The healthy development of a child is a result that is determined by the child’s innate potential, his living conditions and the degree of parental care. Most normal mothers try to give their children the best from the first days of life. But at the same time, many mothers, after the birth of a baby in the family, are faced with a lot of questions. Among the common questions that arise in young families, those related to nutrition stand out.
The world's leading pediatricians insist that it is difficult to imagine better food for a newborn than breast milk. Modern pediatrics insists on the opinion that breastfeeding up to 2 years of age forms a child’s strong immunity.
At the same time, one should not think that after 1 year of age it is enough for a child to receive only mother’s milk as food. After the baby begins to explore the world: crawl, look at objects and play with them, sit down and try to take the first steps, his needs for food increase. After all, activity involves spending more energy. Mother's milk does not fully satisfy this need.
Therefore, at a certain age, the introduction of complementary foods is required.
Some mothers are looking forward to this moment, while others are afraid, because every day they will have to anxiously watch the child’s reaction to each new product.
At the same time, it is impossible to avoid this stage, because introducing complementary foods to the baby is vital.
When is the first complementary food introduced?
Proper introduction of complementary foods is a prerequisite that young mothers must comply with. Prepare for this period in advance, so as not to harm the child, work through the following questions:
- when to start complementary feeding,
- what food to start with,
- when (morning or evening) to feed,
- what size portions should be,
- what to do if the child does not want to eat,
- what to do if a rash or problems with intestinal function appear.
You can find answers to these questions in specialized literature or online sources. Many mothers turn to their grandmothers for help, but it is recommended to consult a pediatrician who directly monitors the development of the newborn.
It is not recommended to abuse the advice of your mothers. The thing is that over the past decades, views on the introduction of complementary feeding to infants and infants have changed significantly in pediatrics. Today, the best option is to give milk or formula for up to 4-6 months. When the child turns six months old, the diet should be richer, but not give up breastfeeding.
How to introduce complementary foods to a baby
Before you start preparing baby purees, find out when it’s time to feed your baby and when it’s not recommended. This depends on the developmental characteristics of the baby and on whether pure breastfeeding is carried out or formula is part of the diet.
Children who eat formula are more likely to try new foods. But this acquaintance should begin in a timely manner.
Is it worth introducing complementary foods from 3 months?
Pediatricians of the last century claim that the sooner you start offering your child regular foods, the healthier it will be. Therefore, the grandmothers of modern babies press with advice and demands to urgently give the child a piece of an apple or a cookie. But modern pediatricians warn young mothers against making mistakes in caring for their children. It is not recommended to offer children food other than breast milk in the first months of life. From birth to 4-6 months, mother's milk satisfies the child's body's needs for calories and nutrients.
Introducing vegetables, fruits, meat and other foods at 3 months is highly not recommended. At this age, the child’s body is not yet ready for adult food. There are not enough enzymes in the newborn’s stomach that will process the adult food received (fiber, proteins, carbohydrates, fats).
Signs your baby is ready for complementary feeding
The introduction of complementary foods should begin when the baby shows signs of readiness for a new food. Signs should appear in the child’s behavior and in changes in reflexes.
There are such signs of introducing complementary foods in babies as:
- The baby sits, knows how to hold his head and balance,
- the gag reflex moves from the tip of the tongue deep into the mouth,
- the baby shows interest in what his parents eat, strives to take something from their plate and try it,
- does not push the spoon away, opens his mouth to taste the contents,
- after the baby eats the contents of the mother's breast, he demonstrates a feeling of hunger.
Several signs that are observed simultaneously indicate that the baby of the first year of life is ready for new food. This happens mainly at 5-6 months, when breastfeeding or formula until full saturation is not enough.
Basic rules of complementary feeding
You should start feeding your babies carefully. Every mother should know that the main goal is not to feed the child, and we are only introducing the baby to new sensations and tastes.
Where to begin
Grandmothers advise mothers to start by offering their child cookies soaked in water and a grated green apple. Both products are not approved by pediatricians as first foods for infants.
Cookies are a carbohydrate that does not provide anything beneficial to a child’s body. Green apple – increases acidity and will be stressful for a weak stomach. Both products can provoke fermentation (the forgotten “colic” will return) and disrupt bowel movements.
When organizing children's meals, follow WHO standards. There is a carefully developed table that clearly indicates the amount of complementary foods and the products it should consist of depending on the age of the baby.
Complementary feeding table by month
The developed complementary feeding table is a hint for mothers. By following the recommendations, you can find out when you can introduce new products, where to start, and in what form to give.
The WHO-approved complementary feeding scheme for children in the form of a table allows you to determine at what month of a child’s life what foods to add to the diet.
Vegetable introduction table
Soviet pediatrics insisted that apples should be given as the first foods - raw, baked. In addition to the fact that they are difficult for an immature stomach, there are a number of negative factors. Apple contains a large amount of sugar and has a rich taste. Its use as the first meal can provoke a child’s further refusal of “less tasty” vegetables and meat.
Among the optimal vegetables are zucchini, cauliflower, and broccoli. The first portion should be half a teaspoon (5 g). 
Vegetable puree
At 6 months, it’s time to diversify a child’s diet. The zucchini (or cauliflower) chosen as the first complementary food must be properly cooked. It is recommended to introduce cauliflower as the second vegetable after zucchini. Since it has a specific taste and the baby may not like it.
