After the first few hectic months with a new baby, the adventure of introducing solid foods begins. Weaning is a topic that both delights and frightens many parents. On the one hand, you can introduce your child to a variety of tastes, but on the other hand, they might choke, get a stomach ache, or perhaps it simply won't work at all.
In this article, we want to give you some well-founded information on the topic of starting complementary feeding.
When should complementary feeding begin?
Depending on who you talk to, you'll hear everything from 4 to 8 months. The digestive system isn't supposed to be mature yet, allergy risks should be avoided, and stomach aches can make the start painful for the child. Parents are understandably confused about when they should actually start with solid foods. For this reason, we've taken a look at the available research:
4 months ago
- Short version: Not recommended
- The early introduction of complementary foods can Diarrhea, colic, abdominal pain and subsequent weight gain trigger
- Allergy prevention This is not the case with this early complementary feeding.
- For breastfed children, the timing of the Introducing complementary foods does not lead to later obesity. Among children who were fed infant milk, the rate of those children who later suffered from [unclear] was [unclear]. The incidence of obesity was six times higher when complementary foods were introduced before the 4th month.
4 months
- To later Allergies To avoid this, it is advisable to allergy-triggering Complementary food should be given no later than between the 4th and 6th month, ideally not after the 11th month.
- At 4 months, the kidneys, nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract are still developing. immature be
6 months
- After about Feeding alone is sufficient for 6 months. Milk no longer provides infants with all the necessary nutrients. absorbing nutrients
8 months
- Babies who are with Baby-led weaning Babies who are introduced to solid food often only develop the necessary skills at around 8 months. However, these children may be deficient in nutrients because their nutritional needs extend beyond milk from about 6 months of age.
Conclusion
Regardless of signs of readiness, it is advisable not to start introducing complementary foods before the 4th month and after the 6th month. The focus should definitely be on potential allergens in order to prevent allergies from developing early on.
Does intestinal maturation have anything to do with complementary feeding?
It's often said that children's intestines aren't fully developed until age 3 and that starting complementary feeding later is necessary for intestinal health. But is that really true?
Study situation
The gut microbiome of babies differs depending on the mode of birth (vaginal or cesarean section) and the type of milk fed (breastfeeding or formula) and has an influence on human health in adulthood. In a study It has been described that the gut microbiome only resembles that of adults at the age of 3; however, this study compared individuals from the Venezuelan Amazon, rural Malawi, and several metropolitan areas in the US. The children from the metropolitan areas had a gut microbiome resembling that of adults significantly earlier (by the age of one).
In another study Swedish children were examined, and the result was that at 12 months, the microbiome in the gut was more similar to that of the mothers than the microbiome of 4-month-old children.
Overall, it can be said that the mode of birth and the type of milk feeding have a greater influence on the baby's microbiome than complementary feeding. In addition, antibiotics, siblings, pets, air quality, place of residence, and even gender also play a role in the gut microbiome, as do other factors. Studies show.
Conclusion
The gut microbiome is important for the later development of the immune system and the overall health of the human organism; however, complementary foods play a significantly smaller role in this. If the child's microbiome is important to the parents, the focus could be placed on breastfeeding (if possible for the parents), as this is the microbiome enriched.
What are the signs that a child is ready for complementary feeding, and are they important?
Signs of readiness for complementary feeding are seen as behaviors and abilities of the baby that indicate whether it is ready to start introducing complementary foods. Such signs can include:
- Loss of the tongue thrust reflex
- Ability to sit with support
- Ability to bring hand to mouth
- Interest in food (opening mouth while eating, reaching for food)
Most of these Signs of maturity These requirements are met between the 17th and 26th week, so that complementary feeding can begin from this point on.
To minimize the risk of choking, it is advisable to pay attention to the signs of readiness for complementary foods; however, it should be borne in mind that starting too late can be dangerous. introduction (after the 6th month) can lead to nutrient deficiencies, developmental delays, eating disorders (due to the delayed development of the oral muscles) and obesity.
Summary: When should it start?
Looking at the available research, it's clear that while there are many different studies on starting complementary feeding, there are definitely not enough to make a definitive statement. This is primarily because so many different factors influence a baby's health that it's virtually impossible to give a universally applicable recommendation.
However, it can be inferred that the first complementary foods should not be given before the 4th month and not after the 6th month, but somewhere in between. This helps prevent allergies and at the same time meets the baby's increasing nutritional needs from the 6th month onwards.
Bowel movements and complementary feeding
Since the baby's stool changes when complementary feeding begins - from the typical milk stool to something harder, grainier and finally eventually the typical bowel movement, protective paper should be placed in the diaper from the time of this change.
From this point on, stools should no longer be washed in the washing machine (remember: milk stools are water-soluble), but should be disposed of in the toilet or trash. This is particularly easy with toilet paper.
