Obesity, stomach ulcers, caries... Parents who incorrectly introduce complementary foods expose their children to such dangers.

How to introduce a baby to food as safely as possible? I will tell you about the 5 most common mistakes when starting complementary feeding.

And ours is already eating borscht!

How to ruin a child’s gastrointestinal system? That's right - introduce complementary foods early, inconsistently and in large quantities.

Research has shown that one of the main causes of gastroenterological diseases in children and adults is the introduction of new foods too early.

Until 4 months, a newborn’s gastrointestinal tract is simply not ready for adult nutrition. The child has very thin intestinal walls, enzymatic and immune system are not sufficiently developed, and the borscht beloved by the whole family for a baby can be simply life-threatening. As well as harmless orange juice or any other complementary food that you are in too much of a hurry with.

When should we start? The optimal timing for starting complementary feeding is from 4 to 6 months. They can fluctuate for each child within 1-2 months.

When is it time to introduce a new food?

• When a child begins to chew when a spoon, pacifier or toy enters the mouth;
• He stops pushing out thick food with his tongue;
• The baby is already starting to sit up on his own;
• His first teeth appear;
• And he also shows interest in food from the adult table.

You need to start complementary feeding with 1-component purees. Give it at the beginning of feeding, when the baby is hungry. The first portion is 1 teaspoon in the first half of the day, when the baby feels good, cheerful and satisfied.

Gradually increase the volume to the age norm. Pay attention to the reaction of the baby's body. If everything is fine, then after 3-4 days you can try a new product.

To maintain breastfeeding, it is recommended to supplement your baby's breastfeeding after each meal.

When is complementary feeding inappropriate?

When a child is sick or has just recovered, a new product cannot be introduced into the menu. During such a period, the baby’s body is at the limit of its capabilities, all forces are thrown into the fight. Therefore, there will be practically no left for digestion of food.

If it still joins, then the food can even cause disgust.

How to help a child’s body cope without harming it?

• Don't force your child to eat

In a sick child, the need for food is quite reduced, and if you force feed him, you can add problems with the intestines, liver, kidneys, heart and other organs to the underlying disease.

• Give your child as much water as he wants

Yes, there are no nutrients in the water, but with recovery water balance She's doing great.

• Don't wake your baby to eat

He will be able to eat when he wakes up.

Note to moms!

Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me too, and I’ll also write about it))) But there’s nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too...

It is best to give food in small portions, but often.

From complementary feeding to obesity?

Mothers often do not notice that they are doing something wrong. To the doctor’s questions “Why do you give cookies to a child of 4-5 months?” or “Why do you sprinkle sugar on already sweet apples?” they answer: “The baby wants it so much!” Well, should he be happy about something? He’s an adult!” Or even “He sleeps better this way!”

As a result, the baby’s risk of not only being overweight, but also diabetes mellitus. Overeating, as well as sweets in the diet of a child in the first year of life, can lead to obesity in childhood, and then in adulthood.

And few people know that already at the age of 12 months, many babies have early stages of caries. And the reason for this is unhealthy, overly sweet food, constant juices and sweetened yoghurts, which the child sometimes drinks every night.

As a result, the diagnosis of circular caries is very common, that is, the enamel is affected from all sides.

Allergy

It is very often inherited. If one of your relatives has this feature, you need to be more careful with complementary foods. Allergies can manifest themselves on the skin, as well as in the form of a runny nose, swelling, and upset stools.

Children under one year old should definitely not be given:

• Sausages;
• Store-bought confectionery sweets;
• Pickles, fatty meats;
• Red berries and vegetables, citrus and exotic fruits; mushrooms; nuts; honey;
• Seafood; various seasonings and sauces;
• Chips and carbonated drinks;

Whole cow's milk and egg yolk It’s also better not to add it to food.

Sometimes allergies can also be caused by overfeeding and an inconsistent feeding regimen.

Better late?

“And my child at 8 months has not tried anything except mother’s milk!” - this is how some mothers brag on the Internet. But introducing complementary foods too late is also a mistake.

The nutritional value of breast milk lasts a child up to 6 months, sometimes later. But it is not enough for a child of the second year of life.

Late introduction of complementary foods can cause such problems, How:

• Delay in physical development child due to lack of nutrients;
• Threat of developing anemia;
• The child learns to chew late and has difficulty - which means digestive problems arise;
• It is more difficult for him to perceive new tastes and smells.

Don't make mistakes that will be difficult to correct later!

I hope these simple tips will help you avoid them!

We also read:

Hi all!

Oksana Litvinova is with you. Today I will tell you about for our children and what the consequences of improper introduction of complementary foods may be.

Let me start with the fact that quite by accident, on one of the well-known sites (rather on the most famous forum for young mothers), I read an article about complementary feeding and I was very indignant)))

It said that breastfeeding can lead to growth retardation, cannot meet the growing needs for microelements and inhibits psycho-emotional development. Therefore, complementary foods should be introduced from 4 months. So I think how much the manufacturers of artificial formula and baby food paid the authors to write this nonsense.

So, we need to dot all the i’s in this matter. Knowing certain rules, you can protect your child from some chronic diseases and, oddly enough, make your life easier.

When should complementary foods be introduced?

The first complementary foods should be introduced no earlier than 6 months.

The World Health Organization, UNICEF, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ministry of Health of Canada, the Royal Australian College of Physicians - these and many other authoritative organizations have conducted a number of studies and scientifically proven the facts real harm for health in cases of earlier introduction of complementary foods. You can read detailed information on the official websites of these organizations.

