Why is early feeding dangerous? When to introduce complementary foods while breastfeeding

27.04.2019

Immediately after the first difficulties of breastfeeding are over, the mother faces another serious problem - the first complementary foods. The recommendations given in this case by thematic sites, district pediatricians and girlfriends with grandmothers are very different from each other, so inexperienced women are simply lost in a sea of conflicting information. How to introduce the first complementary foods correctly, and what age is optimal for this?

Several decades ago, it was believed that the first complementary foods for babies who feed exclusively on breast milk should be introduced at three months. But today this scheme is recognized not only as incorrect, but also dangerous for the health of the child.

In the body of an infant who has not yet reached the age of six months, there are no enzymes necessary for the digestion of new food, therefore "adult" foods create a strong load on his digestive tract.

In addition, up to six months, the child has enough nutrients and vitamins that he receives from mother's milk, that is, the earlier introduction of complementary foods simply does not make sense. Such measures are advisable only for medical reasons - for example, in cases where the child is not gaining enough weight. True, it is also not recommended to introduce complementary foods too late, since at 7-8 months the baby can already perceive unfamiliar food much worse.

To get acquainted with new food, the child must have a sufficiently formed nervous system for this, as well as some skills and reflexes.

There are a number of signs by which one can determine his readiness for the introduction of the first complementary foods.

The child has the first chewing movements, the sucking power increases, and the gag reflex moves from the middle of the tongue to its root.
Having completely emptied the mother's breast, the baby continues to show signs of hunger.
Taking an interest in adult food and first trying something from a parent's plate.
When a mother tries to offer her child a new product, he does not try to push the spoon away.
The baby can sit in one place for a long time and take food with his hands.

If a baby has at least three of the five above symptoms, it means that his body is quite ready to get acquainted with new dishes.

In order not to harm the baby when introducing complementary foods, the mother must follow several important rules:

new products are introduced into the child's menu no more often than once 7-10 days;
it is impossible to introduce the child for the first time immediately before or after vaccinations, with a change in climate, after illness, during teething, etc.;
food should be given to the baby when he is hungry, and in no case should he be forced to eat what was offered;
initially, all complementary foods (for example, vegetable purees) should be prepared from one vegetable: you can mix different vegetables or cereals only when the child has already tried each of them separately;
complementary foods should not be a reason to stop breastfeeding - it is not intended to replace breast milk, but to supplement it.

Where to begin?

There are two options for introducing the first complementary foods, each of which has its own disadvantages and advantages. The first is a more modern and radical option, which is called pedagogical feeding, as well as the traditional scheme, that is, the introduction of special baby food (purchased or prepared with one’s own hand) into the diet. The choice of the most optimal scheme, of course, is up to the mother.

Features of pedal feeding

The main principle of pedigree feeding is to acquaint the baby with the food familiar to his family, thanks to which he can quickly "join" the diet. Of course, this does not mean that half-year-olds should be immediately fed fried and fatty adult foods. You need to start feeding with tiny (no more than a quarter of a teaspoon) portions of boiled or steamed food, which should be prepared appropriately: chop or grind.

The list of products that can be included in pedal feeding includes:

boiled meat and fish;
dairy products;
boiled and steamed vegetables;
fruits;
cereals and side dishes (peas, potatoes, beans, etc.).

At first, the baby is just getting to know the taste and texture of the new food, after which its amount begins to gradually increase. This complementary feeding scheme gives children the opportunity to develop communication skills, fine motor skills and coordination, and also forms the foundations of good nutrition for the rest of their lives.

Complementary feeding with baby food

The first foods that are recommended to be introduced into the baby's diet are white vegetables (cauliflower) or green vegetables (zucchini, broccoli), since they rarely cause food allergies. Then pumpkin and carrots are added to them, and the latter is given to the child no more than 2-3 times a week along with other vegetables, otherwise yellow-orange spots may appear on his feet and palms. An exception to this rule is children with insufficient weight gain - in this case, complementary foods begin with gluten-free cereals.

It is not recommended to start complementary foods with fruit juices or fresh fruits - they have a sweet taste, which is why the child immediately begins to develop cravings for sweets, and in addition, they can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing digestive upset.

There is a special scheme for the introduction of new products, drawn up by WHO experts, which is recommended for all breastfeeding women.

