Complementary feeding crucial for child development

Complementary feeding is very important issue for normal growth and development of young child. Up to six month of age, exclusive breast-feeding is enough; but after 6 month, we need to add some complementary food to the diet of baby to ensure healthy life. After 6 months, babies need more protein, Vitamin A and C, Zinc, Iron, which breast milk alone cannot provide in sufficient amount. If weaning food is not given to babies after 6 months, their weight may decrease, growth may be impaired, anemia may occur, intelligence and immunity may decrease. So, we should ensure complementary feeding to our child along with breast milk after six months.
Weaning or complementary food should be safe, adequate, energy dense, hygienic, appropriate and should contain all the macro and micro-nutrients along with vitamins and minerals. It should be preferably home made, cheap, easily available, easily digestible as well as socially acceptable. After six months, breast milk provides around 50 percent of energy and the rest half should come from complementary food.
In Bangladesh, complementary feeding is started with rice, Khichuri, banana, smashed potato, soup, noodles etc. Khichuri should not contain too many ingredients at a time. Certain vegetables may not suit the baby. It should have one vegetable at a time and after a week, another should be added to identify the trouble making vegetables, if there is any. Food should contain few teaspoonful of soybean oil to make it energy dense.
Amount and frequency of weaning food is also important. It should not be more then 3-5 feeds per day and amount must be reasonable — not too much, not too less. No forceful feeding is allowed.
Now a days, probiotics in the form of food are added to the weaning food, which provide extra protection to baby by increasing immunity and decreasing invasion of harmful microorganisms. Many milk companies are marketing different varieties of tasty weaning food, someone may try them if affordable.
Often in our society, especially uneducated and poor people do not know the importance about complementary feeding. Mostly it happens because of their ignorance and poverty, although it could be provided with locally available food. Hence, awareness regarding the complimentary food is crucial and we all should come forward to raise the issue. Take care of your sweet kids.

The writer is a Professor of Paediatrics at Community Based Medical College (CBMC), Mymensingh.
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