Before cooking, the vegetable should be thoroughly cleaned and washed. After this, boil a small amount (preferably steamed) and grind in a blender to the consistency of a light puree. The volume that the baby requires is not a standard portion, but a teaspoon. You can’t try to feed your baby to the fullest the first time.
If the child easily agreed to eat the offered puree, and no changes in his well-being were noticed during the day, you can continue preparing it further. It is recommended to gradually increase the portion every day.
After a week, you can try giving puree from another vegetable (broccoli). The gradual introduction of cabbage, depending on the child’s acceptance of it, is carried out in the same way as the first vegetable - a teaspoon at a time. After a few more weeks, they give some carrots, add pumpkin to the vegetable puree. These vegetables can cause allergies. They should not be consumed in large quantities, otherwise signs of false jaundice may appear on the skin surfaces.
At the age of 6-8 months, vegetable puree is the optimal food, light and quickly digested by the stomach. A normal portion can be 50 grams of zucchini and the same amount of broccoli, or 25 grams of cauliflower and carrots. You can put a teaspoon of oil per 150 grams of puree.
Porridge introduction table
At 7-8 months, some pediatricians recommend adding porridge to the diet. This does not mean that a child can be poured pearl barley from a common pot. The porridge should be light but nutritious. You should definitely give preference to gluten-free varieties:
- buckwheat,
- rice,
- corn.
Porridge should be purchased in baby food departments, from trusted manufacturers. Modern products allow you to prepare a fresh portion in a few minutes. To do this, just pour a small amount of warm water over the porridge, mix thoroughly and you can feed the baby.
When preparing porridge, add oil. At eight months, a spoonful of butter per 120 g or 20 teaspoons of buckwheat is allowed.
You should definitely look at the composition - give preference to porridges rich in iron. It is this microelement that is important for children’s health, as it is part of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the body. In addition to cereals, you should gradually introduce other foods containing iron: meat, eggs, fish and fruits. This needs to be done gradually. 
We introduce the yolk and meat at 8 months
At 8 months of age, babies can transition from vegetarian foods to more solid foods. At this time, children's first teeth appear and motor activity increases. The intake of protein and foods with calcium into the body becomes urgently necessary.
You cannot give a whole egg. Protein from eggs is not digested. The yolk will be healthy and the baby will definitely like the taste. There is no need to overuse this product. It is enough to feed a quarter of the yolk from a hard-boiled egg. We also eat a small amount of porridge or vegetable puree for lunch.
After the egg is introduced into the diet, it's time to start cooking the meat. At the same time, we continue to eat vegetables regularly.
What meat to choose for your baby
Following the baby's complementary feeding schedule, at 8 months it is time to introduce the child to the taste of meat. It is advised to start this acquaintance with tender meat of rabbit and turkey. Later try chicken and veal. Fatty varieties should be avoided: duck, pork.
The meat should be without bones, cartilage, or tendons. Be sure to grind the cooked (baked) pieces in a blender. You can add a drop of vegetable oil so that your baby gets the fats the body needs. If your child exhibits chewing activity, you can try food in the form of small pieces. A full lunch with the addition of dinner is gradually introduced.
First fish
Fish, unlike meat, should be introduced into the diet a little later, from the 10th month. Do not serve red or oily fish immediately. In this case, it will be difficult to avoid allergic reactions.
The best option is to try the meat of hake, perch, and cod. It is important to carefully examine each piece and make sure that there are no bones in them. You can serve fish with porridge or puree.
Increase the serving size gradually, depending on the child's needs.
Cottage cheese for toddlers
The next stage of complementary feeding is familiarization with fermented milk products. For children, cottage cheese is a real storehouse of useful microelements. But giving it to children in the first months of life is not recommended. The best period to get acquainted with cottage cheese is 9 months.
Mothers choose products labeled “for children.” But in practice, you can also give other types of pure cottage cheese, which are offered by leading manufacturers of dairy products.
At the same time, it’s time to try drinking kefir. But not all children like it.
What to drink for an infant
Like any person, a baby needs to drink. In the first year of life, you need to choose drinks no less responsibly than food. The best option is to give breastfeeding after eating. Mother's milk provides excellent nutrition and replenishes the lack of moisture.
During the hot season, you can give clean water, but in small quantities. After 9 months, you can try making compote from fruits (or dried fruits). Sugar should not be added to the compote.
It is better to avoid juices, especially store-bought ones, in the first year of life. They contain a lot of sugar and sometimes preservatives. If you still decide to give juice, it is better to prepare it at home yourself.
7 mistakes in introducing complementary foods
Children's pediatricians and psychologists say that mistakes made during the first feeding leave an imprint for life. Therefore, choose the right products, presentation form, and methods of encouraging your child to eat.
There is an unspoken selection of common mistakes that young and experienced mothers make. Among the significant ones, the following should be highlighted:
- They let you try the food after breastfeeding so that the baby doesn’t cry while the puree is being prepared. It is better to interest the baby for 20 minutes, and then please him with a fresh dish.
- Bottles are used to serve food. Strongly not recommended. From the first attempts to accustom your child to adult food, you need to instill the desire to eat with special utensils (a spoon).
- They provide food upon request. It is better to feed on a schedule that repeats every day.
- They force the child to eat everything or forcefully introduce him to the first foods. If your child refuses to eat, postpone the process of introducing broccoli for a week, then try again.
