The rules are to start the first complementary foods. Which scheme to trust? The introduction of complementary foods with artificial feeding: basic rules

How and what to feed a child

Your baby never ceases to amaze his mom and dad. He is just smart: he is active in movements, rolls over on his own, learns to sit, enjoys his favorite toys and, most importantly, recognizes you. Well, you can surprise him with new food.

Need baby in some vitamins is often not satisfied with their content in mother's milk. To prevent the consequences of a lack of vitamins, a child is given raw juices of berries, fruits or vegetables from the age of three months.

When giving juices, it is advisable to be very careful not to cause digestive upset in the crumbs. Raw juices are best given before breastfeeding. You have to start with just a few drops. After making sure that neither the type nor the frequency of the baby's stools change, you can gradually increase the dose and at the end of the fourth month reach four teaspoons a day, and at the fifth month - up to two to four teaspoons twice a day.

It is good to feed your child with juice mixtures, such as a mixture of berry or lemon juice with carrot, which contains vitamins A and C. A mixture of tomato and orange juice, which also contains vitamins A and C, is very useful. carrot juice relaxes a little; it is useful if your child has a tendency to hold back stools.

Around the fifth month, vitamin D should be given to the baby to prevent rickets (a few drops a day).

In children after four months, a considerable amount of saliva usually begins to stand out, which at first they still cannot hold, so that it often flows out of the mouth. Human saliva acts on starch, turning it into sugar. Therefore, the appearance of saliva means that the baby can already digest food containing starch, and that he has a need for such food.

Five- six month old baby regardless of the amount of milk in the mother, it is necessary to feed, as it grows, develops and mother's milk can no longer satisfy all the needs of his body. During this period, the baby tries qualitatively new products for him. Therefore, you need to be very careful, because it is at this time that taste habits and preferences are formed. Everything will definitely go absolutely smoothly if you follow the following rules.

Complementary foods are introduced in the first half of the day to see if there is any adverse reaction (skin rash, change in the nature of the stool, abdominal pain) with the introduction of a new product.

You should always start with very small amounts of food (one teaspoon), gradually (within a week) bringing the serving volume to the full, laid crumbs by age.

You can not start complementary foods if the child does not feel well or is even naughty. "Force" feeding will lead to a negative reaction to food and the child will remember this negative experience for a long time.

Which product to choose for the first feeding, the doctor should advise.

Most often, complementary foods begin with grain products. Porridges are very useful, have high nutritional value. Currently, doctors recommend feeding a child with industrial-made cereals, as they have a guaranteed composition, are enriched with microelements, minerals and vitamins that are important for children.

The label inscription necessarily says what the product is enriched with. For example, if calcium and magnesium are added to it, then with such porridge in the diet, the child is not afraid of thyroid diseases, he will grow up intelligent, because iodine helps the brain to work properly. For the successful formation of bone tissue, buckwheat porridge with the same additives is useful. Eating this delicious dish, the baby grows strong, strong and healthy. There are cereals, in addition to iodine, containing iron. This element is added so that the child does not develop anemia.

In general, trace elements and vitamins are very important for the body, especially for a fast-growing child. You need very few of them, but if they are not enough, health problems may arise. For example, a lack of vitamins causes various hypovitaminosis, and this is always restless sleep, crybaby, increased fatigue. And even such a kid will be reluctant to play. You can avoid a deficiency of a particular vitamin or trace element with the help of fortified foods that help your baby grow and develop fully.

Now cereals are also enriched with some natural food additives, such as inulin, for example. After all, inulin is a natural carbohydrate that is not broken down in the upper sections of the gastrointestinal tract. Reaching the large intestine, under the influence of bifidobacteria, inulin is fermented. Thus, there is a beneficial effect on the composition of the microbial flora in the intestines, bowel movements are very gentle and regular. Thanks to the addition of inulin, calcium absorption is optimized, which is so necessary for strengthening bone tissue and teeth. If such a product is present in the baby’s daily diet, his nutrition will be healthy and complete.

If you are breastfeeding, in the sixth month you should give the baby liquid porridge (5% in half milk) once a day before feeding. Start with a teaspoon of porridge. Then the dose is increased daily. By the end of the sixth month, you can bring it up to 150 g. During this feeding, the baby should not be breastfed.

In the seventh month, 10% porridge can be used for complementary foods. For one feeding, the child receives 170 - 200 g of such porridge. Before the second breastfeeding, it is advisable to give 100 - 150 g of liquid jelly. In the remaining three feedings, the baby receives 170 - 200 g breast milk.

At the eighth month, another breastfeeding is replaced mashed potatoes on milk (or some other). At this time, it is advisable to give the child half a soft-boiled egg yolk twice a week (if he is not prone to allergic reactions). It is very useful to add grated fresh carrots to the puree once or twice a week. At the same time, milk in mashed potatoes can be replaced with vegetable or meat (chicken) broth. During this period, it is already possible to start giving grated raw apples with sugar instead of berry juices. Usually babies eat them with great pleasure.