Moreover, the majority of children will become sufficiently developed and physiologically ready for the introduction of complementary foods at the age of 6-9 months. If there are allergy sufferers in the family, doctors recommend starting complementary feeding at one year of age.

The ancient science of medicine, Ayurveda, which modern doctors are now turning to more and more often, also recommends starting complementary feeding for absolutely all children no earlier than one year.

This was the case at all times until about the 40s. To prove your words, look at this poster. In 1940, he hung in all hospitals with “Our children should not suffer from diarrhea!”

Feed your baby up to 6 months only breast milk.

- From six months, prescribe complementary foods as directed by your doctor.

This suggests that in the 40s doctors came to these conclusions. So why are so many mothers now introducing their children to adult food so early?

Recently in in social networks witnessed how mom 5 one month old girl I posted a photo of a child with a piece of kebab in his mouth. In fact, an adult doesn't even need to eat it. Haven't you read the truth about meat yet? everything is written in detail. Some mothers in the comments even began to brag about which of their children started eating adult food first and gave up breastfeeding themselves. Indeed, some people think that earlier child If everything is there, so much the better. This is a very serious misconception originating from Soviet times.

The situation in the country at that time was simply terrible: famine, revolution, civil war, repression... Our grandparents had a very difficult time. Women were forced to combine hard work and feeding. This is where feeding according to a regimen appeared, although no one had ever thought about this method of feeding before. Naturally, women needed to be weaned off the breast as early as possible in order to work and not burst, and secondly, with regular feeding, milk quickly disappears. That is why, and not because of a good life, children began to be taught to eat so early. I will soon publish an article “The History of Breastfeeding in Russia.” All these points will be described in detail there.

Now WHO, breastfeeding consultants, consultants on natural complementary feeding, as well as modern doctors who are engaged in self-development, improve their skills, and do not just treat according to Soviet books, and are trying to return everything to its place. When should complementary foods be introduced? This topic is of great concern to both doctors and parents.

So why can’t we introduce complementary foods early?

1. Physiology of children.

The gastrointestinal tract of a child under 6 months is simply not ready to digest food other than breast milk. Everyone knows that enzymes are needed to digest food. So in children they begin to develop from birth and, for example, the enzyme pancreatic amylase helps digest carbohydrates, but it develops only by the age of six months. Enzymes for breaking down carbohydrates such as maltase, isomaltase and sucrase begin to work at full capacity around seven months of age. In children up to 6-9 months, in addition, there is low level lipase and bile salts, so fats begin to be absorbed in the same way as in adults, only by the age of 8-9 months.

What's going on inside digestive system when there are not enough enzymes to break down food?

Of course, problems such as bloating, increased gas production, constipation, diarrhea, which means tears, anxiety for babies and their parents.

You will say: “I fed the children from 3 months, but everything was fine with us.” This is only at first glance. Even if nothing bothers the baby, the stomach of absolutely every baby is very sensitive and if you look from the inside at the stomach of any baby who was introduced to complementary foods early, it will be bright red, i.e. inflamed This means that your child will definitely have gastritis at an early age; later, most likely, gastric and duodenal ulcers, constipation, and possibly chronic pancreatitis and gallstones will occur. As a result, skin problems, depression and much more. Your child is 16 years old and you are wondering what the reason is? Just remember children's age up to 1 year... And everything will become clear. I repeat once again that these are proven facts by numerous studies and experiments.

Here why you can’t introduce complementary foods early from a physiological point of view.

2. Early complementary feeding provokes allergies.

In children, there are gaps between the cells of the small intestine that close by 6-7 months of age. Adults do not have these gaps. This is what nature came up with so that large macromolecules could freely penetrate through these gaps into the bloodstream. For a child who is on breastfeeding this is wonderful, because thanks to this, beneficial antibodies from breast milk more easily penetrate into the baby’s circulatory system, but large protein molecules from another food, which is the reason allergic reaction in future. Also, pathogenic microorganisms easily penetrate through these gaps. In the first 6 months, while the gaps between the intestinal cells are open, antibodies (immunoglobulin A) contained in breast milk line the baby’s digestive tract and create "passive" immunity, reducing the likelihood of diseases and allergic reactions until the gaps close.

3. Early complementary feeding increases the risk of anemia.

A number of studies have been conducted and it has been found that with exclusive breastfeeding for up to 7 months there are almost no cases of iron deficiency anemia. But in the case of early complementary feeding, there are many such episodes. This is because the introduction of iron and iron-fortified foods, especially during the first six months, reduces the effectiveness of iron absorption in the baby.

4. Early complementary feeding helps to weaken the baby’s defenses and provokes the development of diseases.

It has been proven that breast milk contains more than 50 immune factors. Probability of respiratory infections, otitis in any period childhood is significantly reduced if the baby's only food for at least 20 weeks was breast milk, and no other food was introduced during this period. Of course, at any age of a child, breast milk protects him from many diseases, but in the period up to 6 months there should be only it.

I told you about 4 reasons why you shouldn’t introduce complementary foods early, but there are many more. For example, early complementary feeding, obesity and excess weight in children are interconnected, early introduction of complementary feeding helps and it is simply easier to introduce complementary feeding to an already matured baby.

So, now we know when to introduce complementary foods. We also know why complementary foods should not be introduced early.

