During the first 6 months of life, all nutritional requirements can be fulfilled by breast milk. After the exclusive breastfeeding period, the nutritional requirements of the Little One can no longer be fulfilled by breast milk. Other than that, their oral motor abilities (basic skills pertaining to oral movements including the tongue, teeth, lips, and jaw) will continue to develop, and this will cause the Little One to show interest in other types of food aside from breast milk. To fulfill the nutritional requirements and support the growth and development process of the Little One, the provision of complementary food beginning at 6 months is very important. The provision of complementary food is done gradually, based on the type, quantity, frequency, texture, and consistency. This transition period occurs at the age of 6-23 months, which is a vulnerable period in their growth process because if the nutritional requirements are not fulfilled, malnutrition may occur and their growth and development process may be inhibited. To avoid confusion, the table below can guide parents to understand the developmental phases of the eating abilities of the Little One and what can be conducted to stimulate these:

AGE (MONTHS)	ORAL MOTOR DEVELOPMENT	GENERAL MOTORIC DEVELOPMENT	EATING ABILITIES	TEXTURE	FREQUENCY
6-9	Biting and chewing, upward and downward movement of the jaw Swallowing with the mouth closed Placing food between the upper and lower jaw	Sit alone or request assistance Start using the thumb and index finger to point at objects	Able to eat puree, crushed, or minced food, and biscuits. Able to eat with a spoon easily	Start with smooth porridge, soft, relatively thick, and proceed gradually to rougher food	Breast milk is provided 2-3 times per day as needed Depending on their appetite, can be provided 1-2 times per day in between main meals
9-12	Tongue movements to the left and right, as well as circular movements Begin to grasp the edge of a cup using their lips	Sit on their own Holding a spoon on their own Holding food and eating it	Able to consume soft and hard minced food Attempt to eat with their own hands	Food that are soft minced or rough filtered, are increased to be rougher so that the food can be held or grasped using the hand	Breast milk is provided 3-4 times per day as needed Depending on their appetite, can be provided 1-2 times per day in between main meals
12-23	Circular chewing movements, stable jaw	Walking Standing	Able to consume family food Able to eat on their own with assistance	Family food, either minced or filtered if necessary	Breast milk is provided 3-4 times per day as needed Depending on their appetite, can be provided 1-2 times per day in between main meals

The above guide can be used to stimulate eating skills in the Little One based on their age. A successful provision of complementary food is when it is provided in accordance to the developmental phase of the Little One. Avoid pampering or underestimating their abilities. At the age of 9-12 months, the Little One is already ready to learn to eat by themselves. Other than training them to be more independent, this can also train their motoric abilities. In the provision of complementary food, there are four points that should not be missed:

• Who. The eating session can influence the relationship between parents and their children. The Little One should learn that eating requires concentration. Therefore, when feeding the Little One, parents should ensure that their attention is focused on them.
• When. Create an eating schedule so the Little One understands the concept of hunger. As much as possible, attempt to stick to the schedule. As a reference, parents can see the schedule below, which should be modified to the abilities and requirements of the Little One.

Time/Age	6-8 months	8-10 months	10-12 months	12-23 months
06.00	Breast milk	Breast milk	Breast milk	Breast milk
08.00	Milk porridge	Milk porridge	Whole steamed rice	Rice + family menu
10.00	Fruits	Fruits	Fruits-biscuits/milk porridge	Fruits-biscuits
12.00	Breast milk	Filtered/rough steamed rice	Whole steamed rice	Rice + family menu
14.00	Breast milk	Breast milk	Breast milk	Breast milk
16.00	Fruits	Biscuits	Fruits-biscuits/milk porridge	Fruits-biscuits
18.00	Filtered steamed rice	Filtered/rough steamed rice	Whole steamed rice	Rice + family menu
20.00	Breast milk	Breast milk	Breast milk	Breast milk

• How. The children should eat in a sitting position. When feeding the Little One, teach them to open their mouth widely. This should be done while maintaining eye contact and communicating with the Little One. To do this, parents should ensure that their eyes are at the same level as the Little One.
• Where. To encourage discipline, train the Little One to always eat in the dining room. Another benefit of the introduction of complementary food is to build healthy eating habits that will be beneficial for the growth and development of the Little One. So, parents should ensure that they do not miss this golden opportunity.