- Complementary feeding begins in the early months (at 3 or 4 months). The body is not ready for new food and will react violently, causing pain in the baby.
- Delay the start of complementary feeding to a later time. Dangerous due to developmental delay and weight loss.
- A significant mistake is the desire to feed the baby separately from the whole family.
The last point is important from the psychological side. First of all, the baby will feel that he is being separated from the family, which means that something is wrong. In addition, he will not be able to learn from his parents or older siblings the knowledge of how to eat and what to eat.
In the future, this may result in the child’s reluctance to switch to nutritious food and inability to use appliances. Negative consequences also affect the mother - in the future she will have to spend more time on the child, feed herself in a hurry, or during the child’s sleep.
Gradually, the child will forget about the milk formula, and purees and cereals will become his favorite dishes.
When organizing your child’s nutrition in the first year of life, weigh each step and read the doctor’s recommendations. A thoughtful approach will allow you to avoid many serious mistakes and negative consequences.
A six-month-old baby often shows interest in adult food, which his body begins to need. From the table, parents will learn how to properly feed a 6-month-old baby. Correct changes in diet will allow you to switch to new dishes without indigestion.
Specialists from the Daughters-Sons online store will introduce you to the range of baby food used as complementary foods.
Detailed scheme for introducing complementary foods from 6 months
Before starting complementary feeding, it is important to know what food and in what portions you can give your baby in the first days. The scheme for introducing complementary foods from 6 months is designed for 7-10 days and involves the child consuming half or one teaspoon of additional food. This is the portion for the first day. The main course of complementary feeding should be milk porridge, vegetable or fruit puree.
Complementary feeding scheme from 6 months. The first complementary foods are scheduled day by day throughout the week. Each day of the week has its own portion:
- breakfast of the first day – 2.5-5 g (up to 1 tsp);
- breakfast of the second day – 10 g (2 tsp);
- breakfast of the third day – 15-20 g (3-4 tsp);
- lunch on the fourth day – 20-30 g (4-6 tsp);
- lunch on the fifth day – 50-75 g (10-15 tsp);
- lunch of the sixth day – 100-120 g (10-12 dessert spoons);
- lunch on the seventh day – 150-160 g (15-16 dessert spoons).
Important!
The complementary feeding scheme for a 6-month-old baby involves the gradual introduction of new foods of thick consistency (without pieces). It is better to start feeding before the first, second or third main feeding with breast milk or formula. During the day there will be time to monitor the baby’s body’s reaction to the new product.
We introduce complementary foods at 6 months. Table in grams
From the second week of successful feeding, the portion of corn, buckwheat, rice milk porridge or puree from zucchini, cauliflower, pumpkin should be 150-160 g per day. The complementary feeding scheme looks optimal from 6 months, when the table includes low-fat cottage cheese and vegetable or butter, which is useful for the formation of bone and muscle tissue. You can add no more than 4 g of oil to the main dish (porridge, puree).
The table for introducing complementary foods from 6 months is designed to include only single-component dishes and products. This means that six-month-old babies are not recommended to prepare food from several ingredients at once, since it will be difficult to determine the allergenic component.
Important!
The complementary feeding table from 6 months includes few foods and dishes, and the portions in the first week are very small. However, half a month after the start of complementary feeding, the daily amount of additional food is quite enough to replace one daily feeding.
Complementary feeding from 6 months. Menu in the table
For a six-month-old child who is underweight, the main complementary food dish should be milk porridge made from buckwheat or corn. It is porridge that will contribute to rapid weight gain. The first feeding table from 6 months also includes pureed anti-allergenic green vegetables. This dish is recommended for children with bowel problems.
In our online store you can choose healthy complementary foods for six-month-old babies: vegetable purees (“Babushkino Lukoshko” broccoli, Hipp zucchini with potatoes), fruit purees (“Agusha” apple-banana, apple-cottage cheese, “FrutoNyanya” apple-apricot with
cream, apple-pear with cream), various cereals (Heinz, Fleur Alpine Organic, “Malyutka”) and other dishes.
When preparing food for complementary feeding, you must not:
- the dish contained food additives (spices, salt, sugar, thickeners);
- the food did not have a puree-like consistency;
- Gluten grains (barley, rye, wheat) were used.
conclusions
The complementary feeding scheme for a baby from 6 months is based on the gradual introduction of new products into the diet over 10 days. The initial dosage is 2.5-5 g of porridge or puree with a daily increase in the daily volume of food by 1.5-2 times. After the second week of problem-free complementary feeding, you can replace one feeding with complementary foods.
The table for introducing complementary foods from 6 months contains exclusively foods and dishes that are beneficial for the development of the child. Before introducing them into the menu, you should consult with your pediatrician to get additional recommendations on nutrition specifically for your baby.
Mother's breast milk is considered the best nutrition for a newborn. However, as the baby’s body grows, it requires more nutrients, so he no longer has enough of such food. The baby's first complementary food should consist of vegetables and fermented milk products. Moreover, new elements should be introduced gradually to prevent allergies.
When can complementary foods be introduced?
According to the standards of world pediatrics, the first complementary foods should be offered to a child no earlier than six months old. Until this time, breast milk or a properly selected formula fully satisfies all the needs of the growing body. However, some children develop faster than their peers, so for a certain group of children, the introduction of complementary foods may be indicated a little earlier, starting at 4-5 months.
