The first feeding of the child: when, how and how much. Ideal products for the first feeding of newborn babies

10.09.2019

From the moment a newborn baby is born, it is fed exclusively with mother's milk or a special adapted milk formula. Until a certain age, these products contain all the necessary supply of vitamins and useful microelements for the crumbs.

Nevertheless, after a while, breast milk or formula will no longer be enough, and complementary foods will have to be introduced into the baby's daily diet. The question of when and how one can begin to feed a child is controversial. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, an infant should be introduced to new products other than formula or milk no earlier than 6 months of age.

Meanwhile, many doctors believe that for children who are deprived of mother's milk, this should be done a little earlier. In addition, each mother decides this issue for herself. In this article, we will tell you when and where to start feeding your baby so as not to harm his health.

When and what should you feed your baby?

Even if your son or daughter is exclusively breastfed, and he is already 6 months old, it is necessary to consult a doctor before introducing complementary foods. A qualified doctor will objectively assess the general health of the baby and the level of its development and will tell you from what month you can feed the baby, and what.

As a rule, babies from 6 months begin to carefully offer porridge, starting with buckwheat. This must be done gradually, carefully noting any reaction of the child in a special food diary. Dairy-free cereals should be chosen initially, as the infant's imperfect digestive system may not be able to cope with the absorption of cow's milk protein.

A little later, after about 2-3 weeks, introduce your child to fruit and vegetable purees. You can not only prepare them yourself, but also purchase them in baby food stores; there is no consensus among doctors on this matter. In any case, you can cook on your own only from fresh, thoroughly washed and peeled fruits and vegetables.

At about 8 months, meat can be introduced. It is necessary to start with dietary varieties such as rabbit and turkey. On the first day, the baby can only be offered half a teaspoon of meat puree, and then slowly increase its daily portion to 50 grams.

At 9-10 months, the baby can taste egg yolk and fish puree. Be careful with these foods - they can cause a fairly severe allergic reaction.

From what month do they begin to feed an artificial child?

The age of introduction of complementary foods for artificial children in different situations can vary from 3.5 to 5.5 months. Vegetable purees are usually introduced first. Initially, half a teaspoon of such a product is given to the baby for breakfast and during the day they observe how he reacted. If everything is in order, the next day vegetables are offered for lunch, increasing the amount by 2 or 3 times.

So, gradually, the daily portion is increased to the amount recommended by the doctor. Immediately, as soon as the baby has fully adapted to the new product, you can try to enter the next one. This usually happens after 4-7 days.

At first, give your baby only one-component purees. This way, you can react immediately if he develops an allergic reaction, and you will not doubt which product is the allergen in any case. It is best to introduce vegetables in the following sequence - zucchini, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots.

In this article:

The mixture is not able to give the baby all the necessary nutrients in full. Therefore, the menu of artificial people begins to expand at an earlier age. The first complementary feeding with artificial feeding is a responsible action that requires compliance with certain rules. Otherwise, the mother's inept attempts to diversify the food of the crumbs can lead to serious violations of his health.

At what age to introduce complementary foods with artificial feeding?

When to start complementary foods? Several decades ago, medicine recommended very early dates. Complementary foods for artificially fed infants were introduced after 3 months. The main motivation was the insufficient content of vitamins and other substances in cow's milk that the baby needs for full development.

Modern pediatricians have a different opinion about when to introduce complementary foods to a bottle-fed baby. Today, formula milk allows you to postpone the introduction of additional food in the children's menu for some time. But after 4-5 months, the nutrients and vitamins they contain may not be enough for the full development of the baby. Then it is recommended to introduce complementary foods.

The beginning of it is determined by the pediatrician. He also chooses the scheme and composition of additional products, tells how to correctly introduce complementary foods. You should focus on the age of the baby - four to five months. This is a recommended but not required time frame. If the doctor considers it necessary to postpone the transition to "adult" food for some time, do not rush. It is known that, without harm to health, the baby can eat an adapted mixture for up to 8 months.

Basic rules for the introduction of complementary foods with artificial feeding

Only a qualified doctor should decide when to start complementary foods for a bottle-fed baby, taking into account the characteristics of his development and health status. If the pediatrician does not see the need to expand the diet or thinks that the digestive system of the crumbs is not ready to assimilate new products, there is no need to get ahead of the events. Hasty actions can negatively affect the well-being and development of the child.

