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When and where to start the first complementary foods, how to introduce new products correctly: basics, tips and rules. The first feeding of the child: where and when to start

How and when to start complementary foods? These questions concern all mothers. Often we want to quickly feed the baby with something tasty. Take your time! Take advantage of the moment when you do not need to cook, wipe, sterilize anything ... and let's discuss how and when to start complementary foods - the transition to other foods, and how to do it correctly and without unpleasant consequences for the baby?

When to start complementary foods

According to the standards of the World Health Organization, complementary foods for a breastfed child should be started no earlier than 6 months. By the way, he claims the same thing. In the first half of the year, mother's breast milk completely satisfies all the needs of the crumbs. After all, only by six months the enzymatic systems mature and the baby himself begins to demand food from his mother's plate. Think about why this is happening. Why does not a single mammal in nature feed a child anything until he himself asks for food from his mother? In nature, everything is wisely arranged. When the baby is ready for complementary foods - digesting new food - he gives you a signal. And so, what are the signs that the baby is ready for the introduction of complementary foods:

  • Your baby turned ;
  • He shows interest in adult food, demanding food from his mother's plate and trying to put it in his mouth on his own;
  • The child sits independently;
  • There is an extinction of the expulsion reflex;
  • Can turn his head, turn away from the spoon, if the proposed product is not liked;
  • The baby doubled the weight after birth (if the baby was born prematurely, the figure should be higher);
  • The child can increase the frequency of breastfeeding, literally hanging on the mother;
  • Before the introduction of complementary foods, the baby was not vaccinated, he was not sick.

If you are convinced that it is time for the baby to introduce complementary foods, let's decide on the way to introduce new food.

To date, there are two schemes for the introduction of complementary foods - pedagogical complementary foods and the traditional scheme (gradual introduction of products in a certain sequence).

Pedagogical scheme for the introduction of complementary foods to a child

Pedagogical scheme for the introduction of complementary foods to a child implies the introduction of complementary foods to the baby in microdoses (the dose that fits between the thumb and forefinger of the mother) from the mother's plate. Those. mother offers the baby what she eats herself and the child gradually gets used to the food that is consumed in the family. The purpose of such a feeding scheme is not to feed, but to introduce new foods. The main food remains, with which the child satisfies his nutritional needs and drinks the requested food particles from his mother. If the baby liked a particular product, the volume is brought to 3 teaspoons. It is very important that with such a scheme, the baby learns to eat on his own, does not experience pressure from the mother, does not need to grind food, gradually forms his gastronomic preferences and after a year begins to eat adult food with pleasure.

The traditional scheme for introducing complementary foods to a child

The traditional scheme for introducing complementary foods to a child implies the introduction of products in a certain sequence. Most women tend to this scheme. If you are a supporter of the traditional scheme, I recommend combining it with pedagogical complementary foods in order to develop a child's food interest.

Where to start feeding

Many mothers (as well as pediatricians, by the way) are captivated by old recommendations on where to start complementary foods - you need to start complementary foods with juices. To date, the opinions of leading experts on the introduction of complementary foods are the opposite - you need to be very careful with juices and try not to introduce them into the child's diet until he has begun to consume adult food in sufficient quantities, including meat, cereals, fish, etc. (in this case, the juice is a stimulant for the enzymatic activity of the baby).

What are the disadvantages of early introduction of juice:

  • Juices are an allergenic product. In light of the increasing allergic reactions, this must be taken into account;
  • Juices are a heavy product and are poorly digested. It irritates the immature gastrointestinal tract of the child. Even for adults, it is recommended to dilute the juice in a ratio of 1: 1, and if a person is observed, completely eliminate the likelihood of problems with the pancreas and kidneys from the diet;
  • The sugar content in the juice - such a small child does not need it at all;
  • Juice gives a strong load on the gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which, after a certain period, the child has consequences - gastritis, pancreatitis, and other diseases.

Breast milk contains all the necessary vitamins for a baby. If we talk about iron deficiency anemia (which is most often the basis for the introduction of juices) - the bioavailability of iron in mother's milk is very high (50-75% compared with a mixture, where it reaches only 20%).

So what is the best way to start feeding- best with vegetables. If the child is not gaining weight well, you can make a retreat and start with cereals. What exactly to choose?

Vegetables: I don't recommend starting complementary foods with fruits. They themselves have a sweetish aftertaste and already form a child's addiction to sweets. Vegetables are much more suitable for introducing a new product. The first vegetables in the diet are zucchini, cauliflower, carrots. Later, potatoes are introduced (at first, try to soak for about an hour in water). If the child has loose stools, it is better to introduce zucchini later. We start the introduction of complementary foods with 1 teaspoon, gradually increasing the volume (2.4 and so on). It is not necessary to bring the volume to a certain amount. This is the mistake of many mothers, which leads to overfeeding the child and the subsequent refusal to eat. As soon as the child has turned away from the spoon, remove the food and offer the breast. Complementary foods are best given in the morning and always offered to drink milk.