You can determine whether your baby is ready to accept adult foods by the following signs:
- The baby has learned to sit and can hold small objects in his hands. These skills are necessary for confidently sitting in a highchair, and developed hand motor skills will allow the child to independently hold a spoon or fork;
- the baby knows how to refuse inappropriate objects and toys, which means he will be able to protest if he doesn’t like the food;
- the child independently shows interest in adult plates and tries to taste food from your dishes;
- the newborn has at least doubled its weight and requires eating much more often than before;
- the baby literally hangs on the mother’s breast, and the intervals between feedings have been reduced to 30-40 minutes.
All these indicators mean that your child can and should be introduced to complementary foods. But what products and in what quantities the baby needs should be calculated by month. Of course, you can deviate somewhat from the established norm. However, in general terms, the recommended indicators should be followed.
How much should a newborn eat?
The amount of food eaten at one time depends on several indicators:
- Body weight - the larger the child, the more food he needs, and vice versa;
- State of health - a sick baby is not in the mood to eat a lot, so you shouldn’t force him;
- Volume of breast milk - the more often you breastfeed your baby, the less he requires complementary feeding. Accordingly, when you begin introducing regular food into your diet, you have the opportunity to gradually stop breastfeeding, eliminating one feeding after another over and over again.
On average, a baby from six months to 1 year should eat 1/10 of his own weight per day. For example, if a baby weighs 7 kg, its daily share of food is about 700 grams. Considering that there are usually 4-5 meals, feeding a child at a time should be about 150 grams of food.
These are general guidelines, so if your baby is not getting enough to eat, the amount of complementary feeding may need to be increased slightly. And on the contrary, when the baby refuses additional products, you should not force him. Maybe he just doesn't like the food you offer. Try replacing the composition and increase the one-time dose gradually.
Products for feeding newborns
As the child grows, his diet also expands, and therefore, a special complementary feeding schedule has been developed by month:
- 5-6 months - vegetables, porridge, a little butter (for porridge - butter, for vegetables - vegetable, olive or sunflower);
- 6-7 months – cottage cheese, lean meat, chicken yolk, dry biscuits, fruit juice;
- 7-8 months – low-fat fish, fermented milk products: kefir, cottage cheese, curd mass;
- 8-12 months – bread, pasta.
Vegetables
According to the traditional monthly complementary feeding scheme, the introduction of adult foods into the infant’s diet begins with vegetables. As a first introductory dish, you can offer your baby puree:
- squash;
- carrot;
- cauliflower puree;
- potato - introduced along with porridges.
It is best to prepare vegetable purees for your child yourself, resorting to store-bought ready-made meals as a last resort. For example, on the road or on a long walk. Vegetables should be boiled in boiled water, then rub through a fine sieve or beat with a mixer.
Porridge
The next stage will be the introduction of complementary foods in the form of cereals. The fragile body of a newborn will perfectly accept such cereals as:
- buckwheat;
- corn.
Choose sifted and unprocessed cereals; they contain more useful minerals and vitamins. Instant cereals are very easy and convenient, but most of them contain gluten. It is not recommended for use by babies under 10 months. You can use ready-made formulas from the “Food for Children” series, but it is better to accustom your baby to natural, regular cereals from the very beginning.
The first complementary food should be prepared without milk. Let the porridge be on the water. The cereal should be washed, pour boiled water and cook over low heat until the liquid evaporates. Then grind with a blender and add a little vegetable oil. If necessary, place in a water bath and steam for another 4-5 minutes.
The second option for preparing baby porridge is to first grind the prepared cereal in a coffee grinder. After this, cook the required amount of product in the usual way. This method does not require final grinding of the porridge.
Dairy
A month after successful introduction, it is time for dairy products. You can offer your little gourmet:
- cottage cheese and thick cheese mass;
- kefir;
- fresh cow's milk (can be used for making milk porridges).
Today there are a lot of manufacturers of children's products. You can use the products of any of them as complementary foods. Just check the expiration date carefully.
If you wish, you can prepare cottage cheese for your child at home. To do this, you will need to add a tablespoon of full-fat sour cream to ½ liter of boiled milk and leave the resulting mixture in a warm place to sour. The sour mass should be placed on low heat and brought to a boil, immediately removed and cooled. If desired, you can supplement the resulting curd mass with grated fruit or a small amount of honey.
The introduction of meat and fish is allowed from the 7-8th month. Initially, these products should be offered to the child in the form of purees. Be sure to thoroughly cook the pieces of meat, and steam the fish in a water bath or in a double boiler. Gradually, the baby's complementary feeding should change somewhat. With the appearance of the first teeth, you can already give pieces of vegetables in the form of straws or cubes. Tear meat and fish into thin fibers.
At 9 months, try introducing your baby to pasta; it is better to choose horns and noodles made from durum wheat, but cook them for a long time. At this age, the baby is already able to chew on its own, so there is no need to chop food. In general, the sooner you switch from pureed food to regular food, the better for the baby. In addition, chewing will not only help develop basic reflexes, but also eliminate pain during teething.
All parents, without exception, want to see their children strong, healthy, physically and intellectually developed. Food is the source of all the necessary nutrients, microelements, vitamins and immunoglobulins for the normal growth and development of the baby, therefore proper nutrition of the child plays a vital role in his life.
Basic rules for introducing complementary foods
The first product should be one-component, that is, you should not mix several new types of foods in one plate, otherwise it will be impossible to track which product caused a rash or other manifestations of food allergies in the child.
