Buzz
Japanese-style weaning is one of the popular weaning methods nowadays, widely adopted by many mothers. However, the question here is how to introduce Japanese-style weaning to your baby correctly and scientifically, which not every mom understands. Let's explore the information below with Mytour:
1) When to start weaning for your baby?
Japanese parents start weaning when the baby is mentally ready. When the baby sees adults eating and expresses interest in food, that's when the baby is ready for weaning. Typically, this happens around 5 months old.
2. Weaning Stages
– Stage 1: from 5 to 6 months old
– Stage 2: from 7 to 8 months old
– Stage 3: from 9 to 11 months old
– Stage 4: from 12 to 15 months old
3) Texture Variations in Baby Food
– Stage 1: This is the initial stage of introducing solid food to the baby, mainly spoon-feeding and introducing different flavors beyond milk. Baby food is processed into a powdery and creamy texture for easy swallowing. The consistency of thick soups and vegetable soups is like a 1:10 ratio of porridge.
– Stage 2: At this stage, the baby learns to use the tongue to push food into the throat for swallowing. Baby food is gently cooked, lightly crushed, and creamy for the baby to easily manipulate with the tongue and swallow. The consistency of thick soups and vegetable soups is like a 1:7 ratio of porridge.
– Stage 3: Moving to this stage, the baby is adept at chewing. Therefore, baby food is cooked soft enough for the baby to chew with the gums and cut into pieces approximately 0.5 cm wide and 2-3 cm long for self-feeding.
The baby can hold food and feed independently.
– Stage 4: By now, the baby has more teeth, allowing them to chew food using their teeth. Baby food is cooked tenderly for the baby to chew with their teeth.
- Red Beetroot
- Udon Noodles
- Chinese Mustard Greens
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Tofu
- Chicken Eggs
- White Fish
- Mixed Vegetable Soup
4) Feeding Schedule for Baby Throughout the Day
In the first three weeks of introducing solid food to the baby, mothers should gradually increase the amount as follows:
– First 2 days: 1 spoon (baby's spoon)
– Next 3 days: 2 spoons
– Following 3 days: 3 spoons
– Next 7 days: 4 spoons
– And the subsequent days: 5 spoons
6) Amount of Food for Each Japanese-Style Weaning Meal
Note
– Baby's weaning meal includes: starch (porridge, noodles, bread) + fiber (vegetables, roots, fruits) + protein (eggs, meat, fish).
– Porridge 1:10 is cooked in a ratio of 1 rice + 10 water. Similarly, for porridge 1:7, 1:5, 1:3. Porridge 1:3 is mashed rice (babies aged 9 ~ 11 months can eat mashed rice).
– In stage 1, only feed the baby white fish. From stage 2, the baby can be introduced to red fish. Progressing to stage 3, shrimp can be added to the baby's diet.
– Japanese parents often feed babies with baby food and separately cooked meals. This way, the baby can experience different flavors and decide what they like or dislike.
7) Types of Broths for Baby Food Preparation
Japanese use dashi broth, boiled vegetable water, and boiled chicken breast water for baby food preparation. Dashi broth is made from dried seaweed and bonito flakes, making it rich in calcium. Boiled vegetable water is made from 3 types of vegetables, providing natural sweetness and ample vitamins. Boiled chicken breast water has a natural sweet taste without being greasy.
7.1) How to Make Dashi Broth
– Ingredients: 20g dried seaweed, 30g thinly sliced dried bonito, 1 liter water
– Preparation: soak the seaweed in water for 30 ~ 60 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
– Method 1: add the seaweed to boiling water for about 1 minute, add the bonito and continue boiling for another 2 minutes, then remove and strain to collect the dashi broth.
– Method 2: put the seaweed and bonito in hot water up to 90 degrees Celsius, keep the heat low so that the water doesn't boil for about 20 – 30 minutes, then strain to collect the dashi broth. This method extracts more flavor than method 1.
7.2) How to Make Vegetable Broth
– Ingredients: 40g onions, 60g carrots, 80g cabbage, 400ml water
– Preparation: clean the onions, carrots, and cabbage, then cut them into small pieces
– Cooking method: put onions, carrots, and cabbage in a pot of boiling water over low heat for 20 ~ 30 minutes, then remove and strain to collect the broth.
8) Illustrative Model of Baby's Weaning Meal
Moms can easily visualize how many meals a baby will have at each weaning stage, and how much each meal is, through the models provided by the Japanese Food Model Company below.
* Nutrition for 5-6 Months Old Baby
- 06:00 milk (180 ml)
- 10:00 weaning meal (white porridge & fish and vegetable soup) + milk (150 ml)
- 12:00 diluted apple juice for baby (a little)
- 14:00 milk (180 ml)
- 18:00 milk (180 ml)
- 22:00 milk (180 ml)
* Nutrition for 7-8 Months Old Baby
- 06:00 milk (180 ml)
- 10:00 weaning meal (sweet potato porridge & sobo soup) + milk (100 ml)
- 12:00 diluted orange juice for baby (a little)
- 14:00 milk (180 ml)
- 18:00 weaning meal (udon with scrambled eggs & tomato fish soup) + milk (100 ml)
- 22:00 milk (180 ml)
* Nutrition for 9-11 Months Old Baby
- 06:00 milk (180 ml)
- 10:00 weaning meal (white porridge & natto soup & fried egg) + milk (50 ml)
- 12:00 small pieces of canned apples
- 14:00 weaning meal (mixed flavor udon & sweet potato) + milk (50 ml)
- 18:00 weaning meal (white porridge & curry soup & sautéed purple and red tomatoes) + milk (50 ml)
- 22:00 milk (180 ml)
* Nutrition for 12-18 Months Old Baby
- 07:00 breakfast (baked bread & vegetable soup)
- 10:00 snack (fruit jelly)
- 12:00 lunch (udon & salad)
- 15:00 snack (biscuits & 100 ml milk)
- 18:00 dinner (rice & fried meatballs & miso soup) + milk (150 ml)
Here are the insights and answers to the question of how to feed babies in the Japanese style correctly and scientifically. Hopefully, this information will be helpful to everyone.
