Complementary food

• • 6 months of age + achieve corresponding developmental milestones
  • Complementary foods: Assist the transition from a primarily liquid diet --> Solid diet + Provide additional energy and nutrients
• Example of first food:

  • Iron fortified cereal, Single ingredient food (e.g. Meat/ Fish pureed, Pulses [Dash, Lentils] pureed)
• Avoid hard/ round food (e.g. Hotdog, Hard candy, Nuts, Whole grape) & Rice cereal
• • Only 1 new single ingredient food offered over 3 – 5 days period
  • Tend to reject new food initially --> 8 – 10 exposures before acceptance
• Food to avoid:

  • Honey (Botulism)

  • Salt (< 6 months: 120 mg; 1 year: 370 mg)

  • Concentrated sweet (< 2 years: 0 added sugar & artificial sweetener)
• Start small: 1 – 2 tablespoons; 5 – 6 times a day; based on baby’s interest