The introduction of the first complementary feeding with artificial feeding requires adherence to the following recommendations:

At first, only one simple product is offered to determine how the child responds to it.
The first "adult" dish should have a consistency like a liquid puree. Then the baby's food will become thicker, and after it appears, you can taste the food in pieces.
New dishes are introduced to the menu in very small portions. The first complementary foods for bottle-fed babies start with half a teaspoon. Every day, the amount of a new product is increased, and the portion of the milk mixture is proportionally reduced. If the baby does not have or any other negative reaction to the new food, after 10 days its amount is brought to the age norm. In this case, by six months, it replaces one feeding.
New foods are easier to introduce into your child's diet when they are hungry. Therefore, food is offered before the mixture, and not after it.
The new product should be offered to the child in the morning. So mom will have time to watch the reaction of the baby.
It is advisable to give complementary feeding to a bottle-fed baby immediately from a spoon, without using a bottle.
After the baby's diet is replenished with new products, it is necessary to establish a certain diet. Typically, it includes meals five times a day.

The rules for the introduction of complementary foods with artificial feeding imply supplementing the child with water between meals.

What and how to feed

The pediatrician observing the baby determines when to start artificial feeding, which foods should be preferred. In most cases, vegetable purees are offered first if the child has no problems with it. If the crumb is less than normal, the doctor will recommend the introduction of cereals.

The first cereals must be one-component and not contain milk. Preferred among cereals, both as gluten-free and less likely to cause allergies. Closer to the year, you can try oatmeal, multigrain and wheat porridge. cereals can be prepared for a child after 12 months.

Fruit purees should be included in the baby's diet. The most suitable fruit to start with is an apple.

Consider feeding a baby for months with artificial feeding.

At 4-5 months

The main food for artificial children of this age is mixture. The first complementary foods for artificial feeding can start with one-part vegetable puree or gluten-free and dairy-free porridge. It is recommended to add a little oil to the puree. Acquaintance with a new product is carried out during the second or third morning or afternoon feeding.

Scheme the first complementary feeding with artificial feeding:

mixture;
porridge / puree from vegetables or fruits + mixture;
further mixture.

Complementary feeding at 5 months begins with a very small amount of food (a couple of spoons). Gradually it is brought up to the age norm.

At 5-6 months

If in the previous period it was possible to introduce one product into the children's menu without any problems, then they move on to the next. Complementary feeding at 5 months with artificial feeding is based on general rules. The main thing is gradualness. A new dish is first given in very small doses.

An approximate complementary feeding menu at 5 months with bottle feeding may look like this:

mixture;
porridge / porridge + fruit puree / porridge + mixture;
mixture;
vegetable puree + mixture;
mixture.

At 6-9 months

In six months, the diet of the crumbs is enriched with cottage cheese. By the year the amount of product for one feeding is increased to 50 grams. It is impossible to abuse it, to independently increase portions in excess of the recommended ones.

At 7 months, the baby's diet can be enriched with yolk. Quail is preferred as it is less likely to cause allergies. Start with a few grains, gradually bringing up to half the yolk twice a week.

The introduction of complementary foods with artificial feeding according to the table implies an acquaintance with meat from 7 months. They start with lean pork, chicken, rabbit, or turkey. Beef and veal can be given if the baby is not allergic to milk protein. If the crumbs have low hemoglobin, then complementary feeding of the baby with artificial feeding with meat, on the recommendation of the doctor, can be started already at the age of 5 months.

It is better to boil the meat and grind it with a blender. It is added to soups and vegetable purees. When the crumb grows up a little, by about 8 months, you can cook meatballs, cutlets and steamed meat soufflé. White fish are introduced into complementary foods with artificial feeding at 8 months. Children can be safely offered a crouton, drying, apple.

By the age of 9 months, the first, evening and nighttime, if necessary, feedings of children are carried out with an adapted mixture. Throughout the day, the baby eats "adult" food.

From 9 months to a year

At this age, the nutrition of the artificial and the baby no longer has any special differences. The dishes are complicated, the consistency becomes thicker. One-component cereals are replaced with multi-component and milk ones. It is allowed to introduce several dishes at lunchtime. For example, vegetable soup, meatballs, and grated apple. The crumb can be planted in a special chair and beautifully set the table.

The individual schedule for the introduction of complementary foods with artificial feeding often differs from the recommended one. Some products may be introduced earlier, while some, on the contrary, are postponed to a later date.

By the age of one year, the diet of children includes a lot of "adult" food. Some mothers at this stage of development make a mistake - they transfer the baby to the common table. It is not recommended to do this, as salt, sugar, excess fat can harm the baby. Food for him needs to be steamed, boiled or stewed.

Table of complementary foods for a child by months with artificial feeding

For convenience, the introduction of complementary foods for children with artificial feeding can be carried out according to special tables. The quantities below are indicated in grams.