In the eighth or ninth month, you can add to breastfeeding or fresh cottage cheese for porridge (now there are many similar products for children under one and a half years old). It is essential for the proper formation of your baby's bones.

From the age of nine months, the baby's nutrition becomes even more varied. The range of dishes includes chopped meat, diluted with broth, and if the crumbs have teeth, meatballs or even a steam cutlet. Puree can be replaced with soft vegetable cutlets. Egg yolk is best given whole two or even three times a week, sometimes with broth, sometimes with grated sugar (mogul).

As a rule, in the last months of the first year, the mother breastfeeds the child only in the morning and at night. Before feeding, they usually give cottage cheese, a baked apple, cookies ... By the year, and sometimes even earlier (it all depends on the quantity and quality of milk from the mother), the little one can be weaned from the breast.

For a healthy baby, weaning with this gradual increase in complementary foods is easy. However, mothers need to remember that weaning a child can only be done after consulting a doctor. It is not recommended to stop breastfeeding during the summer months, as well as during any illness of the crumbs.

Complementary foods are foods that are given infants when they reach a certain age and physiological norms. Such food is designed 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 of the future lifestyle and health of the child are laid in the first 12 months, each parent needs to imagine at what age it is better to start feeding babies, how to properly introduce complementary foods and what kind of food should be given each month.

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

It should be realized that the “symptom” of the readiness of children cannot be only age, several factors must be taken into account. important features child development, for example:

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

At breastfeeding When the child's needs for the main nutrients are fully satisfied with milk, it is not worth rushing to introduce complementary feeding. Children who are on artificial feeding, give complementary foods at 5 months.

What are the dangers of early feeding?

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

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

Starting feeding too early leads to the following problems:

1. 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 in best case useless, because the products are not digested.
2. 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.
3. Complementary foods at 4 months and earlier can even pose some danger to the baby if he is not yet able to swallow food that is thicker than milk or formula. An undeveloped swallowing reflex can lead to vomiting, loss of interest in food.
4. The increased load experienced by the unformed internal organs(liver, kidneys and organs of the gastrointestinal tract), can result in their chronic diseases.

Another possible consequence is that the introduction of complementary foods before 6 months of age leads to a reduction in breastfeeding, resulting in the possibility of cessation of lactation.

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

Thus, it is better to start feeding a child at an appropriate age and only after the approval of the doctor who observes 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 knowing the rules for introducing complementary foods.

They look like this:

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

Children need to be fed very carefully and with great patience. It will take a long time for a 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 the way you would like.

Baby's first foods

The first complementary foods should include foods that have a neutral taste. This is necessary so that the bright aftertaste does not make the baby reject new food or, on the contrary, exclude the preference of one dish for everyone else.

That is why, for example, experts do not advise introducing sweet and aromatic juices or fruit purees into 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 doesn’t matter at what age you start introducing new foods - complementary foods at 5 months with artificial feeding follow the same principles as feeding from six months with breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding table by month

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 with formula feeding, the main “dish” is the mixture.

In addition, the table also shows how the consistency of 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, the babies have a stable work of the jaws, at the same age, chewing becomes more adult. Usually, at the age of one, the baby is transferred to the family table with some reservations.

WHO advises introducing vegetables into the first complementary foods, but if babies are underweight, it is better to give cereals. We will focus on the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Experts advise the following order of vegetable feeding:

First of all, you should mash hypoallergenic vegetables. Pumpkin and carrot dishes are among the latest to be introduced, as 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 note 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 washed 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 proper feeding babies.

Vegetable Introduction Table

The table shows that the "introduction" of three fruits into the children's menu will take approximately 21 days. It is necessary to bring each dish up to age indicators carefully, since the indicated grams do not mean that the child must be forced to eat everything to the end.

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 can’t cook porridge with cow or goat milk, since the bodies of children under one year old are not able to absorb 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 a small gourmet. Cereals containing gluten can cause severe pathological conditions 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.

Made in industrial conditions 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: does the stomach hurt, is the bowel movement disturbed, is there a rash on the skin. It is impossible to combine different cereals!

At this age, the introduction of complementary foods becomes more diverse. The kid is growing up, which means that he is already allowed to eat more difficult dishes for the children's stomach:

Potatoes are introduced later than other fruits, since they are hyperallergenic vegetables. Mothers should give the child 5 grams first, and by the seventh day bring the volume to 50 grams. Potatoes should not exceed a third of all vegetables in the children'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 an ordinary yolk is given. Important Rule- you need to feed the baby with this product in the morning, rubbing it with milk or adding it to the porridge.

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

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

Good to know! If you want to make your own puree of meat, make clean minced meat, form 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 method prevents the meatballs from sticking together.

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

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

First, a teaspoon is given, then gradually adjusted 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 flavorings. 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 cottage cheese, 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 proximity. Exotic fruits are saved for later.

First of all, mashed apples, pears or prunes are given. By this age, many children acquire teeth, as a result of which they are already able to crack 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 mothers will be surprised when they read that healthy fruits given so late. There are many opinions on this matter, 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, the fruits are not such a significant source of vitamin complexes, the most important elements for the baby are protein and fat ingredients. In addition, sweet apples contain a variety of fruit acids, irritating mucous membranes of the mouth.

