The topic of the introduction of complementary foods is a field for all sorts of conjectures and myths. What are they trying to feed the little ones! For example, it is argued that fruits in the form of purees and juices are not the first complementary foods at all, but only its predecessor, and that they are quite suitable for babies at 3 months old. There is an opinion that at 4 months the baby should already eat vegetable puree in the amount of 100 grams, and by 5 months - master porridge with milk.

Some people, from a lack of awareness, try to offer vegetable puree to children as early as 1-3 months.

Such a feeding technique existed before, it was approved by the Ministry of Health and the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences back in 1999, but a lot of time has passed since then and science has refuted all these provisions. Today, the introduction of complementary foods is carried out according to the recommendations of the WHO and the International Dairy League.

The question of the first complementary foods is very burning, so today we will dwell on all the exciting moments in detail. Let's talk about the timing of the start of complementary foods, signs of readiness of the body and other important facts.

Early feeding

child eating breast milk, up to 6 months absolutely does not need any additional nutrients. This has been proven in a number of scientific studies by European pediatricians. Scientists at the American Academy of Pediatrics are convinced that the presence of breastfeeding does not require early introduction of complementary foods. Babies get everything they need from their mother's milk. The meaning of introducing early complementary foods to newborns is determined only by a number of weighty indications. Until the age of 4 months, the child’s gastrointestinal tract does not yet have the necessary enzymes that could digest food (for more details, see the article:). Sometimes these enzymes appear only by 6 months, and sometimes only by one and a half years.

What is the danger of feeding too early? It is important for all caring parents to know that the earlier the first complementary foods are introduced, the greater the likelihood of digestive difficulties in the future and the higher the risk of allergic reactions.

Early feeding can cause severe allergies in a child

This is due to the fact that the intestines of babies are in an immature state, in the process of development. The food introduced as complementary foods cannot be normally absorbed by the newborn due to a lack of enzymes, which means that the baby is not saturated. The World Health Organization conducted a number of studies, during which it was found that the early and premature start of complementary foods increases the risk of getting pneumonia and multiple otitis by several times. This is due to the fact that the overall resistance of the body is lower.

Children who received only mother's milk up to six months, compared with peers who had already received their first complementary foods by this age, mastered crawling and walking much earlier. When should you start introducing complementary foods to your baby? Based on all the data obtained, pediatricians in most countries, including Russia, came to the conclusion that the most appropriate time for the introduction of complementary foods is from 6 months.

Basic principles

How to introduce complementary foods correctly? At what age can a child be fed? The main condition for the start of complementary foods is that the child is six months old, regardless of the type of feeding. Breastfed, formula-fed or formula-fed infants should receive complementary foods based on the following important factors:

• The main food is milk or a mixture. Be sure to keep breastfeeding or formula feeding as a priority for up to a year. WHO experts are convinced that breastfeeding is justified up to two years of age and beyond. Such conclusions are based on studies of the composition of breast milk, which, with the growth of the crumbs, adapts to the changing needs of the child's body. It contains useful substances for the proper formation of the brain, nervous and immune systems.

If possible, breastfeeding should be continued for at least a year.

• Complementary foods are introduced for familiarization. In no case should the volumes indicated in the norms be exceeded, otherwise there is a danger of overfeeding the child. The first feeding of the baby is not intended to saturate; for this, breast milk or an adapted formula is preserved, which have a great nutritional value. Adult food allows you to introduce the crumbs to a variety of tastes, helps to teach the proper functioning of the jaws, ensures the socialization of the baby and teaches proper food intake.
• No violence when introducing new products. The introduction of complementary foods should be based on the desire and interest of the child in food.
• Do not use recreational methods when feeding. Fairy tales, jokes, and even more so cartoons are absolutely inappropriate at the table. The child should be interested in the new process, and this can be achieved by regularly planting the crumbs at the common parental table.
• Pay attention not to the deadlines, but to the child. Starting from six months, you can start the first initial feeding, but if the child is not yet ready, there is no need to rush and artificially adjust it to the indicated norms. Focus on the level of his health and development.

Signs of readiness to introduce complementary foods

External indicators of the baby's readiness for new food:

• ability to sit independently;
• the appearance of several teeth;

The appearance of the first teeth - a signal of readiness to chew food

• the food ejection reflex disappears: the food that enters the baby's mouth is no longer pushed back by the tongue;
• twice the birth weight gain (for premature babies this figure should triple).
• the baby may turn away if he does not like the food;
• the number of attachments to the breast increases, and when fed with a mixture, the baby is still hungry;
• the time of interest in the contents of mom and dad's plates begins.

Types of complementary foods

1. Pedagogical. When a baby begins to show interest in adult food, this does not mean that he is not saturated with what is available. He is attracted to the pleasure that parents experience while eating, and he wants to experience something similar. The principle of pedagogical complementary foods is to feed the baby with microdoses of all the dishes that adults eat. The dose is equal to the volume of a match head.
2. Pediatric. Traditional type of complementary foods according to WHO recommendations. New food is offered in small doses of ½ teaspoon.

With pediatric complementary foods, the child is gradually offered different types food

Feeding technique

How to introduce complementary foods to a baby? Feeding rules are as follows:

• The child must be healthy. Teething, colds, viral infections, fever, time to prepare for vaccinations or immediately after vaccinations - all of these factors indicate the impossibility of starting food trials.
• Initial doses are minimal - from ½ teaspoon. "Adult" food is offered before formula or breast milk. The portion size is gradually increased.
• Attention to the well-being of the child. A possible allergy is not a matter of two hours, it can manifest itself much later. Follow the child for two days after the introduction of a new product. Most often, after the first feeding, a negative reaction of the baby's body is a rare occurrence. The most likely occurrence of a rash or peeling after repeated use. As a rule, it is possible to notice something wrong only by the third attempt to try the introduced product. Reactions such as constipation or diarrhea can manifest themselves within the first day. Any ailments in the baby require the immediate cancellation of the novelty.
• The volume increases gradually. Do not set yourself the goal of feeding the baby with the amount indicated in the norms - this is the upper limit. It is impossible to give more than this, but less - please.
• No more than one new product per week. In the first week, the child has an increase in the volume of new food, in the second - getting used to it, and only from the third week is it allowed to introduce another new food.
• It is strictly forbidden to offer two new products at once.
• Lack of interest in the product or unwillingness to eat it requires some pause. Try again after a few days.

Only mono-component purees can be used to test new products.

Product sequence

In what order should new foods be included in a child's diet? For many years, fruits in the form of purees and juices have been the best products. Experts in the field of pediatrics in European countries consider this approach to be extremely wrong. The acids contained in fruits have an extremely negative effect on the baby's digestive system. In addition, there is a lot of sugar in fruits, so they are generally not recommended for introduction into children's diets under the age of one.

Starting from the age of six months, the child begins to experience a lack of a number of minerals, including zinc and iron. To make up for this deficiency in a baby, complementary foods are recommended to start either with cereal cereals or with vegetables that contain easily digestible forms of these microelements.

In the presence of poor digestion, combined with loose stools, it is better to start with cereals, and with a fixed stool - with vegetable purees.

