The excitement of the first months of a child's life, characteristic of all young parents, subsided. Mom decided on the diet necessary for breastfeeding or found a formula suitable for the baby. But the baby is growing and even supporters of long-term breastfeeding by the age of six months of the child think about complementary foods. Parents of artificial people begin to worry about this issue much earlier, since even the most ideal mixture is not able to fully satisfy the needs of infants for vitamins and minerals. The first feeding of a baby causes a lot of questions and doubts among inexperienced parents. Grandmothers, acquaintances, mothers with experience and pediatricians often advise different things, and the well-being of the baby depends on when and how correctly complementary foods are introduced.

When to introduce complementary foods

Soviet pediatricians adhered to strict rules for feeding babies, so the opinion of our grandmothers, who know exactly how many months complementary foods are introduced, are often based on universal recommendations that are the same for everyone. Modern doctors believe that the baby's readiness to assimilate adult food is formed individually, therefore, it is necessary to start introducing complementary foods, focusing on the signs of the baby's readiness for this process.
The factors that indicate that the baby is ready for the introduction of complementary foods are:

1. Doubled weight
2. The kid's ability to hold an object in a fist and pull it into his mouth
3. The ability to sit and reach for a spoon while leaning forward or leaning back (head away) rejecting food offered
4. Interest in the food parents eat
5. Ability for babies to drink water from a spoon without pushing the spoon out of their mouth and without spilling water on the chin

You need to start introducing complementary foods only when the child can no longer eat breast milk (mother gives both breasts in one feeding, but the baby clearly wants more). For an artificial person, an indicator of the need to introduce complementary foods is the need to eat more liters of the mixture per day.
Since the stomach of a baby under 6 months is not able to normally digest any food, except for breast milk, the World Health Organization recommends starting the introduction of "adult" food into the infant's diet after six months, if the baby feeds on breast milk. And on the recommendation of a pediatrician after 4 months, if the child is fed with formula.
Many advise to introduce complementary foods after the appearance of the first tooth, focusing on the fact that, on average, teeth erupt at the age of 5-6 months. But there are babies whose first teeth appear by 11 months. By this time, these children are perfectly eating vegetable and fruit purees, grated soups and even crackers. Other babies have teeth as early as 4 months. Therefore, the appearance of the first tooth cannot serve as a signal that it is time to start giving the baby complementary foods.
In order not to harm the baby, the introduction of complementary foods requires adherence to certain rules.

Complementary feeding rules

Even if you are tired of breastfeeding your baby, and the child is actively pulling his hands to adult food, do not rush to give the baby the dish to which he is drawn. The basic rule is to start introducing new food gradually, with half a teaspoon.

Keep in mind - the baby can push food back with his tongue, as children are very conservative and wary of food of unfamiliar consistency and taste.

After the child has tried a new food, he needs to be supplemented with breast milk or formula, and then carefully observe the baby's reaction to complementary foods. Attention should be paid to:

1. Chair. Increased flatulence, constipation, or an upset bowel may signal that it is too early to give the meal you suggested to your child. Changes in the color of feces should not be scared
2. Skin condition. Any rashes are contraindications to the introduction of this product at this time
3. Sleep and behavior

If during the day you did not notice any changes, the dose of the new product can be gradually increased slightly (up to a teaspoon), and then the amount of this product can be brought up to the age norm in two weeks. The maximum amount per feeding is from 180 to 200 grams.

To introduce complementary foods correctly, you also need to:

1. Give new food only to an absolutely healthy child (since the baby is weakened after vaccination, it is not recommended to introduce complementary foods during this period)
2. Do not insist if the baby refuses food, but try to offer him this dish the next day. A new product is offered about 10 - 15 times - it is during this period that new taste sensations develop
3. Introduce only one new product, and start the next one only when the first complementary food has already become habitual for the baby (that is, the introduction of products should be phased). The interval between the introduction of new foods into the diet is on average 10 days to 2 weeks.
4. It is better to introduce your baby to a new product during the first feeding - this way you can control the baby's reaction to food, and if the baby develops colic, it is easier for you to help him during the day.
5. Give the baby food that is uniform in consistency and initially as close as possible in density to milk or mixture. It is necessary to switch to thick food gradually, since the baby must get used to swallowing it, and then learn to chew. By 10 months, you can offer meals with small pieces of food
6. Give food only freshly prepared and warm. Jars with ready-made puree must be warmed up. At first, you will have to finish the mashed potatoes yourself, since the shelf life of an open jar is limited
7. For complementary foods, it is important to use only low-allergenic foods that grow in your area of ​​residence. For children of those regions where oranges and bananas grow, these products are quite acceptable in the form of mashed potatoes and juices, and for children of those countries in which bananas are exotic fruits, it is better to start complementary foods with an apple.
8. You need to give complementary foods only with a spoon, even if you offer the baby juice

The introduction of complementary foods requires an individual approach even when a certain scheme for the introduction of new products is observed, since different children have their own individual reaction to the same products.

Watch a short video about the baby's first feeding, but do not forget to read the article to the end, because we have a lot of interesting information for you.

