Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
When Can An Infant Start Complementary Feeds?
Question: Hi I have delivered a baby 5 and half month ago .For last 15 days my baby is waking one hour once for feed in the night I think he is not getting enough milk so I'm planning to start solids food kindly say me wat to give during night to have a peaceful sleep .One more doubt if I'm giving rice gruel ,d mix or porridge can I add few drops of breast milk after preparing as all I said above are tasteless if it is okay to add breast milk should I need to boil again after adding breast milk
Brief Answer:
Ideally solid foods should be started after 6 months of age
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to the HCM
I completely understand your concerns but don't worry. 1-3 awakenings at night for feeds is perfectly fine at this age. It's not a sign of inadequate breastfeeding. Such increased requirements occurs during growth spurts which occurs every few months.
Complementary feeds should be started after 6 months of age. You may continue the things you have started with added breast milk but do not heat or boil thereafter. Heating kills the antibodies present in your milk. You may also start puried fruits, pulses, roasted flours esp. Ragi porridge, buiscuits,mashed idli, boiled and puried veggies, etc. You may add mild jaggery, sugar or salt to taste.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Ideally solid foods should be started after 6 months of age
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to the HCM
I completely understand your concerns but don't worry. 1-3 awakenings at night for feeds is perfectly fine at this age. It's not a sign of inadequate breastfeeding. Such increased requirements occurs during growth spurts which occurs every few months.
Complementary feeds should be started after 6 months of age. You may continue the things you have started with added breast milk but do not heat or boil thereafter. Heating kills the antibodies present in your milk. You may also start puried fruits, pulses, roasted flours esp. Ragi porridge, buiscuits,mashed idli, boiled and puried veggies, etc. You may add mild jaggery, sugar or salt to taste.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ya doctor 1-3 wake ups is fine but he is waking more than 10 times from night 10 to morning 8.I would be better if he woke up 2 or 3 hours once please tell some remedy for that .And also my doctor told to give dv3 n cpink from now on previously I was giving vysenerol n vitanova can I continue along with dv3 n cpink or shall I stop
Brief Answer:
Hold cpink
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The reason for your baby's recurrent awakening seems to be cpink (iron supplement) along with growth spurt. Iron supplement can cause gastritis, constipation and unnecessary infections. Earlier it was said to be necessary for infants. But now the studies have clearly ruled out it's use in infancy if complementary feeds rich in iron are started for infants.
So, avoid cpink from now. You may continue with vitanova d3 as earlier at 1 ml daily. No other medicines are required. This phase will gradually improve over a few days spontaneously.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Hold cpink
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The reason for your baby's recurrent awakening seems to be cpink (iron supplement) along with growth spurt. Iron supplement can cause gastritis, constipation and unnecessary infections. Earlier it was said to be necessary for infants. But now the studies have clearly ruled out it's use in infancy if complementary feeds rich in iron are started for infants.
So, avoid cpink from now. You may continue with vitanova d3 as earlier at 1 ml daily. No other medicines are required. This phase will gradually improve over a few days spontaneously.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks doctor can we give breast milk for satisfying thirst after giving solids because my baby refuses water
Brief Answer:
Yes, breast milk after solids is a good option
Detailed Answer:
Breast milk after solids is a good option. You may give it instead of water.
I would be happy to help you in any further questions. Else you may close the discussion, rate the answer and write a review.
Take care
Yes, breast milk after solids is a good option
Detailed Answer:
Breast milk after solids is a good option. You may give it instead of water.
I would be happy to help you in any further questions. Else you may close the discussion, rate the answer and write a review.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks doctor my baby posterior fontanelle is 90 percent is closed 10 percent is yet to close he is going to turn 6 months we took thyroid test during delivery it was nil can I check with doctor or wait for some more months
Brief Answer:
You may wait for 1-2 months if baby is developmentally normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi
If your baby is developing well and doesn't have any other associated symptoms, then you may wait till 8 months of age for complete closure of posterior fontanella and 24 months for anterior fontanella.
Since thyroid test was normal at birth and you are already giving him vitamin D 3 drops, there should be no intervention required.
In case it doesn't close even after 8 months of age or you find any associated symptoms, then visit a pediatrician to rule out rickets, congenital hypothyroidism, mucopolysaccharidoses, prematurity, and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) by history, clinical evaluation and by anthropometric examination.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
You may wait for 1-2 months if baby is developmentally normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi
If your baby is developing well and doesn't have any other associated symptoms, then you may wait till 8 months of age for complete closure of posterior fontanella and 24 months for anterior fontanella.
Since thyroid test was normal at birth and you are already giving him vitamin D 3 drops, there should be no intervention required.
In case it doesn't close even after 8 months of age or you find any associated symptoms, then visit a pediatrician to rule out rickets, congenital hypothyroidism, mucopolysaccharidoses, prematurity, and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) by history, clinical evaluation and by anthropometric examination.
Hopefully this will help you.
Take care
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
