We are tasked with many challenges in the current 21st century; including our lifestyles, feeding and dressing habits, our mode of thinking, doing things, etc. But does our current era better or worse than the previous ones? Most people (women) are yet to know or apply complementary feeding. Just relax as this post will take you through.
Complementary feeding is the food that is given to children (babies) in addition to breast milk as it contributes to saving lives.
Most doctors will say, any food given to a child below the age of 6 months is a waste as it contributes to constipation; reasons being that, from day 1 to 6 months, a child is yet to develop strong organs to release the enzymes necessary for food digestion. So, if a solid or semi-solid food is given to a child under the age of 6 months, goes out the same without complete digestion. This in turn will expose the child to risk of constipation (strong stool).
Some parents on the hand say, exclusive breast feeding causes a child to reject food when he/she grows. The children find it difficult to eat good food as they are used to breast milk and instead, they tend to demand liquid-sweetened foods like mineral drinks, children juices, etc. This is not good for their health.
Hearing from both the medical doctors and parents, what is the best age to start complementary feeding for children in our community?
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 8 months
Please do drop your comments in the comment box below…
According to a survey conducted by Calabar Reporters, most people prefer starting complementary feeding at the age of 6 months, and 40% of them recommended Community Health Centres as the best place to teach mothers on feeding children.
