“Transition to complementary nutrition” means that the breastfed baby receives new nutrients appropriate for his/her age and developmental stages, receives balanced and adequate nutrition with a variety of nutrients, and becomes able to feed himself/herself. While breast milk alone is sufficient in the first 6 months of life, it is continued to be given with supplementary foods until at least 2 years of age. During this period, your baby's neck and back muscles are getting ready to sit without support. Muscles in the face and jaw also become able to perform the chewing process. However, he/she can initially push the food with his/her tongue. This is due to his/her inability to fully collect his/her tongue.

Do not think that your baby does not like supplementary foods because of these movements. This movement will improve towards the 7th month.

What Is the Purpose of Providing Supplementary Foods?

To meet the baby's increasing energy and vitamin needs.
To develop the baby's chewing and swallowing skills.
To help the baby get used to foods with different tastes and consistencies.

What are the Points to be Considered in the Transition to Supplementary Foods?

First of all, food should be prepared at home.
Care should be taken to use seasonal fruits and vegetables.
The first supplementary foods should be tried at lunch and on an empty stomach, the satiated baby may refuse new foods.
It is better to give supplementary foods when the mother is not tired, is happy, and is excited to give her baby something new. Because babies feel the anxiety and tension in the mother. They do not refuse the food given with a smile.
There may be some changes in the stool after each new food, do not be alarmed.
In order to prevent the decrease in breast milk, breast milk can be given at the same meal after supplementary foods.
Your baby can continue to receive breast milk 5-6 times in the sixth month.
It should be given in a small amount at the beginning and the amount should be increased gradually. For example, a quarter egg yolk, a tablespoon of vegetable puree, or half a coffee cup of yogurt. Any rash, diarrhea, or vomiting in the baby is checked. These symptoms may be due to allergic reactions to newly introduced foods.
New foods should be introduced at least 3 days apart.
When a new food is introduced, it is given in the afternoon meal and a second food is introduced at lunch.
The baby can take supplementary food as 2 meals in the 6th month.
Supplementary foods that you give to your baby in the 6th month are complementary to breast milk. Breast milk is the essential food this month. Breastfeeding should be continued according to the baby's wishes.

What Foods Are Forbidden Until One Year Old?

Sugar
Salt
Honey
Egg white
Tea
Cow milk
Chocolate and cocoa foods
Foods that pose a choking risk, such as popcorn and chewing gum
Some seafood such as shellfish, mussels, and squid
Processed delicatessen products such as salami, sausage, and soudjouk
Canned, pickled, and frozen food
Dietary products
Ready-made herbal teas
Spices (red pepper, black pepper)

6th Month

Supplementary food can be introduced with vegetable puree (pumpkin-carrot-potato), yogurt, or fruit puree (apple, pear) in the 6th month. After the same foods are given for the first 3 days, new food is introduced on the 4th day in addition to the ones tried.
Vegetables (depending on the season, beans, broccoli, and spinach) are washed thoroughly and chopped into small pieces, and boiled in a covered pot in a little water until they become soft.
After cooking, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and bring it to a puree consistency. A blender or strainer should not be used to make a puree consistency, and it should be crushed with a fork.
After the baby gets used to supplementary foods, 1 tablespoon (30 g) of minced meat should be added to the vegetable mixture as soon as possible.
The excess food in a meal is discarded without being stored. Yogurt should be prepared at home and its amount should be increased gradually as in every food.

Sample Nutrition Menu at the End of the 6th Month:

Morning: Breast milk
Intermediate Meal: Yogurt or fruit puree
Noon: Meat and vegetable puree, breast milk
Intermediate Meal: Yogurt or fruit puree
Evening: Breast milk

7th - 8th Months

Breast milk should be continued as an essential food. In babies who receive breast milk, the meals are kept in half portions and the baby continues to breastfeed after soups and yogurts. Continue your meals as 5 meals. In babies with poor appetite, sometimes intermediate meals can be skipped. Some days the number of meals may be reduced to 4. The important thing is not that your baby eats a lot, but that he/she gets enough daily nutrients.

What Foods Can Be Added to the Menu?

Breakfast
It is important to give olive oil or butter in meals.
Molasses can be used as a sweetener.
Curd, cottage cheese, and desalted cheese made from pasteurized milk can be given.
Citrus fruits such as oranges and tangerines are added to the fruits according to the season.
Fish can be given (bones picked, medium size, steamed, instead of meat for lunch).
Walnuts can be crushed and added.
According to the season, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli can be added as vegetables.

In the 7th month, 1/8 of the egg yolk is tasted on the first try. Then, it is gradually increased to reach half egg yolk in 4 days and full egg yolk in 8 days. Then 1 egg yolk can be given every day. Egg yolk is not given raw or undercooked, and it should be waited to reach the consistency of an apricot.

7th Month Sample Menu:

06.00: Breast milk
09.00: Breakfast, breast milk
12.00: 2/3 bowls of cereal and vegetable puree with minced meat, breast milk
15.00: Breast milk
18.00: Yogurt/fruit puree, breast milk
Night: Breast milk

8th Month Sample Menu:

06.00: Breast milk
09.00: Breakfast, breast milk
12.00: 2/3 bowls of cereal and vegetable puree with minced meat, meatballs/fish, breast milk
15.00: Yogurt
18.00: Fruit puree, breast milk
Night: Breast milk

9th-12th Months

Do not forget that supplementary foods, which are complementary to breast milk, have the "essential nutrient" feature for your child during this period.
As of the 12th month, all home-cooked meals for adults can be given to the baby, provided that they are less salty and spice-free.
Oils other than butter and olive oil should not be used for babies.
Small but hard foods such as hazelnuts, peanuts, and sunflower seeds should not be given during this period. These can cause serious problems by escaping into the child's windpipe or lungs.
As of the 9th month, legumes (chickpeas, lentils, beans, etc.) and rice, and pasta can be added to the diet.

Sample Menu:

Morning: 1 tea glass of fruit juice, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon of molasses, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 1 thin slice of bread, finely ground walnuts, salt-free cheese
Intermediate Meal: Fruit puree
Noon: Vegetable purees with minced meat, stuffing, meatballs with vegetables, legume purees, 1 slice of bread crumb with cooking water
Afternoon: Yogurt
Evening: Same as noon

This content was prepared by Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Editorial Board.

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