Introduction of meat complementary foods during breastfeeding. Meat dish. What foods are suitable as complementary foods and in what volume should they be introduced?

Complementary feeding is the food prescribed to infants when they reach a certain age and physiological norms. Such food is designed to supplement mother's milk or artificial mixture, whose composition and caloric content can no longer satisfy the increased needs of the baby.

Since in the first 12 months the foundations for the child’s future lifestyle and health are laid, every parent needs to understand at what age it is best to start feeding their babies, how to properly introduce complementary foods and what food should be given in each month.

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

It should be realized that age alone cannot be a “symptom” of children’s readiness; several factors must be taken into account. important characteristics child development, For example:

A complex of all signs of readiness appears in different children at their age. As a rule, the introduction of complementary foods occurs between 5 and 8 months (everything is individual).

At natural feeding when the child’s needs are the main ones nutrients If they are completely satisfied with milk, there is no need to rush into introducing 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, complementary feeding at 4 months is fraught with not the most favorable reactions from the outside digestive tract, not yet ready to accept new products.

Too much early start complementary feeding leads to the following problems:

Due to the lack of necessary digestive enzymes, abdominal pain may occur, intestinal colic, belching, stool disorders. That is, complementary feeding from 4 months will be useless at best, since the products will not be absorbed.
Another serious consequence– allergic conditions, the cause of which is 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 children suffers, as a result of which they get sick more often and longer.
Complementary feeding at 4 months and earlier may even pose some danger for the baby if he does not yet know how to swallow thicker food than milk or formula. An undeveloped swallowing reflex can lead to vomiting and loss of interest in food.
Increased load experienced by unformed internal organs(liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract), may result in their chronic diseases.

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

So that the first feeding of the baby goes without “accidents” and leaves only pleasant impressions, it is worth learning the rules for introducing complementary foods.

They look like this:

A new product should be given to a child who is absolutely healthy and in good spirits. You should not start introducing complementary foods if your children have been vaccinated.
The first complementary food should be one-component, that is, consist of only one dish. If the baby is used to a new product, they give the next one and so on. The last thing you should give is porridge with fruit additives, vegetable mixtures with a meat component.
Before buying industrial complementary foods, be sure to review the composition to exclude products that include highly allergenic ingredients.
It is necessary to feed your baby with an unfamiliar product in the morning to monitor the reaction child's body. During the day, mother needs to pay attention to the condition skin, feces and general activity.
Offer new foods when your baby is hungry, and then supplement with breast milk (if breastfed) or formula (if bottle-fed).
The optimal amount of complementary feeding is half a teaspoon (or 3-5 grams), gradually the volume of complementary feeding increases to age levels.
Don’t give up the product, even if your child rejects it once. To get used to a new taste, you need to taste it thoroughly. This should be done at intervals of 3 days. If the toddler continues to refuse the dish, do not insist, but replace the product with a similar one (rice with buckwheat, pear puree with apple puree).
Monitor the temperature. This should be done to avoid burns to the oral mucosa (the dish should be warm, not hot).
Make sure that the dish is homogeneous (uniform). Lumps cause difficulty in swallowing and the child rejects the product.
Avoid feeding your baby directly from an industrial container. The food is placed on a plate, otherwise saliva will get into the jar, as a result of which the dish will become unsuitable for further storage.
It is necessary to give the next dish only after the kids are completely accustomed to the previous one. Typically the time period is about 2 weeks.
Combine several products. For example, you should not give two liquid (milk and juice) or two thicker (mashed potatoes and porridge) dishes at one meal.

You need to feed children very carefully and with great patience. It will take a child a long time before he learns to swallow food that is thicker than breast milk or a mixture. That's why you shouldn't be nervous and worry if something doesn't go as you would like.

Baby's first products

The first complementary foods should include foods that have a neutral taste. This must be done so that the bright taste does not make the baby reject the new food or, on the contrary, eliminate the preference for one dish over all others.

This is why, for example, experts do not recommend 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 prevent the formation of incorrect taste preferences at an early age.

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

Infant feeding table by month

Age	Products
Six months	Vegetable purees: zucchini, pumpkin, carrot and cauliflower or broccoli.
6-7 months	The baby's menu includes cereals; gluten-free ones are best. You can make porridge from buckwheat, rice or corn grits.
7 months	You can give your child puree from familiar vegetables, flavoring it olive oil. Children are also allowed to make vegetable soups.
8 months	For an older baby, products made from boiled meat (chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef) are suitable; they also provide egg yolks
9 months	You can already give fermented milk products - low-fat kefir and cottage cheese.
10 months	At this age, fish dishes are given - low-allergenic cod, pollock. Completely new dishes are also suitable for kids - berry puree, natural yogurt. For babies, prepare puree from apples, pears or peaches (unless, of course, the child is allergic to them).
11 months	The child is offered soups made with meat broths without frying. You can give a small piece of bread, oatmeal, millet, pearl barley porridge.
Year	Most dishes found in an adult diet are suitable for a baby.

