Table of approximate dates for the introduction of new products (complementary foods).

This table is calculated for children of the first year of life, who are both breastfed and bottle-fed.

There are cases where earlier introduction of complementary foods is medically justified, but such cases are infrequent and should be discussed and justified by the pediatrician. Usually, complementary foods are prescribed for unsatisfactory weight gain and the minimum allowable period for its introduction is 4-5 months, and it begins with high-calorie cereals. However, before that, all factors that can influence weight gain - underfeeding, improper attachment, inappropriate formula and disease should be excluded or eliminated.

Allergic children, severe or long-term illness or premature babies an even more balanced approach is needed when introducing complementary foods - usually it is introduced at a later date, the scheme for introducing complementary foods may change.

Until now, many parents, on the advice of relatives or old nutrition guides, start complementary foods with juices. In addition, until the end of the nineties, many doctors supported the opinion that juice is not complementary foods and acts as a donor of vitamins and minerals, so it should be given early. However, massively conducted studies by WHO experts completely refuted this opinion, and today there are no indications for prescribing juice for up to a year. In the diet of young children, juice should not be consumed. But how is it? After all, the packaging of juices says "from 3-4 months." Yes, it is written, because no one has yet legally forced manufacturers to rely on WHO requirements when developing labels, and the goal of manufacturers is not the health of children, but making a profit. And the sooner the purchase of juice for the baby begins, the more profit the company will receive. Juices are very aggressive to the immature digestion of a child, and can cause stool problems, tummy problems, and an allergic reaction. In addition, juices are very high in calories due to the excess of sugar in them, and can lead to loss of appetite. And, as a result, a decrease in the amount of milk from the mother due to the fact that the baby begins to suckle less often. Therefore, they are not recommended to be introduced into complementary foods before a year. We also note that juices are not useful not only for children, but also for adults.

According to modern recommendations of pediatricians and nutritionists, whole cow and goat milk should not be present in the diet of children under one year old. It is acceptable for use in the preparation of porridge or mashed potatoes. But why such a negative attitude towards milk? The fact is that the conducted long-term studies have proved its significant contribution to the development of allergies in children and adolescents. Milk protein is small in size and can easily penetrate into the blood and cause allergization of the body with the formation of rashes on the skin, the development of asthma and eczema. Animal milk is designed for the metabolism inherent in herbivores. Who grow up on different principles than kids. It contains a lot of mineral salts and protein, it is difficult to digest and can lead to disruption of the enzyme systems of an early age baby. Even many adults cannot drink milk, it leads to unpleasant phenomena in them. In children, these phenomena are much more pronounced. An excess of nutrients, such as minerals and protein, overload the kidneys, which can lead to disruption in their work and the development of nephropathy - a violation of the excretion of salts. Cow's milk, when consumed regularly, interferes with the absorption of iron. And children fed on cow's milk often suffer from anemia. Cow's milk fats are not identical to human body fats, and enzymes are used to break down and absorb them, which can lead to constipation. That is why, in order for milk to give only benefit, it is worth starting to acquaint the baby with it after a year and take into account that milk is food and, like drinking, is not included in the baby’s menu.

Main rules:

Complementary foods to give before breastfeeding (mixture).

The introduction of any new food to start with a small amount, gradually increasing the volume until the complete replacement of one breastfeeding.

Do not introduce two or more new foods (dishes) at the same time.

Switch to a new type of complementary foods only after the child gets used to the previous one.

You should not introduce complementary foods when the child is sick, as well as on hot days.

Do not introduce a new product a week before the intended vaccination and 2 weeks after it.

And the last addition to all of the above: there are a lot of foods in the table that your baby will get to know. It is impossible to introduce several new products at once in one month. One product is introduced, starting with half a teaspoon and working up to a full feeding volume over several days. And don't rush! The main thing is that proper nutrition will ensure your baby's health for all years.

Members of the Modern Mom Libero group

The first thing moms should pay attention to is that ALL complementary feeding tables on the Internet promoted under the auspices of the WHO have nothing to do with the World Health Organization.

WHO CANNOT MAKE A SINGLE FEEDING CHART FOR EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF VEGETABLES AND FRUITS IN EACH COUNTRY.

If many mothers in our country start complementary foods, for example, with zucchini, then where can I get this same zucchini, say, in Africa? There, rather, the mother will give the child a banana or an avocado.

Each country, and, moreover, for each individual child will have its own procedure for introducing products!

