Breast milk gives babies all the food and water they need during the first six months of life.
A baby over 6 months needs other foods along with breast milk. Because breast milk is not enough to fulfill all nutrient needs which a baby need to grow well after 6 months.
Home based supplementary feeding should be started at this age.
But it is important for a child’s growth and health to continue breastfeeding until the child attend 2 years of age.
Yong children should encourage with small frequent meal instead of bulk feeding at a time. Young children should have 2-4 meals a day plus 1-2 healthy snacks in between. A baby’s stomach is small & immature so it can’t digest any kind of food easily.
Table: Baby’s feeding up to 12 months:
Age 0-6 month
Age 7-8 months
Age 9-12 months
Exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old protects the baby against sicknesses (e.g. diarrhoea). Exclusive breastfeeding means giving the baby breast milk only and nothing else.
Continue feeding Breast milk.
Continue breastfeeding.
Put the baby to your breast immediately after birth. A new born baby can suckle strongly.
Start giving semisolid foods (e.g. plain porridge, mashed
potato).
Start giving small foods which your baby can hold (e.g.
bread, banana).
Give the first milk (colostrum) to your baby. It protects your baby from many diseases.
Gradually add legumes &oilseed flours, mashed vegetables &
fruits, a little oil or butter.
Give your baby well cooked rice or your staple food 3 times a day plus 1 healthy snack.
Breastfeed when the baby wants to feed, at least 8-10 times during the day and night.
If your baby is sick (e.g. with diarrhoea), don’t stop feeding breast milk until your physician asked you to do it.
Start with 1-2 teaspoons of semisolid foods twice a day. Gradually increase the amount & raise the frequency to 2-3 meals per day.
If your family is Non Vegetarian can provide animal food to your baby(e.g. egg white,)
Increase the portion size as your baby grow older.