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

With natural feeding, milk remains the main product, but with formula feeding, the main “dish” is the formula.

In addition, the table shows how the consistency of complementary foods changes. After six months, the baby's chewing strength increases, so he can eat various purees(vegetables, fruits). After 7 months, when chewing skills are more perfect, mashed, chopped dishes are given.

And only after 12 months do babies experience stable jaw function; at the same age, chewing becomes more mature. Usually, at one year old, the baby is transferred to the family table with some reservations.

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

Experts recommend the following order of vegetable feeding:

First of all, you should puree hypoallergenic vegetables. Pumpkin and carrot dishes are among the last to be introduced, since children often experience allergic reactions.

Let us repeat once again, you need to start with one-ingredient dishes. Mixing different vegetables is possible, but when the child enjoys them separately, and you note the absence of allergic reactions. A 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 at six months, you need to consider an example - the table for introducing vegetables will show all the nuances of proper feeding of babies.

Vegetable introduction table

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

The table demonstrates that the “introduction” of the three fruits into children's menu will take approximately 21 days. Each dish should be brought up to age specifications carefully, since the indicated grams do not mean that the child should be forced to finish everything.

Complementary feeding at 7 months

Another option for both the second and first feeding is porridge. It must be remembered that cereals must be gluten-free. Also, you can’t cook porridge on cow’s or goat milk, since the bodies of children under one year are not able to digest this heavy product.

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

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

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

Manufactured in industrial conditions absolutely safe and enriched with all useful components.

Cereals should be given according to the scheme proposed in the table above. When feeding them, you need to monitor the child’s condition: does the stomach hurt, is bowel movement disrupted, or does a rash appear on the skin. You cannot combine different cereals!

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

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

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

Over the next 7 days, a whole quail yolk or half a regular yolk is given. Important rule– You need to feed your baby this product in the morning, rubbing it with milk or adding it to porridge.

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

Pork meat should not be given to a child under one year old at all. Enter meat purees should be taken with the lunch meal, the volume is a teaspoon.

Good to know! If you want to make your own meat puree, make pure minced meat and form small meatballs. Boil them in boiling water for 6 minutes, then freeze. You need to take 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.

In that age period Children are introduced to fermented milk products, and they are introduced extremely carefully. Of course, you should not feed your kids cottage cheese, which is sold in packs, especially with various additives.

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

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

Kefir is given in a volume 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 flavoring additives. Then the volume is increased 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 the dish should not be sweetened. Wait 2-3 weeks and offer the product again. Some kids don’t 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 fruits are those that grow in close areas. Exotic fruits are put aside for later.

First of all, puree from apples, pears or prunes is given. By this age, many children acquire teeth, as a result of which they are already able to chew fruit slices. The 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 are given so late. There are many opinions on this matter, but experts are confident that when natural feeding There are enough vitamins in breast milk, and formulas enriched with vitamin complexes are made for artificial babies.

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

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

At this age, the baby is fed homemade soups with fresh herbs. Undoubtedly, perfect option– borscht without frying with sour cream (now they allow it). 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 the 12th month, the child can also eat gluten-free 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 their parents’ table, but you need to forget about some of the favorite delicacies that some “irresponsible” mothers and grandmothers love to stuff their babies with:

Problems of complementary feeding and mother's fears

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

If your baby reacts unconventionally to the appearance of an unknown product in his diet, you should not completely abandon the dish.

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

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

In addition, a certain complexity arises if you need to make a choice - cook it yourself or buy it. ready meals. Some parents are categorically against store-bought foods for infants, while 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’s just important to adhere to the following rules:

do not pay attention to the timing of the introduction of products indicated on the jars, focus on age standards;
choose the freshest products, making sure that they are not expired;
a children's dish should not contain various unnatural additives, flavorings, flavor enhancers; ideal nutrition is one 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.

Only a local pediatrician can say exactly from how many months a child can be fed. And the joint efforts of the mother and the doctor will significantly facilitate the baby’s transition to adult food.

Hello, I am Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully completed her studies at SUSU as a specialized psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and consulting parents on issues of raising children. I use the experience gained, among other things, in creating articles of a psychological nature. Of course, I in no way claim to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.