The product must be homogeneous- i.e. thoroughly crushed and pureed, without lumps. Otherwise, the presence of inhomogeneities may cause the child, who is not yet ready for solid food, to refuse any food other than mother’s milk or formula for a long time. This is due to the presence of a gag reflex. It helps the baby to automatically push the object out of the throat to prevent the baby from choking. If something hard gets into the baby's mouth, his tongue moves forward and down to push the object out. The gag reflex remains with a person for life, but the pushing part of it disappears by about 6 months. It is because of this reflex that it is so difficult for a child to swallow solid food introduced too early.
New product is always introduced in the first half of the day to eliminate the need to suffer in the middle of the night with a suddenly swollen tummy or diarrhea.
Complementary feeding is given to the child only from a spoon, not from a bottle. The baby is growing up, and he needs to learn the skills of eating not only through sucking.
New product is given before breastfeeding or formula feeding.
New products cannot be introduced 7 days before vaccination and within 7 days after vaccination.
New products cannot be introduced if the child is sick. This will be an additional burden on the baby’s body, which is already weakened by the disease.
Each product is administered within 5-7 days, starting with 1 teaspoon (for fruit, half a teaspoon).
If one product is completely introduced, then the new one is introduced as follows: 1 teaspoon of the new product, then 3 tablespoons of the old product, and the last spoon of the new product again. Then we supplement with breastfeeding or formula.
You should not give your child snacks between meals. A child's stomach is very small, therefore, the saturation signal comes to the child’s brain very quickly and he will simply refuse to eat.
To ensure that your baby always eats with appetite, you shouldn't force him to eat if he does not want and does not need to pour large portions, it is better to pour a little less. The child's taste preferences should be taken into account. Some children enjoy eating fruits, vegetables and meat, while others prefer dairy products and various cereals.
Sometimes a child begins to eat poorly if something bothers him. You should not expect a big appetite from a child who has recently been ill. In younger children Appetite worsens during teething.
Buying ready-made purees or preparing them yourself is a serious question that everyone decides for themselves. About the important aspects of this choice in more detail
Where to start complementary feeding
Today, pediatricians and pediatric nutritionists recommend feeding a child with breast milk for up to 6 months, without any complementary foods. For children who are bottle-fed or mixed-fed, complementary foods can begin to be introduced at 4 months.
Here is the approximate sequence of introducing new foods into your baby’s diet:
from 4 months - vegetable and fruit purees, cereals
from 6 months - cottage cheese, yolk
from 7 - 8 months - meat
from 8 months - poultry, cookies
from 8-9 months - fermented milk products, fruits
from 9-10 months - fish
Here is an approximate scheme for feeding a small child during the day:
breast milk (formula) → porridge → vegetables with meat → cottage cheese + fruits + cookies → fermented milk product → breast milk (formula) Next, we will dwell in more detail on each of the products .
The first products for introducing complementary foods
The first porridge for complementary feeding
If a child is underweight, porridge is introduced first. The first three cereals that are used when introducing complementary foods are: buckwheat, rice, corn - do not contain gluten. This protein contained in cereals (oatmeal, wheat, etc.) has another name - gluten. Many people suffer from gluten intolerance, which results in an acute allergic reaction. In children, it usually manifests itself in the form of diarrhea, exhaustion, and bloating. That is why gluten-containing products (not only cereals, but also cookies, crackers made from wheat or rye flour) are introduced into the baby’s complementary feeding carefully and not in the first months.
It is worth noting that if a child is prone to constipation, then rice porridge should be put aside.
When it comes to preparing porridge, there are 2 options: grind the cereal in a blender and cook it yourself, or buy porridge in packs that do not require cooking, but are diluted. Regarding the latter, it is better to give preference to fortified and sugar-free ones. Ready-made porridges come in dairy and dairy-free varieties. It is worth noting that dairy-free cereals usually contain a sweetener. Milk porridges are diluted with water, dairy-free porridges can be diluted with water, baby formula, breast milk or special “baby milk” (on a pack of such milk it is indicated “baby milk from 8 months”). Porridges are diluted according to the instructions on the pack with heated liquid.
Porridges are introduced gradually, starting with 1 teaspoon per day. Then, if the child tolerates this product well, completely replace one milk feeding with porridge.
After all the grains have been introduced separately, it is better to offer the child multi-grain porridges.
Vegetable complementary foods
If the child has no problems with weight gain, then vegetables can be safely used as the first complementary foods. Nutritionists recommend starting with vegetables rather than fruit purees, because a child, having tried sweet fruit purees, may refuse healthy vegetables in the future. Also, vegetable complementary foods will be very useful for children suffering from constipation.
The first vegetables in a child’s diet are recommended: broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, potatoes- exactly in this sequence. Before cooking potatoes, they must be soaked in cold water for 1.5-2 hours. You can start vegetable complementary feeding with 1-1.5 teaspoons.
Fruit purees and juices for complementary feeding
Perfect as a first fruit for a child - apple, pear, prune, banana. The best option would be a baked apple. It is recommended to start fruit complementary foods with half a teaspoon, gradually increasing the portion to 30-40 g per day.
Among the juices, you should give preference to apple and pear. Freshly squeezed juices should not be given to small children. They begin to introduce juices with 5 ml per day, gradually increasing the portion to 30-40 ml per day.