At first, monocomponent purees will be in the baby's diet. Once a week, you can add a new product to the puree. There is no need to salt the cooked dish. It is advisable to keep a food diary and write down what and when you entered, how much the child was given, what was the reaction. If the baby reacted with a rash, loose stools or constipation, exclude the product from the diet for at least a month. But remember that the stool can change, most often there are small pieces of food eaten, this is normal.

I advise moms. Before you buy a jar of baby food - look at the expiration date. I was always embarrassed that mashed potatoes that do not contain preservatives and other additives can be stored for 2 years. Lately I've been seeing that jar food often gives an allergic reaction.
If you buy vegetables yourself - be careful in choosing. Vegetables receiving enhanced feeding most often look very beautiful, glossy. Give preference to vegetables "from the grandmother's garden." You can also stock up for the winter. Perfectly preserved in the freezer - varieties of cabbage, sweet peppers, from berries - raspberries, cherries, currants. Potatoes and carrots are perfectly preserved in the winter on the balcony. Experiment!

It is best to use a steamer for cooking vegetables. Vegetables cook quickly and vitamins are stored in greater quantities. Give your child a freshly prepared meal.
Blending is best done with a hand blender. Closer to the year (10-11 months), start mashing the puree with a fork so that the child learns to chew on his own.

A month after the introduction of vegetables, you can please your baby. Rice, corn or buckwheat porridge is best for the first course. For a breastfed baby, dairy-free porridge is more suitable. If you buy cereals that do not require cooking, make sure they do not contain gluten. Do not introduce gluten-containing cereals (wheat, oatmeal, multi-grain) into the baby's diet before 8-9 months. The principle of feeding porridge is the same - start with 1 teaspoon, gradually increasing the volume.

You can also cook porridge yourself. For this, the cereal is washed, dried and ground in a coffee grinder.
Observe the interval between the introduction of subsequent complementary foods - at least 1 month. After porridge, you can start introducing fruits (not brightly colored at the beginning), biscuits (not rich for children), meat (it is better to start with turkey, then introduce veal, chicken, beef, it is better to refrain from pork) fish (sea), etc. respecting the time interval.

It is advisable to flavor complementary foods with oil (not from the first days of the introduction of complementary foods!) - preferably creamy (porridge) and olive (vegetables). Olive oil is best for the first feeding. Start injecting it with 2 drops. If the baby has constipation, you can add olive oil to both vegetables and porridge (observing the volume so as not to achieve the opposite effect). On average, 1 teaspoon of olive oil is added to the dish.

A 1-year-old child usually eats: meat and vegetable purees, cereals, cookies, vegetable soups (meat broth is not recommended for babies!), fruits, cottage cheese - all this is often in small quantities. Not all of the listed foods must be included in the diet. Consider the individual needs of the baby. To interest the little man - pay tribute to the design of the cooked dish.
When introducing complementary foods, focus on vegetables and fruits of the seasonal period. Do not introduce exotic fruits into the baby's diet, be careful when choosing fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese - introduced after 9 months). It is not necessary for a one-year-old child to cook pancakes or pancakes with sour cream!

The best thing to do is to make your own. To do this, take 1 liter of boiled milk and add 1 tbsp. l. sour cream, leave in a warm place to sour. Then bring to a boil over low heat (do not boil!) And the curd is ready. Now you can add fruits to it and offer your baby to evaluate new taste qualities. If the fontanel is overgrown early in a child, do not rush to introduce cottage cheese.

Often mothers ask the question - is it necessary to give the child a drink with the start of the introduction of complementary foods? To date, there are no such recommendations that oblige the baby to give a certain amount of fluid. Most often, breastfed babies under the age of one are not interested in any other fluid than mother's milk. And that's okay. You can offer the baby tea, compote, if he wants it. If he refuses, don't insist. On average, children consume 400-500 ml of breast milk per day.

How much food does the child eat?

Do not be upset if the baby ate only 50-80 grams of complementary foods, with the prescribed 150-180 (indicated on the package). Breastfed babies prefer to eat in small portions, but more often. In addition, a big plus is obvious - the child learns to control the feeling of satiety and does not overeat. Over time, start offering the baby a spoon - let him try to eat himself. Do not scold the child if he reached into the plate with his hands - this is an important stage in his development, allowing you to determine the consistency of the dish with your fingers.

Whenever and why you decide to start introducing complementary foods, be sure to follow the rule of gradualness, do not force-feed the child, do not completely replace breastfeeding, take into account his addictions and be smart!

Breast milk is considered the best food for a newborn, but as the baby grows, the baby’s body requires more nutrients, so he no longer has enough of such food. The first feeding of the child should consist of vegetables and dairy products for children, and new elements should be introduced gradually to prevent allergies.

When can I introduce complementary foods to a newborn?