The baby has already grown up, walks, smiles, and everything that happens around him is entertaining and interesting. And then parents seriously begin to think that it’s time for the baby to explore the world of new tastes, and are ready to choose the first complementary food.

When to introduce the first complementary foods to a baby?

Complementary feeding is any liquid or solid food that supplements the main diet of breast milk or formula. Timely introduction of complementary foods is necessary for harmonious development child.

In the 21st century, there is no need for early feeding of bottle-fed babies, since modern adapted formulas contain the entire set essential minerals and vitamins for the baby.

Therefore, the timing of the introduction of the first complementary foods applies to both “infants” and “artificial” infants.
The World Health Organization recommends the timing of introducing the first complementary foods: no later than 6 months of age, but not earlier than 4.5 months. It is much more important to pay attention to objective signs that your beloved child is ready to taste a new product.

Among them:

the baby's weight is actually 2 times the birth weight,
after 8 or more breastfeedings/adapted formula, the baby is not averse to eating one more time,
The baby confidently holds and turns his head from side to side,
The baby is already sitting with support.

Rules for introducing first complementary foods

In order for your introduction to a new dish to go “without a hitch,” you need to follow the golden rules:

Follow the rules for introducing first complementary foods, and your baby will have a lot of fun exploring new foods.

Introduce a new product only to absolutely healthy children.
Do not introduce children to a “new product” during stress (for example, when moving, getting vaccinated, etc.).
Use complementary foods containing only one component at first, the so-called monocomponent dish.
Only after the baby gets used to it, you can try another one, and then move on to multi-component products: multi-fruit juices, porridge with pieces of fruit, a mixture of vegetables and meat.
Before purchasing cereals, jars of vegetable puree, look at labels and boxes, especially those with reverse side, since product names do not always include all the ingredients.
Avoid any product that contains any ingredient to which your little one is allergic.
Pay attention to the packaging, where the manufacturer should always indicate the age of the child for whom this product is intended.
Feed with a new dish only in the morning, which will allow you to monitor the body's reaction.
Important Special attention give during the day general condition child: skin color, stool character (color, smell, consistency) and behavior.
Offer the first food before breastfeeding or formula feeding.
Start introducing complementary foods with ½ teaspoon, increasing the volume over time to the age norm.
Offer a new product to your toddler many times, since in order to get used to an unfamiliar taste, you need to try it well. This must be done at intervals of 1-2 days. If the baby categorically refuses a new product, then there's no point in insisting. It is necessary to replace this food product with a similar one (rice porridge - with buckwheat, Brussels sprouts - with cabbage or broccoli, applesauce - with pear puree).
Give your baby warm, not hot food, to avoid burns to his delicate oral cavity.
Make sure that the complementary feeding product has a uniform consistency, without lumps, otherwise it may cause difficulty in swallowing.
Do not feed your baby directly from a jar. Always post baby food in a plate.
This is due to the fact that the baby’s saliva may get into the container, and this will make the product unsuitable for storage. Parents, remember: you can store an open jar in the refrigerator for no more than a day.
Feed your baby carefully and patiently. It takes time for your baby to learn to swallow thick food. To facilitate the transition from liquid food to denser food, they must be alternated with each other.
Offer the next complementary food product only after complete adaptation to the previous one. The interval between the introduction of new products is 10-14 days.
Combine components rationally. Do not give 2 liquid (for example, milk and juice) and 2 dense ( vegetable puree and porridge) product.
Avoid nutrient-poor, high-calorie foods.
Each component must be as healthy and nutritious as possible, since the child’s ventricle is very small.
Monitor your baby for signs of satiety. Allow him to eat as much as he wants.
Put your baby to your breast after each feeding.
Show your child a good example proper nutrition, since he learns from his parents.

First complementary foods: porridge and vegetable puree

The baby's first complementary food is dairy-free one-ingredient porridge or vegetable puree.

Often the product for the first complementary feeding is porridge. For several reasons:

firstly, it resembles milk in consistency and taste, so children are more willing to eat it,
and secondly, it is maximally enriched with carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins, which together provide the baby with complete energy.

Especially It is important to start with porridge if the baby is gaining little weight and has frequent bowel movements.

Also, if the level of hemoglobin is reduced, doctors advise introducing porridge, then meat, and only then vegetable puree.

As soon as baby If all of the above signs indicate that the baby is ready for the introduction of complementary foods, then porridge should replace the second feeding. Pediatricians recommend starting with a one-ingredient porridge - rice, buckwheat or corn.

You should give preference to porridges from trusted manufacturers: Nestle, Humana, Lasana, Heinz, Bellakt, Vinny, etc. All of them have guaranteed chemical and microbiological safety, an optimal degree of grinding and a variety of components.

