From 6 months onwards, breast milk alone is not enough to meet the nutritional requirements of the rapidly growing baby, as such the baby needs other foods in addition to breast milk. Therefore, there is need to introduce other complementary foods.

Examples of complementary foods from the six food groups are: staple foods like porridge (maize, rice, millet, potatoes, sorghum), mashed banana or mashed potato which will give your child energy; legumes like beans, peas; meat and meat products like soft meat, fish, eggs which help your child to be strong; Fruits like mangoes, tangerines, oranges, avocado, juice of baobab which will protect your child from illness; vegetables like green leafy vegetables like nkhwani, khwanya, chisoso.

• 6 to 9 months

From 6 to 9 months, continue feeding the baby soft, mashed foods at least 2 times per day. Food should be thick, not watery. The watery broth does not help your baby grow and would not satisfy his/her hunger.

• Give the baby thick porridge enriched with different foods like: groundnut flour or mashed or pounded vegetables like nkhwani, mpiru, or kholowa or dried vegetable powder; meat products like mazira, mkaka or nsomba yosinjasinja; fruits like mashed banana or fresh fruit juice.
• Gradually increase the amount of food given to the baby so that by 9 months the baby is consuming ¾ to 1 full standard cup (250 ml) 2-3 times per day.
• Give the baby a portion of fish, meat (chicken, mouse, goat, beef, pork, bird, rabbit), or edible insects once a day (at least two heaping tablespoons). These foods are a good source of iron.

• Among other pieces of chicken that a child is served, make sure the liver is given to the child because the liver contains a lot of vitamin A and it is very nutritious.
• Feed the baby a piece of fruit one to two times a day as it will improve his/her appetite and growth.
• Prepare the family vegetables with some fat, oil or ground nut powder. Give a portion of the same vegetables to the baby.
• Do not give non-nutritious liquids or food to the baby like artificial juices (squashes), freezes, fizzy drinks, jiggies, puffs, sweet and biscuits as they are expensive and do not help the baby to grow. Instead it is cheaper to buy eggs or some fruits like banana, orange.
• Be patient and actively encourage the baby to eat. Do not force feed the baby.
• Use a separate plate to feed the baby to make sure he or she eats all the food given.
• Add one new food to the child’s diet each week.

• 9 to 12 months

At this stage, the baby is growing fast so he/she requires more food frequently but in small quantities to meet their growth and development needs. So the baby needs to start the day with a meal in the morning. Continue to breastfeed the baby and increase the amount of food given until you feed him/her a standard cup (250 ml) or eight tablespoons per meal. Feed your baby at least three times per day.

• Feed thick phala (porridge) made from the 6 food groups. These should include fortified foods such as Likuni Phala, ufa wa mgaiwa and ground nut or soya flour or futali in the morning.
• Give soft nsima with mashed beans or any other relish (according to what the mother has) to start baby on the family meals.
• Bring some food to feed the baby and include snacks like fruits or some chikonda moyo made from enriched flour when they take the baby away from home.
• Wash their hands and the baby’s hands with soap and clean running water before feeding him/her.
• Stay with the baby during meals. He/she will eat better when someone is there to encourage.
• Feed the baby before other family members until he/she has eaten enough.

• 12 to 24 months

During the period of 12 – 24 months children experience rapid growth as they go through various milestones such as tripling birth weight by 12 months, walking, running all of which increases nutrient requirement. In addition the child is prone to various infections as they interact with their surrounding/environment further increasing their nutrient requirement. Continued breastfeeding with increased complementary feeding is required.

• Mothers should continue breastfeeding the baby on demand at least 8 times both day and night to meet the nutritional needs of the baby and maintain his/her health and strength.
• Mothers should breastfeed first before giving other foods.
• Mothers and caregivers should; Feed the child the same foods they feed the rest of the family and ensure that the food is chopped and moistened.
• Feed the child at least 5times per day, 3main meals and nutritious snacks between meals such as vegetables/fruits, sources of vitamin A, and foods prepared with fat – dark green vegetables – chisoso, nkhwani, moringa, bonongwe, kholowa, tomato, eggplant, carrot, cabbage, Fruits like orange, passion fruit, mango, papaya, banana, watermelon, pineapple, avocado, chikondamoyo, chitumbuwa.
• Increase portions of meat/fish/eggs.
• Increase the amount of food given to the child so that by 24 months the child is fed 16 tablespoons.

• 24 to 59 months

At this stage, children have stopped breastfeeding, but still growing rapidly.

• Mothers and caregivers should; Feed the child the same foods they feed the rest of the family and ensure that the food is chopped and moistened.
• Feed the child at least 5times per day, 3main meals and nutritious snacks between meals
• Increase portions of meat/fish/eggs
• Increase the amount of food given to the child

Good hygiene (cleanliness) is important to avoid diarrhoea and other illnesses. (CC 11) To avoid diarrhea and other illnesses the caregiver should;

• Use a clean spoon or cup to give foods or liquids to the child.
• Store the foods to be given to the child in a safe hygienic place.
• Wash hands with soap and clean running water before preparing foods and feeding the child.
• Wash the child’s hands with soap and clean running water before eating.
• Wash hands with soap and clean running water after using the toilet and washing or cleaning the child’s bottom.