Type of complementary foods	Optimal age for introduction	How to enter correctly	Recommended serving size
Vegetables	6 months (in the presence of appropriate indications, 5 months)	Green and white vegetables (except potatoes) are introduced first in the form of mashed potatoes	To begin with, it is recommended to give ½ tsp, and then gradually bring to the volume of one feeding (100-200 g)
Vegetable oils	6 months	It is recommended to introduce olive oil first, after sunflower and corn oil, which are added to puree	From a few drops (up to a teaspoon)
Porridge (dairy-free)	6.5-7 months (with insufficient weight gain from 4-5 months)	The first to be introduced are cereals that do not contain gluten (buckwheat, corn, rice), after which multi-cereal cereals can be introduced	With ½ tsp. (up to 100-200 g)
Butter	7 months	As an additive to porridge	From 1/8 tsp. (up to 10-20 g)
Fruits	7-8 months	As a one-component puree, gradually transitioning to a multi-fruit puree	With ½ tsp. (up to 100-200 g)
Milk porridge	8-9 months	First, gluten-free cereals (buckwheat, corn, rice), and in the absence of allergies and gastrointestinal disorders, you can introduce oatmeal and multigrain	With ½ tsp. (up to 100-200 g)
Meat	8 months	For a start, turkey, rabbit, veal is recommended, after which gradually introduce chicken and beef (pork is not recommended as a complementary food)	With ½ tsp. (up to 100-200 g)
Eggs (yolks)	8 months	It is recommended to start with quail eggs, as they are less likely to cause allergies than chicken eggs.	From 1/8 tsp chicken (if the egg is quail, then from ¼), bringing to ½ (whole quail) per day
Baby biscuits	9-10 months	Maximum 5 pcs. in a day	From small pieces (about 1/8) to a whole cookie
Dairy products	9 months	Special baby sour milk	With ½ tsp. (up to 100-200 g)
Cottage cheese	9 months	Special curd without additives	With ½ tsp. (up to 50 g). From the age of one, you can give 100 g
Offal	9-10 months	As part of multicomponent puree, at first more than 1-2 times a week	With ½ tsp. (up to 50-100 g)
A fish	10 months (in the presence of allergies - from 12)	Steam or boiled, twice a week	With ½ tsp. (up to 150-200 g)
Fruit juices	10-12 months	To begin with, give clarified juices diluted with water (1 to 1 ratio), preferably apple	With ½ tsp. (up to 100 ml per day)
Porridge (semolina, pearl barley, millet, etc.)	12 months	Start with well-cooked multi-component cereals	From 2-3 tsp, (up to 200-250 g)
Berries	12 months	Puree (preferably bright berries)	With ½ tsp. (up to 100-150 g)

When introducing complementary foods, the baby immediately needs to start its own dishes: a plate and a spoon. A special spoon can be purchased at the pharmacy - it can be silicone or plastic (some mothers use silver spoons).

Bottle feeding for babies is unacceptable, even if the manufacturer indicates that it is specifically designed for this purpose. Getting to know the nipple is the first step towards ditching your mother's breast and developing unhealthy eating habits.

Introducing the child to new products, it is very important to monitor the reaction of his body - for this it is recommended to keep a special diary in which the mother will write down each of them (time of introduction, quantity, etc.). If a baby suddenly has food allergies, constipation or other digestive problems, it will be very easy to identify the culprit with the help of records. The product that caused such a reaction should be excluded from the diet for at least a month.

It is very important to remember that with the introduction of complementary foods, the nature of the child's stool will in any case change. Vegetables contain fiber, so they can slightly loosen stools (which is why they are especially recommended for children prone to constipation). Different fruits also affect the digestive system in different ways: more watery fruits (for example, kiwi, apples, apricots) have a laxative effect, and denser ones (bananas, pears), on the contrary, have a fixing effect.

The first complementary food activates the liver and the enzymatic system, which can cause the stool to take on a greenish tint or blotches of mucus and undigested pieces of food. If the child feels normal, such phenomena should not scare the parents - after the stomach learns to "work" with unfamiliar foods, the stool immediately returns to normal (this usually happens within about a week).

One should not rush with the introduction of new products, otherwise the child may refuse complementary foods altogether - in order for the baby to fully get used to a particular dish, he must try it at least 10 times. In case of a categorical refusal from a particular product, you can go a little trick - add a little breast milk to mashed potatoes or porridge. Having felt the familiar taste, the baby will happily eat what is offered.

Puree and porridge for the first feeding can be bought in specialized stores or prepared by yourself. To do this, you need to take vegetables, rinse them well in boiled water, if necessary, peel and seed them, chop finely, then boil or cook in a double boiler (the second option is preferable, since steaming saves more nutrients). Grind boiled vegetables with a blender with the addition of a small amount of broth or water.

The consistency of the product should be liquid, reminiscent of kefir. When the baby grows up a little, you can give him a thicker puree, and closer to 10-11 months, vegetables should simply be kneaded with a fork so that the child learns to chew. It is impossible to store ready meals for complementary feeding - each time you need to prepare a fresh portion.

To prepare porridge for the first feeding, you need to rinse and dry the cereal well, then grind it in a coffee grinder and boil it with boiling water (you can add a little breast milk). In no case should the child be forced to eat everything without a trace - the main purpose of complementary foods is not to feed the baby, but to familiarize his body with adult products, the formation of correct eating behavior and skills that will be needed in the future.

Video - the first feeding

Complementary food is the food assigned to infants when they reach certain age periods and physiological norms. Such food is intended to supplement mother's milk or an artificial mixture, whose composition and calorie content can no longer satisfy the increased needs of the baby.

Since the foundations for the child's further lifestyle and health are laid in the first 12 months, each parent needs to imagine at what age it is better to start feeding the babies, how to properly introduce complementary foods and what food should be given in each month.

The question of how many months you can feed a child worries every new parent. But there is still no definite answer, there are only recommendations.

It should be understood that age alone cannot be a “symptom” of children's readiness; several important characteristics of child development should be taken into account, for example:

The complex of all the signs of readiness manifests itself in different children at their age. As a rule, the introduction of complementary foods occurs in the interval from 5 to 8 months (all individually).

With natural feeding, when the child's needs for the main nutrients are completely satisfied with milk, it is not worth rushing to introduce complementary feeding. Children who are bottle-fed are given complementary foods at 5 months.

What is the threat of early feeding?

Parents should understand that it is better to be a little late with feeding than to introduce it prematurely.

For example, complementary foods at 4 months are fraught with not the most favorable reactions from the digestive tract, which is not yet ready to accept new products.

