Question
The newborn was born one week ago and is currently being breastfed exclusively. At this stage, is it suitable to introduce meat into the diet?
Answer
Generally speaking, newborns should not consume meat during the early stages due to their underdeveloped digestive systems. When introducing meat as complementary food, it should start with a single type and be added in small quantities. The texture of the food should gradually transition from a paste-like (meat puree) to semi-solid (meat minced), and finally to solid (meat chunks). The cooking process should be simple and avoid adding any seasonings. If the newborn’s digestion is good, fruits purees, rice porridge, and other foods can be gradually introduced, and the quantity of complementary foods can be increased accordingly. Therefore, at this stage, it is not suitable for newborns to eat meat.