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Healthy Food Choices for Babies 4-12 Months

In general, infants have begun to be given additional intake in addition to breast milk at the age of 4-6 months and above. So that its development goes well, it is recommended to provide healthy food for babies according to their age. Before thinking about healthy food for your baby, you should also consider the baby's readiness to accept solid food. The best time to introduce solid food to your baby is when he already has the readiness and ability to eat. Generally, the signs of Little One is ready to eat, will appear when he reaches 4-6 months. The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) recommends giving solid food to babies starting at the age of 6 months. Mother does not need to rush to provide healthy solid food for your child. It is not recommended to give solid food to babies younger than 4 months. This is because the baby does not yet have the physical ability to swallow solid food safely before he is 4 months old. This is also related to the digestive system of babies who are just ready to receive solid food at the age of 4 months. Introducing solid foods too early can increase the risk of obesity, food allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections in babies.

Signs of a Baby Ready to Eat

The process of growth and development in each baby is different, as well as the baby's readiness to receive solid food. So, it is important to pay attention to signs that the baby is ready to eat solid food. Look at your baby, do you see the signs below?
  • Her weight has doubled from her birth weight.
  • He can lift his neck and head.
  • He starts to seem interested in what you eat, for example by trying to grab food from your plate.
  • Looks hungry even though just given milk.
  • He can hold food in the mouth.
If your child has shown the signs above, it means he is ready to be given solid food.

Healthy Food Choices for Babies

Come on, Mother, immediately decorate your kitchen with the following healthy foods for babies:
  • Cereals

  • Cereals made from one type of grain and have been given additional iron. You can mix it with breast milk, formula milk, or mineral water. However, make sure that the milk is given in sterile containers or bottles. This additional menu can be given to babies aged 6 months.
  • Yogurt

  • You may introduce yogurt to a 6 month old baby. The high calcium and vitamin D content in yogurt can have a good effect on the development of bones and teeth. In addition, Little One also does not get sick easily because yogurt can boost his immune system and support heart and brain health. Choose plain flavored yogurt without added sugar. Then, add to mashed fruits such as bananas, apples, or avocados. You can also give extra milk or formula to make it runny so it's easy to swallow.
  • Vegetables with dark green leaves

  • This type of food contains high iron and folate which is good for health. The best vegetable choices you can give to Little One is spinach.
  • Broccoli

  • In addition to calcium, fiber, and folate which are good for the development of the body, broccoli is also blessed with sulfur content. This content can give a unique taste on the tongue that can make babies recognize various types of flavors. Not only that, broccoli also has anticancer properties.
  • Nuts

  • This food is rich in protein and fiber. Beans are a healthy food source, but be careful if your child has an allergy to peanuts.
  • Orange

  • The taste of the fruit which is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants is very preferred by infants. You can give it as finger food (snacks).
  • Pumpkin

  • This vegetable has a natural sweet taste and has a creamy (soft) texture. Apart from being delicious, pumpkin is rich in vitamins A and C.
  • Meat

  • Maybe you think that meat is not suitable for babies because of its hard texture. However, it depends on how to cook it. Cooking the right meat for babies is by boiling for a long time so that the texture is soft and easily cut into small pieces or mashed. Eating meat is good for babies because it contains protein, zinc, and iron. Meat can be given to babies aged 6-8 months and above.
At this age the baby does not prioritize foods that pamper his tongue. He only eats to meet his needs when hungry. So, avoid foods that contain lots of extra flavorings, including sugar. Keeping your baby from foods that are too sweet can help prevent tooth decay. To give a sweet taste, you can add breast milk, formula milk, or fruit to the food. Do not also give him too much salt, because salt is not good for kidney health. In addition, avoid giving him types of foods such as honey, nuts, raw or undercooked eggs, types of sea fish that are suspected to contain mercury, raw shellfish, foods with high saturated fat content, and low-fat foods. By providing healthy food for babies according to age, you can have a baby with a prime body. If your child is having problems eating complementary foods, or has not gained weight after trying to provide additional nutrition, you can consult your pediatrician.

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