Another introduced product is fish. It should not be much, and it must be low-fat and low-allergenic - for example, hake, cod or pollock. Experts recommend giving your child a "fish day" when this dish replaces mashed meats. 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 the window.

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

At the end of 12 months, the child can also eat gluten cereals - 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 your favorite delicacies that some "unconscious" mothers and grandmothers love to feed babies:

Feeding problems and mother's fears

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

If the baby reacted outside the box to the appearance of an unknown product in his diet, you should not completely refuse the dish.

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

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

In addition, a certain difficulty arises if you need to make a choice - cook yourself or buy ready-made meals. 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 products indicated on the jars, be guided by age standards;
• choose the freshest products, making sure that they are not expired;
• a children's dish should not contain various non-natural additives, flavors, 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.

To say exactly how many months you can feed a child, only a local pediatrician can. And the joint efforts of the mother and the doctor will greatly facilitate the transition of the baby to adult food.

Hello, I'm Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully studied at SUSU as a special psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and advising parents on raising children. I apply the experience gained, among other things, in the creation of psychological articles. Of course, by no means do I pretend to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.

By about six months of age, babies have an increased need for more energy and nutrients. The mother is faced with the question of how to properly introduce complementary foods. The development of the digestive organs in the future depends on it. The first food becomes the basis for the development of chewing technique and the proper production of enzymes.

The World Health System (WHO) has developed a system for introducing complementary foods and has determined the approximate time frame for when it can be given. The goal is not only to enrich the body of children with nutrients, but also to introduce them to solid, adult food.

According to generally accepted WHO standards, the timing of the introduction of complementary foods depends on the type of feeding.

Complementary feeding during breastfeeding should begin no earlier than 6 months. By the age of six months, there are not enough vitamins and minerals in breast milk for the full growth and development of the child.

Formula-fed babies can try new foods a little earlier, at 4-5 months. Their need for trace elements is much greater than that of breastfed children. By this time, the immune and digestive systems are mature enough to absorb the new food.

The start of complementary feeding can also be determined by the behavior and development of the child himself. Signs defined by WHO:

• the usual portion of breast milk or formula is not enough for the child;
• the baby can sit without support;
• the first teeth appeared, the baby does not push food out of his mouth, he tries to chew it;
• interested in what is in the adult's plate.

It is important to remember that throughout the entire period of introducing new products, a nursing mother should not overshadow breastfeeding.

The table will help you figure out where to start, when and how much to give complementary foods while breastfeeding. Data are in accordance with accepted WHO standards.

Rules for entering products and dishes

In order for a new product to bring only benefit to children and not cause unwanted reactions, several rules must be observed.

• At the time of the introduction of a new product, the baby must be healthy. You can’t do this during the period of scheduled vaccinations, at the time of separation from your mother or moving to a new place.
• Complementary foods should be given in the morning, a few grams, before the main feeding with breast milk or formula.

• The dishes must be thoroughly washed, the products are properly cooked.
• It is undesirable to store the cooked dish, even in the refrigerator.
• Complementary foods should be given with a spoon (only not a metal one).
• Switching to the next new product is not earlier than a week.

If a new product caused vomiting, diarrhea, rash and other unpleasant symptoms, then you need to exclude it from the diet for a month. After that, repeat the introduction again.

The scheme will clearly help to understand how the sequence of introducing new products to a child is carried out, according to WHO recommendations.

1. If the child is only breastfed, then with the first complementary foods he should be offered water.
2. With a lack of weight, complementary foods begin with cereals.
3. If there are problems with the stool, it is recommended to introduce prunes into the diet earlier.
4. When the baby does not have time to absorb the product in a week, the time can be increased. Portions depend on the weight of the baby.

The table of introducing new products for children of 6 months using the example of vegetables will help you figure out how much complementary foods are allowed in the first days.

The table will help you figure out how many grams of the dish and on what day you can offer the baby during the period when new products are introduced.

Getting to know new

How to start breastfeeding? The first complementary foods during breastfeeding depend on the health of the baby. If he lacks valuable kilograms, then it is better to start with cereals from gluten-free cereals. In other cases, the introduction begins with vegetable dishes, but not with fruit.

Vegetable dishes are useful for constipation. Fruits themselves are sweet, and after them it is more difficult to accustom the baby to other dishes.

The first cereals should be given one-component, gluten-free. These include corn, rice, buckwheat and oatmeal. If the baby is prone to constipation, then rice porridge should not be given first, and it can be cooked no more than once a week. The most useful is buckwheat. It prevents the development of anemia, gives energy, is easily absorbed by the body. On the contrary, it should be included in the diet at least twice a week.

The first cereals for children should be dairy-free. They should not contain sugar or salt. The same rule must be followed when cooking dishes at home. Closer to the year, porridge can be boiled in pasteurized milk with the addition of water. When one year old, it is allowed to give completely milk porridge.

