How to Properly Nurture Infants and Young Children?

How to Properly Nurture Infants and Young children?

Nurturing infants and young children is a task that requires attention, especially for new parents. It is essential to acquire knowledge about feeding practices for this age group. We will focus on the following aspects:

When should solid foods be introduced to infants? Healthy babies usually show interest in soft foods around 4 to 6 months of age. We recommend starting with soft foods at around 4 to 6 months. However, age is only a general guideline for introducing solid foods; the actual criteria lie in the child's ability to chew and swallow. Before introducing solid foods, the baby should be able to lift their head and keep it upright. Additionally, the baby should no longer exhibit the "tongue-thrust reflex," which causes them to push out liquids from their mouth and prevents them from handling solid foods effectively. If the child hasn't developed the instinct to swallow solid foods, they can only be fed soft foods with a spoon.

How much is enough for the child? When starting to feed the baby solid foods with a spoon, the aim is to teach them gradually how to eat solid foods. They need to hold the food in their mouth, chew, mix it, and swallow. At first, the baby may only eat 1 to 2 spoons of food, and you should not force them to eat more, considering that they are still receiving breast milk or formula. During the initial stages of introducing solid foods, the child won't consume large quantities.

How do you know if the child is full? A child will show signs of being full: pushing away the spoon with their hand or turning their head away, tightly closing their lips, spitting out food from their mouth, or crying. If your baby shows little interest when starting solid foods, wait a few more days and try again. Some children may need parents' patience and repeated attempts to accept solid foods. Most children instinctively know what and how much they need to eat based on their growth and development.

Feeding in the toddler years: For children breastfed until 1 year old, as long as the baby wants to continue nursing and your milk supply is sufficient, you can keep breastfeeding while starting to introduce complementary foods at around 6 months. For most formula-fed babies, they can transition to drinking whole milk or fortified formula after 1 year. After weaning, choose soft and easily digestible foods. Cooking should involve cutting and boiling to ensure the food's safety, avoiding frying or grilling. After weaning, children generally have 4 to 5 meals per day, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with snacks in the morning and afternoon. Breakfast should be nutritious, lunch being the most substantial meal of the day, with a varied and nutritious diet, and dinner should be light.

Children should not eat too quickly or too slowly. Many mothers tend to rush their children while eating, but in reality, young children have poor digestive capabilities, so eating should be encouraged to be slow and deliberate. Human saliva contains numerous digestive enzymes, and the longer food is chewed, the finer it becomes, allowing for initial digestion through the mixing with saliva. Eating too quickly may lead to overeating and obesity. However, eating too slowly may reduce a child's food intake. Avoid allowing children to play while eating or being excessively slow; instead, encourage them to focus on the meal, savoring the deliciousness of the food, which can promote their appetite.

What to do if the child plays while eating? Children who play while eating typically exhibit the following traits: aged between 1.5 and 3 years, unable to feed themselves, and parents have to feed them. These children are lively and less interested in eating. In fact, this is a common issue among many young children because it's challenging to set strict rules for a toddler who is just learning to walk. Parents should focus on what the child should eat and how much to eat, rather than forcing them to sit and eat or eat while walking. The key is to ensure that the child doesn't eat too slowly. To change the habit of eating while walking, the child must first learn to eat independently. During meals, have the child sit at the table with family members and learn how to use chopsticks or a spoon correctly. Encourage them to pick up their food and feed themselves. If you find that the child is eating too slowly or not eating enough, offer help by feeding them. With consistent effort, the child will gradually learn how to eat properly through practical experience.

Allowing children to feed themselves from an early age is essential. Although they may spill some food, it contributes to the development of their fine motor skills. When the child turns 1 year old, you can offer a bottle containing breast milk or formula for them to feed themselves. Children know best how much they need to eat, and parents should respect this instinct. Overfeeding can suppress their innate ability to regulate their food intake, which may lead to loss of appetite, insufficient weight, or overeating, resulting in excessive weight.

Children's appetite can be unpredictable. They enjoy trying new and unfamiliar foods, and their preferences may change rapidly. Teething pain or illness can also affect their interest in certain foods. In addition, it is essential to note that children should only be offered food when they are hungry.

What should older children eat? For older children, their diet should include various cereals, lean meat, low-fat milk, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. Low-fat milk is recommended nowadays and is easily available in the market. Providing a balanced diet with minimal saturated fats (primarily from animal fats) and trans fats (found in processed foods) is essential to prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer later in life. Helping children develop good eating habits is necessary. Older children can usually tolerate new foods and accept a variety of options. Be bold in offering diverse foods to the child, and this will ensure a diverse diet and meet their various nutritional needs.

Can children have snacks? Healthy snacks can complement the main meals and provide necessary nutrients for children. Adding moderate snacks between meals is beneficial for children's health. Nutritious snacks include whole-grain biscuits, cheese, yogurt, fruits, milk, boiled or fried eggs, porridge, and well-cooked vegetables and sweet potatoes, among others.