But the question remains: if all this is known, then why do many pediatricians still advise starting to feed infants from 3-4 months. Why do so many disputes arise between doctors and parents on this topic?

Previously, from the 40s to the 80s, mothers had to go to work from the age of 3 and 6 months. And it happened before. The children were sent to nurseries, where they were fed kefir, semolina porridge and cow's milk. You understand that with such a meager diet, children had an acute shortage of necessary substances and therefore complementary foods were introduced so early.

These foundations existed for so long that 2 generations of people grew up on them. And imagine how many doctors work the old fashioned way. Many pediatricians now rely on the 1999 scheme, which is long outdated, but local doctors are not offered anything else. But not everyone, unfortunately, wants to develop themselves. Medicine is moving forward by leaps and bounds, diseases were previously incurable, but now they can be treated quickly. Therefore, medicine is a field where standing in one place is disastrous for patients.

Paretskaya Alena, pediatrician, member of the Association of Consultants for natural feeding, member of the IACMAH association, child nutrition specialist early age,project Manager " Children's doctor“In his article “New rules for introducing complementary foods” he writes:

“Introduction of complementary feeding healthy babies at 4 months and at 6 months are completely different things. A difference of two months can cause health problems for many children. Therefore, I would like to hear more specific recommendations, closer to the WHO recommendations: “Complementary feeding products should be introduced at approximately 6 months of age.” The WHO “Guide to Nutrition for Young Children” states that the ability to feed foods thicker than breast milk appears at about 6-7 months, and before this period the baby simply cannot eat anything other than breast.

At the 54th (2001) and 55th (2002) World Health Assembly, resolutions were adopted for all WHO members called “Infant and young child nutrition”. In these guidelines, paragraph 4 states that there is “a need to strengthen interventions and develop new approaches to protect, promote and support exclusive breastfeeding for six months... to ensure safe and appropriate complementary feeding with continuation of breastfeeding for up to two years or more.”

When analyzing eight manuals and manuals for practicing pediatricians, published from 2007 to 2011, only the manual “Fundamentals of Outpatient Pediatrics,” ed. A.A. Dzhumagazieva adequately approaches the introduction of complementary foods, taking into account the main modern tendencies and based on WHO recommendations. All other manuals offer unmodified modern conditions and WHO recommendations for the scheme."

So, I told you about this to all children, regardless of the form of nutrition. Both artificial babies and infants. Why you can’t introduce complementary foods early why is it dangerous?

Next time I will tell you where to start complementary feeding and what you should never do at this stage. Therefore, quickly subscribe to updates to be the first to know the news.

Best regards, Oksana Litvinova

As the baby grows, so does his menu. Gradually it becomes almost the same as that of mom and dad! But still, these are specially prepared dishes.

Vegetable puree

This type of complementary feeding is usually prescribed to children no earlier than 5 months. It is better to start with puree from one type of vegetable, as this allows you to avoid food allergies, which are often observed in infants when using multi-component mixed dishes. But later you can move on to them.

On the 1st day of introducing vegetable puree, a serving of 5-10 ml (1 - 2 tsp) before feeding, and then supplemented with breast milk or formula. It is necessary to monitor the nature of the stool. If it remains normal (yellowish-brown, without mucus, greens, or lumps), then the next day the amount of puree can be increased to 30-50 ml.

Usually, within 1 week, one feeding is completely replaced with vegetable puree and increased to 130-150 ml. The second week is reserved for complete adaptation to the new food.

A variety of vegetables are gradually included in the puree, each type in turn for 5-7 days (zucchini, cauliflower, white cabbage, potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, etc.). By adding them one at a time, it is easy to track which of them cause allergic reactions in the child and eliminate them from the diet in time

Cook at home

To prepare vegetable puree at home, you need to take one type of vegetable, for example, cauliflower, rinse thoroughly, put in an enamel pan, add water and cook until tender. Drain the water, but not completely, mash well, add 3-5 ml vegetable oil(sunflower, olive), you can add a little boiled milk and stir until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

Porridge

This dish is given to the child approximately 2 months after the start of complementary feeding. If the baby received his first spoonful of juice at 4 months, then it’s time for him to try porridge at 6 months. And if complementary feeding began when the baby was six months old, porridge is introduced at 8 months.

The first thing the baby is given is porridge that does not contain the vegetable protein gluten (it can cause damage to the cells of the small intestine in young children - celiac disease and allergic reactions, since babies a few months old have a deficiency of the enzyme peptidase, which breaks down gluten). At the beginning, rice, buckwheat, corn are recommended, then oatmeal, and after a year - semolina porridge. Start complementary feeding in the same way as in the case of juices and purees - with 5-10 ml before breastfeeding. It is better to do this in the morning, and vegetable puree, to which the baby is already accustomed, can be transferred to later late time. On the 2nd day, the amount of porridge increases to 30-50 g, and in a week the volume of one feeding is increased to 130-150 g. The second week is reserved for complete adaptation to the new product. Add 3-5 g of butter or baby cream (10%) in a volume of no more than 50 g to the porridge, which can also be used in preparing vegetable purees.

When introducing 2 complete complementary foods into the baby’s daily diet, it is advisable to separate them by taking breast milk or formula, for example, 6-00 - breast milk, 10-00 - porridge, juice, 14-00 - breast milk (or formula), 18-00 - vegetable puree, 22-00 - breast milk.

