Preparation (4 to 5 months)
This period is when your baby learns to take the spoon rather than you trying to provide them with full nutrition. You may have them take grains such as rice or glutinous rice. Start with one to four spoonfuls of thin gruel (grounded rice). Other than the breast milk, produced milk and grain gruel, nothing is recommended. New foods should be added one by one. Give the same food for 3 to 5 days to observe if your baby has any signs of allergies and then try new foods. First, have them eat the baby food a little when they're hungry. The rest of the amount should be supplemented with breast milk. You should be patient in this period and do not force it if your baby doesn't want to take it.
Early stage (6 to 7 months)
This is when baby food intake really starts! As your baby starts eating baby food, you should consider the nutritional balance. Start with porridge with mixed with 7 to 8 parts water (6 months) to 5 to 6 parts water (7 months). When you give it, ground one new food at a time and increase the amount of minced/chopped food. At around 6 months when it is appropriate to offer vegetables and fruits, start giving them one type at a time. Observe your baby for 3 to 5 days before offering new food. This is when the iron content can become insufficient, so gradually add meat in your baby's menu. To supplement your baby's growth and iron intake, include protein-rich food such as meat, egg yolk, tofu, and fish. By 7 months, make baby food that contains grains, vegetables, fruits and protein altogether.
Intermediate stage (8 to 9 months)
Your baby has enhanced ability to chew, grab food with the fingers or palm to eat by themselves, and break or divide the given food. They can grab a cup and drink water with a cup if assisted. Let your baby grab a spoon and get used to it. You may feed your baby more solid porridge (3 to 4 parts water) and prepare finger foods (e.g. tenderly-cooked vegetables, tofu, non-salty cheese, minced meat or fruits etc.). Baby food that contains grains (1 to 2 types) along with one of vegetables (1 to 2 types), fish, eggs and beans is considered rich in nutrition.
Late stage (10 to 11 months)
Your baby may move the food around in the mouth here and there with the tongue or push it to the edge of the mouth. They start breaking the food with a jaw and tongue to eat. Put the baby food in a bowl in the same area and have them eat on their own with a spoon. You should allow them to use a spoon. Proceed from porridge mixed with 3 to 4 parts water to tender cooked rice with two parts water. It is okay to prepare tender cooked rice that contains various ingredients, or you may give white tender rice with soft side dishes. Avoid watching TV as they distract your baby from focusing on eating. If they don't eat and try to play around, remove the table for a while and let them clearly know that dining hours are not a play time.
Completion Stage (after 12 months)
This is when your baby eats three meals a day. Try to have them experience various foods. You have lots of varieties to choose from. But they should be chopped or boiled for tenderness so that they can be digested well. Three meals combined with a couple of in-between meals at regular are recommended. After 12 months, they should take milk and dairy foods for healthy bones and growth. As for breastfeeding, it may continue for 24 months. Continue with it as it does not hamper the three meals a day.
Tip. Food allergies and Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis stems from allergies. Thus, the cause should be considered, not the external skin conditions. One of the most common causes is dairy foods, of which powdered milk accounts for more than 70%. In many cases, mothers become concerned about the possibility of atopic dermatitis or just out of worries choose to delay feeding baby food a few months or just stick with baby formulas. It is not recommended to postpone feeding baby food for worries of dermatitis. If you are worried about an allergic reaction to certain foods, stop giving it immediately and consult with a doctor. In about 7 or 10 days, you may start giving it again.