Topic

Laços 15B - Introdução de alimentos

Introduction to foods

Up to six months, breast milk is everything the baby needs to be well fed. After that age, it is necessary to continue giving breast milk and other foods.

The first foods to be offered are fruits and family food. See the plan below:

Upon completing 6 months:

Mid-morning: Crushed or sliced fruit.

Lunch: Family food has adequate consistency.

Mid-afternoon: Crushed or sliced fruit.

Dinner: breast milk.

Breast milk whenever the child wants.

From 7 to 8 months:

Mid-morning: Crushed or sliced fruit.

Lunch: Family food has adequate consistency.

Mid-afternoon: Crushed or sliced fruit.

Dinner: Family fruit has adequate consistency.

Breast milk should be kept between meals.

From 9 to 12 months:

Mid-morning: Fruit.

Lunch: Family food with finely chopped meats.

Mid-afternoon: Fruit.

Dinner: Family food with finely chopped meats.

Breast milk should be kept between meals.

 

* The child can receive the family’s food, but the foods should be mashed, shredded, chopped into tiny pieces, and seasoned with a little salt. Try to use more natural seasonings.

Remember to offer your child treated, boiled, or filtered water throughout the day.

Important guidelines:

  • Breast milk should be offered up to at least 2 years of age, and until the 6th month, it is the only food that the baby needs, that is, water, juice, tea, or other types of milk should not be given during this period.
  • In the 6th month, the baby should receive 3 meals a day: two snacks with fruits and one main snack (lunch or dinner) or two main meals and one snack with fruits. From month 7 on, they should already receive 4 meals a day. 
  • Fruits are an important source of vitamins. Give preference to regional and seasonal fruits, which are fresher and cheaper. They can be offered mashed with a fork, scraped, boiled, baked, or even, offered in slices so that the baby can hold it with their own hands. Seeds or bumps should be removed, and small fruits such as grapes must be cut in half to prevent choking.
  • The family’s meal should be prepared with vegetable oil in a small amount, natural seasonings (onion, garlic, herbs, and spices preferred by the family), and salt in small amounts. The preference for salty tastes is a developed habit. If the baby is fed too much salt, they will become adults who will only want to eat very salty foods, and, in the future, can have high blood pressure. Processed seasoning in the form of powder, cubes, or liquid should not be used.
  • Foods should be initially offered mashed, but not mixed. Do not use a sieve or blender. 
  • Sugar or sweetened foods should not be offered until 2 years of age. 
  • Juices, whether artificial or natural, should not be offered to babies younger than one year of age. To quench their thirst, they prefer the water, snacks, and fruits in nature.
  • The one who determines how much children are going to eat is themselves. Each child can notice when their stomach is full. 

Warning: At any sign of allergy, look for the health service.

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