THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD INTRODUCTION FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The present work has the scope of approaching the benefits generated to the child by the adequate introduction of food, whose practice should occur after the sixth month of life, as guided by international organizations. Preliminarily, considerations are drawn about the process that involves the insertion, in the infant's diet, of other foods than breast milk. This constitutes an exclusive food resource in the first half of life and represents a guarantee of healthy conditions, with repercussions on the future life of the individual. Food introduction is presented as an indispensable resource for healthy child development. The research also addresses the methods through which food introduction can be performed: the traditional approach and the called baby-led weaning. By tracing characteristics of each of the methods, a parallel between them is presented, with emphasis on converging points and divergent aspects between them. Finally, early complementary feeding is treated in the light of the circumstances that give rise to it, with notes on the consequences related to the phenomenon, which is a sensitive point in child development, deserving effective and dedicated attention.