According to the norms of world pediatrics, the first complementary foods should be offered to a child at the age of no earlier than six months, since until that time breast milk or a properly selected mixture completely satisfies all the needs of a growing organism. However, some babies develop faster than their peers, so for a certain group of babies, the introduction of complementary foods may be shown a little earlier, starting from 4-5 months.

You can determine the readiness of your crumbs to receive adult products by the following signs:

  • the baby has learned to sit and can hold small objects in his hands. These skills are necessary for confident sitting at the Danish highchair, and developed hand motor skills will allow the child to independently hold a spoon or fork;
  • the baby knows how to refuse inappropriate objects and toys, which means that he will be able to protest if he does not like the food;
  • the child independently shows interest in adult plates and tries to try food from your dishes;
  • the newborn has at least doubled its weight and needs to eat much more often than before;
  • the baby literally hangs on the mother's breast, and the intervals between feedings have been reduced to 30-40 minutes.

All these indicators mean that your child can and should be introduced complementary foods. But what products, and in what volumes the baby needs, should be calculated by months, of course, you can deviate somewhat from the established norm, but in general terms, the recommended indicators should be followed.


How much should a newborn baby eat?

The amount of food eaten at a time depends on several indicators:

  • firstly, from the mass of the baby, the larger the child, the more food he needs, and vice versa;
  • secondly, from the state of health of the crumbs, the sick baby is not in the mood to eat a lot, so you should not captivate him;
  • thirdly, from the volume of breast milk, the more often you breastfeed the baby, the less he requires complementary foods, respectively, starting the introduction of regular food into the baby’s diet, you have the opportunity to gradually stop breastfeeding, removing one feeding after another over and over again.

On average, a baby from six months to a year should eat 1/10 of its own weight per day. For example, if a baby weighs 7 kg, its daily share of products is about 700 grams. Considering that meals are usually 4-5, then feeding a child at a time should be about 150 grams of food. However, these are only general recommendations, if your child does not eat up, the amount of complementary foods should be slightly increased, and vice versa, when the baby refuses additional foods, you should not force him, maybe he just doesn’t like the food you offer - try replacing the composition and increasing the one-time share gradually.


Products for complementary foods for newborns

As the child grows, his diet also expands, and therefore, a special feeding schedule has been developed for months:

  • 5-6 months - vegetables, cereals, a little oil (for porridge - butter, for vegetables - vegetable, olive or sunflower);
  • 6-7 months - cottage cheese, lean meat, chicken yolk, dry biscuits, fruit juice;
  • 7-8 months - low-fat fish, dairy products: kefir, cottage cheese, cheese mass;
  • 8-12 months - bread, pasta.

According to the traditional monthly feeding scheme, the introduction of adult foods into the baby's diet begins with vegetables. As a first introductory dish, you can offer your baby the following purees:

  • squash;
  • carrot;
  • cauliflower puree;
  • potato - introduced along with cereals.

It is best to cook vegetable purees for a child on your own, resorting to store-bought ready-made meals as a last resort, for example, on the road or on a long walk. Vegetables should be boiled in boiled water, then rubbed through a fine sieve or beaten with a mixer, it is not recommended to salt and sugar the products, which will allow the baby to be accustomed to the natural taste of vegetables. It is allowed to add a small piece of butter if the baby is not allergic to milk.

The next step will be the introduction of complementary foods in the form of cereals. The fragile body of a newborn will perfectly perceive such cereals as:

  • buckwheat;
  • corn.

Choose sifted and unprocessed additional cereals, they have more useful minerals and vitamins. Instant cereals are very simple and convenient, but most of them contain gluten, which is not recommended for babies under 10 months of age. You can use ready-made compositions from the “Baby Nutrition” series, but it is better to accustom the baby to natural ordinary cereals from the very beginning.

The first complementary foods should be prepared without milk, let the porridge be on the water. Rinse the groats, pour boiled water over them and cook over low heat until the liquid evaporates. Then chop with a blender and season a little with vegetable oil, if necessary, put in a water bath and steam for another 4-5 minutes. The second option for preparing baby porridge - the prepared cereal should first be ground in a coffee grinder, after which the required amount of the product should be cooked in the usual way, this method does not require final grinding of the porridge.

A month after the successful introduction, it is time for dairy products. You can offer a little gourmet:

  • cottage cheese and thick cheese mass;
  • kefir;
  • fresh cow's milk (can be used to make milk porridges).

Today, there are a lot of manufacturers of baby products, you can use the products of any of them as complementary foods, just carefully study the expiration date. And if you wish, you can cook cottage cheese for a child at home. To do this, you need to add a tablespoon of fat sour cream to ½ liter of boiled milk and leave the resulting composition in a warm place for souring. The sour mass should be put on a slow fire and brought to a boil, immediately removed and cooled. If desired, you can supplement the resulting curd mass with grated fruits or a small amount of honey.