The second part of feeding will be either vegetables or porridge, and the third part will be meat puree, after which we will introduce everything else into complementary foods. The second complementary foods are offered to the baby at the same time as the previous one. Below we will talk about the timing of the introduction of complementary foods.

Meat puree is introduced into the diet only after vegetables and cereals

Vegetables - from 6 months

Children on any type of feeding in a healthy state receive vegetable puree as the first product. We first introduce vegetables that grow in the region of residence into complementary foods: zucchini, potatoes, cabbage. Next, babies are fed with carrots and legumes (we recommend reading:). Closer to the year, introduce your baby to tomatoes and onions.

All vegetables are pre-washed in running water without the use of soap, then peeled and seeds are removed. Prepared vegetables for the first feeding of the baby are cut into small pieces. Before cooking, it is recommended to soak the potatoes in cold water so that they lose all the starch. You can cook your own meals in several ways:

• For a couple. This method of cooking is considered the most useful.
• In the oven. Chopped vegetables are laid out in the form, almost half filled with boiling water. Cover the top with foil and let cook until done.
• In a saucepan. Pour water into the container, wait for it to boil, put the vegetables and cook until cooked under the lid.

All vegetables are prepared in different ways: zucchini - 5 minutes, pumpkin and cauliflower - 10 minutes, carrots and potatoes - 25 minutes. According to the recipe, boiled vegetables should be ground with a blender or rubbed through a sieve, then adding a little broth to make the consistency uniform. Having crushed everything with a crush, it will not be possible to get rid of hard-to-chew fibers, so it will be difficult for a child to eat such mashed potatoes. You can add milk or a mixture to the puree for flavor. Avoid sugar and salt. Start adding vegetable oil to your baby's meals 1.5 months after the start of the introduction of complementary foods. Remember that this product is also new, so be careful when entering it.

Kashi - from 7 months

When the baby is gaining weight poorly, porridge can be offered first. For children whose indicators correspond to the norms, cereal cereals should be given after the development of vegetables and fruits by the crumbs.

First, gluten-free cereals are introduced: rice, buckwheat, corn, because the risk of allergies when eating them is minimal. For children older than 8 months, it is allowed to cook millet, oatmeal, semolina. The cereal is pre-ground in a coffee grinder, and then boiled in water without adding milk. At first, the consistency of porridge is more liquid, corresponding to the proportion of 4 servings of water per 1 serving of cereals, and closer to the year, the porridge is made thicker, reducing the amount of water to 2 parts.

First of all, gluten-free cereals are introduced into the diet.

When purchasing ready-made cereals for children, make a choice in favor of dairy-free products. Such cereals are very convenient for cooking: the contents are poured a small amount water and stir for uniformity. Treat a one-year-old baby with cereals in milk, prepared in a 1: 1 ratio with water.

Is it possible to cook porridge for the introduction of complementary foods on my own? You are able to do everything yourself, only before cooking the cereal should be processed:

• cereals are washed in water;
• dried in the air or in the oven;
• grind dried beans in a coffee grinder.

Ground flour should be stored in a jar with a closed lid. The recipe for this is:

• Pour 100 ml of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Put a teaspoon of porridge in a small container, pour 2-3 tablespoons of cool water, mix thoroughly.
• Pour diluted porridge into boiled water, mix and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes. When cooking, porridge should be constantly stirred. By pouring ground porridge into boiling water, you can end up with lumpy porridge.
• After this time, the fire must be turned off and let it brew for about 15 minutes. During this time, the grains will swell, and after cooling, the porridge should be served at the table. You can dilute the porridge with breast milk or a mixture. Do not add salt, sugar, butter, or cow's milk to the first cereals.

The first cereals should not contain salt or sugar

Fruit - from 7 months

The introduction of complementary foods on the menu continues with fruit. Usually fruit purees are tried by children in the following sequence: apple, prunes, apricot, banana, pear (we recommend reading:). You can supplement them with any fruit that grows in your area. Crumbs with great appetite eat canned purees. They help to improve the functioning of the intestines, so the problems with digestion that existed before immediately disappear. When preparing fruit puree at home, remember that it is better to pre-peel all products from the skin and seeds.

Meat - 8-9 months

Meat purees are offered from low-allergenic meats: turkey, lamb, lean pork. Those varieties that are now the most common have a higher allergic index: chicken, veal. You can still eat them, but keep in mind that children whose mothers regularly ate the specified meat, the risk of negative consequences will be much lower.

Fresh meat should be passed through a meat grinder twice, and then boiled. Meat, like any new product, is introduced in small doses. Carefully observe the reaction of the child's body to the novelty. Meat broths are not prepared for children under one year old.

Yolk - from 8 months

relation to this useful product complex and ambiguous. In Soviet times, it was recommended for introduction as early as 4 months, but now the timing of the introduction of complementary foods from the yolk has moved closer to 9 months. When testing, be sure to monitor how the child's body reacts to a new product. You can enter it by adding it to cereals or vegetables. It is undesirable to make meat purees with yolk.

Cottage cheese, kefir - from 9-10 months

How many months should a baby be to be ready for cottage cheese and kefir (more in the article:)? Approaching the age of 1 year, mothers begin the introduction of dairy products. The protein of cow's milk is foreign to the child's body and the enzyme required for its breakdown appears in the intestine only after 10 months of age. Babies who receive either mother's milk or an adapted formula do not have much need for dairy products. For children on an artificial type of feeding, the introduction of cottage cheese into the diet even before the year is more justified, because their body must have time to readjust to the processing of this food before the mother removes the usual mixture from the diet.

It is better to introduce dairy products on the menu by the year

Fish - from 10-11 months

A couple of months after the development of meat dishes, fish should be introduced into the menu. For proper feeding, lean sea fish is ideal. Red varieties of fish are considered more allergenic, so pollock, hake, horse mackerel and the like should be preferred, which have a slight specific smell and a drier structure.

After the first three or four months of a child's life, the mother thinks about introducing the first complementary foods into the baby's diet. The body of the crumbs develops, at the same time its needs grow. To satisfy them, it is necessary to supplement the menu with new, properly selected products. How to introduce complementary foods, at what age and “how much to hang in grams” - you will learn in our article.

Introduction of complementary foods: first steps

Most pediatricians recommend starting complementary foods between 4 and 6 months of age. WHO does not give an exact formulation of the onset of this moment - in their recommendations there is a vague “at the age of the child about six months”. It is worth noting that you should not introduce the first complementary foods, going beyond the allowable time. Too early introduction of complementary foods (as well as too late) can provoke the development of diseases in the baby.

The consequences of early introduction of complementary foods (up to 4-4.5 months):

• Stool disorders- a child who received complementary foods early is 90% likely to experience problems with stools (constipation, diarrhea).
• Allergic reaction- the digestive tract of the crumbs is too immature for complementary foods.
• Developmental and growth retardation- too early complementary foods can cause intestinal damage, food will no longer be properly absorbed, which will cause a lot of problems in the physical development of a four-month-old baby.

