MPASI Starts To Be Given When The Baby Is Six Months Old

JAKARTA - Mother's Water Supply Food (MPASI) must be given to children in the right way, for example paying attention to the child's age. This includes important education to understand new mothers.

Director of Nutrition and Health of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Lovely Daisy reminded that the provision of Mother's Water Supply Food (MPASI) must begin when the baby is six months old.

"Starting at the age of six months (children) must be immediately given breast milk complements because breast milk alone is not sufficient," Lovely said as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the provision of MPASI began at the age of six months because during that period the fulfillment of the intake of energy and nutrition of babies could not be fulfilled only by breast milk.

At the age of six to eight months, breast milk meets two-thirds of the baby's energy needs while the rest needs to be met by MPASI.

The capacity to fulfill the energy of babies and nutrition from breast milk is decreasing along with age. At the age of 9 to 11 months, breast milk only meets half the energy and nutrition needs of babies.

Then, at the age of 12 to 23 months, breast milk only meets one third of energy and nutrition needs. Therefore, in addition to breast milk, MPASI also plays an important role in meeting energy intake and nutrients to support the growth and development of babies.

"MPasi harus mengikuti kebutuhan dari anak karena kebutuhannya berbeda-beda," ujar Lovely.

He explained that the provision of quality MPASI must meet four requirements. First, on time, starting at the age of six months when breastfeeding alone is unable to meet the nutritional needs of the baby.

Second, MPASI must be strengthened or able to meet energy adequacy, protein, micronutrients taking into account age, number, frequency, texture, and food variations.

Third, providing safe MPASI starting from storage and preparation by hygienic means. Then, make sure your hands and clean eating utensils when giving MPASI to the baby.

Fourth, MPASI is given on a scheduled basis and follows the child's hunger and saturation response. Lovely also emphasized the importance of diverse MPASI so that the baby's nutritional needs can be met.

He said, there are eight types of MPASI foods, including breast milk, staple foods (rices and wheat), nuts, meat, eggs, milk and processed products, fruit vegetables rich in vitamin A (wortel and dark green vegetables), as well as vegetables and other fruits (melon, bananas, tomatoes, terong, and others).

"There are at least five of the eight food groups, including one of which is breast milk itself," he added.