Complementary feeding should be started at the age of :

IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025

Explanation

Global health bodies like WHO and AAP recommend starting complementary foods at 6 months of age.
After 6 months, breast milk alone is insufficient to meet the increasing energy, protein, iron, and zinc requirements for a growing infant.
By 6 months, an infant's digestive system has matured, and they have developed the necessary neuromuscular skills (like head control and reduced tongue-thrust reflex) to safely consume semi-solid foods.
Introducing complementary foods at this time is crucial for preventing nutritional deficiencies, such as iron-deficiency anemia, and supporting continued healthy growth.

Option A: Starting complementary feeding at 1 year is too late and can lead to significant nutritional deficiencies (especially iron and zinc), growth faltering, and potential feeding difficulties as the infant may be resistant to new textures.
Option B: At 2 months, an infant's digestive tract is immature and not ready for solid foods. They also lack the head control and coordinated swallowing ability, which increases the risk of aspiration, allergies, and gastrointestinal issues.
Option D: While better than waiting until 1 year, starting at 7 months is considered a slight delay. The nutritional gap between what breast milk provides and what the infant needs begins to widen at 6 months, making it the optimal time to start.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Infant Nutrition and Complementary Feeding as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in educating new parents about appropriate infant feeding practices during antenatal and postnatal visits, helping to prevent malnutrition and establish healthy lifelong eating habits.
Accurate counseling on the timing, quantity, and quality of complementary foods is a key nursing intervention to support optimal child growth and development.
Monitoring an infant's growth using WHO growth charts helps nurses identify any growth faltering that may be related to inadequate complementary feeding.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core concept of the question, which is the timing of 'complementary feeding'.
Recall the standard pediatric and nutritional guidelines for infant feeding.
Remember the key milestone: exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months.
Conclude that complementary feeding must start immediately after this period, at 6 months.
Evaluate the other options: 2 months is too early (immature systems), and 1 year is too late (risk of deficiencies). 7 months is slightly delayed from the optimal start time.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 80-82

E6 Text Book Of Pediatric Nursing 3rd Panchali Pal — Part 1 (pp 36-238 of 713) p. 130-132

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 458-460