WHO does not indicate the sequence and quantity of the introduction of products!

The WHO documentation does not say anything about the need for baby foodvegetable or butter!

The only table that can be used as a guide when referring to the WHO is on its official website:

It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the section "Complementary foods" in the methodological book "Feeding and nutrition infants and young children”, developed by WHO. You can download it from this link.

Taking into account various methodological data, a weekly table of introduction of complementary foods was compiled (for specific a child with a tendency to allergic reactions). The order in which products are introduced is based on the degree of presence of allergens in them: from less to more. I draw your attention to the fact that when introducing complementary foods, it should be taken into account, varying the order of introducing new products. New products should be introduced in advance after consulting with the pediatrician.

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How to introduce complementary foods?

“The first food offered to the child should be mashed foods, consisting of one ingredient, soft in texture, without added sugar, salt, hot seasonings such as curry powder or hot peppers. Positive examples include cereals other than wheat, such as home-cooked and mashed rice, mashed potatoes, soft, thick porridge made from traditional cereal products (such as oats, and mashed vegetables and fruits). In puree for softening, you can add breast milk or infant formula (Feeding and Nutrition of Infants and Young Children, WHO Regional Publication, European Series, No. 87).

Why should you cook your own food?

Extract from the WHO document: « …The quality of commercially produced complementary foods is highly variable. Some of them allow you to make up for the lack of certain nutrients in the diet of young children, while others, on the contrary, cause concern due to their high content of added sugars and salt. » (WHO, Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition infancy, EB 138/8 of January 15, 2016).

According to the WHO, guidelines for proper complementary foods are as follows:

“—continue frequent, on-demand breastfeeding until the child is two years of age or older;

— be sensitive when feeding the baby (for example, directly feed infants and help older children. Feed slowly and patiently, encourage but do not force, talk to the baby and maintain eye contact with him);

— practice good hygiene and proper food handling;

- start at six months of age with small amounts of food and gradually increase as the child gets older;

- gradually increase the consistency of food and make it more diverse;

- increase the number of baby feedings - 2-3 times a day for children aged 6-8 months and 3-4 times a day for children aged 9-23 months with 1-2 additional snacks at the request of the child;

Use fortified foods or vitamin and mineral supplements as needed.

- Increase fluid intake, including through breastfeeding, and offer soft, favorite foods. (WHO fact sheet N°342 Infant and young child nutrition, January 2016).

According to the above data, a weekly table of introduction of complementary foods was compiled. The order in which products are introduced is based on the degree of presence of allergens in them: from less to more.However, when introducing complementary foods, it is worth considering baby's individual characteristics by varying the order of introduction of new products.

Complementary foods according to WHO is a topical and important issue. His health, the absence of diseases of the digestive system, his mood depends on the strategy chosen by the mother to offer new food to her child. There are a lot of recommendations on this issue, they differ up to diametrically opposite ones. The opinion of the older generation does not correspond to the advice of experienced friends, the latter disagree with the recommendations of the pediatrician.

This is not surprising, because over time, medicine and the World Health Organization are revising their approach to this issue, and what was recommended to older people when they were young parents may no longer be relevant now. With a normally delivered pediatric service, the district pediatrician promptly recommends the timing of the introduction of "live" food into the infant's diet, its type and quantitative norms, which, according to WHO, will be optimal.

general information

The rules for introducing foods into the baby's diet depend on several factors. The main ones are considered: natural or artificial feeding is practiced by the mother, the state of health of the child, full-term / prematurity. All these factors, as well as their observations of the dynamics of the development of the baby, are analyzed by the pediatrician, recommending a menu. In addition, he aligns his advice with the complementary feeding scheme adopted by WHO.

Over the past decades, a lot of time has been devoted to studying the enzymatic readiness of the child's body to digest new food for it, and scientists have come to the conclusion that at 3-4 months the baby's intestines and enzymatic system are not yet ready for the full breakdown and digestion of even light food (zucchini, broccoli) . Therefore, we settled on the fact that it is possible to start feeding a baby no earlier than 6 months (with breastfeeding). This means that you can start giving the baby "live" food later.

If the baby is artificial or is on mixed feeding, it is possible to offer the first vegetables to the baby 1 month earlier, because the enzymatic system of children receiving the mixture matures a little earlier. This is not a plus, all systems and organs must be improved progressively and according to the "plan of nature", artificial feeding forces the baby's body to adapt to the forced absence of the best food for him - mother's milk.

