Is it necessary to add oil to baby food? What are the conditions for adding baby food?

Usually, when babies reach a certain age, their mothers should start to add complementary foods to them. However, because babies' stomachs are very fragile, mothers should pay special attention when adding complementary foods to their babies. So, should we add oil to baby complementary foods? What are the conditions for adding complementary foods to babies?

Generally, the staple food of a newborn baby is breast milk, which is simply breast milk used to feed the baby. However, as time goes by, the baby also needs to absorb more nutrients to promote the development of bones and intelligence. Then at this time, breast milk nutrition is not enough, and complementary food must be added. When adding complementary food, you must pay attention to details. You must not add oil when you start adding complementary food. Too greasy food will damage the baby's liver. However, adding oil to complementary food is also a necessity, but you need to wait until the baby's digestive system is open before adding a certain amount of edible oil. In fact, during breastfeeding, the baby also has a demand for oil intake. The development of the baby's brain and body requires the participation of the production of fatty acids, so it is necessary to add oil to complementary food, and the edible oil should be changed frequently to allow the baby to absorb different nutrients. It is necessary to supplement complementary food in addition to breast milk every day in order to give the baby a good development environment and avoid malnutrition that affects normal intellectual development.

How to judge whether the baby is ready to add complementary food mainly depends on the following points. The baby's head can be held upright steadily and placed in the center, and can also turn its head to indicate that it does not want to eat anymore. Do not underestimate the action of the baby eating complementary food. It is a rather complex fine movement for the baby because it involves the subtle movement of the oral muscles and mouth. According to the characteristics of children's physiological development, such fine movements need to be well completed with the cooperation of large movements. That is, the baby's head must be stable first, and not sway from side to side. At the same time, if the baby does not want to eat, he can turn his head smoothly to indicate his willingness not to eat. If this action cannot be done, the baby will have to work hard to straighten his head when eating complementary food, which will cost him a lot of energy. Then the energy spent on eating will be less, and he will not be interested in eating complementary food. He can sit steadily and not sway from side to side, so that he will not choke.

If parents plan to add complementary foods to their babies, it is best to add olive oil or walnut oil, because these two oils are rich in plant protein, and taking these two oils can effectively promote the baby's brain development. Generally, babies start to add complementary foods after six months, and it is enough for babies from six to eight months to add once a day. If the baby is over eight months old, you can add it twice a day, or you can add vegetable or fruit puree once a day. Generally, after the baby is ten months old, you can add some fish and shrimp foods. When adding complementary foods to babies, you must eat small meals frequently, because the baby's stomach is too delicate.

At first, your baby will beg for food—reaching for food on your plate, grabbing your spoon, and looking at you with a hungry look on his face. When you open your mouth to eat, he'll open his mouth and imitate your eating movements. Sometimes it's the utensils that interest your baby, not the food. If your baby is watching you eat with great interest, try giving him a spoon to play with (preferably a sturdy plastic spoon that makes less noise when tapped). If your baby is happy with the spoon, it's the toy that interests him, not the food. If your baby is still interested in the food you're eating, it may be time to try solid foods. Also, if your baby is able to sit in a high chair and pinch food with his fingers, that's a sign that it's time to add solid foods.