The introduction of meat and fish is allowed from the 7-8th month, at first these products should be offered to the child in the form of mashed potatoes. Be sure to carefully cook the pieces of meat, and steam the fish in a water bath or in a double boiler. Gradually, the baby's complementary foods should change somewhat, with the advent of the first teeth, it is already possible to give the baby pieces of vegetables in the form of straws or cubes, and tear the meat and fish into thin fibers. At 9 months, try to introduce your baby to pasta, it is better to choose horns and noodles from durum wheat, but cook them for a long time. At this age, the baby is already able to chew on its own, so there is no need to grind food. And in general, the faster you move from mashed food to regular food, the better for the baby, besides, chewing will help not only develop basic reflexes, but also eliminate pain during teething.

When to start breastfeeding

Complementary foods is the gradual introduction of juices from mashed potatoes or vegetables into the baby's diet. It can also be dairy products, meat, fish and cereals.

The child develops, but over time, he ceases to have enough mother's milk. More high-calorie nutrition is required, since new products enrich the body with nutrients - vitamins, proteins, mineral elements.

There is no consensus on when to introduce complementary foods to an infant. Previously, there was an opinion that children from the age of four months needed to get acquainted with new food. Now the majority of experts are inclined to believe that complementary foods should be started when the child is about six months old. The same age is recommended by the World Health Organization.

You should not rush to introduce complementary foods to the baby. Medical studies show that the body of a child under four months is not ready to digest adult food. If new foods are introduced into the child's diet ahead of time, this can cause malfunctions in the gastrointestinal tract, contribute to the development of allergies, atypical dermatitis and other problems.

However, in the event that there are certain medical indications, new products can be introduced into the child's diet from the age of four months. It all depends on the characteristics of the birth of the child and the type of feeding. If the baby was born prematurely or was bottle-fed, complementary foods should be introduced starting at four or four and a half months.

The issue of the first complementary foods always worries parents, since the introduction of new foods into the baby's diet is a rather important step that determines the entire process of further nutrition and the future health of the child.

Pediatricians do not advise rushing to introduce food that adults take into the child's diet. This is due to the fact that the baby's digestive system is still imperfect and cannot adequately respond to changes in diet. An infant runs the risk of getting diarrhea or constipation, or an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, which later develops into atopic dermatitis, which is quite difficult to treat.

At the first feeding of an infant at the age of four to six months, it is necessary to use vegetables with a low content of allergens. It can be zucchini, cauliflower and broccoli. The child should be given them in crushed and boiled form. Not bad if the first time the chopping of vegetables will be done in a blender. In it, you can perfectly prepare mashed potatoes that do not contain lumps.

Only fresh vegetables should be used in the preparation of vegetable puree. They should be cooked for at least ten minutes. This time is quite enough for them to soften without losing their useful qualities.

Puree should not be salted or added to it with any spices, as this may contribute to the formation of incorrect taste ideas. Moreover, it will be better for the child to get acquainted with salt, sugar and all kinds of spices as late as possible.

What cereals to start breastfeeding with

Breast-fed children should be introduced to cereals from the age of seven months, if they were artificially fed - from five months. The choice of cereals for feeding should be made, I use the recommendations of the pediatrician, especially since today we have a large selection of all kinds of cereals. For starters, instant, powdered cereals are best suited, since they were developed specifically for feeding children, and the complex composition took into account all the features and needs of the child's body. Hot water is necessary for breeding instant porridges that do not need to be boiled, and therefore retain all the vitamins that a child's body needs. Assimilation of instant porridges is easy and very complete, due to the fact that such porridges are produced using a special technology. It is important to note that such cereals contain vitamins, prebiotics and trace elements. In Western European countries, feeding with such cereals is common, starting from the age of three, and the composition of such cereals for older children is very complex and the cereals are not crushed very carefully. The transfer of a child to home-made cereals of a coarser grinding should be done after he is one year old.

There are several basic principles for introducing porridge into complementary foods. It should be given before breastfeeding, you need to start with a small trial volume (10-15 grams or one teaspoon). During the week, the dosage should be increased to the age norm. You need to start with one porridge, say buckwheat, after the child adapts to it, you can move on to another. During the first week, you should reach the age norm, in the second week you get used to it, in the third a new porridge is introduced. At the same time, two porridges should not be given to the baby. At first, the porridge should be liquid, somewhat thicker than milk, as the child grows older, it should thicken.

What juice to start breastfeeding with

Usually complementary foods for babies begin with apple juice. If it is prepared on its own, yellow sweet-sour or green apples should be used for this. There is an opinion that such apples are safe for children in terms of the possible development of an allergic reaction of the body and, moreover, are very useful. You can slightly warm the squeezed juice to soften its taste, and dilute it with boiled water in a ratio of one to one before use.