What foods, at what age and in what order should be introduced into the baby's diet

If thirty years ago there was a unified rigid scheme for introducing complementary foods, then the opinions of modern experts on how to correctly introduce complementary foods and what product to start with differ.
The introduction of complementary foods can be started according to the traditional scheme, or you can use the pedagogical method.
The traditional scheme suggests introducing new products in a specific order and at a specific time, however, the procedure for introducing certain products into the baby's diet is different.
The introduction of complementary foods according to the pedagogical scheme requires much more time, but the pedagogical scheme assumes a complete absence of violence against the will of the baby - the child is offered small (pinch) doses of the products that the parents are currently eating. Thus, the child gets acquainted with new tastes and chooses the ones that are suitable for himself. The amount of the product you like is gradually brought to 3 teaspoons, but the baby is still saturated with mother's milk or mixture, so the mother must eat right.
Usually, mothers prefer to introduce complementary foods according to the traditional scheme, but initially they are often not sure that they have chosen the correct sequence of foods for complementary foods.
Previously, children's doctors recommended starting complementary foods with juices (carrot in the first place), and at the age of 4-5 months, the crumbs were offered mashed potatoes from a baked apple.
Modern pediatricians advise against starting complementary foods with juices. For babies who gain weight well, a one-component vegetable puree is offered. Mashed zucchini, cauliflower, or broccoli can be used as a first meal. In some babies, zucchini provokes colic, therefore, if this product is poorly tolerated, it is better for babies to give cauliflower.
Starting complementary foods with sugary foods such as fruit purees and juices runs the risk of your child's categorical refusal to eat vegetable purees that they find less tasty.
The table below clearly shows which foods are allergenic and which are not. We advise you to familiarize yourself with it and take into account its data in order to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in infants during the introduction of the first complementary foods.

Your child is already four months old, and a compassionate neighbor, who has raised four children, insistently advises you to “feed” your baby every day ... Should you listen to her? Maybe it's better not to rush and wait with new dishes? And if you still give what exactly and in what quantity? A lot of such questions concern young mothers. And it is not at all accidental, because the first complementary food is a real revolution in the baby's menu. baby the need for additional energy, vitamins and minerals increases. Since breast milk or its artificial substitute does not fully meet the requirements of the baby at this age, it is necessary to introduce to kid additional food. First courses complementary foods are vegetable purees and cereals. In addition, they teach baby to the perception of denser food, develop chewing. These dishes complementary foods intended to replace breastfeeding. Therefore, they are referred to as substitute complementary foods.

When to start

Why for the introduction of the firstcomplementary foodsthe interval was taken from 4 to 6 months. This is due to the fact that before this age the bodybabyphysiologically unprepared to accept new dense food. And after six months it is undesirable to start, perhaps atbabythere will be problems with adaptation to food of a denser consistency than milk. Therefore, according to most experts in the field of baby food, the first complementary foods should be introduced during the period from 4 to 6 months of age. However, it should be remembered that the timing of the introductioncomplementary foodsare individual. With artificial feeding, you can start complementary foods with4.5 months, with chest - with5-6 months.

Appetizing puree

The choice, firstly, depends on the statebabyat the time of the introduction of new food. Ifchildis underweight or has unstable stools, it is best to start with cereals. Conversely, with excess weight and a tendency to constipation, it is recommended to introduce complementary foods with vegetable puree. If your baby is devoid of such troubles and is absolutely healthy, then the advice of pediatricians and nutritionists is currently reduced to starting complementary foods. with vegetable puree ... Why? Many mothers may argue that it is quite difficult to introduce mashed potatoes first. The transition from the sweet taste of breast milk or milk substitute to a very unsweetened vegetable is not easy for a baby. And here you should be patient. A new dish should be offered not once, but at least 10-12 times, and only after the baby stubbornly refuses it, switch to another type of vegetables. Afterchilddid not accept this or that vegetable parents, as a rule, switch to porridge, making a big mistake! It is highly likely that the baby will not want to eat vegetables at all, after the introduction of sweet porridge. Mothers make another mistake when they additionally sweeten industrially produced cereals. It should be borne in mind thatchildonly gets used to new tastes, and his future eating habits depend on how well he is taught to eat in the family. As a consequence, the habit of sugary food can lead to obesity and related diseases. So, we introduce vegetables. It is better to start with foods such as zucchini, all types of cabbage, potatoes, they are the least likely to cause allergies. Later you can try carrots, beets and tomatoes. The modern children's industry offers a wide range of different types of puree. According to the degree of grinding, they are divided intohomogenizedthat are offered to children from 4.5 months, puree for children 6-9 months old andcoarsely(9-12 months). Canned vegetables for children are prepared with a small amount of salt, and some manufacturers leave the taste of vegetables natural, without adding salt at all. It should be remembered that when buying ready-made food, you should not additionally salt it and add vegetable oil. Foreign manufacturers, seeking to improve the taste of their products, use legumes (beans, peas, etc.), tomatoes and tomato paste, onions, garlic, spices (in particular, pepper) in the manufacture of vegetable puree. In this case, they recommend to introduce them from 5-6 months. This does not comply with the prescriptions of domestic pediatricians and nutritionists. Such purees should not be given ascomplementary foodsbabies at the age of 4-6 months, because tomatoes, which are among the vegetables, especially often causing allergies in children, can be introduced into the diet not earlier than six months. Tomato paste containing salt is best introduced with6-7 months... Legumes, which contain a high level of plant fibers and special types of sugars that can irritate the intestinal mucosa and increase gas formation not earlier7-8 months... Onions and garlic containing essential oils that irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach, intestines, kidneys - only with8-9 months, spices - with 9 months and older... You can make your own vegetable feed using both fresh and frozen vegetables. To do this, boil them, then make mashed potatoes (in a blender or using a regular crush). Add a little vegetable or melted butter (no more than 3-4 grams). Butter another new productcomplementary foods, with which children get acquainted from the moment of the introduction of vegetable puree or porridge. It is a source of nutrients, energy, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E). Vegetable oil is allowed to be injected with4.5 months, creamy - not earlier5-6 months.

