For 10 months, what should parents know?

As the baby gets older, the more abilities he can do. This includes the baby's eating skills that are more proficient than the age in the previous month. For parents, this is certainly good news to help meet children's nutritional intake. So that the nutritional needs of babies at 10 months of age are well fulfilled, let's understand about complementary foods for little ones at this age.

Development of feeding skills for infants aged 10 months

Before getting into more about giving food for babies aged 10 months, it doesn't hurt to know the extent of your little one's development.

Maybe you will be amazed to see the baby's coordination ability has improved quite rapidly.

As well as being more reliable when picking up and holding objects, even small ones, babies can do more than that.

At this age, your little one begins to learn to recognize various sizes of objects in their environment.

Meanwhile, in terms of their ability to eat, babies aged 10 months can be introduced to a thicker texture of food.

Piecefinger food You can also provide more on the dinner plate than when he was 9 months old.

This is because entering the age of 10 months, baby teeth usually have started to grow one by one. However, if the baby's teeth at 10 months have not shown any signs of appearing, you can readjust the texture of the food according to its condition.

Interestingly, the development of a baby's eating skills can also be seen from his ability to coordinate his hands.

Previously, babies tended to have difficulty involving their hands in different jobs, now it's not anymore.

You will begin to see a 10 month old baby using his right hand to grasp food, while his left hand is doing other activities. And vice versa what babies can do.

That is why, giving the baby the freedom to eat on his own can further train his hand grip. Not only that, the coordination of his hands when taking and putting food into his mouth is getting better.

Babies aged 10 months are also able to press their lips together when fed with solids to clean up leftover food on the spoon while preventing them from falling into pieces.

You will be even more amazed by his ability to name a few familiar foods to indicate hunger.

What are complementary foods for babies aged 10 months?

To meet their nutritional needs, babies aged 10 months should still be breastfed regularly. Although it is not completely, breast milk can still contribute to the baby's energy intake every day.

If breastfeeding is not possible, consult your doctor further about giving formula milk for babies.

As for complementary foods, it is okay to improve the texture of the daily food a step further.

The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI), recommends that you provide a variety of food textures.

This is because baby teeth at the age of 10 months have started to grow so that they will be more training when eating various textures of complementary foods (complementary foods).

Various foods ranging from finely chopped (minced), roughly chopped (chopped), as well as food that is easy to grip (finger food).

Don't hesitate to introduce your 10 month old baby to a variety of other complementary choices of solid foods that he may not have tasted.

Well, if a 10 month old baby is familiar enough with several side dishes, fruits and vegetables, now is the time to serve other types.

However, keep in mind some types of food that have a texture that is too hard so that it is at risk of choking your baby.

Quoting from the Baby Center, foods with hard textures can include nuts. In addition, foods that have a hard texture are also included popcorn and raisins.

If you want to introduce it to these solid foods, you should process it into a smoother shape and texture so that it is easy for a 10 month baby to swallow.

Make sure to always meet your baby's daily nutritional needs by giving him a variety of food sources.

Variety of food sources for babies

The following is an example of a variety of complementary food sources (complementary foods) for 10 months babies that you can combine every day:

Rice, tubers, wheat, and seeds as staple food sources of carbohydrates
Red meat, chicken, fish, beef liver, and others as a source of protein, fat and iron
Nuts as a source of vegetable protein
Vegetables and fruits are a source of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A which is very necessary at this age
Eggs are a source of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals
Milk derivative products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and so on

How many servings of solid foods for babies aged 10 months a day?

According to the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the frequency of eating babies aged 10 months is around 3-4 times per day.

In addition to main meals, you can also routinely provide snack or snack for 10 months baby 1-2 times.

Gradually, it is recommended that you increase the amount of solids for your 10 month baby to 250 milliliters (ml) or about half a bowl.

In order to better see how much solid food you are serving and how much can a 10 month baby eat, try to use a plate or bowl of a suitable size.

So, you can measure whether a 10 month old baby can finish all these solids or how much they leave.

Important tips for maintaining clean food for 10 months baby

Storing, processing, and serving complementary foods for babies, including at the age of 10 months, should not be done carelessly.

To be safer, mothers need to know tips on how to process and store the right baby solid food, including at the age of 10 months.

Processing baby food

During processing and providing complementary foods for 1o month babies, there are several important things that should not go unnoticed, including:

Keep cooking and eating utensils clean by using clean spoons, plates, bowls or glasses.
Separate the cutting board and knife used for cutting raw and cooked ingredients.
Wash hands with soap before preparing and giving food to babies.
Wash baby's hands with soap before eating.
Store food in a clean and safe place.

Save a source of food for babies

On the other hand, mothers also need to pay attention to how to store solid food or complementary foods for babies at the age of 10 months.

Here are some ways to store complementary foods safely, quoting from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), including 10 months of babies:

1. Pay attention to storage of multiple food sources

Store foods that will be processed into solids for babies for 10 months and are susceptible to bacterial contamination such as meat, fish, eggs, and milk in the refrigerator.

In addition, pasta, rice and vegetables should also be stored in the right place.

2. The temperature of food storage in the refrigerator

Meat, fish, eggs, milk, and vegetables should be stored in the refrigerator at less than 5 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, pasta and rice as baby solids, including 10 months, should be stored in their respective places.

3. How to store meat and fish

Meat and fish should be stored in closed containers and separate from cooked food. Not only that, the place for storing meat and fish should also be away from ingredients that are ready to eat.

4. Adhere to the expiration date

All foodstuffs must be stored in accordance with the storage instructions which are usually written on the packaging.

Also pay attention to the expiration date of complementary foods (complementary foods) which will be processed for babies aged 10 months.

Do not use food ingredients for the 10 month baby's solid food after passing the expiration ladder.

5. Avoid putting food back in the refrigerator

Food that was previously refrigerated and then taken out should not be used again if it has been out for more than two hours.

Because it is feared that the food ingredients for complementary foods have been contaminated with bacteria so that it is less hygienic for babies, including the age of 10 months.