Starting complementary feeding too early leads to the following problems:

Due to the lack of necessary digestive enzymes, abdominal pain, intestinal colic, regurgitation, and stool disorders may occur. That is, complementary foods from 4 months will be useless at best, since the products will not be absorbed.
Another serious consequence is allergic conditions, the cause of which is the increased permeability of the intestinal walls for allergic particles and the immaturity of the child's defense system. At the same time, the immunity of babies suffers, as a result of which they get sick more often and for a longer time.
Complementary feeding at 4 months and earlier may even pose some danger to the baby, if he still does not know how to swallow thicker food than milk or formula. An undeveloped swallowing reflex can lead to vomiting, loss of interest in food.
The increased load experienced by immature internal organs (liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract organs) may result in their chronic diseases.

Another likely consequence is that the introduction of complementary foods before 6 months of age leads to a reduction in breastfeeding, as a result of which lactation may be terminated.

Of course, this rule does not work if the baby is.

Thus, it is better to start feeding a child at a suitable age and only after the approval of the doctor who is observing the baby.

In order for the first feeding of the baby to pass without "accidents" and leave only pleasant impressions for the mother and child, it is worth learning the rules for introducing complementary foods.

They look like this:

A new product should be given to a child who is absolutely healthy and in a good mood. You should not begin acquaintance with complementary foods if children were vaccinated.
The first complementary food should be one-component, that is, consist of only one dish. If the baby is used to a new product, they give the next one, and so on. Last but not least, you should give cereals with fruit additives, vegetable mixtures with a meat component.
Before buying commercial food, be sure to review the composition to exclude products that include highly allergenic ingredients.
It is imperative to feed the baby with an unfamiliar product in the morning in order to track the response of the child's body. During the day, mother needs to pay attention to the condition of the skin, feces and general activity.
Offer new food when the baby is hungry, and then supplement it with breast milk (if breastfed) or formula (if artificially fed).
The optimal amount of complementary feeding is half a teaspoon (or 3-5 grams), gradually the amount of complementary feeding increases to age indicators.
Do not give up the product, even if the child once brushed it off. To get used to a new flavor, you need to taste it well. This should be done at intervals of 3 days. If the toddler continues to refuse the dish, do not insist, but replace the product with a similar one (rice for buckwheat, pear puree for apple).
Watch the temperature regime. This should be done to avoid burns to the oral mucosa (the dish should be warm, not hot).
Make sure the dish is homogeneous (uniform). Lumps cause difficulty in swallowing and rejection of the product in the child.
Avoid feeding your baby directly from an industrial container. Food is laid out on a plate, otherwise saliva will fall into the jar, as a result of which the dish will become unsuitable for further storage.
It is necessary to give the next dish only after the kids are completely accustomed to the previous one. Usually the time frame is about 2 weeks.
Combine several foods. For example, you should not give two liquid (milk and juice) or two thicker (mashed potatoes and porridge) dishes at one meal.

You need to feed your children very carefully and with great patience. It will take a long time for your baby to learn to swallow foods that are thicker than breast milk or formula. That is why you should not be nervous and worried if something does not go as you would like.

First products for a baby

The first complementary foods should include foods with a neutral taste. This must be done so that the bright aftertaste does not force the baby to reject new food or, on the contrary, to exclude the preference of one dish to all others.

That is why, for example, experts do not advise adding sweet and aromatic juices or fruit purees to the first complementary foods. Of course, they are much more attractive than zucchini or meat products, which is why it is necessary to exclude the formation of incorrect taste preferences at an early age.

It is not so important at what age you start introducing new products - complementary foods at 5 months with artificial feeding obey the same principles as complementary feeding from six months with breastfeeding.

Baby feeding table by month

Age	Products
Half a year	Vegetable purees: squash, pumpkin, carrot, and cauliflower or broccoli.
6-7 months	The baby's menu includes cereals, gluten-free are best suited. You can make porridge from buckwheat, rice or corn grits.
7 months	The child can be given mashed potatoes from familiar vegetables, spiced with olive oil. It is also allowed to make vegetable soups for children.
8 months	For an older baby, products made from boiled meat (chickens, turkeys, rabbit meat, beef) are suitable, they also give egg yolks
9 months	It is already possible to give fermented milk products - low-fat kefirchik and cottage cheese.
10 months	At this age, fish dishes are given - low-allergenic cod, pollock. Completely new dishes are also suitable for babies - berry puree, natural yogurt. For the crumbs, mashed apples, pears or peaches are prepared (unless, of course, the child is allergic to them).
11 months	The child is offered soups on meat broths without frying. You can give a small piece of bread, oatmeal, millet, barley porridge.
Year	Most of the meals in the adult diet are suitable for the baby.

This table is for informational purposes only. It should be understood that the amount of complementary foods will depend on the type of food.

With natural feeding, milk remains the main product, and when feeding with a mixture, the main "dish" is the mixture.

In addition, the table shows how the consistency of the complementary foods changes. After six months, the baby's chewing power grows, so he can eat various purees (vegetable, fruit). After 7 months, when chewing skills are more perfect, they give mashed, chopped dishes.

And only after 12 months in babies there is a stable work of the jaws, at the same age, chewing becomes more adult. Usually, at one year old, the baby is transferred to the family table with some reservations.

WHO advises to introduce vegetables into the first complementary foods, however, if babies are underweight, it is better to give cereals. We will be guided by the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Experts advise the following order of vegetable feeding:

First of all, you should make mashed potatoes from hypoallergenic vegetables. Pumpkin and carrot dishes are among the last to be introduced, since babies often have allergic reactions.

