Question
A 9-month-old baby dislikes formula milk and only drinks breast milk. Recently, the baby has been in a bad mood, easily crying and fussing, and refuses to eat complementary foods such as rice or porridge. The parents are asking how to solve this problem.
Answer
Doctors recommend that parents take their child to a pediatrician for a complete blood biochemistry test and a routine blood test to determine if there is a deficiency of trace elements, particularly zinc. If diagnosed with a zinc deficiency, the child can be treated with zinc sulfate syrup or zinc gluconate oral solution. Additionally, attention should be paid to the child’s dietary balance, increasing the intake of zinc-rich foods such as red meat, seafood, and nuts to improve the child’s appetite and nutritional status.