Rules for giving 8 months of entry and the choice of type

Entering the age of 8 months, children's eating development will usually change a level more advanced than the previous age. Not only that, the texture and choice of complementary foods (complementary foods) for babies at the age of 8 months also changes.

As a parent, of course you want to always give the best in every age development, including about the nutritional needs of children. So, what should be considered in providing complementary foods for babies aged 8 months?

How is the development of the ability to eat babies aged 8 months?

Stepping on the eighth month, you will be proud because your little one is usually able to balance his body to stand up and learn to crawl.

More than that, the baby's ability to use his fingers is agile enough to pick up objects around himself.

In this case, babies aged 8 months are also generally better trained to pick up, hold, and move food.

In fact, your little one will reflexively put whatever is in his hand into his mouth, including food.

Even though you are not fully proficient, it doesn't hurt to start giving it finger food. Just like his name, f inger food is food the size of a finger.

Size finger food small ones will make it easier for babies to learn to eat. This is because food that is the size of a finger is easier for babies to grasp and eat.

Because this is a period of learning for babies to hold and put something in their mouth, you should always monitor your little one's movements.

There is also nothing wrong with getting rid of small objects around the baby. The reason is, it is feared that the little reflex will take it and put it in his mouth as if he wants to know what object is in front of him.

What are complementary foods for babies aged 8 months?

Source: Nurture With Nature

Still the same as at the beginning of his introduction to complementary foods at the age of 6 months, even until the age of 8 months babies can still be given crushed food.

It's just that, the texture of the crushed solids usually has changed to be a little thicker when you enter the age of 8 months. Furthermore, the texture of the baby's food changes to gradually coarser at the 8th month.

Launching from the Kids Health page, try to keep cooking and provide food with a soft texture and small size.

The soft texture of the food will help an 8 month old baby to eat it while preventing choking.

Meanwhile, the size of complementary foods (solids) which is quite small can help babies aged 8 months to hold it more easily.

However, if possible, babies aged 8 months should still be given breast milk to help meet their daily nutritional needs.

Or if breastfeeding is not possible, you can slowly replace it with formula milk as recommended by your doctor.

Since the texture of the baby's food has changed along with its ability to hold food, you can start giving it finger food .

You should not immediately replace all crushed solids with finger food for babies 8 months. Do it gradually by continuing to provide crushed food, accompanied by a little mixture finger food .

You can give too finger food as a side menu between meals. No need to worry if your baby has just started teething or hasn't grown at all.

Because you can give finger food with a soft texture that is easy for babies to eat. Even without teeth, an 8 month baby's gums are strong enough to chew the solids into a softer form for easy swallowing.

Choice of soft solids for babies 8 months

For starters, here are some soft solids options finger food which can be given to babies aged 8 months:

• Fruit with a soft texture such as banana and avocado
• Boiled vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and green beans
• Pasta that has been boiled
• Tofu and steamed potatoes
• Soft cheese

To make it easier for you to grasp and chew, you should cut solid solids into small pieces before giving them to babies aged 8 months.

That way, your little one doesn't have to bother chewing it because of the incomplete arrangement of the teeth.

Conversely, avoid giving complementary foods (solids) that are too large and hard which may make an 8-month-old baby choke.

Foods that are too large and hard for babies such as raw vegetables, popcorn, raisins, nuts, etc.

Recognize the signs when the child is ready to eat finger food

Introducing babies to food finger food since the age of 8 months can help train the development of the baby.

Developments related to the ability to eat babies are motor skills and body coordination. Maybe you often wonder when the right time to start introducing children to finger food .

Actually it is not difficult to know the ideal time to introduce a baby of 8 months with finger food as complementary foods.

You can notice when your little one becomes interested in "meddling" in eating by taking one food at a time while he is being fed.

According to the Mayo Clinic, from the age of 8 months babies are usually able to grasp finger food with a small size.

Take for example vegetables, fruits, and pasta that have been cut and cooked until soft. If in the past the baby was only able to take and direct the food to the mouth but it was always scattered, now it's not anymore.

Now 8 months old babies are usually reliable enough to put these solids in the mouth.

At the beginning of the introduction, you can give it finger food a few pieces first.

If the baby is starting to be interested in trying it, then add more pieces of the food. In addition, try to always place the baby eating on a special dining chair or small table.

Besides aiming to make the baby more focused when eating, this is also useful for reducing the risk of the baby choking.

How many servings of solids a day for babies aged 8 months?

At the age of 8 months, the frequency and portions of baby food are still the same as when they were at 6 and 7 months of age.

In addition to regular breastfeeding every day, the frequency of meals you can give your baby is 2-3 times per day.

Usually, at this age your little one is more accustomed to eating solid foods and snacks regularly. Therefore, you can still give it 1-2 times a day between main meals.

Meanwhile, the number of servings in one meal of solid food is not much different from when he was 8 months old. You can provide about ½ cup or ½ glass of mineral water (125 milliliters) of crushed food.

Hours or times of eating solids for babies 8 months should also be sufficient, aka no more than 30 minutes.

Tips for providing food for babies aged 8 months

Here are some tips that can be applied when giving complementary foods (solids) to babies aged 8 months:

1. Serve finger food with the right texture and size

Introduce babies to finger food between the crushed food will help train the ability to chew from an early age.

Even though your little one's teeth are incomplete or haven't grown at all, you don't need to worry.

The reason is, the texture is soft and soft MPASI accompanied by size finger food small ones will usually make it easier for an 8-month-old baby to chew.

As they get older, after a while, babies 8 months later will get used to eating solid foods that are bigger and harder by themselves.

2. Provide a variety of diverse foods

Also understand that at the age of 8 months, babies are very interested in recognizing the texture of solids. In addition, the colors and smells of food, especially those that your little one has just tried, are also being recognized.

That is why, try to present a variety of complementary foods to arouse the curiosity and appetite of babies aged 8 months.

Avoid giving candy, cookies, chocolate for babies, or chips in whole sizes which tend to be very hard for your little one at this time.

On the other hand, make sure you choose food sources that can contribute a number of important nutrients to help meet the daily needs of babies according to their age.

3. Stay picky about food sources

Although it is recommended to serve various types of food, don't be careless when processing it. Take for example when you are processing several types of fruit to mix together the pieces finger food .

Make sure you have removed and cleaned the fruit from the skin and seeds so that you don't choke your little one while eating them.

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