Mummy Tobi, are you sure that baby is not hungry? How old is she? Seven months. Have you introduced other foods apart from breast milk? No. I am giving only infant formula and breast milk.
Then she must really be hungry. When a baby cries so loud while she is wide awake, she wants to be fed. The cry shows the baby is not getting enough food.
At age six months, you should introduce your baby to other foods known as weaning— mixed feeding or introduction of solid foods. This should begin for infants by six months of age (26 weeks) but not before 17 weeks.
Breast milk or infant formula should continue during the complementary feeding period with the amount gradually reduced as the variety of foods increases. As all infants’ needs are different, mothers should also be aware of key nutrients and foods needed in line with resources available.
Foods to introduce
At six months, it is time to try solid food. Every baby is different, so there is no telling how your baby will take to this new experience. He may need a while to get used to new tastes and textures.
Milk is not enough anymore
At six months, your baby starts to need extra nutrients, in particular iron. But he still needs breast milk or formula as well, until he is a year old. During baby’s first six months, the digestive and immune systems have been gradually gaining strength. The body is now ready to process solid food.
Once your baby is six months old, you can give other foods; try new ones quickly.
Foods to begin with
Well-mashed cooked vegetables, such as potato, sweet potato, carrot, broccoli or cauliflower. Also, fruit, such as ripe cooked apple, pear, mango or papaya or mashed fruit such as ripe avocado or banana. Baby rice or other cereal mixed with your usual milk
Once your baby is happy eating from a spoon, you can increase the range of foods. Try blended meat and fish or chicken. Cook thoroughly and remove bones. Whole milk yoghurt and custard is also good. Don’t give cow’s milk (or goat’s or sheep’s) until he’s a year old.
Starchy foods
It’s a good idea to base on starchy foods. Breakfast cereals, baby breadsticks, potatoes, couscous, bread, pasta, millet, rice and oats are okay. Your baby needs one protein-rich food at each meal. This could be: fish, but not shark, swordfish and marlin, well-cooked eggs, dairy produce, lean red meat, poultry lentils.
Give diluted juice in a beaker or feeding cup, rather than a bottle. Follow-on formula milk can be used if you wish. But there’s no need for you to give it to your baby if he’s already eating balanced meals.
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