Some mothers who are breastfeeding a child believe that he is malnourished, and begin to supplement his formula by their own decision. It is better not to do this without the advice of a specialist. Firstly, if the baby is gaining weight normally, he does not starve, and secondly, if he is 5-6 months old, the doctor will most likely recommend filling the deficit with natural food.

Very premature babies require special care from pediatricians, even if they are gaining weight normally. With a good weight gain, their growth is rapid and the need for building material is high. Premature babies begin to need supplementary feeding earlier than those who have spent the prescribed period in the womb, but their gastrointestinal tract lags behind in development for the period of prematurity. And how he will react to the introduction of rough food is difficult to answer. Therefore, pediatricians recommend introducing complementary foods with extreme caution, starting with vegetable puree (with good weight gain) and cereals (with lagging behind), while egg yolk and meat are sometimes advised to introduce ahead of time(starting from 6.5 months) to cereals (if feeding began with vegetables). This case requires special attention of the mother and the doctor, the decisions of the latter are due individual characteristics specific baby.

Compliance with the rules for the introduction of complementary foods for children of any degree of full-term and type of nutrition is important for several reasons: this will allow the digestive system to prepare for full and high-quality digestion, will make it possible to avoid diseases of the digestive system, save the baby from food allergies, ensure a full supply of nutrients necessary for the baby to grow and development.

Regardless of whether mother practices natural feeding and formula feeding, the rules of supplementary feeding, developed jointly by physicians from all over the world, should not be neglected. Practicing pediatricians agree with this, including eminent ones, for example, Komarovsky.

Supplementary rules

To facilitate the introduction of the first food, specialists have developed special tables that indicate the age of the baby in months, what can be given to him, and the portion size of which should not be exceeded. There are tables for children eating mother's milk, formula and bottle-fed. But the basic rules of world health remain unchanged:

1. All "novelties" to the baby should be offered no more than 3-5 grams per day (or 1/3-1/2 teaspoon).
2. It is worth practicing mono-introduction, that is, including one type of product for 7-14 days, increasing its amount to the daily norm (the daily norm depends on the dish and the age of the child and ranges from 30 to 150 grams). After that, you can start introducing other foods.
3. All dishes should initially be given boiled and grated.
4. Usually, feeding begins with hypoallergenic vegetables, except when the baby is underweight. In this case, the world health council recommends starting to feed the baby with cereals.
5. Turn on new food on the day of vaccination and within 3 days after it is not recommended.
6. Adding "novelties" to the diet is not worth it if the baby is sick.
7. Exotics, gluten-containing cereals, sweets, and milk should not be introduced into the menu of the crumbs of the first year of life. Juices are best added to the menu after a year, because of their irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

Additional factors that will allow parents to decide whether or not it is time to start supplementary feeding of the child are the following: he is able to sit on his own, his weight is 2 times higher than this figure at birth, breast demand is becoming more frequent, intellectual development is proceeding rapidly, in particular, the child is interested in what lies in my mother's plate, the baby wants to try "by the tooth" what she finds in her mother's plate, and does not push the pieces out of her mouth.

The inclusion in the menu of hypoallergenic vegetables (at 6 months), dairy-free and gluten-free cereals (at 7 months), meat, yolk, potatoes (at 8 months), fermented milk products (at 9 months), fruits (at 10 months). When choosing dishes for the first acquaintance, it is worth considering the degree of their allergenicity.

Vegetables of the “first line” of acquaintance are zucchini and cabbage (broccoli and cauliflower), followed by pumpkin and carrots. It is better to include porridge starting with buckwheat, corn and rice, you can also offer oatmeal. Of the meat products, turkey and rabbit meat is preferred. The turkey is good because it does not tolerate antibiotic therapy well and antibiotics will not get into the baby’s diet. Rabbit meat is highly dietary. You can give the baby chicken, calf or lamb meat.

It is worth saying that the main recommendations of the WHO, documented by this organization, are vague and quite flexible. They are designed for worldwide use and must take into account different peoples and what grows in a particular area. The recommendations are of a general nature, the preparation of a specific menu depends on the rules adopted in the region and the characteristics of the development of children.

Analyzing WHO information, we can conclude that its specialists distinguish 2 stages of including "adult" food in the baby's menu: introductory (6-8 months), the main one, when complementary feeding is considered mandatory (starting from 9 months).