The consequences of late introduction of complementary foods (after 6.5-7 months):

• Delay in the formation of the masticatory apparatus- at 5-6 months, the development of masticatory muscles requires additional food in addition to breast milk / mixture. Thicker, it stimulates the active development of the chewing apparatus, which later in life is important for the correct articulation and speech of the baby;
• growth retardation- there is not enough iron and protein in breast milk for a five-month-old baby. Their deficiency hinders physical development a five-month-old baby, perhaps even the development of anemia;
• celiac disease is the medical term for plant protein intolerance. Celiac disease can occur with late feeding, it is especially pronounced when crumbs of various cereals are introduced into the diet;
• Stool disorders- the intestines of a six-month-old baby need dietary fiber for active work, which is not found in milk and formula. Without dietary fiber at this age, the baby will be prone to constant constipation.

When introducing new food into the menu of the baby, it is necessary to take into account medical recommendations. And specific terms, products and methods will be determined by the first trials by none other than your own baby.

Important! Complementary foods in no way cancel the use of breast milk (or formula) by the child, and does not replace it. Even if complementary foods were introduced early, a nursing mother, if desired, can continue to breastfeed her baby not only up to a year, but also up to 2, 3 or more years.

Is the baby ready to feed?

Full readiness for complementary foods occurs when the child:

• has doubled its weight, which was at birth or weighs more than 6 kg (for premature babies, the indicator should be 2.5 times its “newborn” weight);
• no longer spits out thick food (mashed potatoes) from the mouth reflexively;
• when hungry, at the sight of food becomes excited, and compresses his lips when he does not want to eat;
• in a state of reclining to sit on the lap of an adult and may turn away from the spoon;
• shows active food interest - looks at what adults eat, seeks to try food from the mother's plate, willingly "procrastinates" in the mouth the food offered to him.

Note! The eruption of the first milk teeth and the ability to sit on their own are not signs of a child's readiness to master the first complementary foods.

Acquaintance with complementary foods on natural and artificial feeding

It would seem that breastfeeding has only improved after the difficult first months of life, or was picked up best option artificial nutrition, as the time for complementary foods comes.

Why is it so important to introduce a new, thicker food for an infant?

• The chewing apparatus and the digestive system develop.
• Complementary foods are an additional source of nutrients (protein, zinc, iron, dietary fiber and others that are not found in the right amount in breast milk and an adapted formula).
• More solid food stimulates the motor activity of the intestine.
• With the introduction of complementary foods, the child gets acquainted with new tastes.
• The baby gradually learns to eat food on its own.

All of the above needs are individual for each child and are recognized to satisfy complementary foods.

Complementary foods while breastfeeding

Mother's milk is the best food for babies in their first months of life. The World Health Organization recommends starting complementary foods for breastfed babies no earlier than 180 days after birth, which corresponds to 6 months of age. six month old baby breast milk alone is no longer enough for proper and successful development. Additional nutrition in the form of new food is required for the proper formation of all vital systems of his body: nervous, renal, muscular, etc.

Complementary feeding on artificial feeding

A child who has been using an adapted milk formula from birth can be introduced to complementary foods earlier - as early as 4-4.5 months of age. In infants on IV, the digestive system matures sufficiently by this age, intestinal immunity is actively formed. The increased permeability of the mucous membrane of the intestinal walls is normalized. The digestive system as a whole becomes optimal for taking in and digesting thicker foods. A child on a mixture must be introduced to complementary foods no later than 4.5 months. Later complementary foods can create a deficient state of vitamins and microelements in the body, which will lead to the occurrence of various pathologies.

Mixed feeding

With mixed feeding, when both breast milk and formula take place in the baby's diet, complementary foods can be started at an average of 5 months. Mixed-fed babies receive less breast milk, making up for its deficiency with milk formula, and begin to need nutrients for proper development and growth earlier than naturalists. Complementary foods in this case acquire the importance of an important supplier of nutrients.

Five steps to a successful weaning start

The correct approach to the introduction of complementary foods is already half the success. Here are some tips for parents who have to introduce their child to “real adult food”.

1. You can introduce new products only when the baby is completely healthy. During illness, the child should not be given any previously untasted food. However, foods already introduced into the diet should be continued.
2. Do not introduce several different types of food at once - otherwise it will be impossible to identify the exact cause of the allergy or stool disorder that has arisen.
3. It is absolutely not worth rushing the child while eating. The baby should eat at the speed with which he is comfortable doing it.
4. Offer your baby food when he is hungry. If the baby strives to play with food, or in every possible way avoids the spoon and pushes it away, then complete the feeding. The child will definitely catch up next time.
5. It happens that the baby categorically does not want to try a new product. Do not be upset - you can offer him to try this food again after a few days.

On a note! Do not turn the process of feeding into a game - dancing, singing songs and asking to “eat a spoon for mom” is not necessary at all. Force feeding is also not worth it, respect your baby. When he gets hungry, the meal you planned will certainly take place.

What products form the first complementary foods?

Meat

This is the main source of animal proteins, which must be present in the menu of a child of six months and older. Easily digestible puree is made from rabbit meat, lean beef, and lean pork can also be used. Meat is a fibrous product, so for babies it needs to be chopped to the maximum with a blender. If this is not possible, it is better to start meat complementary foods with canned baby food that does not contain salt, starch and spices.

Fish

Fish puree is one of the dishes for the prevention of rickets in infants. Babies with vitamin D deficiency have a special need for this food product. For babies up to a year old, it is best to try ocean fish dishes: hake, cod, pollock or salmon. Also for feeding, river pike perch and trout are perfect. Fish is almost completely digestible, and, among other things, is rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron, which is important for a growing organism.

Bird

According to pediatricians, turkey is the best for baby food, and you can’t argue with that - it is easily absorbed by the body. Moreover, boiled turkey puree is considered one of the hypoallergenic dishes, and turkey is also rich in iron, and babies with this product on the menu will never have anemia. But the chicken may well cause diathesis, so it is better to introduce the chicken into the diet closer to the year.

Vegetables

Rich in nutrients, vegetables will give the baby energy and support immunity. Cauliflower and potatoes are rich in vitamin C, carrots and pumpkin are responsible for vitamin A, zucchini is a storehouse of phosphorus and magnesium. Well, what about without broccoli, because it is the optimal source of beta-carotene. Cooked in a double boiler, they will retain all their useful qualities and will become an excellent basis for the diet of an “adult” baby.

Fruits and berries

It is better to look for vitamins and fiber for the first acquaintance in domestic fruits with a dense skin. Green apples and ripe pears are ideal choices. Also, the baby will benefit from purees made from raspberries, currants and strawberries - only for them you need to wait for 6-8 months of the baby.

Rules for the introduction of complementary foods by month - what, when and how much

For a healthy child, the first food can be a one-component vegetable puree, porridge, and after a while, fruit juice. For children prone to diarrhea, it is best to offer gluten-free cereal first. For constipation - vegetable puree. If you are going to use canned food, read the label carefully - it indicates the age recommended for introducing the baby to this product.