Porridge is our food

Two weeks after the baby gets used to the vegetable puree, the introduction can begincereal complementary foods ... Dry instant cereals are most convenient. To prepare them, you just need to mix dry powder with warm boiled water and stir. The advantage of these products (as well as canned baby food) is their guaranteed chemical composition, safety and saturation with essential vitamins, calcium, iron and minerals. You can also use dry milk porridge that requires cooking, flour for baby food, as well as ordinary cereals, previously ground on a coffee grinder. It is important to emphasize that as the first cerealcomplementary foodsshould use gluten free cereals - rice, also buckwheat and corn flour; other cereals - rye, wheat, barley, oats - contain gluten. It is the main protein in cereals and can cause unpleasant symptoms such as pain and bloating in babies. The principles of introducing cereals are the same as for other types.complementary foods- start with one type of cereal, gradually, a week after the introduction of the first porridge, try another kind, even later - you can switch to porridge from a mixture of cereals.

Introducing a new product

• You need to start with one type of least allergenic product. The interval between the introduction of different dishes complementary foods must be at least 5-7 days. While the baby begins to try something new, you should carefully examine the skin every day for the appearance of any rash, and also monitor the stool. If rashes appear or the nature of the stool changes (frequent and loose), it is necessary to cancel the dish complementary foods and see a doctor.
• A new product cannot be introduced if child unwell or during preventive vaccinations, it is undesirable to start in hot weather.
• It is recommended to give a "novelty" before breastfeeding - then hungry child is likely to react positively to food. In addition, it is better to offer a new dish in the morning to monitor the baby's condition throughout the day.
• They give complementary foods baby only with a spoon, not through the nipple.

You should not strive for excessive variety in the diet of a smallbaby, for a start, 2-3 types of vegetables are enough, introduced progressively (one per week). It is necessary to adhere to certain schemes for introducing new products into the baby's diet.

An example of the introduction of cereals and vegetable purees:

1st day -1 teaspoon (5g) 2nd day - 2 tsp. (10g) 3rd day - 3 tsp. (15 g) 4th day - 4 tsp. (20 g) 5th day - 50 ml (50g) 6th day - 100ml (100g) 7th day - 150 ml (150g).

An example of the introduction of vegetable and melted butter:

1st day -1 drop 2nd day - 2 drops 3rd day - 5 drops 4th day - ¼ tsp. 5th day - ½ tsp. (3d) 6th day and further - 1 tsp. (5-6g).

Baby menu 10-11 months baby 4-6 months (the volume of porridge and puree is up to 150 ml, the frequency of feeding is 5-6 times a day)

First feeding. Formula or breast milk 160-200 ml
Second feeding. Porridge 150 ml
Third feeding. Vegetable puree 150 ml
Fourth feeding. Formula or breast milk 160-200 ml
Fifth feeding. Formula or breast milk 160-200 ml
Sixth feeding. Formula or breast milk 160-200 ml

The introduction of complementary foods is the beginning of a new stage in a child's life. Infant diets made from a monocomponent - milk or formula - need to be diversified. It scares any mom. Having received different information from many sources, parents still have to look for their own way - taking into account the characteristics of the child, his health, family eating habits, budget, and so on. It is important to identify the basic principles and build your complementary feeding system on their basis.

The main reasons for the introduction of complementary foods

1. For the formation of muscle and bone tissue, children need more minerals, vitamins, trace elements and energy.
2. Given the fact that over time the period of breastfeeding ends, it is necessary to teach the child to eat solid foods. For this, it is necessary to train the gastrointestinal tract, develop the ability to chew and digest food.
3. As a bonus, the child improves coordination and social skills - drinking from a cup, holding a spoon.

Complementary feeding and flavor formation

Despite the fact that to us, adults, homogenized cauliflower or broccoli may seem unappetizing food, babies (though not everyone either) may find such a dish very tasty and attractive. It is worth taking advantage of this in order to develop a taste for healthy food in your child.

Nobody says that at 3 he will not be able to taste chocolate eggs, and at 7 fast food. But the foundation that you lay during the complementary feeding period will be fundamental. And the longer you can stick to the framework of proper nutrition, the more mature and formed your son or daughter's habit of eating wholesome food will be.

Therefore, do not rush to introduce sweet juices, fruit purees, cereals with sugar into the baby's diet. They are attractive and addictive when perceived as regular food with less enthusiasm.

Even if it seems to you that the child is eating without pleasure or does not eat a new product at all - pumpkin or potatoes, you should not refuse to introduce them. Be patient and offer periodically, add in different proportions to those vegetables or cereals that the baby already loves. The fact is that the child gets used to new tastes for some time, so you need to give him a chance to taste and love the new dish.

Signs of a child's readiness to introduce new foods

Do not think that complementary feeding should be started because the clock struck exactly 6 months from the moment the baby was born. As usual, before entering a new life stage, you need to weigh everything and observe the child.

Checklist "Is the baby ready for the introduction of complementary foods"

• The child is already 6 months old.
• He knows how to sit.
• His weight has become 2 times more than that which was recorded at birth.
• At the time of the start of complementary feeding, he is completely healthy.
• His interest in food has awakened.
• The "pushing-out-of-the-mouth-solid objects" reflex faded away.
• The baby shows signs of hunger by latching on to the breast more often than usual
• He knows how to turn away to refuse another spoonful of food.
• And far from spitting the proposed carrot or green peas (this is a joke, or rather, it is a reality, but the child will develop this skill during the introduction of complementary foods).

Metabolic and physiological characteristics of the child's body that determine the timing of the introduction of new products

It is no coincidence that the beginning of the introduction of complementary foods falls on the baby's six months. There are several physiological reasons why a baby cannot start eating meat and digesting fresh vegetables from birth.

• For example, the ability to digest and absorb nutrients from food through its fermentation processes matures only after 3 months.
• And the ability to swallow food in a semi-solid and solid state, without regurgitation and reflex expulsion of the tongue - after 5 months.
• Local intestinal immunity is formed only after 4 months.
• Increased permeability of the intestinal mucosa becomes less pronounced from 3 months of age.