When to start breastfeeding breastfeeding

Since each child is unique in its own way, there should not be any temporary restrictions regarding complementary foods, since this can only harm the child. You can start complementary feeding of a child who was previously bottle-fed when he is sufficiently prepared for this. After the child has matured and fully formed his nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and brain, it is quite possible to introduce complementary foods for him. This usually happens around 5-6 months of age.

Formula-fed babies should be introduced to complementary foods earlier than breastfed babies. Some pediatricians consider this method an anachronism and do not recommend linking the type of feeding and the start of complementary foods.

If the formula-fed baby is healthy and has no developmental defects, complementary foods can be introduced starting from the fifth month. This is done in order to familiarize the baby with a new type of food for him.

Every adequate mother dreams of her baby growing up healthy, happy and developing in accordance with all generally accepted norms. A huge role in this is played by the nutrition that enters his growing body, and hence the first feeding of the child.

Immediately after the birth of a child, parents have to make a choice only between two possible options: whether the mother will feed the child with her own milk, or whether he will receive a special milk formula. Both options have their indications and contraindications, the pediatrician will help the parents make the final decision.

But as soon as the baby begins to grow up, parents become worried about when it will be possible to offer him something other than mother's milk or formula. What kind of product should be the first thing the baby tries, how to introduce it, and in what quantity to give the first complementary foods?

First, you need to understand the term itself. Complementary foods are all those products that a baby consumes, except for mother's milk and mixtures, that is, fruit, vegetable juices and purees, meat, fish dishes, cereals, eggs, cow's milk products.

The best time to introduce complementary foods

One of the topical issues that worries all parents of babies is the age when you can give your baby the first complementary foods. To date, the most authoritative opinion about the age at which it is time to introduce complementary foods belongs to the World Health Organization. Most pediatricians listen to this recommendation.

The age of 4 to 6 months is called the most favorable time for getting to know the crumbs with a huge variety of tastes. By this time, his digestive system was strong enough, prepared to accept food that was harder than milk. In the process of its splitting, enzymes take part, the production of which has increased. The immunity of the baby is also quite strong, and is able, if necessary, to protect the newborn organism from harmful microbes.

It is important not to delay the introduction of the baby's first complementary foods, since the listed "achievements" of a small organism must be launched and taught to act. And if new products do not arrive, the development of new body capabilities can go in the opposite direction. In addition to the ability to perceive new food, the crumbs have a need for those substances and trace elements that may be lacking in breast milk and formula.

There are several signs that your baby is ready to introduce solid foods:

  • gains weight well, and by 6 months weighs twice as much as at birth;
  • the reflex of pushing the spoon out of the mouth is completely extinguished - which means that he is physically able to take thicker food;
  • the so-called “food interest” appears: animation at the sight of how mom or dad eat, the child reaches for the plate with his hands, licks the spoon, looks at the table at the family dinner;
  • the adoption of the usual food - breast milk or formula - occurs more consciously: it can show with gestures or facial expressions that it is hungry; holds the breast or bottle with his hand during feeding; turns away, purses lips when no longer wants to eat.

To get an unambiguous answer, is it time for a child to give complementary foods, parents can only in the course of consultation with a pediatrician who has been observing the child since birth. Depending on the characteristics of its development, the doctor can advise where exactly to start the first complementary foods and according to what scheme.

Features of complementary foods

If the child is completely healthy, develops successfully, has no problems with weight, it is most likely that at 4 months of age he will first try apple juice, then vegetable purees and cereals. With frequent problems with the tummy - colic, irregular stools, reflux, porridge will be an ideal first treat. And with constipation - fruit or vegetable puree.

If there is insufficient weight gain, the doctor will most likely recommend that you take your time with complementary foods, but often offer the baby breast or formula. The first dish for him will be porridge, and he will try mashed meats earlier than other children.

If an allergy has already made itself felt in a baby, it is also advisable to start feeding him a little later, starting with gluten-free dairy-free cereals. In the future, the mother will have to find packages marked “hypoallergenic” in all the variety of baby food of industrial origin - at least up to 12 months. In general, the process of introducing complementary foods to children with allergies usually takes a little longer than in healthy children, since each new product can cause a reaction, then it will have to be canceled for a while, then to try again.

General rules

When the local doctor gives the go-ahead for the first feeding of the baby and advises the ideal product for this, you can start trying it the very next day. But first, it is advisable to follow some recommendations:

  • It is better to offer new dishes to the baby in the morning or in the morning. So it will be easier for mom to observe if any negative reactions appear by the evening.
  • After the first test, you need to feed the baby with the usual food - breast milk or formula.
  • It is advisable to choose a spoon from plastic or silicone, be sure to make sure that there is no bisphenol-A in the composition. The cutlery itself should be small - 2-3 ml in volume, and its shape should be convenient for a small mouth so that there is no risk of injuring the gums, tongue or lips.
  • Food should be semi-liquid, completely homogeneous homogeneous structure, that is, without any small pieces.
  • It is better to offer complementary foods in a warm form, but not hot - be sure to verify this by tasting the dish in person.
  • Breast milk or milk formula retains its role as the main type of nutrition for the baby.
  • If the baby was previously breastfed or bottled on demand, then with the introduction of complementary foods, it is time to organize a regimen to streamline his meals.