An approximate scheme for the introduction of complementary foods for a child looks like this:

• 4-5 months– single-component fruit purees/juices (from apples, pears, apricots, then plums and peaches), vegetable purees (mainly zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots), as well as gluten-free cereals (rice and buckwheat);
• 5-6 months- multi-component fruit purees / juices (pear + peach, apple + apricot, etc.), children's drinks with the addition of berries (currants, lingonberries, cranberries, raspberries with a content of up to 20%), vegetable puree (pumpkin and small quantities of white cabbage); gluten-free porridge with corn grits and gluten-containing oatmeal; drop by drop in puree - vegetable oil, 1/2 tsp. butter;
• 6-7 months- cottage cheese, egg or quail yolk appear in the diet, be sure - meat (rabbit, turkey, then chicken, beef and pork), gluten-containing cereals, it is also allowed to give bananas, children's instant cookies, white bread crackers from six months;
• 7-8 months- in addition to the use of the above products, soft wheat bread is introduced, you can give mashed green peas;
• 8-9 months- there is an acquaintance with children's yogurt, fish is added to the menu (ocean - hake, cod, flounder or river - carp, pike perch, silver carp), meat purees with offal (mainly liver, tongue), spinach, leaf parsley and onion are added to vegetable purees onion;
• 10 months and older - the diet is supplemented with soft wheat pasta, it is also allowed to add the first spices to the dishes: white pepper, basil, coriander.

For convenience, below is a table of the introduction of complementary foods, which will tell you when a child can be introduced to a new product and how much to start giving to his baby.

Child's age	Description of complementary foods
	What can be entered in the menu (new products)	Recommended Size (Daily Value)	Cooking methods
4-5 months	Vegetable puree (zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots). Gluten-free cereals (buckwheat, rice). Fruit juices and puree from one component (apple, pear, prunes-based drink). Children's granulated teas (with extracts of herbs and / or fruits).	We try fruit purees from 1/2 teaspoon, gradually bringing up to 40 g by 5 months. We try vegetables from 1 teaspoon, by half a year we bring it to 120 g. We give porridge from 1 teaspoon, by half a year we bring the portion to 150 g. We try teas with 20 ml, gradually bring to 100 ml.	Homemade puree: steamed boiled vegetables and rubbed through a fine sieve without salt with 1-2 drops vegetable oil.
5-6 months	Cereals without gluten (corn) and containing gluten (wheat, oatmeal). Multicomponent fruit juices and purees (apple+peach, apple+pear, apricot). Vegetable puree (beets, pumpkin, potatoes). Cottage cheese.	We give cottage cheese from 0.5 teaspoon, gradually bring it up to 40 g. We start trying multi-component fruit purees from 1 tsp, bringing it up to a serving of 50 g. We give vegetable puree 100-120 g per reception. Portion of cereals - 150 g.	Special curd for baby food Jars of industrial production Cereals of industrial production or boiled in water with the addition of breast milk
6-7 months	Cereals from a mixture of cereals (3 or more). Meat (chicken, rabbit, turkey, pork, beef). Fruits and berries (bananas, mangoes, melons, strawberries). Vegetables (tomatoes, cumin, dill). Egg yolk.	We give the yolk “crumble”, starting with 1/8 of the part and finishing up to 1/4 part. We give meat purees from 1 teaspoon, gradually bringing the portion to 20 g. Vegetable purees - 150 g each, fruit purees - 60-70 g each. Portion of porridge at the reception - 150 g.	Welded and crushed egg yolk(cook in boiling water for at least 15 minutes) Boiled and pureed meat or jars of industrial production Special baby biscuits Dried fresh bread
7-8 months	Bread. New fruits (exotic fruits: pineapple, papaya). Vegetables (green peas).	Fruit purees and juices - 70 g (ml) each. Cottage cheese - 40 g. Egg yolk per serving - 1/2 part. Meat puree - 40 g. Rusk (cookies) - no more than 5 g.	Fresh fruit, crushed with a blender or rubbed through a fine sieve Bread made from premium flour
8-9 months	Meat dishes with the addition of offal (liver, heart, tongue). Low-fat fish fillet (hake, cod, haddock, flounder). Children's kefir and yogurt. Vegetable puree with meat (green beans, celery).	Yogurt or kefir give 150 ml per day. Meat purees - up to 50 g per day. Fish from 1 teaspoon, bring to a serving volume of 40 g / day. Vegetable puree and cereals - 180 g. The norm of yolk, cottage cheese, fruit purees remains the same.	Fermented milk products for baby food Jars of industrial production Steamed and thoroughly mashed fish Homemade puree
9-12 months	Baby cereals with honey filling, muesli. Dairy products (yogurt, bifidok, acidophilus, sour cream, cheese). Chicken egg (including protein). The first sweets (marshmallow, marshmallows).	Milk porridge - 200 g. Vegetable puree - 180 g. Fruit puree, juices - 100 ml. Cottage cheese - 50 g. Meat - 70 g. Fish - up to 60 g. Wheat bread - 10 g. Kefir, yogurt - up to 300 ml.	Steaming vegetables baking Boiling in water The degree of grinding of products can be varied

On a note! Feeding is always individual. The sequence of introduction of products by parents may vary depending on the tastes of their particular baby. The main thing is that by 12 months of his life, the child has time to get acquainted with two types of cereals, try at least 2-3 types of vegetables and fruits, a couple of meats, as well as fish, cottage cheese and egg yolk.

The first complementary foods and the health of the child - nutritional features

There are cases when complementary foods are introduced not according to the general, but according to a special scheme. This is important to know for mothers whose crumbs have health problems. Here are a few common situations faced by young parents and their babies.

Digestive problems

If a child often has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, then porridge will be a suitable food for him as complementary foods. With a tendency to constipation, the first complementary foods should be from plant foods (vegetable puree). Babies older than 7.5 months benefit from infant dairy products with pro- and prebiotics. They perfectly restore the work of the intestines and create ideal conditions for the development of beneficial intestinal bacteria.

underweight

Small babies need to replenish the diet with new products with caution. Satiety crumbs lagging behind in weight, the first thing should be provided by breast milk / mixture. The first food for an underweight baby should be porridge - choose a product that is additionally enriched with calcium, iron and zinc.

Tendency to allergies

Allergic babies should get acquainted with complementary foods a little later than the rest - at about 5-6 months. Dairy-free porridge is a great start to feeding and should be gluten-free. It is also worth paying attention to hypoallergenic products of industrial production, they have the appropriate inscriptions on the etiquettes.

Parents of healthy children should also be careful and not rush to master the entire range of complementary foods with their baby. Introduce your baby to 1-2 types of new foods and let your baby's body get used to them for at least a week. Boiled food is easier to tolerate, even fruits are recommended to be given boiled or baked (for example, a baked pear or apple is well absorbed).

Advice! Offer the next product only in the morning or before lunch: this way you can evaluate the response of the body during the day and draw the right conclusion regarding a particular ingredient.

First feeding menu: how to introduce the next product

At the beginning of this part, we want to demonstrate a video of preparing complementary foods from a piggy bank of recipes for a young mother:

Any new food, whether it be porridge or puree - regardless of the composition, is offered to the child according to the following scheme: it starts with 1/2 teaspoon and in 7 days the portion is brought to full volume. The amount of complementary foods depends on the age of the baby and his state of health, so only a pediatrician observing the baby can give more specific figures. We can only name generally accepted norms:

- Vegetable purees - 100 g / day;

- Fruit purees - 50 g / day;

- Kashi - up to 150 g / day;

- Meat - up to 50 g / day.

