Question
My baby will be four months old in a week. Can I feed him some rice soup and porridge appropriately? If so, can I also give him other types of complementary foods? Will this do any harm to my baby’s stomach?
Answer
At four months old, a baby’s sole breastfeeding diet is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional needs for growth and development, so complementary foods should be introduced. The principle of introducing complementary foods is to start with small amounts, gradually increase the consistency from thin to thick, and introduce different types from one food to multiple foods. A four-month-old baby can be given rice soup to promote the development of amylase. Starchy foods like congee can be introduced around five to six months of age. Therefore, you can give your baby some rice soup. This will not harm the baby’s stomach; the benefits outweigh the risks.