Complementary feeding scheme

At the very beginning of feeding, the mother needs to keep a special diary, where she will record all the innovations in the child's diet. This is necessary so that in the event of any side effects and allergic reactions, it can be determined with certainty what caused them. It is more convenient to write in the form of a table, where there will be columns "Date", "Product", "Quantity" and "Reaction".

An approximate scheme for the introduction of each product will look like this:

  • Day 1 - slightly less than a teaspoon, about 3 ml.
  • Day 2 - about one and a half teaspoons, 5-6 ml.
  • Day 3 - 10 ml.
  • Then every day add a spoonful to the volume recommended by the doctor. Usually it is 30 ml - 6-7 spoons per meal.
  • Having reached the amount prescribed by age, replace one breastfeeding or formula with complementary foods.
  • We continue to gradually increase the portion - by about 10 mg per month.

What products are preferable for the introduction of the first complementary foods

Many mothers believe that purchased ready-made foods for complementary foods in jars and boxes are much more harmful than home-cooked ones. There is a rather controversial point in this issue.

It’s good if parents manage to treat the crumbs to mashed zucchini or pumpkin grown in their own beds. But most likely this zucchini or pumpkin will be purchased in a store, where they will come from an unknown vegetable warehouse, and to a warehouse from agricultural land, where it is not known what it was watered, fertilized and processed.

The same is the case with cereals, which caring mothers cook from ordinary cereals, subsequently grinding with a blender, or pre-grinding in a coffee grinder. The process of processing cereal products is unknown to a simple layman, therefore, you cannot say with complete certainty that there is an absolutely healthy dish in your baby’s plate.

The process of production of baby food is strictly regulated, and does not allow violations of technology. When buying juice, puree or porridge of industrial production, you can be sure that they:

  • do not contain GMOs;
  • absolutely do not contain milk, lactose, gluten, if it is stated on the package;
  • contain a strictly defined amount of salt, sugar;
  • can be additionally enriched with trace elements, vitamins and minerals that are lacking in the body;
  • have the correct consistency for each stage of development: for 4-6 months - homogenized, for 7-8 months - puree, for 9-12 months - coarsely ground;
  • are completely ready to eat or require little effort and time to prepare;
  • do not contain preservatives, fragrances, color fixatives, and other artificial additives.

Also, the indisputable advantages of purchased food include a long shelf life and a variety of tastes that you can offer your child.

Approximate menu of the first year of a baby's life

From 4 to 5 months:

  • Juices and purees from only one type of fruit: from apples, pears, then plums, peaches, apricots, also pumpkins and carrots. Weak compote, cooked from prunes. The first portion - 1/2 teaspoon, for a month bring to about 50 gr.
  • Vegetable puree from young zucchini, two types of cabbage: cauliflower and broccoli, potatoes. Canned or fresh, self-prepared: vegetables are cooked by boiling or steaming, then carefully mashed until semi-liquid. For consistency, you can add water or a drop of vegetable oil. The first portion - 1 teaspoon, by 6 months - 120-150 gr.
  • Porridge from rice and buckwheat. Prepared without milk. The first portion - 1 teaspoon, by 6 months - up to 150 gr.
  • Special children's granulated teas, strictly in accordance with the age recommendations on the package. Do not add sugar, because. they usually contain glucose or fructose for sweetness. Offer at will, in reasonable quantities.

By six months of age:

  • Curd product for children of industrial production. Start with half a teaspoon, work up to 40g per serving.
  • Multi-ingredient fruit juices and purees. The composition of drinks may contain berry components: cherries, currants, raspberries, lingonberries and cranberries, not more than 20% of the total volume.
  • The composition of the puree can include beets, cabbage - the usual white cabbage. Baby food manufacturers offer a variety of mashed foods with cereals, yogurt, or milk.
  • Corn is added to cereals that do not contain gluten. Gluten-containing are introduced: oatmeal, millet, semolina. When preparing them, it is possible to add expressed milk; you can gradually introduce butter from 1/4 teaspoon.

By 8 months:

  • The yolk of a hard-boiled egg, finely chopped. The first portion is 1/8 of the yolk, then add up to a quarter, and then half.
  • Bread or cracker - a piece of about 5 gr. Children's cookies - in limited quantities.
  • Meat purees. Purchased in jars have an ideal consistency and composition - without excess fat, streaks, not fibrous. Start with 1 teaspoon, work up to 20g. per serving. By 8 months - up to 40 gr.
  • Fruits and berries: citruses, melon, banana, pineapple, exotic fruits, strawberries and strawberries. Vegetables: tomatoes, green peas. In the form of mashed potatoes: fruits - up to 70 ml, vegetables - up to 170 gr. You can add dill, cumin.
  • Complex porridges - from three or more types of cereals. Portions up to 150 gr. Can be filled with honey.