Today the “advanced” modern parents Instant porridges that do not require cooking are very popular, which is ideal for preserving all minerals and vitamins. Also on store shelves you can see cereals with prebiotics, which prevent digestive disorders during the introduction of the first complementary foods.

Dairy-free cereals for the first feeding can be diluted with water or mixture. Milk porridges are diluted only with water. It is not recommended to add butter and sugar. Only when poor appetite you can add 2-3 grams for taste butter.

It is also possible to prepare baby porridge at home (well, how did our grandmothers and mothers cope with this?!). It is enough to sort out the cereal, and then grind it thoroughly in a coffee grinder until it turns into flour and cook, stirring constantly.

If the parents still have not taken care of the clean drinking water, then it’s time to do it: buy bottled water or install purification filters at home.

Vegetable puree is often prescribed as the second course of complementary feeding. But it can also be the first course of complementary feeding for babies with overweight and with a tendency to constipation.

With five meals a day, vegetable puree usually replaces the third feeding. You should start with homogeneous (homogenized), one-component dishes. It is optimal if the puree is made from cauliflower, zucchini or broccoli - the most suitable vegetables for the first feeding of an infant.

It is not recommended to introduce gluten-containing porridge first. Gluten is a protein in some cereals that can cause malabsorption of substances into the intestines in babies under 8-10 months of age.

If the baby tolerates new foods well and there are no allergies, then you can gradually expand the range by adding pumpkin, beets, carrots, etc.

From 8-9 months of age, you can switch to grated vegetables containing larger pieces.

The following complementary foods

Meat, as a rule, becomes the third component of complementary foods. Then follows fish.

You can introduce meat after 2 weeks of successful digestion of vegetable puree. And they should be given in one feeding. Feed with meat should be ¼ teaspoon. From now on, meat should be in the baby’s diet every day if he is healthy.

A baby's first meat feeding is monocomponent, hypoallergenic canned meat from turkey, rabbit, beef or chicken. Within 8-10 days, the amount of meat should increase to 30 grams.

Homogenized meat You can start giving it as early as 6 months. The daily amount of meat in the form of puree at 8 months is 50 grams and 70 grams at 9 months of age.

From 9-10 months you can give coarsely minced meat. At 9 months you can also offer your child a meatball, and a steamed cutlet - by the end of the first year of life.

You can give fish from 8-9 months instead of meat (1-2 times a week).

Fruit juices and purees

Fruit juices and purees - favorite complementary foods for babies

The first thing in your baby’s diet should be clarified, monocomponent juice.

The most suitable for the baby's first feeding are apple, pear or plum juice.

It should be administered no earlier than 6 months. For the first time, its amount should be only 3-5 drops, and it should be washed down with breast milk or formula.

The volume of juice consumed per day in the first year of life should not exceed 50-60 ml.

For children prone to diarrhea, it is preferable to give blueberry, blackcurrant or Cherry juice, if you are prone to constipation - plum, carrot or beet juice.

Later, multicomponent pulp juices are introduced. Highly allergenic citrus fruits or exotic juices should not be given in the first year of life.

Fruit purees are introduced after juice.

Dairy products

Fermented milk products such as baby yoghurts (for example, “Rastishka”, “Agusha”), baby kefir, and cottage cheese are recommended to be introduced to the baby no earlier than 8 months.

The maximum amount per day of one of these products should not exceed 200 ml.

If by this time the mother has managed to still maintain lactation and the baby has enough breast milk, then in the first year of life it is better from fermented milk products abstain.

It is important to know that administering kefir to a baby before 8 months of age can cause digestive problems, high load on the kidneys, and even pinpoint hemorrhages in the intestinal mucosa.

Cottage cheese is included in the diet after 6.5 months and is introduced only in case of protein deficiency.

And also...

From 7 months you can pamper your baby egg yolk. You should start with ¼ yolk, and move to ½ from 8-12 months.

It would be best to choose not egg, and quail eggs. Due to their small size, you can start with ½ yolk and then move from 8 months to a whole one.

Cookies will also help diversify your child’s menu. It can be given from 7 months, after first soaking it in boiled water or a mixture.

Parents often worry whether their child’s height and weight are within the normal range. Find out about it.

What should a baby be able to do when he turns one year old? will tell you about the features of this period.

Myths about complementary feeding

There are many myths about complementary feeding. Competent experts debunk them.

The main thing when introducing complementary foods is consistency and attention to the child.

Myth No. 1: Your baby will be healthier and stronger if you start complementary feeding earlier.

This is absolutely the wrong approach.