Once again, you need to start with one-component dishes. Mixing different vegetables is possible, but when the child enjoys them separately, and you notice the absence of allergic reactions. The novelty is given only to a hungry baby.

How to make a vegetable dish yourself? Very simple. Zucchini or broccoli should be rinsed under running water, peeled and seeds removed.

To understand how to introduce complementary foods in six months, you need to consider an example - the vegetable introduction table will show all the nuances of properly feeding babies.

Vegetable introduction table

Day	Dish	Quantity (in grams)	Features of complementary foods
1	Squash puree	5	The introduction of complementary foods is best done in the morning, then milk or a mixture is given.
2		10
3		20
4		40
5		70	From this day on, you should make mashed potatoes with the addition of vegetable oil.
6		120
7		120
8	Squash puree and cauliflower dish	5+115	Prepare 2 types of purees, which are first served separately (with a short break), and then mixed. You can add a little olive oil.
9		10+110
10		20+100
11		40+80
12		70+50
13	A dish of cauliflower and butter	120	One-component meals are prepared for children.
14	A dish of cauliflower and butter	120	One-component meals are prepared for children.
15	Squash or cabbage puree with asparagus platter	5+115	Prepare 2 types of purees. The first is from the already familiar fruit, the other is from asparagus cabbage. First they are offered separately and then mixed. A drop of olive oil is added.
16		10+110
17		20+100
18		40+80
19		70+50
20	Asparagus puree	120	The baby is fed with a one-component product with the addition of vegetable oil.
21	Asparagus puree	120

The table shows that the "introduction" of three fruits into the children's menu will take about 21 days. Care should be taken to bring each dish up to the age indicators, since the indicated grams do not mean that the child must be forced to finish everything to the end.

Complementary feeding at 7 months

Another option for both the second and the first feeding is porridge. It must be remembered that cereals must be gluten-free. Also, you cannot cook porridge in cow or goat milk, since the organisms of children under one year old are not able to assimilate this heavy product.

If the child refuses to eat dairy-free porridge, add a little of your own milk or formula to it. This will help the baby get used to the new product sooner.

Gluten-free cereals include rice, corn, and buckwheat. Such an assortment will satisfy the needs of the little gourmet. Porridge containing gluten can cause severe pathological conditions of the intestines.

In pharmacy chains and specialized departments of supermarkets, you can buy the most suitable porridge for babies. Some moms are afraid to buy them, but their fears are unfounded.

Manufactured in an industrial environment, they are absolutely safe and enriched with all useful components.

You need to give cereals according to the scheme proposed in the table above. When feeding them, you need to monitor the condition of the child: whether the stomach hurts, whether the emptying of the intestines is disturbed, whether a rash has appeared on the skin. You cannot combine various cereals!

At this age, the introduction of complementary foods becomes more varied. The kid is growing up, which means that he is already allowed dishes that are more difficult for a child's stomach:

Potatoes are introduced later than the rest of the fruits, since they are hyperallergenic vegetables. The mother should first give the child 5 grams, and by the seventh day, bring the volume to 50 grams. Potatoes should not exceed a third of all vegetables in a child's diet.

It is better to feed an eight-month-old baby with quail yolk, since it rarely becomes a source of allergies. This product is given twice a week. And for the first time you should pour a pinch on a spoon, the next time - half a quail or a quarter of a chicken yolk.

In the next 7 days, a whole quail or half of an ordinary yolk is given. An important rule is that you need to feed the baby with this product in the morning, rubbing with milk or adding to the porridge.

The most are turkey and rabbit. It is from them that mashed potatoes are prepared, then veal, beef and chicken are given.

Pork meat should not be given to a child under one year old at all. Meat purees should be introduced at lunchtime, the volume is a teaspoon.

Good to know! If you want to puree the meat yourself, make a clean mince, shape into small meatballs. Boil them in boiling water for 6 minutes, then freeze. You need to get them out of the freezer and boil them in a double boiler with vegetables, after which this mixture is crushed and given to the child. This prevents the meatballs from sticking together.

During this age period, children are introduced to fermented milk products, and they are introduced very carefully. Of course, you cannot feed babies with cottage cheese, which is sold in packs, especially with various additives.

For a child, a special baby cottage cheese is suitable - for example, "Agusha", "Tyoma". The purchased dish should not contain sugar, fruit pieces.

First, a teaspoon is given, then it is gradually brought to 30 grams per day. For babies of this age - the optimal dose.

Kefir is given in the amount of 1-2 teaspoons. Of course, this drink must also be for the baby, for which the mother should choose a product without fruits, sugars and flavors. Then the volume is brought to 150 milliliters. It is best to offer kefir and cottage cheese in the evening.

Important! Not every child has a positive attitude towards kefir and curd, but you should not sweeten the dish. Wait 2-3 weeks and offer the product again. Some babies do not like "sour milk" at all, but they develop and grow up quite normally.

Feeding a 10 month old baby

At 10 months, the baby is pampered with desserts in the form of sweet fruits. The most useful are fruits that grow in close areas. Exotic fruits are put off for later.

First of all, puree from apples, pears or prunes is given. By this age, many children acquire teeth, as a result of which they are already able to chew fruit slices. Fruits are introduced from a small volume - about 5 grams of puree or a small slice. The daily "dose" is approximately 100 grams of the product.