Then a new product is given for another couple of days, for “fixing” by the body, and they begin to introduce the next one.

We offer you, as an example, a menu of how a new product, broccoli, is introduced into the diet, while the baby already eats zucchini puree in the amount of 100 g / day.

Day 1: 1/2 tsp mashed broccoli, the rest is zucchini.

Day 2: 2-3 tsp mashed broccoli, the rest is zucchini.

Day 3: 5-6 tsp mashed broccoli, the rest is zucchini.

Day 4: about 40-50 g of broccoli (half a jar) and the same amount of zucchini.

Day 5: almost the entire jar of broccoli puree (about 80-100 g).

Day 6-7: a full jar of broccoli (100 g).

In the following days, mashed potatoes can be alternated: today - broccoli, tomorrow - zucchini, or you can give both mashed potatoes, 50 g each. Also, as an option, you can mix mashed potatoes, the main thing is that the proposed amount of vegetables for the child does not exceed the recommended daily allowance.

Canned food: what is important to pay attention to

When preparing the first complementary foods for a baby, mothers often ask themselves the question: cook or buy?

It is worth noting that both baby food and homemade food have their drawbacks and advantages.

• Canned purees can be safely called a “guarantor of safety” - they are properly crushed, have undergone the necessary heat treatment and contain all the declared vitamins and microelements.
• Homemade food, in the first place, costs parents much cheaper than canned food. Homemade mashed potatoes have a unique taste, and mom knows exactly what quality the product she took as a basis.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a “canned” product?

Puree composition. The ideal puree for complementary foods should include only natural (and understandable to you) products. That is, vegetables, fruits, meat, cereals and water. The presence of vegetable oil is allowed.

Child's age. On the jars you can find the inscriptions “6 months +” or “from 8 months”. This means that you can give this product to a child only from the indicated age, and not earlier. Keep in mind that manufacturers write a minimum age on the package, which may not correspond to that recommended by the pediatrician. Be sure to check with your doctor for a specific brand of product.

Grinding degree. Puree for babies can be found in two types: homogenized and puree. In the first, all the ingredients are crushed as much as possible, the pieces are no more than 0.3 mm. In a puree product, they are 1.5-3 mm. If the word “with pieces” is written on the package, then the puree is already for babies who can chew such food (older than 10-11 months).

A small summary in the form of a short video for young mothers. Everything you need to know about complementary foods:

Every mother sooner or later wonders how to introduce complementary foods to a child? Many listen to grandmothers, relying on their experience, many look for information on the Internet, someone trusts doctors. But the recommendations may not always be correct. Grandmothers and some doctors do not know the latest research in this area and use old schemes, and this can lead to disastrous consequences. The Internet gives a lot of results for the query "complementary foods for children of the first year of life." Many of the articles contain very strange and dangerous information. That is why this article contains all the information about the most correct introduction of complementary foods. For convenience, a table of complementary foods for children up to a year is provided. But before that, it is better to familiarize yourself with all the information below. It will let you know when you can start introducing complementary foods. to an infant, keep the baby's digestive system healthy and competently introduce complementary foods to your baby.

When can and should breastfeeding be introduced?

Very often, grandmothers, recalling their long-standing experience in this matter, recommend starting complementary foods early. The child is 3 months old, the first complementary foods from grandmothers will not be long in coming. The main thing is not to let grandma do it! Previously, indeed, such early feeding could be recommended, but times are changing, and science does not stand still. According to many studies, it has been proven that the introduction of complementary foods to a child who is on breastfeeding should start no earlier than 6 months. Formula-fed babies may start introducing new foods up to a month early, but they shouldn't. It is perfectly acceptable to start complementary foods for them at 6 months. Why can't we introduce complementary foods earlier? Up to 6 months complementary foods are not only unnecessary, but also harmful. A baby under 6 months old does not have the necessary enzymes that could digest new types of food. It follows that even if you start to give him new food earlier, it will not be digested and will be useless. If the food is not digested, it creates an additional load on the baby's digestive tract. Even a couple of teaspoons can put a heavy strain on his stomach. Therefore, you should not rush with the first complementary foods. baby. Until six months, he has enough nutrients obtained from breast milk or formula. Children who eat the mixture, their enzyme systems can mature a little earlier, so it is acceptable to introduce complementary foods to a child at 5 months.

A single rule for the introduction of complementary foods for each type of food is that any new product is introduced from 5 grams per day. Gradually, the volume increases to 100-150 grams per day. The increase in volume should be gradual over the course of a week.

Complementary feeding table for a child on breastfeeding and artificial

6 months Vegetables: zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots

7 months Kashi: rice, corn, buckwheat. Dairy-free!

8 months Meat (turkey, rabbit, veal, beef, chicken, lamb), yolk, potatoes.

9 months Cottage cheese, kefir.

10 months Fruits: apple, pear, prunes.

What and how is introduced as complementary foods for a child at 6 months

Introduced complementary foods for the child for months. In one month, only one type of new food is introduced. Vegetables are usually introduced first. The exception is children with a lack of body weight, for them cereals are introduced first, then vegetables. Vegetable puree is given at lunch. The best order of introduction of vegetables: zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots.

Vegetables are introduced first, which are the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. Pumpkin and carrots are introduced last, as children often have allergies to them. Carrots should not be given more than 2-3 times a week and should be given along with other vegetables. Otherwise, you may notice deposits of yellow-orange pigment on the feet, palms of the baby.

Always first puree should be one-component. You can mix different types of vegetables only when the baby tries them separately and he will not have a reaction to any of them. The new kind food is always offered to a hungry child.

If you plan to cook vegetable purees yourself, then do not be afraid, in fact it is very simple. Vegetables are pre-washed in running water, if necessary, peeled and seeds. Chopped vegetables are placed either in a saucepan or in a double boiler. It is better, of course, to steam, so more useful substances are preserved. Ready vegetables are chopped with a blender with the addition of water or vegetable broth. The consistency should be liquid, similar to kefir. As the baby gets older, you can give him a thicker puree. Ready-made puree can not be stored. Every day you need to cook fresh. Do not add salt, sugar and other spices.

Using the example of the introduction of vegetable puree, we will tell you the order of administration by day.

Day 1 - 5 grams (1 teaspoon) of zucchini puree, then when breastfeeding, supplement with breast milk, with artificial - with a mixture.

Day 2 - 10 grams of zucchini puree, then supplement with breast milk or formula.

Day 3 - 20 grams of zucchini puree, then supplement with breast milk or formula.

Day 4 - 40 grams of zucchini puree, then supplement with breast milk or formula.

Day 5 - 80 grams of zucchini puree, then supplement with breast milk or formula.

Day 6 - 120 grams of zucchini puree, then supplement with breast milk or formula.

Day 7 - 150 grams of zucchini puree, then supplement with breast milk or formula.