Many mothers ask if it is possible to start feeding the child earlier (at 3-4 months). The world health system does not recommend doing this, it is still better to feed him from six months, although it is not difficult to find information about what can be given at this age.

In the initial period, the baby only gets acquainted with food products, he receives all the nutrients with his mother's milk (or with a mixture). By 9 months of age adult food"should be present in the child's diet along with milk. He should receive meals of approximately 125 ml/serving for high-calorie meals and 166 ml/serving for low-calorie meals. Children aged 9-11 months should receive 188 ml/serving for low-calorie meals and up to 166 ml/serving for high-calorie meals. The WHO documents indicate the volume in cups or fractions of them. This refers to a container with a volume of 250 ml. Therefore, the volume of 2/3 and 3/4 gives such "strange" numbers. There is no point in sticking to them exactly, it is enough to vary the volume of dishes within 150-200 ml.

Practice shows that mothers have to make more efforts to introduce complementary foods during breastfeeding and feeding the baby on demand.

Of course, it is necessary to feed the baby, but if it is not possible to reach the indicated volumes by the deadline, this is not catastrophic for children who are breastfed. The main criterion for their well-being remains a normal weight gain and blood counts. The introduction of complementary foods to a child must meet the basic rules:

1. Preference should be given to breast milk. It is desirable to feed a child up to 2 years or more.
2. You need to feed the baby on time, that is, not earlier than six months.
3. Food should be well digestible, age-appropriate consistency: for a baby of 6-8 months - mashed potatoes, upon reaching 9-11 months, he can eat what is easy to eat with his hands and small pieces from a spoon, after a year he can eat on a par with other members families. There are exceptions to this rule when the enzymatic system and the intestines of the baby lag behind the terms of readiness for digestion.
4. The menu should be balanced and varied. If the baby is not breastfeeding, vitamins and minerals are allowed.

At the age of one year, the main food for a small person is mother's milk. Breastfeeding should be tried to be maintained as long as possible. The issue of forced cessation of breastfeeding may become relevant after the baby reaches the age of 2.5 years.

WHO adjustments to supplementary feeding rules

Proper supplementation is not only well-chosen food. This is also the baby's drinking regimen. If the child eats only mother's milk, he does not need to give water. He gets everything he needs from breast milk. If a baby is receiving formula, even in combination with breastfeeding, he should receive water. Feeding requires water. As soon as the growing child has received the first half-spoon of vegetables or porridge, he needs to start offering water.

If the baby does not have time to “master” the products at the established pace, then you can offer “new items” more slowly. If the baby is underweight and not very active, he can be offered portions of a smaller volume. If a growing child is not eager to try "novelties", you can use the methods of pedagogical complementary foods. If the food is poorly digested, the baby is worried about the disorder of the stupa (it can be both constipation and diarrhea), the baby’s sleep is disturbed, he lies on his stomach and cries, his intestines are not yet ready for supplementary feeding, the pace of introducing new dishes needs to be reduced, or you can introduce new products in the form of puree even for a one-year-old baby. Products that caused allergies should be excluded from the baby's menu for at least six months.

Whatever the recommendations of organizations that care for the health of the population, and the opinion of others, you need to focus on the state of the child, his ability to digest food gruel and pieces, and respond adequately to them. You need to adjust the diet on an individual basis.

Article from detailed description types of complementary foods, tables, timing and examples was created to help young parents to transfer their baby to a balanced diet and develop healthy habits in the very early age.

Children from birth and before 6 months don't need complementary foods. The perfect natural food for babies- this is mother's breast milk, with which he receives the necessary nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antibodies. If the mother does not have or not enough milk, then to kid you need to introduce complementary foods in the form artificial mixtures. But now this is no longer a problem, since the manufacturers of most artificial mixtures have brought the product to the proper level, which is able to fully replace breast milk. In this article, we will not touch on the psychological and tactile connection between the child and, about all sorts of pros and cons between breastfeeding and artificial mixtures, since this topic is quite sensitive, capacious and requires independent disclosure in another article. And no matter what type of baby feeding the mother chooses - breastfeeding or artificial formulas, baby's main food must start no earlier than 6 months according to WHO recommendations(World Health Organization) and UNICEF (Children's Fund UN), unless otherwise provided by medical recommendations for the condition health child. Early feeding(earlier than 6 months) is administered on the recommendation of a pediatrician according to medical indications, therefore it is also called pediatric.