Products “inappropriate for age” can greatly harm the baby’s health and provoke the development of diseases such as intestinal dysfunction and allergies, since the baby’s digestive system may be completely unprepared to get acquainted with a new product.

It is important to be guided by the principle: do no harm!

Myth No. 2: There is enough complementary feeding for the baby; you don’t have to breastfeed

Depending on the age and needs of the baby, the composition of mother's milk changes, but it was and remains the best set immune factors, nutrients and vitamins.
For example, only from breast milk up to 2 years of age are polyunsaturated fatty acids absorbed, which promote brain growth and nervous system child.

Myth No. 3: Home-made first foods are healthier than factory-made ones

Such dishes are equivalent only if the mother chooses the highest quality products, and porridges, ready-made purees and canned goods from reputable brands are purchased in stores.
But an important advantage of “store-bought” food is that it frees up time and makes life easier for parents.

Myth No. 4: If you have low hemoglobin, it is important to supplement with apples and buckwheat porridge.

If the baby is too small for these products, then they are definitely not worth introducing. You should consult a doctor. Based on the results of the blood test, he will determine subsequent treatment, if necessary. If the baby is still feeding on breast milk, then it is important for the mother to consume more foods such as liver, buckwheat, beef and walnuts.

Myth No. 5: After a year, a baby can eat anything

Despite the fact that a baby’s diet is quite varied by the age of one, under no circumstances should you give him foods that are harmful even to any adult (sweets, fried potatoes, chips, etc.).

Children of any age should be offered only healthy eating based on natural products. Be sure to have cereals, vegetables, meat and fruits. There is always a risk of getting an allergy, so it is necessary to introduce a new product gradually.

The introduction of food products is an exclusively individual process, the correctness of which can only be assessed by monitoring the growth and development of the baby.

Parents, if your baby develops in accordance with his age, is inquisitive, plays well and often does not catch colds, then this is a sure indicator that “you are on the right path, comrades”!

In order for the baby to grow strong and healthy, it is very important to choose the right first complementary foods. You will learn from the video how to balance your child’s diet and provide him with all the necessary nutrients.

Your baby is six months old. He still gets his mother's milk and you understand that it's time to introduce complementary foods! When is the best time to start feeding a breastfed baby? - It depends on the health status of your baby. Pediatricians define six months of age as optimal for introducing complementary foods. Early dates complementary foods can trigger the development of atopic dermatitis or gastrointestinal disease.

By six months, the child’s stomach and intestines are ready to accept other foods. However, there are exceptions to any rule if your baby’s weight is consistently below normal. then the doctor may suggest that you start feeding your baby at 4.5 months. If your baby exhibits allergies, doctors will advise you to wait until seven months to change your diet.

No matter how valuable mother’s milk is, it can no longer provide the actively growing baby’s body with the substances it needs. For organic development digestive system fiber, vegetable protein, dietary fiber are needed. With age, it will become more and more difficult to accustom a baby to new foods. But the baby appears chewing reflex, teeth are actively growing, a bite is forming. Solid foods help better development baby's jaw apparatus.

How to introduce complementary foods correctly

Use a small spoon (preferably coffee);
Don't force your baby to eat everything you offer. If your baby has no appetite, just do something else with him. And after a while, offer food again;
In the first days of complementary feeding, give the new product little by little, literally a few grams, so that the baby’s stomach gets used to the new food. Gradually increase the portion;
Keep a notebook (Child's Food Diary). Write down in it what product you gave the baby, when and how much, how the baby’s body reacted to the new food. The records will be useful to you if something goes wrong with your baby: an upset stomach occurs, an allergic rash appears, etc. Using them, you can quickly determine which product caused the undesirable reaction;
It is better if the baby sits in a high chair while feeding;
Introduce another product when the baby's stomach gets used to one type of complementary food. The interval between the introduction of new products is from 3 to 7 days;
After feeding, be sure to put the baby to the breast. Mother's milk is still the main food for babies.

Complementary feeding chart for a breastfed baby

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

*Product figures in the table are averages. Do not try to “cram” the entire recommended amount of food into your child. Does the baby turn his head away from the spoon? Don't force him to finish eating. Remove the food and give the baby breastfeeding.

Choosing a complementary feeding scheme

Pedagogical complementary feeding

It is based on the baby showing interest in the food that adults eat. The main goal here is not to feed the child, but to introduce him to new food, develop taste sensations, and teach him to chew. Let him taste food from your plate. Of course, it needs to be prepared - crushed, pureed.

What products can you offer your baby?

First of all, vegetables, cereals, fruits, dairy products (kefir, natural yogurt), egg yolk, meat (rabbit, turkey, chicken, beef, pork), sea fish (hake, cod, sea bass), legumes.

