How long should you breastfeed your child?
A few years ago, it was assumed that there was no additional benefit for a baby if it was breastfed for longer than 6 months. Today we know that children who are breastfed for longer are statistically less likely to suffer from diarrhea or respiratory diseases, diabetes, obesity and much more. Breastfeeding at the complementary feeding age of 4-12 months is not just about feeding. Processes such as teething, teething, the first crawling, the first steps and much more take place during this time and your child's need for breastfeeding and bonding will fluctuate greatly.
When can you start introducing complementary foods?
You may have asked yourself when it makes sense to start complementary feeding.
We recommend a introduction of complementary foods between the 4th and 6th month. Of course, you should still breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby at the same time. But how exactly do you know when your baby is ready for complementary feeding?
The 5 signs that your baby is ready for complementary food
1. sitting alone and upright in a high chair is no problem.
2. holding his head up on his own for longer periods of time works quite well.
3. shows a keen interest in what the "big ones" are eating. (Opening mouth to try, reaching for it etc.).
4. the tongue extension reflex has regressed. (The spoon is not pushed out of the mouth with the tongue).
5. your baby can open his mouth wide enough and can move his tongue to all sides.
Starting the porridge
If you can answer all the above signs with a "Yes!", your baby is ready to start. It is best to start with mono porridges - porridges that consist of only one ingredient. From there, you can puree your way through the range of fruit and vegetables, mix varieties and after a while even introduce meat, fish and cereals. Don't get stressed if your baby's needs change from meal to meal.
Trust your baby to know best how much he wants to eat!
Freshness and vitamins
Home-made and fresh porridges made from high-quality ingredients are rich in vitamins, delicious and preferable to everything else. But. If you can't find the time between baby, household, job or other children, or simply prefer to spend your time with your baby rather than in your kitchen, then there is another fresh and tasty option.
What do Anthony Pumpkins, Cocohontas, Beetney Spears and Broccoly Balboa have in common? They are all fresh and delicious Baby porridge varieties from yamo (link here: I'll give you the link). They are cold-pressed to preserve vitamins, made from 100% natural organic ingredients, no added sugar/salt or other additives. Many different flavor combinations with different textures of fruit and/or vegetables. They can be eaten warm or cold and are also perfect for taking away. The porridge cups are made from recyclable PET. Yamo sends the porridges directly to your home, perfectly tailored to your baby's age and needs.
You can even order your own in the online store. personal menu plan for your baby (link here: I'll give it to you). And you can read about what your baby's diet should look like from the age of 1 in our next article.
This blog post is a series in collaboration with yamo. Yamo is a Swiss start-up that is revolutionizing the baby food industry with delicious and above all fresh organic baby food. Just like us, Yamo attaches great importance to high quality and wants the best for our children. This blog post was written in collaboration with Yamo and is the second part of a 3-part series.