Vegetable dishes form the correct intestinal microflora, stimulate intestinal motility. Feeding is better to start with zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower. Closer to 8 months, carrots and pumpkin can be introduced into the diet. You need to start with one component. Once the child gets used to several vegetables, they can be mixed in one dish.

The first fruit puree should be given from a green apple or pear. Just enter them with caution. They can increase the formation of gases and cause flatulence.

Meat dishes should be introduced after 7 months. You need to start with lean meats: turkey, veal, chicken. If the child is breastfed and does not want to take meat dishes in the diet, then you can not insist. If a child is artificially fed and has low hemoglobin, then it is necessary to introduce meat into his diet.

At 9 months, you can start giving fish (hake, pollock) - up to 2 times a week. In the same period, fermented milk products such as kefir and cottage cheese are introduced.

Scheme of the sequence of introduction of complementary foods for breastfed children, according to accepted WHO standards:

• 6 months - vegetable dishes;
• 6.5–7 months - fruits;
• 7-9 months - cereals;
• 8–9 - yolk;
• 9–11 - fish, meat;
• 11–12 - kefir;
• 12 - cottage cheese.

Innovations

Relatively recently, the term " pedagogical complementary foods" appeared. It differs slightly from the standard adopted by WHO, includes the experience and advice of parents, and is not supported by any other scientific data.

Pedagogical complementary foods do not aim to feed the child. A nursing mother just needs to teach her baby the culture of behavior at the table and instill an interest in food.

Pedagogical complementary foods include the following tips:

1. Feeding is not according to certain boundaries in the calendar adopted by WHO, but at the request of the child. At the same time, it is still taken into account that the first complementary foods of the baby should not be introduced before 6 months.
2. Non-compliance with the norms of the consistency of dishes proposed by WHO for the first complementary foods. The child takes everything that adults eat from the table. Mom needs to make sure that the food is properly cooked (there should be no smoked meats, fried, spicy, canned foods). The pieces are not crushed.
3. Separate children's meals are not prepared. The child eats what adults do.
4. Up to 9 months, a child can freely eat from an adult's plate. And only after the specified period, he is given a separate spoon and plate.
5. Pedagogical complementary foods are not used for artificial feeding. Supporters of this direction are for the nursing mother to keep her milk as long as possible.

Pedagogical feeding has a lot positive aspects. Among them, the main one is the acquaintance of children from the very first day of complementary feeding with the traditions of eating within their family. A nursing mother does not need to spend time and effort to prepare a separate dish. In addition, pedagogical complementary foods contribute to good lactation, so milk is stored for a long time.

A mother's guide to introducing new dishes using this method:

1. For breakfast, mom should put only fresh and high-quality products on the plate, for example, cottage cheese, cookies, cheese.
2. The child is seated on his knees and given a spoon in his hands. As the mother begins to eat, he also becomes interested in the process.
3. If the baby reaches for food, it is worth giving him a small piece (equal to a match head).
4. The baby either chews the product or spits it out.
5. If the baby liked it, and he asks for more, it is allowed to give two more such portions. Gradually, in 3-5 days, the amount of the product you like is adjusted to 5 g.
6. If a child is fed with the same product, then he quickly loses interest in him. Therefore, it is worth drawing his attention to other foods.

At the same time, the mother needs to instill in the baby the rules of behavior at the table. There is no need to allow the child to be outrageous, to be allowed to try everything that is on the plate.

These tips will help you adapt to new foods faster. But it should be borne in mind that most children under one year old suffer from food allergies. AT this case more difficult to use this technique.

When the period of the first complementary foods comes, you need to take into account the state of health and taste preferences of the baby. Advice from others may not be appropriate, as each child develops differently. The best option is to consult a specialist.

After the first three or four months of a child's life, the mother thinks about introducing the first complementary foods into the baby's diet. The body of the crumbs develops, at the same time its needs grow. To satisfy them, it is necessary to supplement the menu with new, properly selected products. How to introduce complementary foods, at what age and “how much to hang in grams” - you will learn in our article.

Introduction of complementary foods: first steps

Most pediatricians recommend starting complementary foods between 4 and 6 months of age. WHO does not give an exact formulation of the onset of this moment - in their recommendations there is a vague “at the age of the child about six months”. It is worth noting that you should not introduce the first complementary foods, going beyond the allowable time. Too early introduction of complementary foods (as well as too late) can provoke the development of diseases in the baby.

The consequences of early introduction of complementary foods (up to 4-4.5 months):

• Stool disorders- a child who received complementary foods early is 90% likely to experience problems with stools (constipation, diarrhea).
• Allergic reaction- the digestive tract of the crumbs is too immature for complementary foods.
• Developmental and growth retardation- too early complementary foods can cause intestinal damage, food will no longer be properly absorbed, which will cause a lot of problems in the physical development of a four-month-old baby.