Some moms will be surprised to read that healthy fruits come so late. There are many opinions on this, but experts are sure that with natural feeding, there are enough vitamins in breast milk, and for artificial people they make mixtures enriched with vitamin complexes.

Thus, fruits are not such a significant source of vitamin complexes, the most important elements for a baby are protein and fat ingredients. In addition, sweet apples contain a variety of fruit acids that irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth.

Another product being introduced is fish. There should not be a lot of it, and it must be low-fat and low-allergenic - for example, hake, cod or pollock. Experts recommend arranging a "fish day" for your child when this dish replaces mashed potatoes. Of course, the initial portion is minimal - less than half a teaspoon.

At this age, the baby is fed homemade soups with fresh herbs. Of course, the ideal option is borscht without frying with sour cream (now it is allowed). Green sprigs of dill or parsley should be grown in your own garden or in a pot on a window.

Bread spread with a slice of butter is ideal for a growing body.

At the end of 12 months, the child can also eat gluten porridge - barley, oatmeal and millet. However, they should be administered carefully to avoid negative reactions.

One-year-old children can already eat many dishes from the parent's table, but you need to forget about some of the favorite delicacies that some "irresponsible" mothers and grandmothers love to stuff babies:

Complementary feeding problems and mother's fears

Quite often, the beginning of complementary feeding is accompanied by the occurrence of constipation, diarrhea, allergies, painful sensations in the abdomen, as a result of which the child begins to worry and cry.

If the baby reacted in an unconventional way to the appearance of an unknown product in his diet, one should not completely abandon the dish.

Forget about it for 4-8 weeks, and then reintroduce it into the food, carefully monitoring the well-being of the baby. The second time, the product should be introduced as slowly as at the very beginning.

Another common difficulty that often arises when complementary feeding begins is that the child refuses the offered food. You should not insist, because the baby himself understands what he wants to eat, and which foods cause discomfort.

In addition, a certain difficulty arises if you need to make a choice - to cook yourself or buy ready-made food. Some parents are categorically against purchased products for babies, others are confident in the quality of store-bought complementary foods.

Experts believe that everyone is right, since cooking at home is much more profitable, especially for an older child who can eat almost any dish. However, food in jars is no worse, it is only important to adhere to the following rules:

do not pay attention to the timing of the introduction of the products indicated on the jars, be guided by the age standards;
choose the freshest products, making sure that they are not expired;
a children's dish should not contain various unnatural additives, flavorings, flavor enhancers, ideal nutrition - containing a minimum amount of ingredients.

Children's health largely depends on the correct introduction of complementary feeding and adherence to advice. However, it is important for parents to understand that all the recommendations described are approximate.

It is only a district pediatrician who can say exactly how many months a child can be fed. And the joint efforts of the mother and the doctor will greatly facilitate the baby's transition to adult food.

Hello, I am Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully completed her studies at SUSU as a special psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and consulting parents on raising babies. I use the experience gained, including in the creation of articles of a psychological orientation. Of course, in no way do I pretend to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers to deal with any difficulties.

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, it is optimal to give the first complementary foods to a baby at 6 months. It is at this age that the supply of iron in the child's body is depleted, and in the mother's milk this element also becomes insufficient. In addition, the crumbs' digestive system is already ripe for the digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates in non-dairy foods, as their own digestive enzymes begin to be produced. The child has the first chewing movements, the gag reflex moves from the middle to the back third of the tongue, and the baby stops reflexively spitting out thick food from the mouth.

Rule 2. It's better to start feeding your baby with vegetables

What product should you start your first complementary food with? The advice of pediatricians and nutritionists is to start complementary foods with pureed vegetables. The explanation for this recommendation is simple: cereals are the closest in taste to breast milk, so babies like them more. Having become accustomed to such complementary foods, babies may subsequently give up less tasty (or simply unfamiliar) vegetable puree. Especially green vegetable puree is recommended for children prone to constipation and overweight.

Attention! If the child has a loose stool, lack of weight, he suffers from colic, then the introduction of vegetables can aggravate the situation. In this case, choose porridge as the first complementary food.

Which vegetables to choose?

Low-allergenic fruits such as squash, cauliflower, squash, broccoli and light pumpkin are suitable for the first feeding with vegetables. A little later (from about 7-8 months), you can add potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beets to the diet of the crumbs. A little later (from about 7-8 months), you can add potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beets to the diet of the crumbs. Start the introduction of complementary foods with a one-component puree, which does not include salt, sugar, thickeners, with 1-2 teaspoons (10-20 g). Gradually, within 7-10 days, increase the portion to the age norm - 100-150 g.

Rule 3. Porridge in complementary foods: do without gluten

The next product that can be introduced into the baby's complementary foods will be porridge. According to modern recommendations, porridge is introduced after the child adapts to his first complementary food - vegetable puree. This occurs no earlier than 3 weeks after the start of the introduction of vegetables into complementary foods.

Low-allergenic cereals that do not contain gluten (rice, buckwheat, corn) are introduced first in the baby's menu. Gluten (gluten)- vegetable protein, which is part of the shell of the grain of wheat, oats, rye and barley. It is difficult to digest in the immature intestines of babies. As a result, with the early introduction of gluten-containing products into complementary foods (especially before 6 months), the child may experience pain in the tummy, bloating, stool disturbance, skin rashes and other negative reactions. In rare cases, in the presence of a hereditary predisposition, a baby may develop severe celiac disease, requiring adherence to a gluten-free diet (excluding all foods containing gluten) throughout his subsequent life.