Modern industrially produced porridges are prepared immediately before consumption. They are divided into dairy and dairy-free (for children with milk intolerance), as well as those that need to be boiled and those that do not require cooking. These baby cereals have proven themselves well; they are enriched with vitamins, minerals, and iron, taking into account the physiological needs of babies in their first year of life. A number of cereals (both dairy and non-dairy) contain fruit and vegetable additives. In addition, industrially produced porridges that do not require cooking significantly save time. But sometimes they can cause allergies in children predisposed to this disease due to the various additives they contain.

Children's porridge should be prepared strictly following the recommendations for the cooking method indicated on the packaging. It is also necessary to observe the terms and conditions of storage of both opened and unopened packages.

Cook at home

Cooking porridge at home is also easy. The cereal can be pre-ground in a coffee grinder to the state of flour (of course, the coffee grinder should not contain coffee residues) or the already prepared porridge can be broken in a mixer until a homogeneous mass is obtained. It is better to cook the cereal in water, and immediately before feeding, add 20-30 ml of breast milk or the formula that the baby usually eats. This will improve the taste of the dish and make it more “familiar” for the child. At first, the porridge should be liquid (5 g of cereal per 100 grams of water), but gradually you can make it thicker.

When can you cook porridge with milk? Recently, many nutritionists have strongly recommended postponing a baby’s introduction to whole milk until a later age: according to some data, up to a year, according to others - up to 2-2.5 years, since recently the number of cases of food allergies to cow’s milk protein has increased significantly. .

Cottage cheese

This milk product introduced into the child’s diet no earlier than 6 months. (If the first complementary foods were introduced at 6 months, then, accordingly, from 8 months). They start giving it with 0.5 teaspoon (according to the same rules as other types of complementary foods), after a month the portion is increased to 30 g, and by the year - to 50 g per day. Sometimes, with insufficient weight gain, the amount of cottage cheese increases. However, in every specific case It is necessary to consult a doctor, as cottage cheese is rich in protein, calcium, and a large number of This product may lead to obesity and high blood pressure in the future.

The modern food industry produces children's cottage cheese, which is prepared from natural cow's milk using a special starter culture. In terms of fat composition, it can be milk (4.5%) and creamy (10%). In addition, natural fruit, berry and vegetable fillings are often added to the composition of cottage cheese for children, which allows not only to diversify the assortment, but also to enrich the baby’s nutrition with plant fibers, vitamins and microelements. However, children with a tendency to allergies should be given cottage cheese with fillers with caution.

Cook at home

You can prepare cottage cheese for your child yourself. Of course, the question may arise, why do this if this product is on sale?

The answer is simple: at home you can always be sure of its quality and freshness. In addition, self-cooking makes it possible to prepare cottage cheese of the desired consistency and in the required quantity. The methods for making homemade cottage cheese are quite simple and, in principle, remain the same as many centuries ago. You just need to keep in mind that this is a perishable product, so it should only be stored in the refrigerator, and no longer than 2-3 days.

1. Cottage cheese with sourdough

Required Products:

Milk: 1 l;
50 - 75 g kefir, yogurt or sour cream for sourdough

Preparation:

Milk is boiled and cooled to a temperature of 35 - 40 degrees. Then the starter is added to it, mixed and left until the milk acquires the consistency of curdled milk. After this, the sour milk is heated over low heat until the whey separates. Then take a colander, put gauze in it and pour the heated mass onto it. The whey flows down, and the gauze with cottage cheese is tied and hung so that the excess moisture drains completely. If you want the cottage cheese to be denser, place a board treated with boiling water with a weight on the semi-finished product in gauze. After 5 - 6 hours, the cottage cheese is ready. You can do without sourdough, but then the milk must sour on its own, and this requires a longer time.

2. Cottage cheese without leaven

Required Products:
kefir 600 g

Preparation:

One-day kefir is poured into a clean saucepan, covered with a lid, and placed on water bath and cook over low heat for 30 minutes. During this time it should curdle. After this, remove the pan from the heat and place it in a bowl of cold water. The cooled cottage cheese is placed on a sieve covered with clean gauze, lightly squeezed and rubbed through the same gauze. From 600 g of kefir you get 100 g of cottage cheese.

Yolk

From 7 months, babies are given the yolk of a chicken egg (if the first complementary foods were introduced at 6 months, then the yolk is introduced at 9 months). Start with 1/8 of it and gradually increase the portion to 1/2 yolk per day. This product is unacceptable in the diet of children with allergic diseases. If you are prone to allergies, quail egg yolk is recommended.

To prepare such complementary foods, you need to thoroughly wash the egg with running water and boil it for at least 10 minutes, then remove the protein, which is the main allergen in the egg, and take that part of the yolk that did not come into contact with the protein. After this, it needs to be kneaded and given to the baby along with breast milk or added to vegetable puree.

Meat

From 8 months, the child’s daily menu includes meat purees - a source of protein and easily digestible iron (if the first complementary foods were introduced at 6 months, then meat should be given from 9-10 months). For healthy children, meat purees are given starting from 5 g (1 teaspoon), and by the age of one year they are gradually increased to 60-80 g. It is better to start with turkey, beef, and lean pork.

Cook at home

You can prepare meat puree at home. To do this, fat-free meat, cleared of veins and films, must be boiled, finely chopped with a knife and minced at least twice. The resulting minced meat can be mixed with vegetable puree or milk (mixture). To save time and effort, you can take a different route: prepare meatballs from raw minced meat, put them in the freezer and use as needed. They can also be boiled together with vegetables, and then chopped together in a blender.

