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Baby health care

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Weaning your baby


Weaning is when you introduce solid food from milk only diet. However, experts now refer weaning as "complementary feeding" as mothers are encourage to continue breastfeeding up to two years.

Nobody can put a finger on the definitive right time to start an infant on solid food as every child is unique. Some may be ready by 4 months but some can wait for another two months. Nonetheless, it is best that you introduce solid food not later than six months old as it may cause her to adapt more slowly to new foods. Also as she grows her nutritional needs increase and breast milk only is not suffice to provide some of her needs.

Here are some of the signals that your baby is ready for solid food
  • Crying after a few successive feedings as she is trying to tell you that she is hungry
  • able to hold her head up
  • can sit up supported by your arm or chair back
  • makes munching motions when there is nothing in her mouth
  • likes bringing her hands and toys to her mouth
  • feeding frequently but has not gained weight or rate of weight gain is significantly slowed

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