At first, the baby simply tastes the food, learns to distinguish the taste, and chew it. He likes some things more, some less. Gradually he will eat more and more. An additional advantage of this method is that the baby’s social circle expands, he copies the movements of adults, learns to take food from a plate with his hand and put it in his mouth.

Note to moms!

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At first, while he is learning new skills, hold the baby on your lap. When the baby sits firmly and can hold a spoon well in his hand, place him in a special high chair. From 8 to 10 months, teach him to eat with a spoon himself. It is important to be patient here. If the baby gets into the food with his hands or puts it first into the spoon with his hand and then carries it into his mouth, there is no need to scold him, grab the spoon and feed it yourself. Gradually the baby will learn to do everything correctly. Let him do everything on his own under your supervision. Otherwise, your child will simply the desire will disappear do this. ()

I remember well how I tied a long oilcloth around the front of my daughter’s apron, sat her in a high chair, and laid a film around her on the floor, which at the end of feeding was covered in food. But after a month the baby ate on her own (under my supervision).

It often happens that the baby eats well, he likes the food, and he demands that his mother give him more. It is important to have a sense of proportion here. The result of overeating will be deterioration in well-being, abdominal pain and indigestion. Gradually, the child will develop a sense of proportion in food, accuracy, and he will acquire the skills correct behavior at the table. Your task is to patiently, step by step, help him with this.

Complementary feeding with baby food

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About ten years ago, complementary feeding for infants began with fruit juices and purees. Now the opinions of doctors are divided, many speak in favor of vegetables. Reasoning is that fruits, due to their sweet taste, form a child’s addiction to sweets and can provoke the development of allergies and cause stomach upset. The famous Ukrainian doctor Komarovsky suggests starting with kefir and curds. They do not overload the baby's liver, because... their composition is similar to breast milk.

See Komarovsky's opinion:

It is difficult to say whose opinion is correct, because no special research has been carried out on this problem. Therefore, when choosing complementary feeding options, rely on the opinion of the pediatrician who has been observing your baby since birth.

However, this type of complementary feeding also has its own rules:

At first, make puree from one type of product. If it's fruit, start with an apple; if it's vegetables, it's better to take zucchini or cauliflower. These products are hypoallergenic, so you don't have to worry about getting allergies.
You can use ready-made puree, but it’s better to make it yourself. Steam all vegetables and fruits, except bananas, or bake in the oven, then chop with a blender. At the same time, there will be no lumps in the puree that the baby could choke on.
Season vegetables with vegetable oil (ideally olive oil).
Do not sweeten or add salt to foods for up to a year.
Observe your baby's bowel movements. If undigested pieces of food appear in it, this is not a problem. And if the stool suddenly changes color, becomes liquid, or, conversely, the child is constipated or has a rash, remove it. new food for at least two to three weeks. If you give your child beets, the urine and stool will turn pink-red. This is natural and not dangerous.
Porridge can be offered to your baby a month after vegetables. Cereals for porridges must be washed, dried, and crushed (conveniently in a coffee grinder). Start with buckwheat, rice, and corn porridge, boiled in water. They do not contain gluten - gluten, which causes constipation and allergies. It is good to add breast milk to the finished porridge. From eight months you can cook semolina, oatmeal and mixed porridges. ()
If you started complementary feeding with vegetables, then it’s time to offer it to your baby after porridge fruit puree. The first purees are made from green and yellow fruits, so there is less risk of developing allergies.
After fruit, we accustom the baby to meat, fish, and give him crackers and cookies to chew on.
Don't forget to offer your baby the breast every time.
As the child gets used to the new food, we try to completely replace one breastfeeding (usually lunchtime) with complementary foods. If the baby still demands the breast, do not refuse him.
Invite your baby to drink boiled water. With the introduction of solid foods, the need for fluid increases. If he refuses, don’t insist, it means he has enough of your milk.
From 8 - 9 months, stop using the blender, just knead solid food with a fork. The child needs to learn to chew food.
Be especially careful when giving new foods to a child prone to allergies. Start literally with microdoses of one to two grams, increasing them little by little every day.