The next day, give 5 grams of mashed cauliflower and build up as you did the previous week. You can add zucchini to cauliflower if there was no reaction to it. And so on. This scheme will also apply to other complementary foods where no other scheme is described.

If the child does not eat the entire portion, then a smaller amount is enough for him, do not force him to finish eating. Remember that eating habits are formed in the first year of a child's life.

The first month of the introduction of complementary foods has been completed, what to give at 7 months?

The next thing that is given to the baby is porridge. It is important that cereals are dairy-free and gluten-free. Cow and goat milk should not be given for at least a year. They negatively affect the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, are not absorbed and increase the risk of gastric and intestinal bleeding. If the child does not want to eat dairy-free porridge, then you can add some breast milk or formula to it, depending on the type of baby's nutrition.

Until the age of one, the child should receive only those cereals that do not contain gluten. Gluten can provoke the development of celiac disease - a severe pathology of the small intestine. Gluten-free cereals include rice, corn and buckwheat. Such a variety is quite enough for a child in the first year of life. You can cook your own porridge, but you don't have to.

There are many baby cereals in grocery stores. Many are afraid to buy them, but in vain. These are the same cereals, crushed under industrial conditions, cooked and dried. Therefore, all that is needed for their preparation is to add water. No chemicals for instant cooking, they are not processed.

Porridges are introduced for breakfast according to the scheme indicated in the previous block.

During the introduction of complementary foods, it is necessary to monitor the child's condition, whether his tummy is bothering him, whether the nature of the stool has changed, whether there is an allergy. The reaction may not appear on the first day, but with an increase in the volume of the new product. Therefore, you should not give several different new products at the same time and should slowly increase the volume!

Complementary foods at 8 months This month is very diverse. During this period, they introduce: meat yolk potatoes Potatoes are introduced later than other vegetables, as it is considered a highly allergenic product. It is introduced starting from 5 grams, at the end of the week it is necessary to reach a volume not of 150 grams, but only 50 grams. Potatoes should not make up more than a third of the total vegetable puree. The yolk can be given quail or chicken. Preferably quail, as it rarely causes allergic reactions.

The yolk is given 2 times a week. The first time a few grains are given. The second time - half a quail yolk or ¼ chicken. The next week, you can give one quail or half a chicken yolk. In this amount and continue to give 2 times a week. The yolk is given in the morning feeding. It is easier to rub it with breast milk or add it to porridge.

The first types of meat puree that are given to a child are turkey and rabbit, they are considered the least allergenic types of meat. Then you can give veal, closer to 9 months - beef, chicken and lamb. It is better not to give pork until 1-1.5 years. Meat is introduced for lunch with vegetables, weighing 5 grams. At the age of 8-9 months, the daily intake of meat is not more than 50 grams. By the year you need to give about 100 grams of meat. If the child does not want meat puree in its pure form, it can be mixed with vegetables.

For those who want to cook their own meat puree - convenient way cooking

Minced meat is made without any additives, small balls are formed from it - meatballs. Boil the balls immediately in boiling water for 4-5 minutes. Then you freeze. If necessary, take them out of the freezer, boil them for a couple along with vegetables. Grind with a blender with broth, like vegetables. These minced meat balls will not stick together when frozen. Grinding with a blender is not minced meat, but a piece of boiled meat is difficult and inefficient, mashed potatoes are sticky, and meatballs are easily crushed.

9 months - it's time to introduce the child to fermented milk products

Cottage cheese and kefir are introduced very slowly! The slower the better. The first is cottage cheese. Naturally, it is necessary to give not the cottage cheese that is sold in packs, granular or with additives! For a child, you need to purchase children's cottage cheese - Agusha, Tema. It should be without any additives, sugar and fruits! The first time is given 1 teaspoon. Every day, 1 teaspoon more is given until the serving is 25-30 grams. For a child aged 9-10 months, this is quite enough. By the year, a serving of cottage cheese can be increased to 50 grams.

Dairy products are given in the evening, a couple of hours before dinner.

Kefir is given for the first time in a volume of 5-10 ml. Of course, it should also be for children and without any additives, fruit fillers and sugar. The volume gradually increases to 100-150 ml. By the year you can give 200 ml of kefir. Not all children love kefir, some may refuse to drink it. This is not a reason to "acquaint" the baby with sugar by adding it to kefir. It is better to offer the child yogurt in a couple of weeks or a month. It is not scary if he does not drink it for some time. There are children who never drink it at all, while growing and developing no worse than others.

10 months - time for desserts

At this age, you can already pamper your baby with fruits. Only in this matter should be selective. It is recommended to give fruits that grow in our country. Tropical fruits are best left for later. You can give applesauce, pear or prunes. Most children already have teeth by this time and can chew on pieces of fruit. Begin the introduction of each of the fruits should be with 1 teaspoon or one small piece. About 100 grams of fruit can be given per day. Fruits are given as a snack.

Many may be wondering why fruits are so late, are they rich in vitamins? If a child is breastfed, then vitamins come with breast milk, if not artificial, then they are part of the mixture, so there is no need for fruits as a source of vitamins (besides, they are almost not absorbed from fruits in babies). The main thing that a baby needs up to a year for growth is proteins and fats. Fruit is a delicacy containing carbohydrates and an abundance of fruit acids, which greatly irritate the mucous membrane. Store-bought fruit juices are especially useless in this regard - this is essentially a squeeze of these acids, moreover, devoid of useful properties natural freshly squeezed juice. Regarding drinks - from 7 months you can try to give your baby herbal tea for children, and after the child tries prunes, you can cook compotes from dried fruits (apples, prunes), dried apricots can be added after a year.

The child does not eat complementary foods, constipation, diarrhea, allergies are typical problems during the feeding period

Sometimes problems arise after a baby has been introduced to complementary foods, such as constipation, diarrhea, an allergic reaction, tummy pain, and as a result, the baby becomes restless. If any of these problems occur, the product that caused the reaction should be discontinued. Re-introduction of the product is recommended not earlier than after 1-2 months with careful monitoring of the child's condition. It is reintroduced as slowly as the first time. Another problem that mothers may face is that the child does not eat complementary foods. The child himself knows well when it is time for him to eat something, and from what he becomes uncomfortable due to the immaturity of the enzyme systems.

Therefore, in the event that a child does not want to eat complementary foods, refuses, there is no need to force him to try to make food tastier by adding salt and sugar. You just need to take a break for 1-2 weeks. Then offer the baby this food again.