Therefore, it is worth waiting until your baby is ripe and can start eating vegetables and cereals with pleasure and without physiological problems.

Early and late complementary foods: why not

Early:

• provocation of allergies,
• food intolerance,
• dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract (abdominal pain, intestinal colic, regurgitation, vomiting and upset stools).

Late:

• nutritional deficiency entails a lack of growth and development, both physical and mental,
• a poor diet is the cause of rickets, anemia, malnutrition, hypovitaminosis,
• delay in the development of new skills - chewing and swallowing.

Five commandments of the first complementary foods from Dr. Komarovsky

One of the most famous pediatricians in the post-Soviet space, Dr. Yevgeny Komarovsky, has developed his own rules for the introduction of complementary foods:

1. Do not rush. The optimal age for starting complementary foods is 6 months. In special cases, up to six months, but not earlier than 5 months.
2. Don't use your grandmother's experience. This is true because the opinion of WHO has changed a lot since our childhood.
3. Don't get carried away with quantity. You should always start with half a teaspoon, no matter how much you or your baby would like more.
4. No violence. The child should be interested in food. No need to force you to eat, just postpone the introduction of this taste until another day.
5. No variety. Each new product takes time and should be introduced gradually. It is imperative to monitor the child's reaction. It's too early to make vinaigrette in a children's plate.

Complementary feeding rules

• Together with the introduction of complementary foods, it is worth establishing a more or less clear diet with an interval of 4 hours.
• Snacks should be ruled out. If the child really wants to chew something, you can offer the fruit.
• Complementary feeding starts with vegetable purees.
• A new product is introduced only if the baby is healthy and does not have a preventive vaccination in the next 3 days.
• Breastfeeding or formula feeding is the main meal for babies who are fed complementary foods. The tasting of each new dish ends with it.
• At first, the consistency of the puree should be soft so that the child does not choke.
• The next product should be introduced after you understand that the introduced product did not cause indigestion or allergies, and the baby appreciated it.
• If the baby is not gaining weight well, then porridge is introduced first, then vegetables.
• If there is a problem of constipation, then prune puree is tried a little earlier.
• Controlling the baby's stools and rashes is the main task of an attentive mother for the entire period of feeding.
• Meat broths are not good for babies, they put a heavy load on the kidneys.
• Let's drink at the request of the child. Do not drink while feeding, only in between. If he does not want water, after 8 months, you can offer a compote without sugar.
• Whole milk, beef, eggs, fish, chicken are introduced after a year.
• Nuts and honey - after two years.
• Be sure to use vegetable oils with vegetables, melted butter with porridge.
• If rash or diarrhea develops, stop feeding and see a doctor.

When not to introduce complementary foods

Is Rejenok sick? Is he going to be vaccinated? Isn't he sitting yet? Set aside an adult meal for a while. Make sure that during this period there is stability in his life.

An approximate scheme for the introduction of complementary foods

Different doctors have different opinions on where to start introducing complementary foods. But in general, the scheme presented below is a summary in relation to the modern understanding of the issue.

From 6-7 months it is necessary to invite the child to try vegetables and cereals.

1. Vegetables

The sequence of introduction:

• zucchini
• cauliflower
• broccoli
• potato
• carrot
• pumpkin
• green pea

Feeding time: dinner. After a meal, you should give it to drink with breast milk or formula.

Volume: ½ teaspoon for the first time, for a week or two, bring to 180-200 grams.

Introduce a new taste every 3-7 days. You can mix it or give it a try separately.

Important: observe the reaction to each new product introduced.

When the baby has eaten 100 grams of puree, start adding vegetable oil - corn or olive.

1. Porridge

If the child shows signs of hunger and eats vegetables with pleasure, then after 2-3 weeks from the start of complementary feeding, porridge can be introduced. Up to 9-10 months, they should be gluten-free:

• buckwheat,
• corn,
• rice (with care, it is fraught with allergies and constipation).

After 9-10 months gluten-containing:

• oatmeal,
• millet,
• wheat,
• pearl barley.

Feeding time: breakfast.

Volume:with ½ teaspoon. Bring to 200 grams per week.

You can cook in water or dilute with breast milk, adding less than half a spoonful of butter (preferably ghee).

After breakfast, invite your baby to drink breast milk or formula.

Introduce a new porridge no more often than once a week, make sure that the introduction of a new vegetable and a new porridge does not coincide. Otherwise, it will be difficult to determine the cause of the allergy or bowel problems.

If you buy porridge, preferdairy-free without added sugar... They are in the lines of such brands as Baby Sitter, Heinz, Fleur Alpin, BellLakt, Hipp.

1. Fruit pureeshould be made a holiday for the baby, offering after meals or between feedings as a dessert no earlier than 8-9 months.

Introduce fruits in the following sequence:

• Apple,
• pear,
• banana (ripe with dots on the skin),
• plum or prune.

If the child is allergic, it is better to try baking or steaming the fruit yourself.

Volume: From ½ teaspoon and up to 70 grams by 7 months, you can eat no more than 120 grams per day per year.

1. Compote, cooked without added sugar, offer after 10 months.

The sequence of introduction:

• Apple,
• pear,
• plum or prune.

It is better to introduce compotes after fruit puree, when the reaction to the components is known.

If the child is thirsty, offer water first.

1. Cottage cheesestart injecting after 9 months.

Feeding time: afternoon tea.

Volume: start with ½ teaspoon, bring to 50 grams per dose. Then give to drink with breast milk.

You can cook yourself at home. Fruit options - mix cottage cheese with mashed potatoes.