We recommend

Need to choose right time to introduce new food. You cannot start it during a period when the baby is sick.
If you are going to move, travel, or just change your environment for a while, then it is better to postpone the introduction of new products. The start of taking a new product should not coincide with the vaccination period.
Complementary feeding always starts with one product.
Be sure to finely chop standard products. You can use a meat grinder for this, but a blender is best.
The new product is best given in the morning. You can monitor your child's reaction to new food throughout the day.
You need to start with half a teaspoon. Then, over the course of a week, gradually increase its amount to 100 ml. The food temperature should not exceed 37 degrees.
The first complementary foods are given to the baby before breastfeeding.
For the convenience of mothers, spoons with an indicator were invented. If the temperature of the food is too high, the spoon will change color. Pharmacies now have comfortable silicone spoons that do not injure the baby.
Monitor your baby's stool. When introducing complementary foods, it will change both in color and consistency.
Don't force feed your baby something he doesn't like. Try putting off a new product for a month.
Don't be nervous and try to smile while feeding. The child needs to create a positive atmosphere, then feeding will not be associated with negative emotions.
Feed him playfully, making funny movements with a spoon. You can accompany them with funny sounds. He will associate feeding with pleasant emotions, he will do it with pleasure.
If an allergy appears, then you should postpone the new product for a month.

Selection of products for babies

Choose the right foods for your first feeding. There are basic recommendations that will help you teach your child to adult food.

Vegetables

Vegetables make an excellent first food for babies who do not have health problems. They are recommended for those who are slightly overweight or suffer from constipation.

For the first time, carrots, zucchini, cauliflower, potatoes, beets, green pea. Vegetables are steamed and then chopped in a blender.

Give your baby a puree of one type of vegetable once a week.. You can add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to it. Once your child has tried several types of vegetables, you can make soup from them.

We must remember that carrots cause allergic reactions. Therefore, it is administered carefully, in small quantities.

It is best to soak potatoes overnight in water to remove starch. Zucchini should not be given to children with loose stools.

Porridge

An alternative to vegetables is porridge. They are suitable for the first feeding of healthy children and those who are underweight. For the first time, it is best to choose gluten-free cereals, that is, those that do not contain gluten. Buckwheat, rice, and corn are suitable.

You can use cereals or industrial porridges. In the first case, the cereal must be boiled in water, and then add 75 ml of porridge per 100 g of milk. In the case of using packaged cereals, they are briefly filled with heated (40-50 degrees) milk.

If your baby has rare stools, then you should not start with rice porridge. Buckwheat is suitable for those who have low hemoglobin levels.

Fruits

Fruits are introduced after vegetables and cereals.

To begin with, it is important to give your baby the species that grows in your region.

Then you can move on to more exotic fruits.

Apple, pear, plum, greenish banana, grapes, peach, apricot are suitable for complementary feeding.

You can give dried fruits (dried apricots, prunes, raisins).

Fruits are rich in plant fiber, so they will be able to improve the intestinal function of those babies who suffer from constipation.

Monitor your reaction as you introduce fruit. If in fresh they will cause colic, try baking them.

They can be added to porridge instead of sugar.

Meat

Meat is rarely to the taste of children. If you continue breastfeeding, you can start introducing meat closer to the year. Earlier use is only necessary for children with low hemoglobin levels.

Hypoallergenic varieties are suitable for complementary feeding. Among them: lamb, turkey, lean pork, veal, chicken.

They should be ground in a blender or meat grinder and added to vegetable puree in the amount of 1/3 teaspoon. Gradually, the amount of meat can be increased to 70 grams per day.

On the pages of our website you will find out! Read about the beneficial and harmful properties of the product in our review.
When can you give grapes to your baby? Find out about the rules for introducing this fruit into your baby’s diet by reading.
In what form is it best to consume plums when feeding a newborn - you will find nutritional recommendations for nursing mothers.

Fish

For complementary feeding, fish with white, odorless meat is best suited.

It is optimal if it is caught in your region.

Pollock, hake, flounder, blue whiting or pike perch are acceptable.

It is better to use chilled rather than frozen fish. It retains more useful substances.

You can boil, steam or bake it in foil.

From the finished fish, after removing the bones and skin, you need to puree it in a blender or meat grinder.

You can add pureed vegetables or small piece butter.

Juices

For a long time there was an opinion that juices are best product to start complementary feeding. Pediatricians recommended giving a 4-5 month old baby a few drops of juice. Modern research talk about the dangers of such complementary feeding. Juices should be introduced at approximately 10-11 months after introducing cereals, vegetables, fruits and meat. It is best to dilute them with water 2-3 times.

Store-bought juices are practically useless. They do not contain vitamins and nutrients, but they do contain sugar and fruit acids, which can have a detrimental effect on the baby’s health.

They are quite high in calories, which can affect your appetite for the worse.

Useful video from Komarovsky

ABOUT correct introduction the first complementary foods for breastfed children, where to start introducing new foods into a baby’s diet and how to avoid making mistakes, we’ll talk to Dr. Komarovsky in this video:

Remember: every child is individual. Don't blindly follow the recommendations. Watch your child's reaction, mood and health.

