4 - 9 Months
This period is called the transitional period because solids gradually replace approximately half of the breast milk or formula. Solids are defined as mashed or puréed food that is soft at first and later becomes coarser. By offering the child solids, it gets a more varied and nourishing dietary supplement in a period where it grows a lot.
The transitional period begins when the infant 4-6 months old shows it is ready for spoon food – porridge and mash. Children start eating solids at different times – you have to feel your way and observe how the child reacts.
Before the child is 4 months old the child does not require solids and its intestines is unable to digest it. From about 6 months old the child needs a different kind of food than breast milk or formula because the child needs more energy, vitamins, minerals and micronutrients. At that age the child’s intestines are able to digest solids.
The size of the solid meals will vary according to the child’s needs. The child will show its craving for food by leaning forward and opening its mouth, and it is show reluctance by squeezing its lips together and turning its head. It is the child’s reaction that decides the size of meals and helps you determine what the child prefers.
Suggestion for the daily meals for children between 4 and 6 months:
Breakfast
Breast milk or formula. Gruel of corn or rice.
Morning
A serving porridge, for example or rice, together with a drink of water.
Lunch
Breast milk or formula.
Fruit puree as dessert, for example banana/apple puree or pear/mango puree.
Supper
A serving of mashed vegetables. Mashed potato/carrot or broccoli with a teaspoon of a fatty substance with a drink of water, breast milk or formula.
Before bedtime
Breast milk or formula, gruel of corn.
You can easily supplement the meals that does not contain breast milk or formula with breast milk or formula if your child is still hungry.
It is recommended that the child has 5 drops of iron supplement from it is 6 months old and up to 1 year. You do not need to give your child iron supplement if it already receives formula, supplementing mixture or industrially produced gruel containing iron.
If the child has not started on spoon food when it is 6 months old, it is now important to make a wholehearted effort to make it happen. Most children who are 6 months old can sip from a cup and should be taught to drink more and more from a cup. A child breastfeeding should also be offered water from a cup once in a while. When a child is 8 months old it can eat food squashed with a fork and in the course of the next month it can start to eat soft pieces of food.
From 6-9 months old the child’s food will largely be based on what the rest of the family eats. The child is now introduced to meat, fish, poultry and offal together with mash of potato and vegetables. Considerations must be made for the child concerning salt and spices.
Breast milk or formula is the most important milk until the child is 9 months old. Full-cream milk can from 6 months old be given in smaller amounts by adding it to the food and putting it in the cup.
Suggestion for the daily meals for children between 6 and 9 months old:
Breakfast
A serving porridge, for example oatmeal porridge. Wholegrain porridge or rye-bread-and-beer porridge. Afterwards a little breast milk or formula.
Morning
Breast milk, gruel of corn or rice.
Lunch
A serving fruit. Yogurt added to pear/banana. Change between porridge or soured whole milk with grated rye bread and some fruit puree together with a drink of water.
Snack
Yogurt natural flavoured with fruit puree together with a drink of water or a fruity drink.
Supper
Mashed potatoes, vegetables and meat, poultry, offal or fish. Remember to add a teaspoon of fatty substance. A drink of water or fruity drink.
Before bedtime
Breast milk or formula. Gruel of corn.
You can easily supplement the meals that does not contain breast milk or formula with breast milk or formula if your child is still hungry.