Buckwheat It is gluten free and a great source of easily digestible vegetable protein, making it an excellent starting point for complementary foods. Due to its high fiber content and a small amount of starch, this porridge perfectly stimulates the intestines, so it is especially useful for babies who have constipation.
Rice it is considered a hypoallergenic product, so it is better to start with it to introduce complementary foods to children prone to food allergies. Due to the high starch content, rice porridge is well absorbed and does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract, so it is useful to give it to babies with unstable stools, but children suffering from constipation and overweight should not offer it too often.
Corn porridge hypoallergenic and high in calories. Cooked independently, it turns out to be too heavy to digest, but industrial-made porridge is easier to digest (since the corn grains have been specially processed), moreover, it is enriched with vitamins and, due to the absence of gluten, is suitable for the first feeding.

How to introduce porridge into complementary foods?

The principles of introducing cereals into complementary foods are the same as for other types of complementary foods - start with one type of cereal (from 1 teaspoon), gradually increasing its amount to 120-150 g. A week after the introduction of the first porridge, try another type, even later - you can switch to porridge from a mixture of cereals. Porridge for the first feeding should be dairy-free. They are bred with breast milk or formula that is fed to the baby. Milk cereals for complementary feeding are introduced into the child's diet at 8-9 months, and salt and sugar should not be added until at least 1 year.

Rule 5. Not all meat is suitable for complementary feeding

At 8-9 months, meat can be introduced into complementary foods. What kind of meat is most valuable for a baby? First of all, these are low-fat beef, pork, poultry, rabbit. But when introducing meat supplementary foods, it is necessary to take into account some peculiarities. So, in terms of nutritional properties, beef is a very valuable product, but if an infant is allergic to cow's milk protein, then the same reaction may be to beef. Veal and chicken for complementary meat, despite their tenderness, ease of digestion, can cause the same problem. Pork is more fatty meat, but if the baby is allergic to beef and chicken, it can be offered as a substitute for these products. Turkey and rabbit meat are hypoallergenic, they are quite suitable to start feeding meat with them. The baby is gradually taught to the full volume of mashed potatoes, starting, as usual, with an incomplete teaspoon and slowly bringing the volume of the meat dish to 30-50-70 ml, depending on the age of the crumbs (70 ml by 1 year).

Rule 6. Fruits in complementary foods: not all at once

At 7.5 months, you can offer your baby the first spoonful of fruit puree. Domestic pediatricians recommend starting fruit feeding with a green apple or pear - they rarely cause allergic reactions. If the baby has manifestations of allergies or his stool is unstable, then it is better to introduce him first to less allergenic apples, pears or bananas. And if the baby has constipation, you can first offer prunes or apricots.

How much fruit puree can you give your baby a day?

The daily allowance is equal to the age of the child in months, multiplied by 10 (for example, the volume of fruit puree per day for a child of 10 months is 100 g).

Based on the same principles, the baby's menu is introduced and fruit juices... The first are given one-component clarified juices without pulp (usually juice from green apples), starting with a few milliliters and gradually bringing the volume up to the age norm - babies 10-12 months old can be given 80-100 ml per day.

Rule 7. Only special cottage cheese is suitable for feeding a child

Cottage cheese is one of the first fermented milk products that can be offered to a baby. Offer the first spoonful of cottage cheese to your baby when he is 8-9 months old. Unlike kefir, this product has a low acidity and does not irritate the delicate intestinal mucosa of the crumbs. Remember that in the diet of children under 1 year old, you can use only special types of cottage cheese that are designed for a given age. Children's cottage cheese is produced using a special technology, due to which all useful properties are preserved in it and it has a more delicate consistency in comparison with the usual "adult" product.

In the absence of negative reactions to cottage cheese, its amount is brought to 40 g within 5-7 days, and by 9 months to 50 g. their work.

Rule 8. Fish menu for kids

Every mother thinks about which fish to start with. Despite the beneficial properties, fish appears on the baby's menu only by 9-10 months, and if the baby suffers from allergies, then acquaintance with this product should be postponed until 1.5 years. The fact is that fish protein is a strong allergen, and this type of complementary food should be treated with extreme caution. In the first year of life, fish can only be given to healthy babies who do not suffer from allergies to other foods.

What fish should I start with?

Hake, cod, haddock, pollock, flounder are considered suitable for the first acquaintance. They are dietary and less allergenic and have very few small bones. A baby under one year old can be given about 30-60 g of fish puree per day and no more than 1-2 times a week.

Attention!

Complementary feeding means feeding babies with food in addition to breast milk. But during the entire period of the introduction of complementary foods, breast milk should remain the main food of the child.

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:

Doubled weight
The kid's ability to hold an object in a fist and pull it into his mouth
The ability to sit and reach for a spoon while leaning forward or leaning back (head away) rejecting food offered
Interest in the food parents eat
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:

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
Skin condition. Any rashes are contraindications to the introduction of this product at this time
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:

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)
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
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.
It is better to introduce your baby to a new product during the first feeding - this way you can monitor the baby's reaction to food, and if the baby develops colic, it is easier for you to help him during the day.
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
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
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.
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 properly 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 outright 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.

At the beginning of complementary foods, many young parents grab their heads. The child does not want this, he cannot, it seemed possible, but the next morning he needed a triple supply of diapers. And the worst thing is that nothing can be predicted in advance. Or is it possible?