From finished products - "Agusha", "Tema", "Izbenka".

1. WITH meatthe child meets after 9 months, withfish- after a year.

The sequence of introduction:

• turkey, rabbit, lean pork,

after a year

• beef, chicken,
• cod, haddock, river bass, hake, pollock, flounder.

Feeding time: lunch with vegetable puree.

Volume: from ½ teaspoon to 30 grams per month.

Cook in the second broth.

1. Kefiryou can start drinking from 8-9 months.

Feeding time: afternoon tea or at night.

Volume: up to 180-200 ml.

It is better to start with Agusha biokefir (with bifidobacteria). After 10 months, you can enter all drinking fermented milk products - yoghurts, kefir, yogurt, etc.

1. Cookies- after 7-8 months of the baby.

Feeding time: afternoon tea.

Don't allow snacking on cookies.

Of the brands, you can stop at "Jubilee" or "Heinz".

Fruit and vegetable juices

Our grandmothers and mothers watered children with juice from 2 months. Some old school pediatricians continue to recommend this to their patients. But times have changed. Research on the work of the digestive tract of babies has become available. Today, there are 2 opinions about the introduction of juices into the children's diet.

• On the recommendation of the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, juices should be introduced into the children's diet no earlier than 4-5 months, starting from 5 ml.
• Many modern Russian and foreign pediatricians advise against drinking juices as part of the first complementary feeding. Only after the introduction of all products. Otherwise, you can provoke gastrointestinal diseases, allergies, metabolic disorders. Even adults are advised to eat an apple, and not drink juice, even if it is freshly squeezed.

What mom needs to know when juicing at home

If you still think that your child needs juice, then it is definitely worth preparing it yourself. "Box" options can be classified as fast food, not balanced baby food.

To make juice:

• choose ripe fruits,
• remove the skin and remove the seeds, leaving only the pulp,
• pass through a juicer,
• pour the juice into a clean bowl.

You can store the finished product for no more than 2 hours in summer and 4 hours in winter.

Children should not be given concentrated juice, be sure to dilute it with water.

Is it possible to feed a child with jelly

• an excess of carbohydrates provokes obesity in children,
• boiled berries are less healthy than fresh ones.

Cooking porridge yourself

Does your mom insist that you grind the cereals and feed the baby with a "clean" product? Or is this your position? Maybe you are right.

• Buy cereals.
• Go through carefully.
• Rinse under running water.
• Dry it.
• Grind in a coffee grinder.
• Pour into a jar with a lid and store as you would regular cereals.

For cooking:

• fill with water in a ratio of one to two,
• simmer until tender,
• cool, add oil.

Which is better: ready-made food or homemade products?/ articles / gotovye-produkty

Dairy products

There are different opinions regarding the introduction of fermented milk products. Dr. Komarovsky recommends starting with kefir. Traditional doctors advise to enter after vegetables and cereals. At about 8-9 months.

The benefits of kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese and cheese are undeniable. But it is worth considering the degree of maturity of the children's gastrointestinal tract. If kefir can be useful at 8 months, then you should wait up to a year with cheese.

Meat complementary foods

Meat is a difficult product to digest. But with iron deficiency anemia, it is it that will help a child cope with a lack of a mineral in the blood. Follow your product introduction schedule and have your baby checked regularly.

Eggs

Eggs contain amino acids, are rich in phospholipids. They allow the child to develop physically and psychologically.

But they can be a source of danger and cause:

• an allergic reaction
• salmonellosis.

Introduce eggs into complementary foods after a year, cook thoroughly hard-boiled - everything, including quail, they can also cause infection.

Fish and seafood

Fish and seafood cause a lot of doubts among mothers and pediatricians. They are beneficial but allergenic. They must be introduced with caution after a year of the baby. Better to start with lean fish.

Cow's milk

Cow's milk is an adult food. It is not useful for children under three years old. And often such complementary foods entail a bunch of troubles, ranging from disorders to intestinal bleeding.

FAQ: Questions Concerning Mothers Who Have Newly Started Complementary Feeding

1. How can you teach a child to bite?

In order for a child to fully eat, he must be able to bite and chew. Homogenized foods don't do this, which is why some mums give their babies a peeled apple or dryers to develop this skill.

For many, this causes misunderstanding - how can a six-month-old child be given a piece of solid food? What if he bites off a large piece and chokes?

To avoid such situations, the mother needs to be close to the child and monitor his learning.

It is possible to put a hard piece in the nibbler, but the pleasure of biting can be lost.

1. Does my child need to wash their hands before eating?

Let's not talk about hepatitis and cholera, but even an upset stomach brings little joy. Especially if you know it could have been avoided by washing your hands.

1. How are complementary foods and dysbiosis combined?

Due to the fact that intestinal dysbiosis is not a disease, but a consequence of other diseases, it is necessary to understand what is its cause.

If, according to the results of the analysis, you have identified lactase deficiency, then your child will be recommended a dairy-free complementary food of buckwheat or rice porridge. It will need to be injected slowly and monitor the reaction. If there are manifestations such as changes in stool, rashes, disorders, it is worth postponing complementary foods for 2-3 weeks.

If the doctor has determined the age-related immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract, then do not rush to start complementary foods. Wait 2-4 weeks, so try starting with dairy-free, low-allergenic cereals and vegetable puree - cauliflower or squash.

1. What are the principles of introducing complementary foods for atopic dermatitis?

• If your child is on HB, IV or CB, you should not rush into the introduction of complementary foods if he has atopic dermatitis. Let the digestive system mature.
• The beginning of complementary foods for atopics is green and white vegetables (cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli), gluten-free cereals (buckwheat, rice, corn), kefir - with caution.
• When the first foods are introduced, you can taste fruits - apples, pears, plums, and then meat (rabbit, turkey).
• All products should be introduced very carefully, controlling the child's reaction, not neglecting the portion size. If the doctor tells you to start with half a teaspoon, do so.
• If a reaction occurs, cancel the product and re-enter it six months later.