In contact with

For healthy and timely growth of the baby, it is necessary that each stage of development takes place in right time: weaning from the pacifier, sitting on the potty independently, as well as a scheme for the timely introduction of the first complementary foods during breastfeeding. If you do this too early, before 4 months, then by this time the baby’s body will not yet produce enzymes that facilitate the digestion of food. As a result, the food simply will not be digested and feeding will be useless. Also, the child may develop an allergy, and later this threatens the appearance of gastritis. If this is done too late, after 6 months, then by that time breast milk will not supply the baby with all the microelements and vitamins necessary for the development of the body. In addition, this is fraught with inhibition of growth development and fine motor skills baby.

Schedule for introducing first complementary foods during breastfeeding

Stage	Age	Products	Amount of food	How to cook	Nuances
I	4.5 months	Mono-component puree (from one type of vegetable)	Starting with 10 grams and gradually increasing to 100		Strictly on doctor's advice! If the baby has a stable underweight, malnutrition
II	6 months	Mono-component puree if the child has normal weight gain; gluten-free porridges, i.e. without vegetable protein content (rice, buckwheat, corn), if the baby is underweight	Starting with 10 grams, increasing to 200	Steamed, finely chopped and ground using a blender	It is important to pay attention to the child’s weight – is it normal or is it underweight?
		Cottage cheese	From 5 grams, bringing the volume to 50 grams by 1 year of life. In case of rickets, cottage cheese should be consumed daily	Sour cottage cheese is prepared from 1% kefir. Bring the kefir to a boil in a water bath; after 5-10 minutes, the thickened kefir is removed from the heat and rubbed through a sieve.	Only on the recommendation of a doctor in case of underweight, calcium deficiency or rickets!
		Olive oil	From 1 g to 5 g	Add to vegetables	If your baby is constipated
III	7 months	Gluten-free porridge (rice, buckwheat, corn)	Start with 50 grams and gradually increase to 200	Rub the porridge cooked in water through a sieve until it becomes pureed.
IV	8 months	Gluten-containing cereals (millet, oatmeal, multigrain)	Starting with 100 grams and increasing the portion to 200	Same as gluten free porridge
		Cottage cheese	From 5 grams, bringing the volume to 50 grams by 1 year of life, 1-2 times a week
		Bread, crackers, cookies	From 3 g to 10 g	Soaking foods in kefir or juice. Baby cookies are usually easily softened by saliva.
		Butter	Start with 1 gram and increase the portion to 5	Add to porridge, puree
V	9-12 months	From 9 months, as a rule, the remainder of the basic diet is introduced. This includes:
		Meat puree	Starting with 5 grams (1/2 teaspoon), bringing the serving up to 80	Rinse the meat, remove the veins. Boil for 5 minutes in filtered water. Drain the water and cook the meat in new water for 2 hours. Cut the finished product into pieces and grind in a blender. You can add a couple of drops of vegetable oil
		Yolk	¼ yolk from 9 months, ½ yolk from 10 months
		Kefir	From 100 to 200 ml

Important rules for feeding a baby in the first year of life

With the introduction of such an important ritual into a child’s life as real adult food, the very way the meal is served should be changed. If during breastfeeding the child gently snorted at his mother’s side, now he will have to sit at the table, hold a spoon and eat, along with other family members. Of course, all this will not come from the first day of introducing complementary foods! Such an important matter should be approached with patience and small steps to accustom the baby to adult life.

Please note that you should feed your child only from a special plastic spoon and in no case from an ordinary metal one, as it can injure the gums or knock off the enamel from young teeth.

The temperature of the dish should reach 37 degrees. If the baby is feeling unwell or had a vaccination that day, then it is better to postpone the first complementary feeding for a while, even if the baby is already six months old.

Feeding with adult food should be done during a shared lunch. So the baby will observe the behavior of adults, how to sit correctly, hold utensils, communicate, and will certainly begin to imitate their favorite people. It is better to seat a child behind a special high chair, which is equipped with high legs, a small dining table and a comfortable seat.

Important tip! It is not necessary to supplement your baby with water when introducing complementary foods. But it’s still worth offering him tea or compote.

The baby is growing, every day learning about the world from different angles. And it is in your power to help him discover new tastes, sensations, and emotions. During an important life stage of the baby, such as the introduction of the first complementary foods, it is important to remember the main points: introduce required quantity food in the baby’s diet, as well as at the right period of life; learn and apply the basic rules for introducing complementary foods; avoid prohibited products, and also remember that the products must be fresh and typical for the place where you live.