Question
How to solve the problem of a 7-month-old baby being underweight?
Answer
Starting from 4 months old, breastfeeding alone can no longer meet the baby’s growth and development needs. It is time to begin introducing complementary foods. The addition of complementary foods should follow a gradual approach, starting with small amounts, moving from thin to thick textures, from fine to coarse, and from one type to multiple types. Babies aged 4 to 6 months should consume mashed foods such as iron-fortified rice cereal, formula milk, egg yolks, vegetable purees, and fruit purees, and during this period, they should also stop night feeds. Babies aged 7 to 9 months can eat minced foods like porridge, soft noodles, bread slices, baby biscuits, fish meat, whole eggs, liver puree, and minced meat. During hot weather or when the baby is ill, it is advisable to pause the introduction of new foods.