The consequences of late introduction of complementary foods (after 6.5-7 months):

• Delay in the formation of the masticatory apparatus- at 5-6 months, the development of masticatory muscles requires additional food in addition to breast milk / mixture. Thicker, it stimulates the active development of the chewing apparatus, which later in life is important for the correct articulation and speech of the baby;
• growth retardation- there is not enough iron and protein in breast milk for a five-month-old baby. Their deficiency hinders physical development a five-month-old baby, perhaps even the development of anemia;
• celiac disease is the medical term for plant protein intolerance. Celiac disease can occur with late feeding, it is especially pronounced when crumbs of various cereals are introduced into the diet;
• Stool disorders- the intestines of a six-month-old baby need dietary fiber to active work, which are not found in milk and formula. Without dietary fiber at this age, the baby will be prone to constant constipation.

When introducing new food into the menu of the baby, it is necessary to take into account medical recommendations. And specific terms, products and methods will be determined by the first trials by none other than your own baby.

Important! Complementary foods in no way cancel the use of breast milk (or formula) by the child, and does not replace it. Even if complementary foods were introduced early, a nursing mother, if desired, can continue to breastfeed her baby not only up to a year, but also up to 2, 3 or more years.

Is the baby ready to feed?

Full readiness for complementary foods occurs when the child:

• has doubled its weight, which was at birth or weighs more than 6 kg (for premature babies, the indicator should be 2.5 times its “newborn” weight);
• no longer spits out thick food (mashed potatoes) from the mouth reflexively;
• when hungry, at the sight of food becomes excited, and compresses his lips when he does not want to eat;
• in a state of reclining to sit on the lap of an adult and may turn away from the spoon;
• shows active food interest- looks at what adults eat, strives to try the food from the mother’s plate, willingly “procrastinates” in the mouth the food offered to him.

Note! The eruption of the first milk teeth and the ability to sit on their own are not signs of a child's readiness to master the first complementary foods.

Acquaintance with complementary foods on natural and artificial feeding

It would seem that breastfeeding has only improved after the difficult first months of life, or was picked up best option artificial nutrition, as the time for complementary foods comes.

Why is it so important to introduce a new, thicker food for an infant?

• The chewing apparatus and the digestive system develop.
• Complementary foods are an additional source of nutrients (protein, zinc, iron, dietary fiber and others that are not found in the right amount in breast milk and an adapted formula).
• More solid food stimulates the motor activity of the intestine.
• With the introduction of complementary foods, the child gets acquainted with new tastes.
• The baby gradually learns to eat food on its own.

All of the above needs are individual for each child and are recognized to satisfy complementary foods.

Complementary foods while breastfeeding

Mother's milk is the best food for babies in their first months of life. The World Health Organization recommends starting complementary foods for breastfed babies no earlier than 180 days after birth, which corresponds to 6 months of age. six month old baby breast milk alone is no longer enough for proper and successful development. Additional nutrition in the form of new food is required for the proper formation of all vital systems of his body: nervous, renal, muscular, etc.

Complementary feeding on artificial feeding

A child who has been using an adapted milk formula from birth can be introduced to complementary foods earlier - as early as 4-4.5 months of age. In infants on IV, the digestive system matures sufficiently by this age, intestinal immunity is actively formed. The increased permeability of the mucous membrane of the intestinal walls is normalized. Digestive system generally becomes optimal for taking in and digesting thicker foods. A child on a mixture must be introduced to complementary foods no later than 4.5 months. Later complementary foods can create a deficient state of vitamins and microelements in the body, which will lead to the occurrence of various pathologies.

Mixed feeding

With mixed feeding, when both breast milk and formula take place in the baby's diet, complementary foods can be started at an average of 5 months. Mixed-fed babies receive less breast milk, making up for its deficiency with milk formula, and begin to need nutrients for proper development and growth earlier than “naturalists”. Complementary foods in this case acquire the importance of an important supplier of nutrients.

Five steps to a successful weaning start

The correct approach to the introduction of complementary foods is already half the success. Here are some tips for parents who have to introduce their child to “real adult food”.

1. You can introduce new products only when the baby is completely healthy. During illness, the child should not be given any previously untasted food. However, foods already introduced into the diet should be continued.
2. Do not enter multiple different types food - otherwise it will be impossible to identify the exact cause of the allergy or stool disorder that has arisen.
3. It is absolutely not worth rushing the child while eating. The baby should eat at the speed with which he is comfortable doing it.
4. Offer your baby food when he is hungry. If the baby strives to play with food, or in every possible way avoids the spoon and pushes it away, then complete the feeding. The child will definitely catch up next time.
5. It happens that the baby categorically does not want to try a new product. Do not be upset - you can offer him to try this food again after a few days.

On a note! Do not turn the process of feeding into a game - dancing, singing songs and asking to “eat a spoon for mom” is not necessary at all. Force feeding is also not worth it, respect your baby. When he gets hungry, the meal you planned will certainly take place.

What products form the first complementary foods?

Meat

This is the main source of animal proteins, which must be present in the menu of a child of six months and older. Easily digestible puree is made from rabbit meat, lean beef, and lean pork can also be used. Meat is a fibrous product, so for babies it needs to be chopped to the maximum with a blender. If this is not possible, it is better to start meat complementary foods with canned baby food that does not contain salt, starch and spices.