Experts are sure that most of the troubles can be avoided simply by looking closely at the child and choosing food, taking into account the individual characteristics of development. Their advice will help you do the impossible - transform feeding from flour into pleasure.

1. At what age should I start?

The first and most important question. Recommended periods range from 4 to 6 months. Moreover, the World Health Organization advises not to rush. If the baby suckles the breast well and gains weight, he doesn't need "adult" nutrition for up to six months. The child is quite enough of those vitamins, minerals and other useful substances that he receives from his mother's milk.

It's another matter if the baby is "artificial", gains weight poorly, suffers from anemia or rickets. Then complementary feeding can be started earlier, but only with the permission of the pediatrician and from the moment the baby turns full 4 months (until this time, the enzymes of the digestive tract cannot cope with the "adult" food).

2. Can I breastfeed longer?

In principle, it is possible (if there is milk), but it does not lead to anything good. Delaying exclusive breastfeeding for up to 8-12 months is harmful. On the one hand, the value of milk is gradually decreasing - the amount of immunoglobulins, enzymes and other active substances decreases. On the other hand, the energy needs of the child himself increase. He begins to lack nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates), vitamins. Do not forget that you simply will not have enough time to gradually introduce your child to new tastes. At 8-10 months, the baby already needs vegetables, fish, and meat - the introduction of all products at once can cause an allergic reaction.

3. Where to start?

In each specific case, this issue must be resolved individually. For most children, pediatricians recommend the introduction of complementary foods with vegetable or fruit puree. If the child does not gain weight well, they start with dairy-free cereals that do not contain gluten: buckwheat, rice, corn. Milk and cereal proteins are highly allergenic, so avoid all wheat derivatives (semolina, millet).

4. What applies to complementary foods?

Not every product is considered complementary foods. It includes 3 types of food, gradually replacing milk feeding.

It:
- Vegetable and fruit puree;
- Porridge;
- Meat and fish.

The rest of the products that the baby gets to know in the first year of life (cottage cheese, kefir, eggs) are called "nutritional correctors".

5. Is juice also complementary foods?

It was considered as such before - it was included in the concept of "training complementary foods" and was introduced from 1.5 months. Later, the juice was no longer considered complementary food, it was given from 3-4 months. Today, most pediatricians and nutritionists postpone the timing of acquaintance with juice to 1 year (the abundance of fruit acids can negatively affect the gastric mucosa and the first teeth). The opinion that juice is good for anemia is wrong. Iron is not in the form that is needed to correct iron deficiency anemia, and the volume of the juice itself is too small. If the baby has problems with stool, juice with pulp can be given from six months.

6. Vegetables or fruits?

Fruits are better crushed, contain less plant fibers, so it is easier for a crumb to swallow and assimilate them. If necessary, such mashed potatoes can be given from 4-5 months. But for the assimilation of vegetables, more effort is required, so they are recommended to be given from 5-6 months. There is one more difference. As a rule, kids love the sweet fruity taste and are eager to try new varieties. But if the baby first tastes the pear, the transition to unleavened zucchini will not be easy for him. If you do not need to introduce complementary foods for up to six months, it is better to start it with vegetables. Take advantage of the fact that after milk, the baby simply has nothing to compare the new taste with.

7. How to introduce new products?

To get started, choose one-piece dishes - zucchini, apple, or cauliflower. The product should be neutral in taste and low allergenic. For the introduction of each new taste, a period of 1 to 2 weeks is allotted. Complementary foods are given before breastfeeding or formula feeding. Use a spoon or cup to do this. Do not teach your baby to drink porridge, milk or juices from a bottle - over time, you will face the rejection of a spoon.

8. What if the baby spits out food?

Do not insist in any way. Give your baby time to figure out the new taste and form his own opinion about it. Try again the next day. If attitudes don't change, don't force feed. This can easily cause a negative reaction to any food intake and even vomiting. Better to wait a week or two and offer the product again. Some kids get used to the new taste only 10 times. And some don't get used to it at all. And this is not a reason to despair. In the end, crumbs have their own taste preferences, and this must be reckoned with. If he doesn't eat boiled broccoli, just replace it with another vegetable.

9. How much to put on a plate?
Start with a micro dose (food is literally at the tip of a teaspoon). If the baby is cheerful, the skin is clean, there is no stool disturbance, loss of appetite, anxiety, the next day you can increase the dose to a teaspoon and gradually reach the daily portion (see table). At the same time, avoid overfeeding - in large quantities, an allergic reaction may occur even to a familiar product. During illness, it is not worth offering a new type of food at all.

The daily volume of products 2-3 weeks after administration.

* This is only an indicative plan that helps the mother to assess how much and in what direction the child's nutrition needs to be adjusted.

10. How to expand the menu?

After porridge, various products are introduced: cottage cheese, egg yolk, kefir, vegetable oil, bread (black bread croutons). It is advisable not to give milk in whole form earlier than 1.5 years, and even after that in small volumes, since milk consumption is considered one of the risk factors for the development of food allergies and iron deficiency anemia.

The child, of course, needs fluid. In this case, fruit drinks (berries and fruits crushed in water), compotes (preferably from dry fruits, but also from berries, while observing the skin for an allergic reaction), children's teas (for example, chamomile) have been invented.

Thus, a menu is gradually being formed, which includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, - the distribution of dishes by the hour, which is customary for adults (of course, adhering to the principles of a healthy diet).

