Timely addition of complementary food will contribute to mental development and stimulate taste, smell, touch and vision.

5. Cultivate children’s good eating habits

By adding complementary food , the baby can learn to use spoon, cup, bowl and other utensils, and finally stop sucking breast milk and milk bottle, gradually adapt to the common mixed food, and finally achieve the goal of weaning. Generally, about 8 months can train to let the child take the milk bottle to drink by himself. He can learn to eat with a spoon when he is about 1 year old and he can learn to handle chopsticks in the right way at about 3 years old.

In the training of correct eating habits, we should pay attention to the following aspects: eat regularly and quantitatively, and do not give snacks at will. Wash hands before and after eating. It is necessary to cultivate children’s habit of eating diversified foods and avoid partial eating. In particular, we should not talk about the advantages and disadvantages of a certain food in front of children to avoid the habit of children’s picky food, because children’s imitation is very strong, so adults should be good role models when eating.