Fish

Fish puree is one of the dishes for the prevention of rickets in infants. Babies with vitamin D deficiency have a special need for this food product. For babies up to a year old, it is best to try ocean fish dishes: hake, cod, pollock or salmon. Also for feeding, river pike perch and trout are perfect. Fish is almost completely digestible, and, among other things, is rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron, which is important for a growing organism.

Bird

According to pediatricians, turkey is the best for baby food, and you can’t argue with that - it is easily absorbed by the body. Moreover, boiled turkey puree is considered one of the hypoallergenic dishes, and turkey is also rich in iron, and babies with this product on the menu will never have anemia. But the chicken may well cause diathesis, so it is better to introduce the chicken into the diet closer to the year.

Vegetables

Rich useful substances, vegetables will give the baby energy and support immunity. Cauliflower and potatoes are rich in vitamin C, carrots and pumpkin are responsible for vitamin A, zucchini is a storehouse of phosphorus and magnesium. Well, what about without broccoli, because it is the optimal source of beta-carotene. Cooked in a double boiler, they will keep all their useful qualities and will become an excellent basis for the diet of an “adult” baby.

Fruits and berries

It is better to look for vitamins and fiber for the first acquaintance in domestic fruits with a dense skin. Green apples and ripe pears are ideal choices. Also, the baby will benefit from purees made from raspberries, currants and strawberries - only for them you need to wait for 6-8 months of the baby.

Rules for the introduction of complementary foods by month - what, when and how much

For a healthy child, the first food can be a one-component vegetable puree, porridge, and after a while, fruit juice. For children prone to diarrhea, it is best to offer gluten-free cereal first. For constipation - vegetable puree. If you are going to use canned food, read the label carefully - it indicates the age recommended for introducing the baby to this product.

An approximate scheme for the introduction of complementary foods for a child looks like this:

• 4-5 months– one-component fruit purees/juices (from apples, pears, apricots, then plums and peaches), vegetable purees (mainly zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots), as well as gluten-free cereals (rice and buckwheat);
• 5-6 months- multi-component fruit purees / juices (pear + peach, apple + apricot, etc.), children's drinks with the addition of berries (currants, lingonberries, cranberries, raspberries with a content of up to 20%), vegetable puree (pumpkin and small quantities of white cabbage); gluten-free porridge with corn grits and gluten-containing oatmeal; drop by drop in puree - vegetable oil, 1/2 tsp. butter;
• 6-7 months- cottage cheese, egg or quail yolk appear in the diet, be sure - meat (rabbit, turkey, then chicken, beef and pork), gluten-containing cereals, it is also allowed to give bananas, children's instant cookies, white bread crackers from six months;
• 7-8 months- in addition to the use of the above products, mild wheat bread, you can give mashed green peas;
• 8-9 months- there is an acquaintance with children's yogurt, fish is added to the menu (ocean - hake, cod, flounder or river - carp, pike perch, silver carp), meat purees with offal (mainly liver, tongue), spinach, leaf parsley and onion are added to vegetable purees onion;
• 10 months and older - the diet is supplemented with soft wheat pasta, it is also allowed to add the first spices to the dishes: white pepper, basil, coriander.

For convenience, below is a table of the introduction of complementary foods, which will tell you when a child can be introduced to a new product and how much to start giving to his baby.

On a note! Feeding is always individual. The sequence of introduction of products by parents may vary depending on the tastes of their particular baby. The main thing is that by 12 months of his life, the child has time to get acquainted with two types of cereals, try at least 2-3 types of vegetables and fruits, a couple of meats, as well as fish, cottage cheese and egg yolk.

The first complementary foods and the health of the child - nutritional features

There are cases when complementary foods are introduced not according to the general, but according to a special scheme. This is important to know for mothers whose crumbs have health problems. Here are a few common situations faced by young parents and their babies.

Digestive problems

If a child often has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, then porridge will be a suitable food for him as complementary foods. With a tendency to constipation, the first complementary foods should be from plant foods (vegetable puree). Babies older than 7.5 months benefit from infant dairy products with pro- and prebiotics. They perfectly restore the work of the intestines and create ideal conditions for the development of beneficial intestinal bacteria.

underweight

Small babies need to replenish the diet with new products with caution. Satiety crumbs lagging behind in weight, the first thing should be provided by breast milk / mixture. The first food for an underweight baby should be porridge - choose a product that is additionally enriched with calcium, iron and zinc.

Tendency to allergies

Allergic babies should get acquainted with complementary foods a little later than the rest - at about 5-6 months. Dairy-free porridge is a great start to feeding and should be gluten-free. It is also worth paying attention to hypoallergenic products of industrial production, they have the appropriate inscriptions on the etiquettes.

Parents of healthy children should also be careful and not rush to master the entire range of complementary foods with their baby. Introduce your baby to 1-2 types of new foods and let your baby's body get used to them for at least a week. Boiled food is easier to tolerate, even fruits are recommended to be given boiled or baked (for example, a baked pear or apple is well absorbed).