Cottage cheese for complementary feeding
If the child has no problems with the fontanel closing, cottage cheese can be introduced from 6 months. If the child’s fontanel closes very quickly, the introduction of cottage cheese is postponed.
Cottage cheese is administered carefully, starting with 5 g per day, gradually increasing the portion to 30-40 g per day. By approximately 12 months, the serving of cottage cheese per day increases to 100g. To introduce the first cottage cheese, it is recommended to use “baby” cottage cheese from 6 months.
Yolk for complementary feeding
The egg yolk, like cottage cheese, is introduced very carefully. Stop yourself from choosing larger village chicken eggs for your child. To reduce the risk of an allergic reaction, nutritionists recommend start with quail eggs. Be sure to wash your eggs thoroughly before boiling.
You should start with 1/8 of the yolk, gradually increasing the portion to the whole. The yolk needs to be mashed and add to vegetables or porridge.
Meat feeding
As the first meat product in the baby's diet, turkey and rabbit. According to the recommendations of pediatricians, veal is postponed until a later date (after a year), due to the risk of allergies, especially if the child has such a reaction to milk or formula.
If you decide not to use canned meat puree, then boil the meat in a second broth, i.e. after the water with the meat has boiled for 5 minutes, it is drained, the meat is filled with new water, and the meat is cooked in the “second” water. The meat must be boiled and pureed; you should not add salt to it, the baby does not need it in additional quantities. You can mix meat with vegetables, thereby diversifying the baby’s diet.
Meat is introduced into vegetable feeding starting with 1 teaspoon, increasing the portion to 50g per day.
Cookie
For an 8-month-old baby, when it comes to cookies, it is better to opt for “baby” cookies from 5 months. It differs from classic cookies in that upon contact with saliva it almost immediately turns into mush, which eliminates the risk that a baby who is not ready for solid food may choke.
Little children should not be given cookies as a snack between meals, otherwise they may quickly become full and refuse to eat a full meal. Cookies are usually offered to a child for an afternoon snack along with cottage cheese and fruit.
Fish feeding
You should start introducing fish into your child’s diet only after introducing meat. You should start with white species - cod, hake, pollock. Red fish is introduced much later due to the fact that it very often causes allergies in children.
Fish is also introduced, starting from 5g, gradually increasing the portion to 50g. It should be noted that fish is given to a child no more than once a week.
Fermented milk products for complementary feeding
Offer your child yogurt and kefir, the packaging of which is marked “for children from 8 months”. Kefir is also introduced gradually. If the child tolerates this product well, completely replace one milk feeding with a fermented milk product.
Making a menu
You should create an approximate menu for the child and calculate its calorie content. The amount of calories for children from 6 months to a year should be 800 kcal. The child's diet should first of all be varied. This makes it possible to provide the child’s body with all the components necessary for its proper development and prevents the child’s appetite disorder. By introducing certain foods into your child’s diet, you can improve your health and correct some disorders.
It is necessary to prepare for the baby using various ingredients and diluting the resulting vegetable or meat puree with formula, breast milk or water.
Gradually, children switch to 4 meals a day. They can be fed most of the dishes prepared for the whole family. You just need to avoid adding spices and give the food to your baby pureed first. It should also be remembered that proper nutrition is not only a set of certain foods, but also the presence of the first skills of cultural behavior. Before feeding, be sure to wash your child’s hands; the child’s eating utensils should be beautiful, clean and safe.
For information on how to competently develop eating habits in children under one year old, read the article by a child psychotherapist.
Food for the baby should be balanced, healthy, tasty and always fresh.
The baby’s transition to “adult” food is a completely new stage in his life. But it is much more exciting for mom! What to feed first? How to change the volume? How to prepare food? How to make the first menu delicious? The complementary feeding table for children under one year old will answer dozens of pressing questions. It was compiled according to the recommendations of WHO and Russian pediatricians.
The requirements for introducing foods into the diet of babies have changed significantly in recent years. Pediatricians no longer insist on the need to give babies juices from two months and cottage cheese from four months. However, the recommendations proposed by the World Health Organization, as well as those enshrined in the official regulations of the Russian Ministry of Health, differ. The latter are allowed to introduce complementary foods as early as four months, and this is done at an accelerated pace.
Schedule up to a year
The recommendations of the Russian Ministry of Health propose a complementary feeding schedule for children up to one year old, which requires the use of vegetables, cereals, cottage cheese and meat, juices, and fruit purees in their diet by seven months. This schedule does not comply with WHO recommendations, which note that diet correction is carried out at six months of age. And only in individual cases and according to individual indications, which include critical delays in weight gain and development, does it make sense to change the child’s diet earlier.
According to WHO, complementary feeding is food designed to meet the increasing energy needs of a baby who is more active and mobile than before. And allowing him to introduce him to a variety of foods. Based on this, the basic principles for correcting the baby’s diet are determined.
- Food is complementary. This is exactly what complementary foods are. The basis of a child’s nutrition is breast milk, and if breastfeeding is impossible, an adapted formula.
- The food is varied. Mothers of eight-month-old babies usually look with horror at the complementary feeding table by month. And they understand that from the recommended products, including meat, kefir, yolk, and several types of vegetables, they managed to accustom the child to at most a couple of vegetable dishes and cereal porridges. But this diversity is only an attempt to show exactly what flavors and types of foods a child can consume due to his physiological development. This is a recommendation about dishes of what consistency, taste, and aroma a child can begin to get acquainted with. The numbers on the tablet should not be taken as a mandatory guide to action, since it is simply impossible to achieve many of them by safely introducing products.