9 months:

  • Fermented milk products are introduced - yoghurts, kefir. Preferably purchased, special for children. Up to one glass a day. Milk - only in boiled form and for making cereals.
  • Meat purees may contain by-products. The serving size is brought to 50 gr.
  • It's time to introduce fish - in jars of industrial origin or home-made. To do this, the fish must be boiled, even the smallest bones removed and rubbed into a puree. The first portion - 1 teaspoon, bring to 50 gr.
  • Dishes from different types of meat with vegetables: beans, celery, spinach, parsley, onions. Chopped to a puree-like consistency or ready-made purees in jars.
  • The portion size of dishes familiar to the baby is increasing: from fruits - up to 90 ml, from vegetables and cereals - up to 180 ml.

12 months:

  • Clarified grape juice and other well-known juices and fruit purees - up to 100 ml.
  • You can gradually add some spices to vegetable and meat dishes: different types of mild pepper, basil, laurel, coriander.
  • Muesli or chocolate chips can be added to cereals.
  • Baking is added to the heat treatment methods.
  • The transition from puree-like dishes to coarsely ground.

Caution and care

It is these qualities that will be useful to the parents of the baby during the period of introducing complementary foods to the baby.

During the introduction of complementary foods, parents should be alerted to such negative phenomena as:

  • rashes, itching;
  • irritation of mucous eyes, nose, mouth;
  • vomiting or regurgitation of food;
  • diarrhea or constipation;
  • refusal of a new product;
  • refusal of the main food - breast milk or formula.

All this, as well as other unpleasant consequences of the introduction of new complementary foods, is a reason to immediately seek advice from your pediatrician or allergist. Thanks to detailed entries in the food diary, he can easily determine what caused such a reaction and adjust the menu.

With a competent approach, the introduction of the first complementary foods does not cause inconvenience to either the baby or the parents. You just need to do everything on time and in moderation.

It takes 4-6 months. Why?

  • from 4-6 months, mother's milk or its substitute cannot fully satisfy the needs of the growing body for energy and nutrients (you can find out what nutrients the baby needs at this stage at www.gerber.ru);
  • by 3 months of life, digestive enzymes mature;
  • in 3-4 months local intestines and ingestion mechanisms are formed.

How do you know if your baby is ready for weaning?

  1. Sits with support.
  2. Confidently holds and turns the head.
  3. The weight of the baby has doubled since birth, and now he weighs about 6 kg.
  4. The baby remains hungry after 8-10 breastfeeds or formula.

Some useful tips:

  1. Start complementary foods with one-component fruit or vegetable purees, cereals, which do not include salt, sugar and thickeners. Any new product should be given when the child is healthy. You can learn more about one-component products at www.gerber.ru.
  2. Introduce the new product in the morning before breastfeeding to monitor your baby's response throughout the day.
  3. A new product should be introduced gradually, starting with 1/2 tsp, gradually increasing its volume by 10-30 mg over 7-10 days. In case of poor tolerance, it is necessary to stop the introduction of the product and try to introduce it again after a while.
  4. Feed your baby with each new product for 5-7 days before introducing another, otherwise, in case of food refusal, you will not be able to understand which product provoked an allergic reaction (how to reduce the risk of allergies - read more at www.gerber.ru) .
  5. If the baby does not like the dish, try offering it after a few days. Offer a new product up to 10-15 times.
  6. Every new product must be single component. Only in this way, in the event of a rash, digestive problems or other manifestations of food aversion, you will be able to track which particular product affected in a negative way.
  7. Pay attention to the purity of the recipe of the products that you offer your baby. The pure formulation of Gerber products without sugar, salt, starch and the addition of sweeter fruit juices is the perfect start to a journey into a world of new flavors!

Be sure to consult with your pediatrician at all stages of the introduction of complementary foods.

Discussion

NORM, and if the mother does not have milk, or does not have enough money, then she has to work. How to act in this situation?

05/02/2008 23:58:19, Angelina

Before 6 months, complementary foods are not introduced. This is the WHO norm, which is also adopted by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Up to 6 months, the baby feeds on mother's milk and (or partially) an adapted mixture. It is at this age that the neuromuscular coordination sufficient for the successful absorption of semi-solid food matures in the child, and teeth begin to erupt. And only at this age, the baby's enzymatic system begins to more or less successfully (although not as well as mother's milk) process starch, proteins and fats contained in unadapted food. I'm all for GW! The main sign, in addition to age, weight changes and the extinction of the solid food ejection reflex, I consider the appearance of an emotional attitude to food - that is, the child begins to be very interested in what parents eat there?

Comment on the article "Complementary foods: how and when to start?"

Any advice on when to start weaning? Nutrition, the introduction of complementary foods. Any advice on when to start weaning? Tomorrow my daughter is 6 months old, on breastfeeding completely.