Advice! Offer the next product only in the morning or before lunch: this way you can evaluate the response of the body during the day and draw the right conclusion regarding a particular ingredient.

First feeding menu: how to introduce the next product

At the beginning of this part, we want to demonstrate a video of preparing complementary foods from a piggy bank of recipes for a young mother:

Any new food, be it porridge or puree, regardless of the composition, is offered to the child according to the following scheme: it starts with 1/2 teaspoon and in 7 days the portion is brought to full volume. The amount of complementary foods depends on the age of the baby and his state of health, so only a pediatrician observing the baby can give more specific numbers. We can only name generally accepted norms:

- Vegetable purees - 100 g / day;

- Fruit purees - 50 g / day;

- Kashi - up to 150 g / day;

- Meat - up to 50 g / day.

Then a new product is given for another couple of days, for “fixing” by the body, and they begin to introduce the next one.

We offer you, as an example, a menu of how a new product, broccoli, is introduced into the diet, while the baby already eats zucchini puree in the amount of 100 g / day.

Day 1: 1/2 tsp mashed broccoli, the rest is zucchini.

Day 2: 2-3 tsp mashed broccoli, the rest is zucchini.

Day 3: 5-6 tsp mashed broccoli, the rest is zucchini.

Day 4: about 40-50 g of broccoli (half a jar) and the same amount of zucchini.

Day 5: almost the entire jar of broccoli puree (about 80-100 g).

Day 6-7: a full jar of broccoli (100 g).

In the following days, mashed potatoes can be alternated: today - broccoli, tomorrow - zucchini, or you can give both mashed potatoes, 50 g each. Also, as an option, you can mix mashed potatoes, the main thing is that the proposed amount of vegetables for the child does not exceed the recommended daily allowance.

Canned food: what is important to pay attention to

When preparing the first complementary foods for a baby, mothers often ask themselves the question: cook or buy?

It is worth noting that both baby food and homemade food have their drawbacks and advantages.

• Canned purees can be safely called a “guarantor of safety” - they are properly crushed, have undergone the necessary heat treatment and contain all the declared vitamins and microelements.
• Homemade food, in the first place, costs parents much cheaper than canned food. Homemade mashed potatoes have a unique taste, and mom knows exactly what quality the product she took as a basis.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a “canned” product?

Puree composition. The ideal puree for complementary foods should include only natural (and understandable to you) products. That is, vegetables, fruits, meat, cereals and water. The presence of vegetable oil is allowed.

Child's age. On the jars you can find the inscriptions “6 months +” or “from 8 months”. This means that you can give this product to a child only from the indicated age, and not earlier. Keep in mind that manufacturers write on the packaging minimum age, which may not be as recommended by the pediatrician. Be sure to check with your doctor for a specific brand of product.

Grinding degree. Puree for babies can be found in two types: homogenized and puree. In the first, all the ingredients are crushed as much as possible, the pieces are no more than 0.3 mm. In a puree product, they are 1.5-3 mm. If the word “with pieces” is written on the package, then the puree is already for babies who can chew such food (older than 10-11 months).

A small summary in the form of a short video for young mothers. Everything you need to know about complementary foods:

Behind the first months after childbirth, the newborn is actively growing and getting to know the outside world. The baby receives only mother's milk or a special milk formula, but very soon real food should appear in his diet.

I'm already quite an adult!

The first feeding is a kind of sacrament of introducing the baby to adult food. At what age, with what products and how to start it correctly? Are there any diagrams or recommendations? These and many other questions that concern all mothers, we will consider in the article and try to find an answer to them.

First meal. What is it and when should it be introduced?

Speaking about the timing of the introduction of new products, it is necessary to take into account not only the age of the child, but also his general condition, the degree of readiness.

At one time, I was looking forward to the moment when I could give my son something new - puree or juice. I really wanted to speed up the process, so I think all mothers understand this impatience. However, it is still not worth rushing into this.

Based on the table of the WHO (World Health Organization), if the baby is breastfed, new products are introduced from 6 months. The same statement can be found in the book of Dr. Komarovsky, who says that the start of complementary foods before this period, if the nursing mother eats properly and varied, is meaningless.

Ready for adult food!

If you think about it, it is easy to find an explanation for this - the introduction of new products is necessary in order for the growing body to receive new, varied and nutritious food. Breast-feeding fully provides the child with all the substances necessary for the full development. But already from six months, the baby will need additional nutrition, which mother's milk is not able to give him.

In addition, the mother should know the following signs that will help determine the degree of readiness of the baby for a new stage in his life. It:

I'm brutally hungry.

• your baby can sit with support and turn their head confidently;
• the baby weighs 2 times more than at birth;
• at the sight of a spoon brought to the mouth, the child opens his mouth and swallows food. If, instead, he sticks out his tongue and tries to spit out the offered puree, the baby is probably not ready yet.

In some cases, the start of complementary feeding of the child should still be postponed. This may be due to both the condition of the child, and for other reasons.

After vaccination, the introduction of new products is strictly prohibited.

For example, when a baby:

• temperature;
• bowel disorder;
• runny nose or cough;
• or the baby was vaccinated;
• The start of complementary feeding coincided with the hot weather.

