Last modified on May 2021
With inputs from Dr. Uma M - Consultant Family Physician, and Diabetologist
Weaning your baby – how important is it? Right from the moment you hold your newborn baby in your arms, your body adapts itself to provide nutritious breastmilk to support your child’s health. Breastfeeding your baby is crucial for the first few months of the baby’s development. In the long run, only breastmilk may not provide nutrition enough to sustain your child’s growth. So for how long should you keep breastfeeding your child? How can you tell if your baby is ready to transition into solid food? One needs to understand how to wean from breastfeeding. This article highlights the importance of weaning foods for indian babies and gives you practical tips to follow, making it easy on you as a parent to help your child grow in a healthy way.
Important:
“Breast milk is the first and most important source of nutrition for a baby. But once babies cross the 6-month mark, their nutritional needs start evolving and they need to be weaned to solid food. I usually tell mothers to gradually introduce new foods into a baby’s diet rather than completely overhauling their diet overnight. This can make them more open to trying new foods and also ensure they’re getting all the nutrition they need.”
– Dr Uma M, Consultant Family Physician and Diabetologist
Breastfeeding and Caring for Newborns amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Every day several lakh cases of COVID in India are being reported, and the second wave of the pandemic has hit the country with lots of difficulties and challenges. The double mutant coronavirus disease has spread vigorously affecting not just aged people or the ones with comorbidities but young adults, teenagers, and kids. While there are not enough reports of the chances for a newborn to contract the virus, it is always best to keep your little one protected from the COVID-19 spread.
Some of the current studies suggest that breastmilk is not likely to spread the virus to the baby. If you have COVID-19 and choose to breastfeed, some of the pointers you need to keep in mind are:
- Start or continue breastfeeding only after seeking advice from your doctor.
- Wash your hands before breastfeeding
- Wear a well-protected mask while breastfeeding or whenever you are in close distance with your baby.
The birth of your little one is a significant part of your life, and it brings immense happiness to one’s family. However, under the current COVID-19 outbreak, it is wise to follow the utmost precautions to keep yourself and your baby away from the COVID-19 exposure.
We understand that getting paediatric assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic may be risky. In order to minimize exposure, we at MFine offer online doctor consultations with expert doctors of various specialities that you can consult through chat or video call from the comfort of your home. Speak to leading paediatricians with just a click of a button.