	3-4 months	4-5 months	5-6 months	7 months	8 months	9-12 months
Juice	5	30-50	50-60	70	80	80-100
Puréed fruits	5	30-50	50-60	70	80	80-100
Puréed vegetables		10-100	150	170	180	180-200
Porridge		50-100	160	170	180	180-200
Cottage cheese			40	40	40	40-50
Meat			5-30	50	50	60-70
A fish					5-30	30-60
Biscuits			3-5	5	5	10-15
Bread				5	5	5-10
Vegetable oil, butter			1-3	3	5	6
Kefir				200	200	200-400

The table of complementary foods for months with artificial feeding is advisory in nature. The terms indicated in the schemes are very conditional and can be shifted on the recommendation of a doctor in one direction or another. Bottle feeding starts a few weeks later.

Table of indicative weight gain by month

The criteria for the correct introduction of complementary foods for formula-fed children are the absence of adverse reactions to a new product and weight gain in a month, which can be compared according to the following table:

Age, months	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Increase, gr	600	800	800	750	700	650	600	550	500	450	400	350

If the child does not eat well

What to do when, according to the table of complementary foods for formula-fed children, it has long been necessary to add new food, and the child stubbornly eats only the mixture? First of all, mom doesn't need to panic. After all, it is permissible to postpone the beginning of complementary feeding with artificial feeding without prejudice to the beloved child for up to six months. Perhaps the crumb's digestive system is not ripe, and he is not ready to take a new product.

When the baby refuses to eat other than the mixture, the mother needs to be patient. You can recommend seating the child at a common table, thereby developing food interest. Offer food when your toddler is hungry, such as for a walk. For feeding a child, it is advisable to buy a bright soft spoon and a bright plate. If the crumb refuses industrial puree or cereals, then you can try to cook them yourself. Adding a small amount of the mixture to the porridge will make it taste more familiar.

Even when the crumb does not immediately develop a relationship with unusual food, you should not worry. Every child is different. If he does not lag behind in development, then you can safely postpone it for a while. The main thing is to follow the principle of gradual introduction of the product and not to rush. It is not at all necessary that your schedule should coincide with the table of complementary foods for babies by month with artificial feeding.

Useful video on introducing complementary foods

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 pedicorm feeding, as well as the traditional scheme, that is, the introduction of special baby food (purchased or prepared with your own hands) 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 to introduce 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 of this or that 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

By the age of 4-6 months, the child's need for additional energy, vitamins and minerals increases. Since breast milk or its artificial substitute does not fully meet the requirements of the baby at this age, to increase the caloric intake of the diet, it is necessary to introduce additional food to the child. The first meals for a child's complementary foods are vegetable purees and cereals. In addition, they teach the baby to accept denser food, develop chewing. These complementary foods are intended to replace breastfeeding. Therefore, they refer to replacement complementary foods.

When to start complementary feeding?

Why is the interval from 4 to 6 months taken for the introduction of the first complementary foods? This is due to the fact that before this age, the child's body is not physiologically prepared for the perception of new dense food. And after six months it is undesirable to start, perhaps the child will have problems adapting to food of a denser consistency than milk. Therefore, according to most experts in the field of baby food, first feeding should be administered between 4 and 6 months of age. However, it should be remembered that the timing of the introduction of complementary foods is individual. With artificial feeding, you can start complementary foods with 4 - 5 months , with chest - with 5 - 6 months .

When to start complementary feeding?

The choice, firstly, depends on the state baby at the time of the introduction of new food. If child is underweight or has unstable stools, it is best to start with cereals. Conversely, with excess weight and a tendency to constipation, it is recommended to introduce complementary foods with vegetable puree. If your baby is devoid of such troubles and is absolutely healthy, then the advice of pediatricians and nutritionists is currently reduced to starting complementary foods. with vegetable puree.

Why? Many mothers may argue that it is quite difficult to introduce mashed potatoes first. The transition from the sweet taste of breast milk or milk substitute to a very unsweetened vegetable is not easy for a baby. And here you should be patient. A new dish should be offered not once, but at least 10-12 times, and only after the baby stubbornly refuses it, switch to another type of vegetables. After child did not accept this or that vegetable parents, as a rule, switch to porridge, making a big mistake! It is highly likely that the baby will not want to eat vegetables at all, after the introduction of sweet porridge. Mothers make another mistake when they additionally sweeten industrially produced cereals.