Important Limitations

Chicken meat should not be used in the diet of children with allergies, and the menu of children with allergies to cow's milk protein should not contain veal and beef. If a child is allergic to many types of foods, it is best to use horse meat, venison, and rabbit meat for complementary feeding. And in children with anemia, meat puree can be introduced earlier than 7-8 months. From 8-9 months you can give meat in the form of meatballs. They are prepared as follows: meat without fat, films and veins is passed through a meat grinder twice, the crumb of white bread is soaked in milk and added to the minced meat, then the mass is passed through the meat grinder again. To make the minced meat more fluffy, beat it thoroughly. Then small balls are made from the bread and meat mass and steamed or boiled. By the year you can cook baby and steamed cutlets. The minced meat for them is made in approximately the same way as for meatballs, but the serving size should be about 10 g larger.

If you don’t have a special pan for cooking steamed dishes, you can put the meatballs or cutlets in a bowl, fill halfway with water, cover with a lid and cook in the oven. Meat broths are not used in the nutrition of children of the first year of life.

Kefir

As recent studies have shown, the use of this fermented milk product by children 6-8 months old can lead to pinpoint hemorrhages in the intestines, so kefir can be given to babies starting from 9-12 months in an amount not exceeding 200 ml. Baby kefir and kefir enriched with bifidobacteria are sources of protein, some vitamins and mineral salts. They are prepared from natural cow's milk using a starter containing kefir grains, which ensure better absorption of lactose and protein. Enrichment of kefir with bifidobacteria has a positive effect on intestinal flora, reduces the risk of developing infectious diseases, and normalizes the activity of the digestive tract.

Other complementary foods

You can also diversify the menu of a growing baby with special baby cookies, which quickly dissolve under the influence of saliva. Thus, there is no danger that the child may choke on crumbs. These cookies are given to babies starting at 7 months. But despite all the safety of the mentioned product, the baby should not be left alone with it. The baby can stuff the entire cookie into his mouth and will not be able to cope with such a volume. If a child does not show interest in liver, it can be “masked” by dissolving it in juice or mixing it with cottage cheese or fruit puree.

From 7-8 months, wheat bread in the form of crackers is introduced into the baby’s diet, which the child happily tries to bite with 1-2 teeth that have recently broken through, or even just with his gums.

From 8-12 months it is recommended to treat your baby with fortified milk. However, due to the high ability of this product to cause allergies in the menu of children of the first year of life, it is better to use it in small quantities - only for preparing cereals and vegetable purees.

Children 10-12 months old can be given low-fat fish (cod, pike perch, hake, etc.) instead of meat puree 1-2 times a week if they are not allergic.

In addition, from 8-12 months, the baby will benefit from specialized baby milk (not creamy!) yogurt with a moderate content of fats and carbohydrates.

We feed correctly!

When feeding your baby, you should not be guided by your own, “adult”, tastes. There is no need to sweeten your child's food or add baby food salt and spices. The natural amount of carbohydrates and minerals contained in vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish completely satisfies the baby’s needs. Do not reheat food or reuse leftover crumbs of food. For feeding, it is better to use a plastic (silicone) spoon with smooth edges.

You should never force your child to eat. You should be prepared for the fact that he will reject some new tastes. However, the preferences of a young gourmet are usually changeable, and therefore a dish that has fallen out of favor can be prepared for him again, after some time.

Some children love liquid food and are willing to eat a lot of it, while others prefer thicker food in smaller quantities. Sometimes the baby eats a whole plate of porridge, and sometimes only a spoonful. In addition, babies often ask for a drink while eating. Don't deny them this - after taking one or two sips, they will continue eating. And there is no need to be upset if not everything goes smoothly during the process of feeding your baby. The main thing is that the child is healthy and gaining weight well.

Every mother sooner or later wonders how to introduce complementary foods to her child? Many listen to grandmothers based on their experience, many look for information on the Internet, some trust doctors. But 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 produces many results for the query “complementary feeding for children in the first year of life.” Many of the articles contain very strange and dangerous information. It is for this purpose that this article contains all the information about the most correct introduction of complementary foods. For convenience, a table of complementary feeding for children up to one 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. infant, keep your baby’s digestive system healthy and properly introduce complementary foods to your baby.

When can and should you introduce complementary foods to an infant?

Very often, grandmothers, recalling their long-standing experience in this matter, recommend starting complementary feeding earlier. The child is 3 months old, and the first complementary foods from his grandmothers will not take long to arrive. The main thing is not to let grandma do this! Previously, indeed, such early complementary feeding could be recommended, but times change, and science does not stand still. According to many studies, it has been proven that the introduction of complementary foods to a breastfed child should begin no earlier than 6 months. Babies who are on artificial feeding, they can start getting acquainted with new food a month earlier, they can, but they shouldn’t. It is quite acceptable to start feeding them complementary foods at 6 months. Why can't we introduce complementary foods earlier? Until 6 months, complementary feeding is not only unnecessary, but also harmful. A child under 6 months does not have the necessary enzymes that could digest new types of food. It follows that even if you start giving him new food earlier, it will not be absorbed and will be useless. If food is not digested, it creates additional stress 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. infant. Up to six months, he has enough nutrients received from breast milk or formula. Children who eat formula, their enzyme systems may mature a little earlier, so it is permissible to introduce complementary foods to a child at 5 months.