The main principles of complementary feeding of children according to UNICEF:

1. From birth to 6 months, breastfeed, and from 6 months of age, introduce complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed.
2. Continue frequent breastfeeding on demand for up to 2 years or longer.
3. Feed your child according to his needs and according to the principles of psychosocial care.
4. Maintain proper hygiene and adhere to food storage and handling practices.
5. From 6 months of age, start giving your baby small amounts of complementary foods, and increase portions as your baby gets older, while continuing to breastfeed frequently.
6. As your child grows, gradually increase the consistency and variety of food based on their needs and abilities.
7. Increase the daily number of meals during which he consumes complementary foods as he grows older.
8. Give your child varied and nutritious food.
9. If necessary, give your child complementary foods enriched with nutritional supplements with vitamins and minerals.
10. Give your baby plenty of fluids during illness, including breastfeeding more often, and encouraging him to eat light foods that he enjoys. After an illness, feed your baby more often than usual and encourage him to eat more.

Starting from the age of 6 months, the need of the child's body for nutrients ceases to be satisfied only with mother's milk and must be gradually introduced lure. At this age, babies begin to show interest in adult food. Complementary foods should be introduced with small amounts of foods new to the baby and gradually increased as the baby gets older.

The child is accustomed to new food gradually, starting with very small portions (see table below). The new type of baby food is nutritional supplements and lure.

Nutritional supplements:

• fruit and berry juices;
• fruit and berry purees;
• egg yolk or quail;
• cottage cheese

Nutritional supplements should be introduced gradually and after the main feeding or between feedings. But this rule does not apply to egg yolk, it is recommended to give it at the beginning of feeding.

Lure It is a qualitatively new type of nutrition that satisfies the needs of a growing child's body in all food ingredients and accustoms to thick food. It includes:

• vegetable purees;
• cereals;
• dairy products (kefir, yogurt, biolact...)

Rules for the introduction of complementary foods:

1. Complementary foods should be given before breastfeeding
2. Each type of complementary food should be introduced gradually, starting with a small amount (10-15 g) and increasing it to the desired volume within 7-10 days, completely replacing one breastfeeding.
3. It is impossible to introduce two or more new dishes at the same time. You can switch to a new type of food only when the child gets used to the previous one.
4. Complementary foods should be homogeneous in consistency and not cause difficulty in swallowing.
5. Complementary foods should be given only from a spoon.
6. The number of feedings with the introduction of complementary foods is reduced to 5 times, then to 3 main and 2 snacks at the request of the child.
7. The temperature of the dish should be equal to the temperature of the received mother's milk (approximately 37 C).

Against the background of the introduction of nutritional supplements and complementary foods, strict monitoring of the child's health is necessary.

Scheme for the introduction of food additives

Fruit and berry juice(introduced from 7-8 months)

Juice should start with drops. Within 7-10 days, bring to the required daily volume, calculated by the formula n x 10, where n is the number of months, but not more than 100 ml in the second half of the year. Example: a child of 7 months x 10 = 70 ml. Give after feeding or between feedings. It is advisable to use freshly prepared juices (must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1), but juices in bags specially designed for baby food. The sequence of introduction of juices from berries, fruits and vegetables: apple, plum, apricot, peach, cherry, blackcurrant, pomegranate, cranberry, lemon, carrot, beet, cabbage. Citrus, tomato, raspberry, strawberry juices, juices from tropical fruits (mango, papaya, guava ...) - these juices should be given no earlier than 11-12 months. Grape juice is not recommended to include in the diet of a child at such an early age, as it can cause bloating.

Fruit and berry puree(introduced from 7 months)

Puree should start with 0.5 teaspoon. Within 7-10 days, bring to the required daily volume, calculated by the formula n x 10, where n is the number of months, but not more than 100 ml in the second half of the year. The calculation is carried out in the same way as for juices (see above). Give after feeding or between feedings. Both freshly prepared purees and fruit and berry preserves for baby food are used.

Yolk(introduced at 8-9 months)

You need to start with 1/4 of the yolk. You can give daily until the end of the year, 1/2 yolk at the beginning of feeding, after rubbing it with milk or with a complementary food dish.

Cottage cheese(introduced at 9-10 months)

Start with 5 grams (1 teaspoon). Gradually, within a month, bring up to 20 grams. By the end of the first year - 50-70 g. You need to give cottage cheese at the end of feeding.

Scheme for the introduction of complementary foods

I complementary foods - Vegetable puree (or porridge). Start at 6 months.

It is administered as a 5% concentration.