It should be borne in mind that child only gets used to new tastes, and his future eating habits depend on how well he is taught to eat in the family. As a consequence, the habit of sugary food can lead to obesity and related diseases. So, we introduce vegetables. It is better to start with foods such as zucchini, all types of cabbage, potatoes, they are the least likely to cause allergies. Later you can try carrots, beets and tomatoes. The modern children's industry offers a wide range of different types of puree. According to the degree of grinding, they are divided into homogenized that are offered to children from 4.5 months, puree for children 6-9 months old and coarsely(9-12 months). Canned vegetables for children are prepared with a small amount of salt, and some manufacturers leave the taste of vegetables natural, without adding salt at all.

It should be remembered that when buying ready-made food, you should not additionally salt it and add vegetable oil. Foreign manufacturers, seeking to improve the taste of their products, use legumes (beans, peas, etc.), tomatoes and tomato paste, onions, garlic, spices (in particular, pepper) in the manufacture of vegetable puree. In this case, they recommend to introduce them from 5-6 months. This does not comply with the prescriptions of domestic pediatricians and nutritionists.

Such purees should not be given as complementary foods babies aged 4–6 months, since tomatoes, which are among the vegetables, especially often causing allergies in children, can be introduced into the diet not earlier than six months. Tomato paste containing salt is best introduced with 6-7 months ... Legumes, which contain a high level of plant fibers and special types of sugars that can irritate the intestinal mucosa and increase gas formation not earlier 7-8 months ... Onions and garlic containing essential oils that irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach, intestines, kidneys - only with 8-9 months , spices - with 9 months and older .

You can make your own vegetable feed using both fresh and frozen vegetables. To do this, boil them, then make mashed potatoes (in a blender or using a regular crush). Add a little vegetable or melted butter (no more than 3-4 grams). Butter another new product complementary foods, with which children get acquainted from the moment of the introduction of vegetable puree or porridge. It is a source of nutrients, energy, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E). Vegetable oil is allowed to be injected with 4.5 months , creamy - not earlier 5-6 months .

Introducing porridge

Two weeks after the baby gets used to the vegetable puree, the introduction can begin cereal complementary foods ... Dry instant cereals are most convenient. To prepare them, you just need to mix dry powder with warm boiled water and stir. The advantage of these products (as well as canned baby food) is their guaranteed chemical composition, safety and saturation with essential vitamins, calcium, iron and minerals. You can also use dry milk porridge that requires cooking, flour for baby food, as well as ordinary cereals, previously ground on a coffee grinder.

It is important to emphasize that as the first cereal complementary foods should use gluten free cereals - rice, also buckwheat and corn flour; other cereals - rye, wheat, barley, oats - contain gluten. It is the main protein in cereals and can cause unpleasant symptoms such as pain and bloating in babies. The principles of introducing cereals are the same as for other types. complementary foods- start with one type of cereal, gradually, a week after the introduction of the first porridge, try another kind, even later - you can switch to porridge from a mixture of cereals.

Introducing a new product

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

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

An example of the introduction of cereals and vegetable purees

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

An example of the introduction of vegetable and melted butter:

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

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

Discuss on our forum

When a child is born, not a single mother has a question: how to feed him? Everyone knows that a baby needs breast milk, or if the mother is unable to breastfeed, then formula is connected.

However, as he grows up, parents begin to ask the question: when can you start introducing more “adult” food into the baby's diet?

At what age should you start feeding your baby?

If you turn to grandmothers with such a question, then you can hear the opinion that it is necessary to start feeding the baby from two months of age. However, this view of starting complementary foods is outdated.

Currently, according to the instructions of the World Health Organization, the first complementary foods should be offered to a child not earlier than at 6 months, if he is breastfed, and not earlier than at 4 months - on artificial feeding.

It is by this age that the functions that are responsible for swallowing more solid food mature in children, and the enzyme system responsible for the digestion of new food is also formed.

Signs of readiness to start complementary foods

In order to determine whether your baby is ready for the introduction of the first complementary foods, you should watch him.

The presence of the following signs will help determine the child's readiness for acquaintance with more adult food:

he does not gorge himself. Breastfeeding or formula feeding has become more frequent as the baby is showing clear signs of hunger;
there is no reflex of pushing food out of the mouth with the tongue. You can check this by offering the child some water from a spoon;
the baby is able to sit on its own or does it with the help of a parent, but at the same time hold its head statically;
the child has a clear interest in the food of the parents, he can crawl into your plate with curiosity;
the baby has gained at least two times in weight since birth.

