Every stage after childbirth has its unique stress, requirements, and responsibilities. And baby weaning is not an exception. It comes from within the 6th month after conception when babies are gradually growing teeth and can nibble on more solid food than just breast milk.
This also helps relieve the mother from giving breast milk all the time. This doesn’t replace milk but is just a supplement, as I still advise mothers to ensure their babies continue on breast milk until after their first year.
Mothers are expected to start introducing their babies to solid food during the weaning period. This is to make sure they get used to it over time.Â
Weaning meals are supposed to be highly nutritional to help boost the baby’s immune system and keep them healthy. So as a Nigerian mum, what food should you give your weaning child?Â
Suppose you are wondering what. This article will give you insight into some of the Nigerian nutritional meals you can feed your baby over six months. Here are 10 Nigerian foods for weaning babies.
1. Tom Brown .
Tom brown’s porridge is a popular food, especially for weaning babies. It consists of high phosphorus and calcium and helps in the formation of strong bones for the baby. It also has iron, and it’s proven scientifically to increase the body’s metabolism rate and nourish the red blood cells.Â
This kind of meal also contains other nutrients like proteins, magnesium, potassium, carbohydrate vitamins B6 & B12, and many more.
Tom Brown is a perfect meal for babies due to its rich content this fiber makes the baby fuller for a long time. It is a mixture of guinea corn, soybeans, groundnut(peanut), crayfish (optional), and yellow corn. If you want your baby to look healthy and well fed, a baby with tom brown.
2. Okro with semovita or eba
Okra soup and swallow is an amazing meal and favorite of weaning babies. The soup is made with ingredients including okra, red oil, mackerel (or any other fish), salt to taste, ground crayfish, and a seasoning cube (optional)Â Â
Okro contains:
- A lot of vitamin K for healthy blood.
- A moderate amount of folic acid for cell growth.
- Vitamin B6 for metabolism.
- Vitamin C for the baby’s immunity.
It contains a soluble fiber for fuelling the baby’s gastrointestinal tract.
3. Noodles and eggs
Noodles are another Nigerian food for baby weaning, and it is very easy to prepare and pocket-friendly for mothers. When preparing the noodles, they should be cooked soft, and the egg can be whisked and poured inside the noodles while preparing it, or the egg can be cooked separately and mashed before serving the baby.Â
All the ingredients should be ground because your toothless babies can’t chew them.
4. PapÂ
Pap is the king of all Nigerian baby weaning food. Pap is a food made from millet, guinea corn, white corn, and yellow corn.
It is very easy to make and prepare. Pap or ogi is also readily available and affordable.
This meal can be made from scratch by anyone. It is a healthy and economical baby weaning food in Nigeria.
Note:Â it can be served with milk. Please don’t add sugar to it.
5. Bread and hot chocolateÂ
For baby weaning, bread and hot chocolate are not left out. The tea should either be served as warm or cold and not hot.
You need to take your time because the best way to serve your baby is by cutting the bread into tiny portions or fragments, which would be dipped into the tea.
It is important to note that the bread must be dipped into the prepared tea so that it can be soft adequately for the baby to eat because your baby is toothless and cannot chew.
6. Yam porridge
Yam porridge cooked soft and well mashed is a good food for a weaning baby in Nigeria.
The food should not be baptized with plenty of peppers because babies and pepper are not friends at all. You prepare it with mashed fish, or meat babies love them.
7. Rice cereal
Everyone is familiar with rice, and now there are many health benefits. Brown rice is particularly nutritious as it consists of vitamins A, C, B1, K, B2, B6, potassium, selenium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, and zinc, and is a good source of protein. And let’s not forget that it contains a good proportion of fiber.
Preparation of brown rice cereal
- 1/4 Cup blended brown rice powderÂ
- 1 Cup water
- Formula or breast milk
- Boil the water in a pot, and keep stirring, so it doesn’t stick.
- Steam for 10 minutes, whipping continually, and mix in formula or breast milk if desired
- Best served warm.
8. Mashed beans porridge
Beans porridge is a delightful meal to behold. It’s a good plant protein, vitamin B, iron, and fiber source. Nigerian moms also believe that it makes one grow taller.
Carefully pick your beans, avoid stone, please and cook to soften, then add your crayfish, onion, salt to taste, seasoning cube optional, and palm oil. All ingredients should be and then served.
9. Unripe banana
It is said that babies love this meal so much that it can be made by grating the unripe banana or blending appetizing porridge with fish powder and vegetable leaves.
10. Avocado and banana
Babies, too, need fruit for healthy living. Fruit is rich in minerals and vitamins. Fruit like bananas and avocados are great for babies who are yet to develop teeth. Mash the ripe avocado and banana with a fork. You can add some boiled water to make it thinner.
Conclusion
Weaning babies is a very difficult process and also a slow process at that. The babies might not jump at it at the beginning, but with time, they get to adapt to it. The above Nigerian foods for weaning babies will help your baby stay healthy and nourished.
YOU SHOULD ALSO READ:
- 12 Nigerian Foods That Boost Breast milk Production
- 7 Best Baby Foods In Nigeria
- 10 Nigerian Foods to Avoid When Trying to Lose Weight
- 8 Healthy Nigerian Foods for Babies
- 10 Nigerian Foods That Lower Blood Sugar
- 10 Nigerian Foods That Are High In Sugar
- 7 Nutritious Nigerian Foods For Toddlers
Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.