Week 1- increase in volume to 130-150 ml with the simultaneous exclusion of one breastfeeding;

2 weeks- concentration thickening up to 8-10%;

3 week- getting used to one kind of vegetables;

4 week- variety (introduction of new vegetables).

Remains 4 breastfeeding(probably!)

II complementary foods -Porridge (or vegetable puree). Start a week after the first feeding.

Immediately administered as a 10% concentration in 2-3 days. We start with gluten-free dairy-free unsweetened cereals (buckwheat, rice, corn). With the introduction of second complementary foods, another breastfeeding is forced out. 3 breastfeeds left (approximately!)

Extension II complementary foods - meat puree. Start one week after the second feeding. It is added to vegetable puree, it starts with 5 g, by 7 months it is brought to 30 g, then - to 50 g, by the end of the year - up to 60-80 g. There are 3 breastfeedings left (approximately!)

III complementary foods - kefir (fermented milk products). Start at 8 months. The third breastfeeding is forced out. 2 breastfeeds left (approximately!)

Instead of breast milk for children on artificial or mixed feeding, substitutes for women's milk (mixtures) are used.

Note:

1. To maintain lactation after feeding, it is advisable to offer the child a breast.
2. Subject to good health, optimal indicators of physical and neuropsychic development, stable and sufficient lactation in the mother, her quality nutrition, the first complementary foods can be introduced no earlier than 6 months.
3. When preparing complementary foods (dairy-free cereals, mashed potatoes), the optimal liquid for their dilution is breast milk or an adapted milk formula.

Note: instead of vegetable puree, cereals (rice, buckwheat, corn, gluten-free) can serve as the first food.

When feeding a child, it is necessary to adhere to the principles sensitive feeding respond to signs of hunger and satiety. These signs must be taken into account to determine the amount of food that the child will eat at one time, as well as the need for snacks.

Feeding based on the needs of the child (sensitive feeding):

• Feed infants and help older children feed themselves. Feed slowly and patiently, stimulate the child's interest in food, but do not force him.
• If your child is refusing most foods, try different combinations of foods, flavors and textures, and different feeding methods.
• If your baby quickly loses interest in food while feeding, keep distractions to a minimum.
• remember, that feeding time This is a time for learning and showing love: talk and make eye contact with your baby while feeding.

• Food must be clean.
• Raw and cooked food should be kept separate.
• Food must be prepared carefully.
• Food must be stored at a safe temperature.
• For cooking, you need to use clean water and food.

Additional Information:

The amount of food indicated in the table is recommended in cases where energy density of this food is from 0.8 to 1.0 kcal/g. If the energy density of the food is about 0.6 kcal/g, it is necessary to increase the number of calories in food (add certain foods) or increase the amount of food that the child eats at one meal. For example:

• for children 6-8 months: gradually increase the amount of food to 2/3 cup;
• for children 9-11 months old: give the child 3/4 cup;
• For children 12-23 months: Give your child a full cup.

If the baby is not breastfeeding, give him an extra 1-2 cups of milk per day and organize 1-2 extra meals per day.

The energy density of foods that are given to children as complementary foods should be higher than that of breast milk - that is, at least 0.8 kcal per gram. The indicators of the amount of food given in the table come from the calculation that complementary foods contain 0.8-1.0 kcal per gram. If the energy density is higher, then less food is needed to meet energy needs. If the energy density of the food is lower than that of breast milk, the total calories the baby receives may be lower than when he was exclusively breastfed. This is one of the common reasons malnutrition.

Little child's appetite often a good indication of how much food is needed. However, diseases and malnutrition reduce appetite, so a sick child may eat less than he actually needs. When a child recovers from illness or malnutrition, he may need extra help with feeding to make sure he gets enough food. If the child's appetite improves during this recovery, he should be given more food.

Optimal food consistency for a child depends on his age and level of neuromuscular development. From the age of 6 months, the baby can eat mashed, mashed and semi-solid foods. At 12 months, most babies can eat the same food as other family members. But they need foods that are rich in nutrients, and foods that can choke on (for example, a whole peanut) must be avoided. Complementary foods should be thick enough to stay on the spoon and not drip off. Usually thick or more solid food is more nutritious and energy dense than sparse, watery or soft foods.

Crisis of the first year of life- search

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 general accepted norms WHO, 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 this direction for nursing mothers to keep their milk as long as possible.

Pedagogical complementary foods have many 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. In this case, it is 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 expert advice.