Breakfast- porridge with fruit puree or fruit.
Dinner- vegetable puree with meat or soup with vegetables and meat; be sure to give dry food to drink.
Afternoon snack- crackers or biscuits with some some drink.
Dinner- cottage cheese.

11. Do you cook yourself or buy food in jars?

It all depends on you. If you have neither the time nor the energy to find the right products and cook according to the age needs of your baby, it is better to buy food in jars. It is made from high quality raw materials, according to strict hygiene standards and contains the required amount of vitamins, regardless of the season. If you want to personally shape the taste preferences of your crumbs from the very beginning, our tips will come in handy.

Give preference to local, seasonal products: they contain the maximum of nutrients and a minimum of chemistry.

Observe the degree of chopping of the food. Up to 6 months homogenized, that is, highly crushed, homogeneous state. At 6-8 months - puree. From 9 months - eating in pieces.

Treat vegetables more carefully. Better to steam or boil them. As a last resort, simmer without oil. The blender will help you quickly grind and bring the vegetables to the baby in a warm form. Remember that you can store homemade puree for no more than 12 hours and only in sealed containers.

The first porridge must be boiled in water, after the introduction of fermented milk products - in milk and water (in a 1: 1 ratio). This will reduce the risk of food allergies and reduce the stress on the pancreas. Manufactured milk porridges contain an adapted milk formula, so they are easier to digest than cow's milk. The best porridge is on the water with fruit for sweetness (if the baby is already familiar with them). Try not to add sugar: there are plenty of carbohydrates in the diet.

It is better to introduce meat no earlier than 7 months, when the kidneys are ready for the load of removing protein breakdown products. Start with light varieties - turkey, lamb, lean pork. Then carefully move on to beef and veal (if you are allergic to cow's milk protein, they can cause an unwanted reaction). Chicken meat is allergenic, wait with its introduction up to 9 months. Grind the boiled meat well in a blender and serve with a side dish (for example, vegetable puree). A month after the start of the introduction, you can experiment with the form of serving: steamed diet cutlets, meatballs in soup ...

Fish is easier to digest than meat, rich in vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids. But it is allergenic, therefore, it is given no earlier than 9 months, starting with low-fat varieties (hake, cod).

12. How to avoid allergies?

Even in the absence of a family predisposition to allergies, about 5-15% of infants, according to statistics, are at risk. If you suspect your baby is particularly sensitive, try to follow these rules when buying puree cans.

Choose the simplest meals. It is desirable that they contain nothing but product and water. Additional ingredients (including salt) can trigger an unwanted reaction.

If you want to treat your little one to a complex dish, mix a few simple purees yourself (for example, broccoli and turkey). It's better than buying a "combo lunch".

When purchasing a new type of food in a jar (especially a multi-component dish), make it a rule to write down all its components in a special notebook. This will help you create a "black list" of foods to avoid.

If you are intolerant to dairy products, make sure that the product does not include cottage cheese or cream (fruit purees), butter (canned meat). Also, be careful with beef or veal (they may contain unwanted protein). Remember that some mashed potatoes are fortified with semolina starch - this is also not your choice.

When choosing dishes from vegetables and fruits, remember: the brighter the color of the fruit, the more likely an unwanted reaction will occur.

Fish is more allergenic than meat, so be careful with it. At the same time, it is better to give the meat to the crumbs without broth: due to the high content of extractive substances that are released from the meat during cooking, it is a rather strong allergen.

FACT. Toddlers 3-5 years old most often choose chips, crackers or soda in the store, which they saw in infancy in the hands of dad or mom. This discovery was made by scientists from the University of California.

How not to turn a kid into a fat one

The first year of a baby's life is the most crucial period for the formation of future relationships with food. Will your child subsequently crunch chips or carrots, largely depends on you.

Many experts associate food addictions with the early impressions of newborns - imprinting. By the age of 6-7 months, babies are extremely sensitive and receptive to visual, auditory and tactile sensations. All patterns of parenting behavior are unconsciously imprinted in memory. Of course, the little one will not reproduce them right away, but after a while he will “eat up” boredom, like mom, or just as bite as dad.

Respect your little ones' taste preferences. Many children dislike vegetables and herbs, but tastes can change over time. Adults who completely eliminate these foods from their diet are rare.

Don't contradict yourself. If you serve crumbs of broccoli, while sitting next to you yourself, gobble up smoked sausage, the baby willy-nilly will reach for forbidden foods. The birth of a child is the best incentive to finally switch the whole family to a healthy diet.

Treat your food intake with respect, as Asians do. Serve the juice in the same cup, spread the sandwich the same way. Any little things are very important for the baby, so you will imperceptibly accustom him to proper nutrition and avoid the habit of intercepting pieces along the way.

Serve your meals beautifully. Even your favorite tiny food can cause rejection if it is not neatly laid out on a plate. Toddlers want to see perfection in everything that surrounds them, and get very upset when reality does not live up to expectations. For the same reason, they so often refuse stewed vegetables and squash caviar - these dishes seem unattractive to them.

Parents, who are accustomed to eating approximately the same amount of food every day, are embarrassed by the baby's approach to nutrition "overeat - get hungry". Today he can have a hearty breakfast, but he will not touch dinner, the next day, on the contrary, he will eat only a hearty lunch ... There are days when the baby does not take anything in his mouth at all. However, if you calculate the total balance of calories that the baby receives over a certain period, you will see that there are exactly as many of them as needed. If you try to impose on the baby a diet that is alien to him, then over time he will not respond correctly to the feeling of hunger and satiety. And overeating cannot be avoided.