Stages in complementary feeding
Complementary feeding is the offering of foods or liquids to infants to complement breast milk or formula. It is considered that from 6 months of age, breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to exclusively feed the baby, so it must be supplemented with foods that help meet the infant's nutritional needs.
This transition from exclusive breastfeeding to complementary feeding usually covers the period from 6 to 24 months. During this time, the baby's main food will continue to be breast milk, which will gradually be replaced by other foods that allow for a varied diet.
It is very important that, during this stage and up to 3 years old, the child's diet is as balanced as possible, as their future physical and intellectual development depends on it.
New flavors, smells, textures…
The start of complementary feeding, around 6 months of age, opens up a completely new world for the baby: flavors never before discovered, new textures, smells they didn’t know existed… Although it is true that through breast milk the baby has already been able to perceive some of these characteristics.
Stage 1: Exclusive breastfeeding (0 to 6 months)
WHO and the Spanish Association of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding from birth and up to 6 months.
Stage 2: Introduction of first foods (6 to 12 months)
From 6 months, complementary feeding or introduction to solids begins, while continuing to breastfeed frequently and on demand. Complementary feeding at this stage has a dual purpose: to meet the child's nutritional requirements and to establish healthy eating habits.
Between 7 and 9 months, rhythmic chewing begins, even if the baby has no teeth, so it is advisable to offer foods that are very easy to chew.
Food for 7-month-old babies
Stage 3: Eating like the grown-ups! (13 to 24 months)
As the baby develops psychomotor skills, they begin to adopt a diet more similar to that of adults. The main goal of this stage is to ensure that by around 2 years old, they have healthy, varied, and balanced eating habits. Also, as much as possible, try to gradually increase the range of foods so their palate can get to know and adapt to all kinds of flavors and textures.