The question of that torments every mother. At this age, the baby can do a lot. At the same time, one should not forget that the development of boys and girls, full-term and premature babies is different.

Dummy: friend or foe? Read where it is told about the dangers of baby nipples and the opinions of pediatricians and speech therapists are collected.

How to start feeding a child?

A few years ago, pediatricians recommended that mothers introduce complementary foods to children from juices (most often fruit). At one time I started to supplement my daughter precisely apple juice, then introduced pear, etc. These products prepared the newborn's stomach for new food, different from mother's milk.

After sweet fruits, the baby may refuse vegetables and cereal cereals.

However, studies carried out in last years, somewhat changed the idea of ​​​​the first products that need to be given to an infant and the feeding regimen has changed. Teach your baby to sweets fruit juices and puree is not difficult, in addition, they contain slightly less minerals than vegetables.

Zucchini, cabbage or pumpkin?

So which product should you start with? The answer to this question definitely cannot be unambiguous, since, for example, children prone to constipation are recommended to introduce vegetables as the first complementary foods. Babies who are somewhat behind in weight from their peers, it is better to give porridge.

However, let's proceed from the fact that the baby is not lagging behind in weight and the doctor advises starting with vegetables. Which of them should be preferred?

Among vegetables, you should choose those that have tender, easily digestible fiber - zucchini, broccoli, pumpkin and carrots.

We start with the minimum portion - on the first day we give the child a half teaspoon of the selected product before breastfeeding, then we supplement it with milk. During the day, we carefully observe the child, whether there are any rashes on the skin, whether the stool has changed.

Start off vegetable food best with zucchini.

If everything is in order, then the next day the portion can be increased, that is, give the baby a teaspoon already. Is there any negative reaction? The third day - we are already giving 2 teaspoons, etc. On average, a week is needed to introduce one product. Then another week to finally get used to it; so we get 1 product - 2 weeks.

When the baby is happy to eat a zucchini or cauliflower, no pimples or redness appeared, so you can move on to a new product.

When the body has adapted to zucchini, you can try cauliflower.

It should be entered in the same way:

• Half a teaspoon of a new product, the rest of the usual portion of an already tried product + mother's milk;
• The next day, increase the amount of a new product, respectively, reducing the already familiar product, the baby receives the rest with breast milk.

You should never give your baby breast first and then puree.- having had enough of the usual food, the baby may well refuse a new unfamiliar product. After the zucchini, the child can be offered cauliflower or carrots.

However, remember that the "red" vegetables or fruits in the baby may be allergic reaction, so carefully monitor its condition and take your time with innovations, no matter how much you would like to.

After the child is used to and enjoys eating vegetables, you can try to offer him fruit puree, for example, apple. Believe me after vegetable puree or cereals, it will not be difficult to accustom a baby to sweet fruits, but if you start with fruits, the success of the "introduction" of vegetables may be in doubt.

Buckwheat is a storehouse of trace elements and vitamins.

At the stage when one or more vegetables and fruits are included in the child's diet, cereals can be introduced. They should also be chosen carefully - it is recommended to start with buckwheat or rice porridge, then offer your favorite child oatmeal and wheat. These types of cereals are hypoallergenic, i.e. the likelihood of any adverse reactions is minimal.

It is difficult to say which product to give first, which one later; you should be guided by the needs and reactions of your own baby. My baby did not like the zucchini that was offered to him as a first treat, but he ate the cauliflower with pleasure. Try it, refuse the first time - offer after a while.

The situation is somewhat different with children who are bottle-fed. Complementary foods for such babies begin to be given 1-2 months earlier, since it is believed that the gastrointestinal tract of children is already ready for new food.

Complementary foods according to Komarovsky

Now a little about the feeding table recommended by Dr. Komarovsky. Introducing the baby to adult food, according to the methodology developed by this pediatrician, begins with, bypassing the generally accepted rules for the introduction of complementary foods.

Dr. Komarovsky is sure that the start of complementary foods should start with fermented milk products.

More full information and lure with cereals, read the opinions of experts on this matter and the scheme for introducing zdakov.

But there are those who, despite the vast experience of this specialist, still hold a different opinion.

Antonina from Krasnodar:

“I really respect the opinion of this doctor, but I think that kefir is a completely unsuitable product for such early age. I studied a lot of literature and decided to start with vegetables.

Elena from Zheleznogorsk

“I bow to E. O. Komarovsky, but I know my mother, who, having started giving sour milk, then regretted it very much - the child did not absorb protein, alcohol poisoning was detected.”

Mom intuitively knows what her child needs.

Summing up, I would like to say that the introduction of new products into the diet of an infant is a difficult, crucial stage in the life of both the child and his parents. No two children are the same - each is unique, each has its own developmental characteristics. Whatever scheme for the introduction of additional nutrition you are inclined to, what schedules and deadlines you set for yourself, you should carefully weigh all the arguments and be sure to consult with your pediatrician. Carefully observe your child and listen to your intuition - the mother's heart will not deceive!