Discussion

You call the clinic. Today we went on another issue, there was an announcement on the door - they don’t do vaccinations, because. many sick people. I literally don't remember. :)

About complementary foods: I also ate well, grew well, I started classically at 6 months. She did that with everyone. Jars. Vegetables first. Then dairy-free porridge. She eats badly, for the first month she ate a maximum of 20-40 grams, of which half was smeared on her own, played with food :) But my goal is to slowly teach you to eat normally from a spoon, try different foods and slowly transfer to normal, full-fledged food, so that you can when it matures and eats better, replace feedings completely.

If the child really eats up breast milk and normally gains weight, then you can take your time with complementary foods. If you focus on the recommendations of pediatricians and the development of the child, then indeed, it's time to start slowly. I think that you are right that you need to get a scheduled vaccination so that there are no contraindications for it, if suddenly there is a reaction to complementary foods in the form of an allergy or indigestion. And after vaccination, wait a few days, so as not to confuse the reaction to the vaccine with the reaction to the introduction of complementary foods. Sometimes there are such coincidences, after which they unreasonably refuse any type of complementary foods. And the reaction to complementary foods can be confused with the reaction to teething. You can read more about teething here:
[link-1]
You can read more about the introduction of complementary foods here:

Feeding: how to start - give links. It’s like we don’t have enough milk, Polinka sucks for about 3 minutes and starts crying at her chest, I myself feel that there is less milk ...

Please tell me the best way to distribute. Nutrition, the introduction of complementary foods. A child from birth to one year. Care and upbringing of a child up to a year: nutrition, illness, development.

Discussion

We eat 5 times a day
To date:
1 - mixture
2 - 30 grams of fruit puree + 150 porridge
3 - 20-30 grams of fruit juice + mix
4 - 100-120 vegetable puree (sometimes with egg yolk), 90-120 mix
5 - Blend
Sometimes I replace the first with sour milk.

We eat 5 times, we have this -
1st feeding - full mixture
2e - porridge (will soon bring to full volume)
3e - vegetables (then add meat there) + drink a little mixture
4- there will be fruit, cottage cheese + mixture
5e - feeding at night - mixture

When to introduce complementary foods? Now it seems that complementary foods are introduced after 6 months. The baby should double its birth weight at the start of complementary foods and sit with support...

Discussion

6 months is an average. The child should double his birth weight at the time of the start of complementary feeding and sit with support (not lying down to feed). I think that in the summer it’s still better to start giving natural, and in winter canned is more useful. I would now start with pears most likely or apples, then zucchini, potatoes. And porridge will wait until autumn. and about which is better, it is necessary that the child decides. Their tastes are different from ours, sometimes you buy it, you try it, it’s delicious, and the child yells and spits, and some liquid, cheap and sour nonsense bursts on both cheeks.

The last time we started weaning at 6 months. Started with zucchini, then cauliflower. I cooked the vegetables myself. When I introduced fruit puree, I bought Gerber jars, they are without any additives. Kashi was introduced closer to 9 months.


lure - the introduction of a new porridge. Nutrition, the introduction of complementary foods. A child from birth to one year. lure - the introduction of a new porridge. don't be scared, I'm not going to feed Mishka porridge either tomorrow or...

Discussion

Just today we went according to the second option: in the morning I gave a tsp. "new" porridge, in the evening (as always) he will receive a little less than the usual portion of the "old" porridge.
But this is only for the first day (as in science - a new product in the morning so that the reaction is visible). Starting tomorrow, I will reduce the portion of the "old" and increase the amount of the "new". "New" will be given before the "old".

I immediately introduced 60 grams the next day 120, the next day 150. The second porridge is the same, but not two porridges at once, but just one. Porridge is introduced in three days, two of them can be experienced on a smaller portion. IMHO. And you will shoot yourself with porridge with spoons :)

The experience of introducing your complementary foods. Nutrition, the introduction of complementary foods. Where to start feeding? I'm only interested in your experience! I, like the right mother, (Mashenka gave an extra minute ...

Discussion

And we started with vegetables: zucchini, then cauliflower. The pediatrist recommended it to me from vegetables, otherwise fruit purees are sweet and vegetables may not be to your liking. And then porridge.

we started at 5.5, all at once and cereals and fruits and vegetables - gave for three days, for breakfast, after milk - in order it was something like this: applesauce, rice porridge, zucchini, pear, cauliflower, oatmeal, broccoli, banana , avocado, carrot, sweet potato, pumpkin (squash), barley porridge. for about a month we tried everything mixed up, 3 weeks after the start, I began to give porridge with something known for breakfast and a new one for lunch. at almost seven they switched to three meals a day - porridge for breakfast, vegetables for lunch, fruit for dinner. that's all :-) and well, immediately with complementary foods, I began to give some water in a sippy cap, I immediately took it.