Rules for the introduction of new products

The introduction of complementary foods presupposes compliance with a number of rules:

It is possible to introduce new dishes into the child's diet if he is completely healthy, and he also does not have to be vaccinated soon.
Before introducing complementary foods, you should consult with your doctor who will explain to you how to do it correctly and where to start.
New food should be offered to the child in the morning in order to be able to track his reaction to the product - stool quality, skin rashes and other signs.
The dishes you offer should have a puree-like structure, at first more liquid, and already as they grow older, master thicker food.
Complementary foods should be offered before feeding the crumbs with breast milk or formula.
You should start with small amounts (5g), gradually increasing the size of a portion of complementary foods to 150g, if the child normally tolerates new food.
You should start feeding with one-component puree, and after getting used to the individual components, mixing them is allowed.
It is possible to add a new vegetable or other product to the diet during complementary feeding only after the baby has adapted to the previous one.
For complementary foods, you need to use only freshly prepared juices and purees. Before the cooking process, you should take care of thoroughly washing the food itself, your hands and the necessary utensils.
Don't force-feed. If the crumb does not want to eat, you should not force him, offer him a new product a little later or the next day.

How to feed your baby: introduction plan

Here is a plan for introducing new food for a baby, starting at 6 months of age. If your baby is using artificial milk formulas, the introduction of complementary foods should be started according to the same plan, only at the age of 4 months.

An approximate table of the introduction of complementary foods is presented below:

Vegetable purees

It is best to start complementary foods with the introduction of crumbs of vegetable puree into the diet. In exceptional cases with low body weight, your doctor may advise you to start with dairy-free cereals.

First, the least allergenic vegetables are introduced into the diet - these are zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli. Then vegetables such as pumpkin and carrots are added.

Carrots should not be offered to a child more than three times a week, as they can cause pigmentation in the child's limbs. Vegetable purees begin to be given at lunchtime, followed by supplementation with breast milk.

Start with a volume of about half a teaspoon, then gradually increase the amount of vegetable puree given up to 150 grams, while reducing the amount of breast milk consumed.

Gluten free cereals

At seven months, gluten-free cereals (rice, buckwheat and corn) are added to complementary foods, which are prepared without milk. Both cow's and goat's milk should not be added to the baby's diet for up to a year, since they are poorly absorbed and burden the digestive system.

It is allowed to add breast milk or formula to the porridge. Porridge is also introduced during breakfast, starting with small amounts.

Potato

At 8 months, several products are added to the diet at once - these are meat, yolk and potatoes. Potatoes are introduced later than all other vegetables because they often bring allergic reactions with them.

In the final introduction, potatoes should not make up more than a third of the vegetable puree.

Egg yolk

The yolk is added to the morning meal, it can be mixed with porridge or given as a standalone product. If the child is prone to allergic reactions, then complementary foods should start with quail yolk, which is less allergic.

Start with a quarter of the yolk, gradually increasing its amount. Yolk is given no more than twice a week.

Meat puree

Meat puree is introduced at lunchtime, it is often recommended to mix it with vegetables, since children eat it better in this form. The least allergenic turkey and rabbit are introduced first; closer to nine months, beef, veal, chicken and lamb can be introduced into complementary foods.

Meat should not be added to the total volume of vegetable puree in an amount of more than 50 grams.

Cottage cheese and kefir

At the age of 9 months, cottage cheese and kefir are gradually introduced into the diet. Begin by introducing cottage cheese into the evening feeding with a small volume, about one teaspoon. Cottage cheese should not have a granular structure, it should be made homogeneous, in addition, the sugar content in it is not allowed.

Kefir also begins to be introduced into complementary foods with small volumes, gradually bringing it to a volume of 100 ml.

Fruits

At 10 months old, you should try to introduce fruit for a snack. By this age, children, as a rule, already have teeth, so you can give the fruit either in the form of puree or in separate pieces.

You should also start with small volumes, and it is also better to choose fruits for the baby that grow in our strip - these are apples, pears, and prunes. At the same age, it is possible to add fresh juices and dried fruit compotes to the diet.

What to do if a child refuses complementary foods?

Knowing how to properly introduce complementary foods is one thing, but in fact, it may turn out that your baby simply refuses to accept a new type of food. What to do in this case? Suggest again.

It is worth offering at least 10 times, and then try switching to another type of vegetable. And after a week or two, try again to give the previous one. If the child refuses again, do not insist. All children are individual, perhaps yours simply does not like this vegetable.

Another trick is to add a little bit of breast milk or formula to whichever vegetable puree your baby refuses to eat. This will slightly sweeten the taste of the dish, which may be quite enough for your baby.

At the same time, in no case should you feed your child with foods seasoned with salt, sugar or any spices. This will only harm his fragile digestive system.