A single rule for introducing complementary foods for each type of food is that any new product is introduced at 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 breastfed and bottle-fed children

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

7 months Porridge: 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 feeding to a child at 6 months

Complementary feeding is introduced to the baby on a monthly basis. Only one type of new food is introduced per month. Vegetables are usually introduced first. The exception is children with underweight; for them, cereals are introduced first, then vegetables. Vegetable puree is given at lunch. The best order for introducing vegetables is: zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots.

Vegetables that are least likely to cause an allergic reaction are introduced first. Pumpkin and carrots are introduced last, as children are often allergic 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 baby’s feet and palms.

The puree should always be one-component at first. To mix different types vegetables are possible only when the baby tries them separately and he does not have a reaction to any of them. A new type of food is always offered to a hungry child.

If you are planning to prepare vegetable purees yourself, then there is no need to be afraid, in fact it is very simple. Vegetables are pre-washed in running water and, if necessary, peeled and seeds removed. Chopped vegetables are placed either in a saucepan or in a double boiler. It’s better, of course, to steam it, as more nutrients are retained. Ready vegetables are ground in a blender with the addition of water or vegetable broth. The consistency should be liquid, similar to kefir. As your baby gets older, you can give him thicker purees. Ready puree cannot be stored. Every day you need to cook fresh. You cannot add salt, sugar or other spices.

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

1 day - 5 grams (1 teaspoon) of zucchini puree, then if breastfeeding, supplement with breast milk, if artificial - with formula.

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 cauliflower puree and increase the volume as in the previous week. You can add zucchini to cauliflower if there is no reaction to it. And so on. This scheme will be applicable to other types of complementary feeding, where a different scheme will not be described.

If the child does not eat the entire portion, it means that a smaller amount is enough for him; there is no need to force him to finish eating. Remember that eating habits are formed in the first year of a child's life.

The first month of introducing complementary foods has passed, what should I give at 7 months?

The next thing the baby is given is porridge. It is important that the cereals are dairy-free and gluten-free. Cow's and goat's milk should not be given until at least one year of age. They negatively affect the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, are not absorbed and increase the risk of gastric and intestinal bleeding. If your baby doesn't want to eat dairy-free porridge, then you can add some breast milk or formula, depending on your baby's feeding type.

Up to a year, a child should receive only those cereals that do not contain gluten. Gluten can trigger the development of celiac disease, a severe pathology of the small intestine. Gluten-free porridges include rice, corn and buckwheat. This variety is enough for a child in the first year of life. You can cook your own porridge, but you don’t need to.

There are many baby cereals available in grocery stores. Many are afraid to buy them, but in vain. These are the same cereals, industrially crushed, boiled and dried. Therefore, all that is needed to prepare them is to add water. They are not treated with any chemicals for quick cooking.

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 his stool has changed, or whether there are any allergies. The reaction may not appear on the first day, but with increasing volume of the new product. Therefore, you should not introduce several different new foods at the same time and should slowly increase the volume!

Complementary feeding at 8 months This month has a lot of variety. During this period the following is introduced: meat yolk potatoes Potatoes are introduced later than other vegetables, as they are considered a highly allergenic product. It is administered starting from 5 grams, at the end of the week it is necessary to reach a volume of not 150 grams, but only 50 grams. Potatoes should not make up more than a third of the volume of the total vegetable puree. The yolk can be quail or chicken. Quail is preferable, as it is less likely to cause 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. Next week you can give one quail or half a chicken yolk. Continue to give in this quantity 2 times a week. The yolk is given in the morning feeding. It is easier to grind 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 feed pork until it is 1-1.5 years old. Meat is introduced into lunch with vegetables, weighing 5 grams. At the age of 8-9 months daily norm meat consumption no more than 50 grams. By the age of one 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 prepare meat puree themselves - a convenient method of preparation

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

9 months - time to introduce your baby to fermented milk products

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

Fermented milk 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 age of one year you can give 200 ml of kefir. Not all children like kefir; some may refuse to drink it. This is not a reason to “introduce” your baby to sugar by adding it to kefir. It is better to offer your child kefir after a couple of weeks or a month. It's okay if he doesn't drink it for a while. There are children who never drink it at all, yet they grow and develop 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 one be selective. It is recommended to give fruits grown in our country. It’s best to save tropical fruits for later. You can give applesauce, pear or prunes. Most children already have teeth by this time and can chew pieces of fruit. The introduction of each fruit should begin with 1 teaspoon or one small piece. You can give about 100 grams of fruit 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 by babies). The main thing that a baby under one year old needs to grow is proteins and fats. Fruits are a delicacy containing carbohydrates and abundance fruit acids, which greatly irritate the mucous membranes. Store-bought fruit juices are especially useless in this regard - they are essentially a squeeze of these acids, and also devoid of useful properties natural freshly squeezed juice. Regarding drinks - from 7 months you can try giving your baby herbal tea, and after the child tries prunes, you can cook dried fruit compotes (apples, prunes), dried apricots can be added after a year.

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

Sometimes problems arise after introducing complementary foods to the child, for example, constipation, diarrhea, allergic reaction, tummy pain, as a result of which the child becomes restless. If any of these problems occur, it is necessary to discontinue the product that caused this reaction. Re-introduction of the product is recommended no 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 what makes him uncomfortable due to the immaturity of enzyme systems.

