Weaning, or weaning, is a fundamental step in a child’s life and his family: here are some simple tips for living it with serenity and fun. Weaning (or weaning) indicates the transition from an exclusively milk-based diet to a mixed one by introducing new foods other than milk. There is no precise time to start, in the sense that there is no valid age for all children, just as no “standard” weaning applies to all. In general, we can say that after completing the sixth month of life, most children are ready to start this new adventure.
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Always After Six Months
Some babies continue to prefer breast milk and don’t want to taste other foods until 9-12 months. Insisting, and forcing them, could lead to harmful results for the child, who would “stress” to the point of refusing to taste new foods and for the parents, who would enter, unnecessarily, in crisis for his refusal. On the contrary, some children show little interest in milk and try to taste everything from the first months, thus moving early to a diet that also sees two “salty” meals daily.
According to experts, if the baby had a choice, he would not wean before 9-12 months. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years, providing exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and gradually introducing solid food while breastfeeding. Unfortunately, in industrialized countries, it is difficult for breastfeeding to last so long, thanks to work needs and the scarce availability of assistance services that give concrete help to families.
A Milestone In Its Development
In any case, weaning must always be personalized. In general, whenever you stop breastfeeding, it is advisable to avoid sudden weaning, which could be traumatic for the baby and challenging for the parents to manage. Let us remember that the encounter with solid food is an incredible journey of discovery and autonomy for our child and that drinking and eating “alone” have a significant value for his psycho-physical development. Weaning is also an excellent opportunity to review the diet of the whole family, which must be nutritionally balanced and based on fresh and seasonal foods: a professional (dietician, dietician or nutrition biologist) can be of great help in ‘facing this passage of family life with the correct information and in safety.
Touching And Getting Dirty: Two Basic Steps
To stimulate the sense of discovery and curiosity, it is essential that the child can touch the baby food with his hands and enjoy this new tactile sensation in complete tranquility. After connecting the baby’s food, the child will bring his hands to his mouth because every discovery passes through the oral area. For this reason, baby food must be accessible, visible, and not burned. The climate must be calm. You don’t have to worry about the baby getting dirty or spilling the baby’s food.
Dishes And Cutlery Without Toxic Substances
The news discovery is more rewarding if it is shared with the parent, who should always eat with their child and learn to eat through imitation. The tools, such as plates and cutlery, are also of great importance. In addition to a fun form, because the learning that passes through the game turns out to be much more effective, it is essential to pay attention to the materials with which the dishes are made, which must be as natural as possible and free from toxic substances. Also, in the beginning, the parent needs to be able to use a double saucer and a double spoon. Subsequently, when the child begins to use the spoon alone to eat, it is preferable to provide him with two cutlery, placed respectively on the sides of the saucer, so as not to offer any conditioning relating to the hand to use to take the cutlery.
Also Read: Eating Fish Is One Of The Key Foods In The Diet For Children
