Question
What can a 3.5-month-old baby eat?
Answer
Hello, considering your baby is only three and a half months old, it is not recommended to introduce solid foods too early. The baby’s digestive system is not yet mature enough to handle starch-based foods. Generally, babies can start digesting starches after they are four months old, as that is when they begin producing amylase. Feeding starch-based foods before four months old can lead to the baby being unable to digest and absorb these foods, which will pass directly out of the body. It is suggested to start with egg yolks as the first solid food, but even for premature babies, it should be considered after they are three months old. Introducing starch-based foods too early may harm the baby’s originally healthy gastrointestinal system. When introducing solid foods, the portion should be gradually increased from thin to thick, soft to hard, and from one type of food to multiple types, following the baby’s increasing digestive ability. For juice consumption, it should be adjusted flexibly according to whether the baby has constipation, whether it is pure juice or diluted juice.