Therefore, in the case when a child does not want to eat complementary foods, refuses, there is no need to force him, try to make the 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 of them has a couple of compelling arguments in her pocket. Both sides are right. You can cook it 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. The introduction dates indicated on the banks have nothing to do with real standards. This is marketing and the “fresh” the product, the better the expiration date should be indicated without corrections. 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 should not be given to babies before one year of age and what they mistakenly like to feed infants Juice! A favorite recommendation from grandmothers. You don’t have to 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-bought juices are not only not healthy, but also harmful). Semolina porridge and other gluten-containing cereals. Fresh vegetables cause bloating and are difficult to digest. Sweets, including cookies. Tropical fruits. Cow and goat milk. What a mother should remember about complementary feeding of her baby Follow these recommendations and do not give the child too much, since introducing complementary foods to the child correctly is very important, the health of his digestive system in the future depends on it. Complementary feeding for up to a year is an introduction to new food, and not full feeding. You should not give a new product more than once a week. You cannot introduce several new foods at once. Complementary feeding is only the necessary macro- and microelements, and not pampering or treats. You should not take this playfully, experimenting with products, your child’s health depends on it. Salt, sugar and other spices should not be given at this age. To our “spoiled” taste buds, a simple zucchini in 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 quantity; adding salt is an excessive burden on the baby’s kidneys. With the introduction of complementary foods, you need to start giving your baby water if he is breastfed and has not drunk it before. If someone recommends giving new food when the child is 3 months old, complementary feeding in the form of anything, then explain that this cannot be done. And before there were many problems from this, but they were not diagnosed. If a child refuses to eat complementary foods, do not rush, you need to take a break for a week and try again.

All parents, without exception, want to see their children strong, healthy, physically and intellectually developed. Food is the source of all necessary nutrients, microelements, vitamins and immunoglobulins for normal height and the development of the baby, therefore proper nutrition of the child plays a vital role in his life.

Basic rules for introducing complementary foods

The first product should be one-component, that is, you should not mix several new types of foods in one plate, otherwise it will be impossible to track which product caused a rash or other manifestations of food allergies in the child.

The product must be homogeneous- i.e. thoroughly crushed and pureed, without lumps. Otherwise, the presence of inhomogeneities may cause the child, who is not yet ready for solid food, to refuse any food other than mother’s milk or formula for a long time. This is due to the presence of a gag reflex. It helps the baby to automatically push the object out of the throat to prevent the baby from choking. If something hard gets into the baby's mouth, his tongue moves forward and down to push the object out. The gag reflex remains with a person for life, but the pushing part of it disappears by about 6 months. It is because of this reflex that it is so difficult for a child to swallow solid food introduced too early.

New product is always introduced in the first half of the day to eliminate the need to suffer in the middle of the night with a suddenly swollen tummy or diarrhea.

Complementary feeding is given to the child only from a spoon, not from a bottle. The baby is growing up, and he needs to learn the skills of eating not only through sucking.

New product is given before breastfeeding or formula feeding.

New products cannot be introduced 7 days before vaccination and within 7 days after vaccination.

New products cannot be introduced if the child is sick. This will be an additional burden on the baby’s body, which is already weakened by the disease.

Each product is administered within 5-7 days, starting with 1 teaspoon (for fruit, half a teaspoon).

If one product is completely introduced, then the new one is introduced as follows: 1 teaspoon of the new product, then 3 tablespoons of the old product, and the last spoon of the new product again. Then we supplement with breastfeeding or formula.

You should not give your child snacks between meals. A child's stomach is very small, therefore, the saturation signal comes to the child’s brain very quickly and he will simply refuse to eat.

To ensure that your baby always eats with appetite, you shouldn't force him to eat if he does not want and does not need to pour large portions, it is better to pour a little less. Should be considered taste preferences child. Some children enjoy eating fruits, vegetables and meat, while others prefer dairy products and various cereals.

Sometimes a child begins to eat poorly if something bothers him. You should not expect a big appetite from a child who has recently been ill. In younger children Appetite worsens during teething.

Buying ready-made purees or preparing them yourself is a serious question that everyone decides for themselves. About the important aspects of this choice in more detail

Where to start complementary feeding

Today, pediatricians and pediatric nutritionists recommend feeding a child with breast milk for up to 6 months, without any complementary foods. For children who are bottle-fed or mixed-fed, complementary foods can begin to be introduced at 4 months.

Here is the approximate sequence of introducing new foods into your baby’s diet:

from 4 months - vegetable and fruit purees, cereals

from 6 months - cottage cheese, yolk

from 7 - 8 months - meat

from 8 months - poultry, cookies

from 8-9 months - fermented milk products, fruits

from 9-10 months - fish

Here is an approximate scheme for feeding a small child during the day:
breast milk (formula) → porridge → vegetables with meat → cottage cheese + fruits + cookies → fermented milk product → breast milk (formula) Next, we will dwell in more detail on each of the products .

The first products for introducing complementary foods

The first porridge for complementary feeding

If a child is underweight, porridge is introduced first. The first three cereals that are used when introducing complementary foods are: buckwheat, rice, corn - do not contain gluten. This protein contained in cereals (oatmeal, wheat, etc.) has another name - gluten. Many people suffer from gluten intolerance, which results in an acute allergic reaction. In children, it usually manifests itself in the form of diarrhea, exhaustion, and bloating. That is why gluten-containing products (not only cereals, but also cookies, crackers made from wheat or rye flour) are introduced into the baby’s complementary feeding carefully and not in the first months.

