Suggest Diet Chart For 4 Months Old Baby
what foods and fruits will be preferred to him. and also at what quantity.
As below
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
At the age of 4 months, breast milk is given. Cerelac can be introduced if the baby is ready for solid foods. He should be holding his neck, swallowing properly, opens his mouth wide enough when you bring the spoon, turns his face away if he doesn't like the food, etc. Give solid food after he has had the breast milk. If he is growing well on breast milk alone, then solid food is not needed until 6 months of age.
Among cerelac rice is the first one to be introduced. It should be watery in consistency and the baby will initially take less than 1 spoon at a time. It can be given 2 - 3 times a day.
At six months offer iron-rich foods such as:
iron-fortified infant cereals of other types
chicken
fish
eggs
tofu
prunes and
well-cooked legumes such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas
This food should also be fluid and not lumpy. Regarding quantity there is one general rule, that you offer the food you like, babies take the quantity that they like. Do not force any food. If he rejects a food, re-try after 1 week.
Hope it helps.
Dr Vaishalee
Thanks for the reply...
As my baby boy is not drinking milk by bottle from last 5-6 days and when his mom is trying with the spoon he is crying a lot and we have to force him to drink by way of spoon and he is crying that he dont want to drink.
But what to do he is hungry also.
Please suggest is the way correct to forcely provide milk to the baby at this stage when he is crying.
Don't make feeding a battle.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
From your description it seems that the baby is only bottle feeding. Can you describe in detail his feeding schedule, the type of milk he takes, his current weight, any symptoms or medicine use, immunization status?
It seems that there is a battle going on between the person who is feeding and the child. The child cannot do much in the battle but to resist feeding. You accept defeat in front of him. He will understand. Do not feed him for sometimes. Look for clues when he is looking for food. That time pass on the bottle to him and he will feed.
My suggestions:
- taste the milk that you are giving him
- the milk should be at room temperature - neither hot nor cold
- Bring the bottle from the side rather from the front so as not to startle him
- Give him adequately boiled and cooled cow's milk and not formula or XXXXXXX milk
- the bottle should be cleaned and boiled regularly
- The hole in the nipple should be of the size that when you invert the bottle, milk flows drop wise. It should not flow in a stream. Babies cannot drink as fast.
- Can try rice cereal if he is resisting milk.
- Do not initially give him fruits or he wont take other less tasty foods.
Infact sugar and salt should be minimal during first year.
- If he is not taking bottle, try cup or sippy cup
- Babies at this age drink around 1 L of milk.
Please revert back with the details so that I am better able to help you.
Dr Vaishalee
Thanks for the reply..
No he is feeding mothers milk well and needs to drink that only rather than bottle or by spoon.
But his mother thinks that the milk is not suffucient for him.
His current wt. is 9.5 Kgs
No medicine going on and immunization is as per the routine.
His weight is much above normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
I think you have mentioned wrong weight. The weight of 9.5 kg is much above normal range. In fact he is an obese kid. Please measure the weight again (without clothes etc). Refer the following weight for age chart to check for yourself:
http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/WFA_boys_0_5_percentiles.pdf?ua=1
If the weight of 9.5 kg is without clothes, then please restrict his feed intake. Do not start on bottle. Breast fed kids can easily be weened onto a cup or a sippy cup when the time is right. For now continue breast milk only. May give cerelac sometimes.
Waiting for the correct weight measurement.
Dr Vaishalee
We have measured the weight on dt.14.09.2014 as 9.5 Kgs with clothes.
It might be 9-9.2kgs without clothes and shoes.
Weight of 9 kg is also obese
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
A weight of 9 kg is also obese. My suggestions remain the same i.e. do not start him on bottle. Breast fed kids can easily be weened onto a cup or a sippy cup when the time is right. For now continue breast milk only. May give cerelac sometimes.
It is irrational to think that breast milk is not sufficient for him. He is growing well on breast milk alone. He is not hungry, he may be fussing around for other reasons.
I also want to congratulate his mother for doing a good job at breast feeding. Keep it up.
Dr Vaishalee