Refrain from the following foods:

• cow's milk - up to 3 years old;
• citrus fruits, red vegetables, fruits, berries, gluten-containing foods - can be given to taste at the age of 1 to 3 years;
• chocolate, cocoa, peanuts, crabs, shrimps, crayfish, fish, pickles, marinades and spices - add gently after 3 years.

After 3-4 years, many children outgrow atopic dermatitis and can safely eat any food.

More about allergies and complementary foods here:/ articles / prikorm-pri-allergii .

1. Is it possible to introduce complementary foods with lactase deficiency?

Lack of production of an enzyme that helps the digestion of lactose causes pain in children from the accumulation of gas in the tummy (flatulence), diarrhea, poor weight gain, and in some cases, dehydration.

For treatment, the doctor prescribes the intake of enzymes.

The rules for introducing complementary foods in children with lactase deficiency are the same as in healthy babies. Vegetables are introduced first - zucchini, potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, which are subsequently seasoned with vegetable oil.

If you make mashed potatoes yourself, you can be sure that the milk will not get into the dish. When buying ready-made purees, carefully study the label - there should not be declared cream, whole or powdered milk.

1. When is the introduction of complementary foods necessary for premature babies?

The opinions of pediatricians regarding the introduction of complementary foods for premature babies differ.

• Some believe that complementary feeding should be started from 4 months, so that the baby gains weight more actively.
• Others prefer that the gastrointestinal tract of such children matured, so complementary foods should be started at six months.

They agree that it is better to start premature low birth weight babies with cereals.

1. What to do if complementary foods are causing constipation?

After the introduction of each new product, the baby must be carefully monitored. If he is constipated:

• the product must be canceled,
• start doing gymnastics with the child and massage the tummy clockwise,
• after a visit to a doctor, use safe medications.

Complementary feeding is terra incognita that you will explore with your baby. We wish you lots of fun discoveries and few sharp pitfalls.

An additional type of food of animal or vegetable origin. In composition, taste, form of administration, it differs sharply from breast milk, promotes the development of the chewing apparatus, stimulates the enzyme systems of the gastrointestinal tract and prepares the child for weaning.

Complementary feeding rules:

Complementary foods are introduced only to a healthy child

Complementary foods are given before breastfeeding (in comparison with juices given after feeding), starting from 5 g and gradually (within 2-4 weeks) bringing the amount of complementary foods to 150 g. In the second half of a child's life, complementary foods should not exceed 180 g.

Complementary foods should be homogeneous in consistency and not cause difficulties for the child when swallowing. With age, you need to move on to thicker, then - dense food.

Complementary foods are given warm, with a spoon, in a sitting position. It is inappropriate to give 2 dense or 2 liquid complementary foods in one feeding.

Do not give the same type of food 2 times a day.

The main rule of complementary feeding is the gradualness and consistency of the introduction of new products. A new type of complementary food is introduced after full adaptation to the previous one.

When introducing complementary foods, watch the baby's stools; if it remains normal, then the next day the amount of complementary foods can be increased.

It is impossible to combine the introduction of complementary foods and new complementary foods with preventive vaccinations.

It is necessary to start the introduction of vegetable puree as a complementary food with one type of vegetables, gradually moving on to their mixture. Pay attention to the degree of their grinding. As the first vegetable feed, you can recommend mashed zucchini, potatoes, as the least allergic and not causing increased gas formation

When introducing cereals as complementary foods, use gluten-free cereals - rice, buckwheat and corn flour, so as not to induce the development of celiac disease in children in the first months of life (do not start complementary foods with semolina).

Cottage cheese (at a dose of 3-5 g / kg of body weight) and yolk (1 / 4-1 / 2 part) should be prescribed no earlier than 6 months of life, since the early introduction of a foreign protein leads to allergization, damage to functionally immature kidneys, metabolic acidosis and dysmetabolic nephropathy.

From 7-8 months, raw mature fruits and minced meat (from rabbit, turkey, beef, veal, lean pork) are introduced into the child's diet - 3-5 g / kg of body weight. At 9 months, meatballs are given in the same volume, by the year - steam cutlets. It is recommended to use canned meat for baby food of industrial production, produced in glassware. Canned meat can be divided into purely meat and meat-vegetable. Canned meat with varying degrees of grinding is produced: homogenized (from 8 months), puree (from 8 to 9 months) and coarsely ground (from 10-12 months). The last two types differ from homogenized canned food not only in the degree of grinding, but also in the presence of spices in them, as well as the possible replacement of water with meat broth. Most canned foods are fortified with iron.

Meat broths are removed from complementary foods because they contain a lot of purine bases, which leads to damage to functionally immature kidneys.

Puree soups are prepared with vegetable broths. Food should be lightly salted: the kidneys of an infant poorly remove sodium salt from the body. In mashed potatoes produced by an industrial method, the sodium content should not exceed 150 mg / 100 g - in vegetables and 200 mg / 100 g - in mixtures of meat and vegetables.

From 8 months, kefir or other fermented milk mixture can be prescribed as complementary foods. Unreasonable widespread use of kefir as a complementary food in the first months of life can cause a violation of acid-base balance in a child, acidosis and create an additional load on the kidneys. It is not recommended to dilute cottage cheese with kefir, as this dramatically increases the amount of protein consumed. Cottage cheese should be used with fruit or vegetable puree.