- Foods with high energy density. Based on the fact that complementary feeding should replenish the energy the baby lacks for activity and growth, it is necessary to choose energy-rich foods. These do not include juices previously recommended for the first complementary foods and fruits. A small amount of porridge or vegetables contains much more calories that are significant for the baby.
Energy-rich food does not mean fatty, WHO experts note. A child should not be given animal fat, including milk containing fat, until two years of age. You cannot add salt and sugar to food. The latter saturates the body with “empty” calories and suppresses appetite.
All products that include a scheme for introducing complementary foods by month until the age of one are called transitional. They are adapted to the child's needs in terms of consistency and density. The goal of the process is for the baby to switch to the traditional food of the family table. Therefore, it is wise to use not specially selected products for feeding, but precisely those grains, vegetables, types of meat and fish that are customary to eat in your family.
Table - Complementary feeding of a child by month (WHO recommended schedule)
| Products | 6 months | 7 months | 8 months | 9 months | 10 months | 11-12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetable puree, g | 120 | 140 | 150 | 170 | 180 | 200 |
| Cereal porridge, g | 120 | 150 | 180 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Vegetable oil, ml | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| Fruit puree, g | 60 | 60 | 60 | 17 | 80 | 80 |
| Meat, g | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | ||
| Yolk | 1/4 | 1/4 | 1/2 | |||
| Cottage cheese, g | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||
| Crackers, g | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | |
| Wheat bread, g | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | ||
| Butter, g | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | ||
| Fish, g | 30 | 50-60 | ||||
| Fruit juice, ml | 30 | 50 | 60 | 80-100 | ||
| Kefir, ml | 30 | 50 | 100 | |||
The table determines the types of complementary foods by month and dosage. It is for informational purposes only. If you continue breastfeeding, it is not recommended to exceed these standards. With artificial feeding, the main source of nutrition in the diet remains formula. The mixed mode allows you to displace the mixture, replacing it with complementary foods.
The consistency of the dishes should correspond to the child’s developmental level and existing skills. At the age of up to seven months, babies experience a shift in the gag reflex from the middle of the tongue to its root, and the strength of chewing movements increases. They can eat pureed foods made from gluten-free vegetables, fruits and grains.
Between the ages of seven months and one year, chewing skills improve. The baby learns to bite, move food with his tongue to his teeth, and remove it from a spoon with his lips. During this period, it is recommended to change the consistency of the dishes. They are served mashed, chopped, and also in a form convenient for eating with your hands.
Only after a year does the stability of the jaws develop, and chewing movements acquire an adult, rotational character. At this time, the child can be transferred to family food.
Product introduction technique
Feeding with vegetables
WHO recommends using zucchini as a baby's first food. It is served boiled, mashed. The second product is cauliflower, the third is broccoli. The scheme for feeding vegetables is as follows.
| Day | Product | Grams | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zucchini (puree) | 3 | Before the second morning feeding. After breast milk or formula until satiated. Five grams roughly correspond to the capacity of one teaspoon |
| 2 | 10 | ||
| 3 | 20 | ||
| 4 | 40 | ||
| 5 | Zucchini (puree) and vegetable oil | 70 | |
| 6 | 120 | ||
| 7 | 120 | ||
| 8 | Cauliflower and zucchini (puree) with vegetable oil | 3+117 | Prepare two types of puree. They can be mixed by adding a new product to a familiar one. Or give separately |
| 9 | 10+110 | ||
| 10 | 20+100 | ||
| 11 | 40+80 | ||
| 12 | 70+50 | ||
| 13 | Cauliflower (mashed) and vegetable oil | 120 | Complementary feeding with monocomponent cauliflower puree |
| 14 | 120 | ||
| 15 | Zucchini or cauliflower and broccoli (mashed) with vegetable oil | 3+117 | Prepare two types of puree. One is from a familiar vegetable, the other is from broccoli. They can be mixed by adding a new product to a familiar one. Or give separately |
| 16 | 10+110 | ||
| 17 | 20+100 | ||
| 18 | 40+80 | ||
| 19 | 70+50 | ||
| 20 | Broccoli (puree) and vegetable oil | 120 | Complementary feeding with monocomponent broccoli puree |
| 21 | 120 |
Thus, it will take you at least twenty-one days to introduce three vegetables into your child’s diet. After you bring each product to the recommended age limit, you can mix them in the required proportions and offer your baby both single-component and multi-component purees.
Feeding with cereals
You can start it after introducing vegetables. It is recommended to feed babies with a lag in weight gain with cereals initially. We present the World Health Organization recommended scheme for feeding cereals, starting from the twenty-second day.