About canned food Moms often argue about what is better - canned food or home-cooked food. They will never agree on their own, since each has a couple of good arguments “in their pocket”. Both sides are right. You can cook yourself, and at some point it will even become necessary when the child's diet begins to expand after a year. But canned food is no worse. The main thing is to follow a number of rules when choosing it. Those terms of introduction that are indicated on the banks have nothing to do with the real norms. This is marketing and the "fresher" the product, the better. The product must not be expired. The composition should not contain artificial additives, it is desirable that there be as few components as possible. What can not be given up to a year and what they mistakenly like to feed babies Juice! Grandma's favorite recommendation. You can not give juices at all, even after a year. There is no benefit from them, but there are a lot of acids that irritate the mucous membrane (see store juices are not only not useful, but also harmful). Semolina and other cereals with gluten. Fresh vegetables - cause bloating and are hard to digest. Sweets, including cookies. Tropical fruits. Cow and goat milk. What a mother should remember about feeding a baby Follow these recommendations and not give the child too much, since it is very important to introduce complementary foods to the child correctly, the health of his digestive system in the future depends on this. Complementary feeding up to a year is an acquaintance with new food, and not a full-fledged feeding. Do not give a new product more than once a week. You can not give several new products at once. Complementary foods are only the necessary macro- and microelements, and not pampering or delicacy. You should not treat it playfully, experimenting with products, the health of your child depends on it. Salt, sugar and other spices should not be given at this age. To our “spoiled” taste buds, a simple zucchini on the water will seem disgusting, but for a child it is not only healthy, but also tasty. In addition, salt is contained in all products in the required amount, adding salt is an exorbitant burden on the baby's kidneys. With the introduction of complementary foods, you need to start giving the baby water if he is breastfeeding and has not drunk it before. If someone recommends giving a new food when the baby is 3 months old, complementary foods in the form of anything, then explain that this should not be done. And before, there were a lot of problems from this, only they were not diagnosed. If the child refuses to eat complementary foods, do not rush, you need to take a break for a week and try again.

The first year of a child's life is perhaps the most important and eventful. During this time, the baby not only grows (on average, the child’s weight triples by the year, and the body length increases one and a half times), he masters the basic skills necessary for later life: learns to move (sit, crawl, walk), communicate (smile, laugh, walk, talk), play, becomes more independent and independent. Proper balanced nutrition of a child up to a year is of the same exceptional importance as parental love and care.

At the same time, most often there are questions related to the observance of the diet of a child up to a year old, because at this age it changes significantly several times! Consider the main options for the diet of children under one year old, to avoid possible problems and preserve breastfeeding as much as possible.

Nutrition for a child up to a year: from birth to 4 months

This is the time when the baby receives all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and trace elements from breast milk or an adapted milk formula. The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding during this period are clear and proven by many scientific studies. But, if for some reason full-fledged feeding with mother's milk is impossible, the use of modern adapted milk formulas will also allow the child to develop and grow properly.

The ideal diet for a child in the first month of life during breastfeeding is feeding on demand, that is, according to the needs of the child, at least 8 times a day without a night break (up to a maximum of 12-16 times). Indicators of a sufficient amount of milk are the presence of at least 6-7 urination per day in a baby, regular stools, and weight gain. With artificial or mixed feeding it is important to observe a three-hour break between feedings to avoid overfeeding.

From the second to the fourth month of life, children who are exclusively breastfed gradually set the child's diet on their own with intervals between feedings of 3–3.5 hours. The reflex to feeding in children of this age is just beginning to form, so breastfeeding strictly by the hour is not advisable. If the baby is sleeping when, according to the mother's calculations, the time for the next feeding has already come, it is not worth waking him up (except in rare cases of significant underweight when the mother does not have enough milk). And, conversely, with premature anxiety of the baby, it can be assumed that he did not eat the required amount of milk the previous time and crying expresses precisely the feeling of hunger. So, you need to attach the baby to the chest, without waiting for the conditional time. Fluctuations between the time of free-fed meals within 1–1.5 hours are quite acceptable.

A night break in feeding is highly undesirable until the baby is 6 months old, since it is at night that the most prolactin (the hormone responsible for milk production) is produced, and, accordingly, ideal conditions are created for successful and long-term breastfeeding. If, however, the child himself "wakes up" night feeding, this break should not exceed 5-6 hours.

With artificial feeding, due to the greater protein load on the child's body, it is necessary to observe feeding intervals of 3.5–4 hours, with a night break of 6 hours.

In a child of 4–5 months, a breastfeeding regimen is usually established after 4 hours, sometimes a night break of up to 5–6 hours is possible. On artificial feeding, the baby is fed 5 times a day after 4 hours with a night break of 6-7 hours.

Nutrition for a child up to a year: from 4 months to a year

From the 4th month of life, some children are recommended by doctors to introduce the first complementary foods. However, according to the recommendations of WHO and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the optimal time for the introduction of new products for breastfed babies is 6 months. At this time, the reflex of pushing out solid food with the tongue fades away, digestive enzymes, local factors of the intestinal immune defense are activated. We do not recommend the introduction of complementary foods before 5-6 months, as this can lead to allergization of the baby's body, disruption of his gastrointestinal tract, the appearance and consolidation of a negative reaction to feeding.

The general rules are as follows: each new product is given gradually, starting with 1-2 teaspoons once a day. It is advisable to introduce the child to a new type of complementary foods in the morning. In this case, the mother has the opportunity to observe the reaction of the child to him during the day. This is especially true for children prone to allergies. After getting used to a new product, it can be given either in one of the daytime feedings, when the baby is active, or in the evening, when the amount of milk produced by the mother naturally decreases.

It is important to remember that complementary foods are just additional nutrition for a child up to a year old, it should not replace and displace breast milk! Complementary foods are designed to meet the growing needs of the baby for energy, vitamins and trace elements, and not to reduce the number of attachments to the breast, as some pediatricians still mistakenly believe.

Approximate diet for a 6 month old baby:

• 14:00 - Vegetable puree 100-150 g, breast milk (mixture) 50-100 ml.
• 18:00 - Breast milk or formula 180-200 ml.

When breastfeeding, the night break is set based on the needs of the baby and is still not very helpful for lactation.

Starting from the 7th month of a child's life, meat can be added to his diet. Meat complementary foods are introduced into the daily feeding along with vegetables, gradually, up to 50 g per day. After meat, cottage cheese is introduced into the baby's menu. It is recommended to gradually increase the volume of cottage cheese up to 50 g per day for a week, in the evening feeding.

Approximate diet for a 7 month old baby:

• 6:00 - Breast milk or formula 180-200 ml.
• 10:00 - Porridge with breast milk or a mixture of 150-180 ml.
• 18:00 - Cottage cheese 50 g + breast milk or a mixture of 150 ml.
• 22:00 - Breast milk or formula 180-200 ml.

Breast milk for a 7 month old baby should still make up the majority of the diet. Breastfeeding should be the end of any feeding with solid food. If the baby does not take the breast so willingly during the day, you can try to give him complementary foods only after breastfeeding or feed him more often at night.

The volume of motor and mental activity of an 8-month-old child is already quite large, and he needs all the new nutritional components for full development. At this time, the yolk of a chicken or quail egg is introduced, it is added to the porridge 3 times a week. There is an acquaintance with fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt). Babies who continue to breastfeed on demand often refuse supplemental fluids. It's not scary, mom just needs to give the child a choice.

Approximate diet for an 8 month old baby:

• 6:00 - Breast milk or formula 180-200 ml.
• 10:00 - Porridge with breast milk or a mixture of 150-180 ml, 1/2 yolk.
• 14:00 - Vegetable puree 150 g + meat puree 50 g.
• 18:00 - Kefir 150 ml + cottage cheese 50 g.
• 22:00 - Breast milk or formula 180-200 ml.