From 9 months old, instead of meat, a child can be given low-fat varieties of fish 1-2 times a week: cod, flounder, saury, pike perch. Sugar-free fruit juices can be offered to your child between meals. Lightly salted varieties of cheese can be given to a child from one year old (they are rich in proteins, calcium, vitamins A and B).

When to start complementary foods?

By the age of 4-6 months, the baby's need for additional energy, vitamins and minerals increases, and breast milk or its artificial substitute does not meet the baby's increased needs for vitamins, calories and microelements. In addition, complementary foods accustom the child to the perception of denser food, develops chewing. at this age it is necessary to introduce additional food to the child. Earlier than 4 months, the child's body is not physiologically prepared for the perception of new dense food. And after six months it is undesirable to start, as there may be problems with adaptation to food of a denser consistency than milk. Therefore, according to most experts in the field of baby food, the first complementary foods should be introduced during the period from 4 to 6 months of age. With artificial feeding, you can start complementary feeding from 4.5 months, with breastfeeding - from 5-6 months. Remember that the timing of the introduction of complementary foods is individual.

Inadequate energy and nutrient intake from breast milk alone can lead to stunted growth and malnutrition;
due to the inability of breast milk to meet the needs of the baby, micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron and zinc, may develop;
optimal development of motor skills, such as chewing, and a positive perception of new tastes and food structure by the child may not be ensured.

Therefore, it is necessary to introduce complementary foods in due time, at the appropriate stages of development.

Much controversy persists over exactly when to start introducing complementary foods. While everyone agrees that the optimal age is individual for each child, the question of whether to recommend complementary foods at "4-6 months" or "about 6 months" remains open. It should be clarified that "6 months" is defined as the end of the first six months of a child's life when he turns 26 weeks, not the beginning of the sixth month, ie. 21-22 weeks. Likewise, “4 months” refers to the end, not the beginning of the fourth month of life.

There is almost universal agreement that complementary foods should not be started before 4 months of age and delayed until over 6 months of age. Several WHO and UNICEF publications use language recommending complementary foods at “4–6 months” or “around 6 months”. But the scientific justification for the recommendation of a period of 4–6 months does not have sufficient documentary evidence. In a published WHO / UNICEF report on complementary feeding in developing countries, the authors recommended exclusively breastfeeding term infants until about 6 months of age.

When introducing complementary foods before 6 months of age, factors such as weight and intrauterine age at birth, clinical condition and general developmental status and nutritional status of the child should be considered. A study in Honduras found that feeding breastfed babies between 1,500 and 2,500 g with high-quality complementary foods from 4 months of age did not provide any developmental benefits. These results support the recommendation to exclusively breastfeed babies for about 6 months, even for LBW babies.

What and how to give in the first complementary foods?

The first complementary foods are vegetable purees or cereals. If the child is underweight or has unstable stools, it is best to start with cereals. Conversely, with excess weight, normal weight or a tendency to constipation, it is recommended to introduce complementary foods with vegetable puree.

If your baby is devoid of such troubles and is absolutely healthy, then the advice of pediatricians and nutritionists is currently reduced to starting complementary foods with vegetable puree.

Complementary foods - vegetables.

Vegetable puree is rich in mineral salts (potassium, iron), organic acids, pectin substances and plant fibers that normalize stool. It is better to start with foods such as zucchini, all types of cabbage, potatoes, they are the least likely to cause allergies. Later you can try carrots, beets and tomatoes. The modern children's industry offers a wide range of different types of puree. According to the degree of grinding, they are divided into homogenized, which are offered to children from 4.5 months, puree for children 6-9 months and coarsely ground (9-12 months).

Canned vegetables for children are prepared with a small amount of salt, and some manufacturers leave the taste of vegetables natural, without adding salt at all. You do not need to additionally add salt and add vegetable oil.

Puree from legumes, tomatoes, with spices should not be given as complementary foods to babies at the age of 4–6 months, since tomatoes, which are among the vegetables that often cause allergies in children, can be introduced into the diet not earlier than six months. It is better to introduce tomato paste containing salt from 6-7 months. Legumes, which contain a high level of plant fibers and special types of sugars that can irritate the intestinal mucosa and increase gas production no earlier than 7-8 months. Onions and garlic containing essential oils irritating the mucous membrane of the stomach, intestines, kidneys - only from 8-9 months, spices - from 9 months and older, better after one and a half years.

How to feed your baby?

A new dish should be offered not once, but at least 10-12 times, and only after the baby stubbornly refuses it, switch to another type of vegetables. After the child has not taken one or another vegetable, do not go straight to porridge, try another, sweeter vegetable.

How to make complementary food puree?

You can make your own vegetable feed using both fresh and frozen vegetables. To do this, boil them, then make mashed potatoes (in a blender or using a regular crush). Add a little vegetable or melted butter (no more than 3-4 grams).

Oil is another new complementary food product that children get to know from the moment they introduce vegetable puree or porridge. It is a source of nutrients, energy, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E). Vegetable oil is allowed to be introduced from 4.5 months, butter - not earlier than 5-6 months.

Complementary food - porridge

Two weeks after the baby gets used to the vegetable puree, you can begin the introduction of cereal complementary foods. The most convenient dry instant cereals. To prepare them, you just need to mix dry powder with warm boiled water and stir. The advantage of these products (as well as canned baby food) is their guaranteed chemical composition, safety and saturation with essential vitamins, calcium, iron and minerals. You can also use dry milk porridge that requires cooking, flour for baby food, as well as ordinary cereals, previously ground on a coffee grinder. It is important to emphasize that gluten-free cereals should be used as the first cereal complementary food - rice, also buckwheat and corn flour; other cereals - rye, wheat, barley, oats - contain gluten. It is the main protein in cereals and can cause unpleasant symptoms such as pain and bloating in babies. The principles of introducing cereals are the same as for other types of complementary foods - start with one type of cereal, gradually, a week after the introduction of the first porridge, try another type, even later - you can switch to porridge from a mixture of cereals.
Do not sweeten industrially produced cereals
It should be borne in mind that the child is only getting used to new tastes, and his future eating habits depend on how well he is taught to eat in the family. As a consequence, the habit of sugary food can lead to obesity and related diseases.