| Day | Product | Grams | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Buckwheat (porridge) | 3 | Before the second morning feeding. Existing vegetable complementary foods are transferred to lunch |
| 23 | 10 | ||
| 24 | 20 | ||
| 25 | 40 | ||
| 26 | 70 | ||
| 27 | Buckwheat (porridge) and butter | 120 | |
| 28 | 150 | ||
| 29 | Rice and buckwheat (porridge) with butter | 3+147 | Prepare two types of porridge. They can be mixed by adding a new product to a familiar one, or given separately |
| 30 | 10+140 | ||
| 31 | 20+130 | ||
| 32 | 40+110 | ||
| 33 | 70+80 | ||
| 34 | 120+30 | ||
| 35 | Rice (porridge) and butter | 150 | Complementary feeding with monocomponent rice porridge |
| 36 | Corn and rice/buckwheat (porridge) with butter | 3+147 | Prepare two types of porridge. One from familiar cereals, the second from corn. They can be mixed by adding a new product to a familiar one. Or give separately |
| 37 | 10+140 | ||
| 38 | 20+130 | ||
| 39 | 40+110 | ||
| 40 | 70+80 | ||
| 41 | 120+30 | ||
| 42 | Corn (porridge) and butter | 150 | Complementary feeding with monocomponent corn porridge |
The period of introduction of porridges takes three weeks. At this time, the baby is seven and a half months old, so it is too early to introduce meat into his diet. The World Health Organization recommends including new foods from the group of vegetables and cereals in the complementary feeding of the newborn every month at this stage.
New products
| Day | Product | Grams | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Pumpkin and familiar vegetable puree with vegetable oil | 3 + 137 | Introduced at lunch. For second breakfast, the baby eats cereal porridge |
| 44 | 10 +130 | ||
| 45 | 20 + 110 | ||
| 46 | 40 +100 | ||
| 47 | 70 +70 | ||
| 48 | 120 + 20 | ||
| 49 | Pumpkin (puree) with vegetable oil | 140 |
After introducing pumpkin, you can begin fruit feeding. In the middle of the seventh month, it’s time to introduce your baby to the apple. The recommendation of pediatricians to introduce this product right now is simple. The fruit has a distinct taste that can be perceived by a child with more enthusiasm than the neutral taste of zucchini. In the future, the baby, having tried fruits rather than vegetables for the first time, may simply refuse the latter.
The next step towards the end of the seventh month may be the introduction of a new cereal. The child’s digestive tract is ripe for acquaintance with millet porridge.
| Day | Product | Grams | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | Millet and familiar cereals (porridge) with butter | 3 + 147 | Served for breakfast. Prepare two types of porridge. They can be mixed, adding a new product to a familiar one, or given separately. Additionally, the child eats applesauce for breakfast. |
| 57 | 10 +140 | ||
| 58 | 20 + 130 | ||
| 59 | 40 +110 | ||
| 60 | 70 +80 | ||
| 61 | 120 + 30 | ||
| 62 | Millet (porridge) with butter | 150 | |
Complementary feeding with meat
At eight months, the child’s diet consists of four types of grains in the form of dairy-free porridges, four vegetables and an apple. During this period, it is recommended to include meat in the menu that is well-cooked, ground in a meat grinder twice, or ground. According to WHO recommendations, the first meat should be rabbit fillet, as the least allergenic and low-fat product.
A meat product is rarely accepted by a child right away. You can mix small portions of it with porridge. In this case, the baby will not notice it in minimal initial doses. When the volume increases, the taste of meat will seem familiar to the baby, and he will be less likely to refuse it.
Fruits serve as a source of vitamins throughout the year and stimulate intestinal function. To normalize digestion after introducing meat, WHO experts recommend introducing prunes as the next step.
| Day | Product | Grams | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Prunes and apple (puree) | 3 +57 | |
| 71 | 8 +52 | ||
| 72 | 16 +44 | ||
| 73 | 25 + 35 | ||
| 74 | 35 +25 | ||
| 74 | 50 +10 | ||
| 76 | 60 |
Thus, the child has a rich breakfast of cereals and fruits, and an equally rich lunch of vegetable puree and meat.
Expansion of meat feeding
| Day | Product | Grams | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | Turkey and rabbit (meat puree) | 3 +47 | Introduced for breakfast in addition to porridge. Fruit puree is carried over to lunch, offered to the child after vegetable puree |
| 78 | 8+42 | ||
| 79 | 15+25 | ||
| 80 | 20+30 | ||
| 81 | 30+20 | ||
| 82 | 40+10 | ||
| 83 | 50 |
Despite the fact that the child is already familiar with a large number of products, new ones are also used during the second breakfast in the first half of the day. This requires periodic adjustments to the usual menu for breakfast and lunch, but it is necessary to notice in time a reaction to a new component of the diet if it occurs.
Expansion of fruit feeding
The next type of fruit recommended is pear. However, this is not important; you can introduce any new fruit from your area, for example, apricot, peach. Or try feeding your baby a banana, which children usually eat with joy.
| Day | Product | Grams | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Pear and apple (puree) | 3 +57 | Introduced for breakfast in addition to porridge and familiar fruit puree. Can be mixed with apple or served separately. The baby continues to eat vegetable puree for lunch; meat puree is added to it |
| 85 | 8 +52 | ||
| 86 | 16 +44 | ||
| 87 | 25 + 35 | ||
| 88 | 35 +25 | ||
| 89 | 50 +10 | ||
| 90 | 60 |
The first ninety days, as the complementary feeding table shows, are very busy. Don't be upset if you can't stick to the schedule or your baby refuses to eat that much food. Your task is to diversify its menu with new tastes in order to get to know them. Therefore, every week there is a new product in the diet.
In the future, other types of complementary foods recommended for the baby’s age are introduced in a similar manner. The new one is offered exclusively for breakfast. As fermented milk products are included in the diet, the child will have an afternoon snack, which will include fruit puree. Crackers and baby cookies are offered as snacks throughout the day. After introducing fish, it is alternated in the diet with meat, without being offered on the same day.