It is worth noting that if a child is prone to constipation, then rice porridge should be put aside.

When it comes to preparing porridge, there are 2 options: grind the cereal in a blender and cook it yourself, or buy porridge in packs that do not require cooking, but are diluted. Regarding the latter, it is better to give preference to fortified and sugar-free ones. Ready-made porridges come in dairy and dairy-free varieties. It is worth noting that dairy-free cereals usually contain a sweetener. Milk porridges are diluted with water, dairy-free porridges can be diluted with water, baby formula, breast milk or special “baby milk” (on a pack of such milk it is indicated “baby milk from 8 months”). Porridges are diluted according to the instructions on the pack with heated liquid.

Porridges are introduced gradually, starting with 1 teaspoon per day. Then, if the child tolerates this product well, completely replace one milk feeding with porridge.

After all the grains have been introduced separately, it is better to offer the child multi-grain porridges.

Vegetable complementary foods

If the child has no problems with weight gain, then vegetables can be safely used as the first complementary foods. Nutritionists recommend starting with vegetables rather than fruit purees, because a child, having tried sweet fruit purees, may refuse healthy vegetables in the future. Also, vegetable complementary foods will be very useful for children suffering from constipation.

The first vegetables in a child’s diet are recommended: broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, potatoes- exactly in this sequence. Before cooking potatoes, they must be soaked in cold water within 1.5-2 hours. You can start vegetable complementary feeding with 1-1.5 teaspoons.

Fruit purees and juices for complementary feeding

Perfect as a first fruit for a child - apple, pear, prune, banana. The best option there will be a baked apple. It is recommended to start fruit complementary foods with half a teaspoon, gradually increasing the portion to 30-40 g per day.

Among the juices, you should give preference to apple and pear. Freshly squeezed juices should not be given to small children. They begin to introduce juices with 5 ml per day, gradually increasing the portion to 30-40 ml per day.

Cottage cheese for complementary feeding

If the child has no problems with the fontanel closing, cottage cheese can be introduced from 6 months. If the child’s fontanel closes very quickly, the introduction of cottage cheese is postponed.

Cottage cheese is administered carefully, starting with 5 g per day, gradually increasing the portion to 30-40 g per day. By approximately 12 months, the serving of cottage cheese per day increases to 100g. To introduce the first cottage cheese, it is recommended to use “baby” cottage cheese from 6 months.

Yolk for complementary feeding

The egg yolk, like cottage cheese, is introduced very carefully. Stop yourself from choosing larger village chicken eggs for your child. To reduce the risk of an allergic reaction, nutritionists recommend start with quail eggs. Be sure to wash your eggs thoroughly before boiling.

You should start with 1/8 of the yolk, gradually increasing the portion to the whole. The yolk needs to be mashed and add to vegetables or porridge.

Meat feeding

As the first meat product in the baby's diet, turkey and rabbit. According to pediatricians' recommendations, veal is postponed for more late date(after one year), due to the risk of allergies, especially if the child has such a reaction to milk or formula.

If you decide not to use canned meat puree, then boil the meat in a second broth, i.e. after the water with the meat has boiled for 5 minutes, it is drained, the meat is filled with new water, and the meat is cooked in the “second” water. The meat must be boiled and pureed; you should not add salt to it, the baby does not need it in additional quantities. You can mix meat with vegetables, thereby diversifying the baby’s diet.

Meat is introduced into vegetable feeding starting with 1 teaspoon, increasing the portion to 50g per day.

Cookie

For 8 one month old baby When it comes to cookies, it is better to opt for “baby” cookies from 5 months. It differs from classic cookies in that upon contact with saliva it almost immediately turns into mush, which eliminates the risk that a baby who is not ready for solid food may choke.

Little children should not be given cookies as a snack between meals, otherwise they may quickly become full and refuse to eat a full meal. Cookies are usually offered to a child for an afternoon snack along with cottage cheese and fruit.

Fish feeding

You should start introducing fish into your child’s diet only after introducing meat. You should start with white species - cod, hake, pollock. Red fish is introduced much later due to the fact that it very often causes allergies in children.

Fish is also introduced, starting from 5g, gradually increasing the portion to 50g. It should be noted that fish is given to a child no more than once a week.

Fermented milk products for complementary feeding

Offer your child yogurt and kefir, the packaging of which is marked “for children from 8 months”. Kefir is also introduced gradually. If the child tolerates this product well, completely replace one milk feeding with a fermented milk product.

Making a menu

You should create an approximate menu for the child and calculate its calorie content. The amount of calories for children from 6 months to a year should be 800 kcal. The child's diet should first of all be varied. This makes it possible to provide the child’s body with everything necessary for its proper development components and prevents the child’s appetite disorder. By introducing certain foods into your child’s diet, you can improve your health and correct some disorders.

It is necessary to prepare for the baby using various ingredients and diluting the resulting vegetable or meat puree with formula, breast milk or water.

Gradually, children switch to 4 meals a day. They can be fed most of the dishes prepared for the whole family. You just need to avoid adding spices and give the food to your baby pureed first. It should also be remembered that proper nutrition is not only a set of certain foods, but also the presence of the first skills of cultural behavior. Before feeding, be sure to wash your child’s hands; the child’s eating utensils should be beautiful, clean and safe.

For information on how to competently develop eating habits in children under one year old, read the article by a child psychotherapist.

Food for the baby should be balanced, healthy, tasty and always fresh.