How to introduce a new complementary food product?

You need to start with one type of least allergenic product. The interval between the introduction of various complementary foods should be at least 5–7 days. While the baby begins to try something new, you should carefully examine the skin every day for the appearance of any rash, and also monitor the stool. If rashes appear or the nature of the stool changes (frequent and liquid), it is necessary to cancel the complementary food dish and consult a doctor.

A new product should not be introduced if the child is unwell or during preventive vaccinations, it is undesirable to start in hot weather.

It is recommended to give a "novelty" before breastfeeding - then a hungry baby is likely to react positively to food. In addition, it is better to offer a new dish in the morning to monitor the baby's condition throughout the day.

Complementary foods are given to the baby only with a spoon, and not through the nipple.

You should not strive for excessive variety in the diet of a small child; for a start, 2-3 types of vegetables introduced progressively (one per week) are enough. It is necessary to adhere to certain schemes for introducing new products into the baby's diet.

An example of the introduction of cereals and vegetable purees:

1st day -1 teaspoon (5g)

2nd day - 2 tsp (10g)

3rd day - 3 tsp (15 g)

4th day - 4 tsp (20 g)

5th day - 50 ml (50g)

6th day - 100ml (100g)

7th day - 150 ml (150g).

An example of the introduction of vegetable and melted butter:

if a child eats industrial cereals, they already have oil and should not be added additionally.

1st day -1 drop

2nd day - 2 drops

3rd day - 5 drops

4th day - ¼ tsp

5th day - ½ tsp. (3d)

Nutrition for a child 6 months old (the volume of porridge and puree is up to 150 ml, the frequency of feeding is 5-6 times a day)

First feeding. Formula or breast milk
160-200 ml

Second feeding. Porridge
150 ml

Third feeding. Vegetable puree
150 ml

Fourth feeding. Formula or breast milk
160-200 ml

Fifth feeding. Formula or breast milk
160-200 ml

Sixth feeding. Formula or breast milk
160-200 ml

An approximate scheme for the introduction of foods and complementary foods during natural feeding of children of the first year of life:

	Child's age, months							Note
	3	4	5	6	7	8	9-12
Fruit juices, ml	5-30	40-50	50-60	60	70	80	90-100	from 3 months
Fruit puree, g	5-30	40-50	50-60	60	70	80	90-100	from 3.5 months
Curd, g			10-30	40	40	40	50	from 5 months
Yolk, pcs				0,25	0,5	0,5	0,5	from 6 months
Vegetable puree, g		10-100	150	150	170	180	200	from 4.5-5.5 months
Milk porridge, g			50-100	150	150	180	200	from 5.5-6.5 months
Meat puree, g					5-30	50	60-70	from 7 months
Fish puree, g						5-30	30-60	from 8 months
					200	200	400-500	from 7.5-8 months
					5	5	10	from 7 months
Rusks, biscuits, g				3-5	5	5	10-15	from 6 months
		1-3	3	3	5	5	6	from 4.5-5 months
Butter			1-4	4	4	5	6	from 5 months
Whole milk		100	200	200	200	200	200	from 4 months

An approximate scheme for the introduction of foods and complementary foods during artificial feeding of children of the first year of life:

Name of foods and meals	Child's age, months
	0-1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9-12
Adapted milk formula or "subsequent" milk mixtures, ml	700-800	800-900	800-900	800-900	700	400	300-400	350	200-400	200-400
Fruit juices, ml				5-30	40-50	50-60	60	70	80	80-100
Fruit puree, g				5-30	40-50	50-60	60	70	80	80-100
Curd, g						40	40	40	40	40-50
Yolk, pcs							0,25	0,5	0,5	0,5
Vegetable puree, g					10-100	150	150	170	180	180-200
Milk porridge, g						50-100	150	170	180	180-200
Meat puree, g							5-30	50	50	60-70
Fish puree, g									5-30	30-60
Kefir and other fermented milk products or "subsequent" mixtures, ml								200	200-400	200-400
Bread (wheat, top quality), g								5	5	10
Rusks, biscuits, g							3-5	5	5	10-15
Vegetable oil (sunflower, corn)					1-3	3	3	5	5	6
Butter						1-4	4	4	5	6
Whole milk					100	200	200	200	200	200

Keep in mind that the schemes are approximate and, if the child is fully breastfed and develops normally (this should be decided by the pediatrician), all the timing of the introduction of complementary foods can be shifted by 2-3 months. The table indicates that a child of his age can already eat.

Notes on the introduction of complementary foods:

• Whole milk is used for preparing complementary foods (vegetable purees and cereals).
• The amount of kefir depends on the volume of the adapted or "subsequent" mixture received by the child.

Fruit juices are given a little, first diluting 1: 1 with boiled water. Fruit puree is only introduced 2-3 weeks after the juice. Better to start with apple juice and puree. We exclude berries up to 6 months.

Recently, with natural feeding, the introduction of complementary foods is recommended with good weight gain from 6 months of age, so the tables are approximate. Before introducing complementary foods, consult your pediatrician.

The tables were developed in accordance with methodological guidelines No. 225 (1999) "Modern principles and methods of feeding children in the first year of life" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.

The proposed recommendations for feeding children in the first year of life are based on the results of the analysis of modern world scientific literature and our own research. Their validity is also confirmed by the clinical experience of observing children in the first year of life.