After the 9th month of a baby's life, the introduction of new products occurs at a faster pace. The child can already chew small pieces of food, actively learning to eat on his own. Its menu is becoming more and more diverse. It is recommended to feed the baby 5 times a day after 4-4.5 hours. It is important that during this period, breast milk remains the main liquid that the child receives. To maintain breastfeeding, it is necessary to take into account the wishes of the child and continue to apply it to the breast during the day and, on demand, at night.

Thus, if the parents follow these recommendations, by the year the child gets used to a certain feeding regimen, which has a beneficial effect on the state and functioning of his gastrointestinal tract, the state of immune defense, and health in general. The baby sincerely finds feeding interesting and useful occupation showing the first signs of independence and self-organization. At the same time, he receives almost all types of products necessary for full growth and development, significantly expands the range of his taste sensations.

Currently, most experts recommend that you continue breastfeeding your baby for at least a year and a half, which is a good prevention of infectious and allergic diseases, creates a feeling of security and close contact with the mother in the child, and increases stress resistance.

What's first?

Traditionally, it is recommended to first give the baby complementary foods, and then supplement it with breast or formula. However, if the mother’s milk production is insufficient and to stimulate further active lactation, it is better to start with the main diet (breast or formula) and only at the end of it offer the child complementary foods.

In this case, an additional plus is that the baby's digestive enzymes are already sufficiently activated and the digestion process is more complete, which also reduces the likelihood of an allergic reaction.

The introduction of complementary foods is an important period in the first year of a child's life. But you shouldn't rush into it. There are indicators of the baby's readiness for the introduction of new food. The danger of early complementary foods, the timing of the introduction of new food and nutritional recommendations - we are studying!

The beginning of complementary foods for a child: important indicators

An important indicator for starting the introduction of complementary foods is the readiness of the baby. This is not only the achievement of a certain age, but also the presence of certain physiological indicators:

• baby's weight: by the time the first complementary foods are introduced, it should be at least 2 times more than birth weight (see weight and height standards);
• ability to sit independently;
• lack of a pushing reflex of the tongue: the baby does not push the offered spoonful of food out of the mouth;
• feeling of hunger: the baby does not have enough milk or an artificial mixture;
• Showed interest in adult food (stretches, wants to try the food that parents eat).

An important fact for the timing of the introduction of the first complementary foods is the type of feeding: breastfeeding or artificial. The recommended periods are different: when breastfeeding, pediatricians are not recommended to rush with complementary foods and not introduce new food before 6 months - until this age, the baby has enough mother's milk.

For artificers, earlier complementary foods are possible.

The "golden rule" in the case of the introduction of the first complementary foods: it is better to be a little late than to hurry.

From what month to start feeding a child

The time when, symbolizes that the baby has already grown up and is ready to get acquainted with "adult" food. But when do you start doing it?

It is no coincidence that young mothers actively ask the question: “From what month should we start feeding a child?”. After all, if you start it ahead of time, the child will not only not eat the food offered, but may also refuse it later.

Breastfed and bottle-fed is different. "Grudnichkov" pediatricians recommend introducing new foods from the age of six months. Those who eat mixtures a little earlier - from five months. The difference is explained by the fact that the digestive system of babies who eat adapted milk formulas will more easily “accept” the new food.

Why is early feeding dangerous?

• Disruption of the digestive system. The child's body is not physiologically ready to digest new food. If you introduce the first complementary foods at 3-4 months, it threatens with frequent colic, abdominal pain, vomiting and stool disorder. The main danger is a complete disruption of the digestive system, requiring serious medical treatment.
• For a weak immune system and immature digestive enzymes, new foods can be a dangerous source of allergies. In the future, this can lead to frequent infectious and chronic diseases.
• Load on the liver, kidneys and intestinal system. Food offered to the child ahead of time(when it does not have a mechanism for chewing and swallowing) can provoke diseases of the digestive organs. In addition, the baby may choke.
• Decreased lactation. Early first complementary foods reduce lactation due to reduced breastfeeding.

The appearance of at least one of these signs can cause the child to reject food, which will lead to malnutrition in general and a lack of interest in food.

What foods to start feeding a baby with

The baby's first complementary foods should include foods that will not cause an allergic reaction and are easily digested. Most often, young mothers who are faced with a choice - with which foods to start complementary foods for a child, prefer zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower.

The decision is explained by the fact that the structure of these vegetables is unusually delicate. And, therefore, the texture of the cooked puree will be light. And this is very important - after all, the children's stomach, which previously "saw" only milk or an adapted milk mixture, should not actively work to digest a new product.

The choice of zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower as first foods is also explained by hypoallergenicity: soft and green vegetables, as a rule, do not cause rashes on baby skin.

Baby's first feeding

Basic rules for the first complementary foods:

• start with liquid and semi-liquid foods (juices, purees);
• start with one-component dishes, gradually adding a low-allergenic product;
• introduce the child to new food gradually, introducing a new product into the diet once a week, observing the reaction of the body. Start with half a teaspoon (5-10 grams), gradually increasing the rate to 80-100 g.

Breastfeeding does not stop with the first feeding. A growing body needs proteins, fats and carbohydrates - the nutritional value of milk is not able to provide it in the right amount. The purpose of complementary foods is to supplement breast milk or formula.

Complementary foods during breastfeeding differ in the timing of the introduction of new foods:

How to prepare baby food for the first time

Many young mothers, whose children have already grown up to the age when it is time to introduce the first complementary foods, are faced with a choice: cook it yourself or give preference to vegetable purees from numerous baby food brands.

The first feeding of a child is a very responsible matter, due to the tender age of the crumbs. Therefore, if you decide to make your own puree, make sure the vegetables are of high quality. Be sure to check them for nitrate content.

How to prepare the first complementary foods for a child: so that vegetables do not lose their vitamin value, steam them. This way you save all the "usefulness". Then, using a blender, bring the vegetables to a puree state. The texture should be soft, without a single lump. Remember that the child will swallow puree - I would not want the baby to accidentally choke.

• It is better to start complementary foods with low-allergenic vegetables: zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli.
• You can add a few drops of vegetable oil or pounded yolk to vegetable puree.
• Starting from 6 months and later, one milk feeding is replaced with complementary foods in the form of vegetable puree (150-200 g).
• The first porridge for feeding should be rice, buckwheat or corn, cooked on your own (the cereal is first ground in a blender) or purchased.
• From 7 months and later, one breastfeeding is replaced by porridge (150 gr)
• Meat is a source of protein, iron and vitamins. You can start with turkey, rabbit and veal (if you are not allergic to cow protein). Up to a year, you should not offer meat broths, it is better to chop the meat (1-3 teaspoons) and add it to vegetable soup or mashed potatoes.
• Fish is a rich source of amino acids, but also in some cases an allergen. You should start with white fish (cod, hake).

With the appearance of the first teeth, the child can be offered finely chopped fruits and vegetables or with the help of a feeding strainer. Instead of meat, include meatballs and meatballs in the first feeding diet, and replace vegetable purees with soups with finely chopped vegetables.