Ablation is the process that develops gradually to achieve the inclusion of other foods in addition to breast milk in a baby's diet.
Ablation is the gradual process that makes it possible to include other foods beyond breast milk in a child's diet . The term is not recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) and, therefore, is not part of its dictionary; Its use, however, is frequent in the field of pediatrics .
Ablation allows the baby to begin receiving other nutrients that are not present in the mother's milk, beyond the great importance that this food has for the growth of children. It is a procedure that is part of the natural growth of the human being .
Beginning of ablactation
Ablation usually begins when the baby is four to six months old. The start of the process , however, depends on the instructions given by the pediatrician according to the physical characteristics of the baby.
Broadly speaking, it can be said that the doctor usually suggests the beginning of ablactation when the child no longer has the extrusion reflex (which leads him to expel the solid elements that are inside his mouth) and there is evidence of saliva production. which confirms that your digestive system can now receive other types of food in addition to breast milk. The baby, on the other hand, must have the ability to sit up and control the movements of his head.
Offering him one food at a time, allowing him to get used to the texture and consistency and not forcing him to eat are some of the suggestions that specialists make so that ablactation is successful.
Ablation does not mean abandoning breastfeeding.
The importance of breastfeeding
Given that ablactation is an important change in the characteristics of children's diet , it is necessary to take into account that it entails certain immunological, microbiological, nutritional and even psychological adjustments . Precisely, it is not a process through which breastfeeding is abruptly interrupted to start eating other products, but rather there must be a fluid and supervised transition at all times.
Among the reasons why mothers should not stop breastfeeding their children during the lactation process are some benefits , in addition to the contribution of nutrients, such as greater stimulation of digestion and an increase in defenses against various breast diseases. infectious type that usually appear at this stage. In short, breastfeeding the child while incorporating solid foods is the best combination to achieve good physical and psychological development .
Tips to develop the ablactation process
There are certain basic rules that most health professionals recommend mothers follow throughout the excision process:
- In addition to not adding more than one food at a time, it is important not to mix them.
- Give the child two or three days to get used to each new food. At the same time, this serves to ensure that it is tolerated adequately.
- Related to the previous step, if there is a rejection of a particular food, then we should leave it and try another. The same goes for proportions.
- Give the child breast milk first and then soft food.
- Ablation should include foods of natural origin. For example, it is important to avoid products that contain flavorings, preservatives and colorings.
- When cooking solid and semi-solid foods, we must do without any type of seasoning, such as salt and sugar.
- Make sure that new foods are kept at room temperature, since hot or cold foods can cause rejection or even difficulties in digestion .