When can you give your child juices and purees. When and how to give juices to a child: the introduction of complementary foods during breastfeeding and artificial feeding

Everyone knows what to give juice to a child. But what kind of juice, how to give, from what age, in what quantity? Read the answers to all questions below.

How much juice can a child

Most mothers know that a child under 1 year old can take 60-100 ml of juice. And how much juice can a child older than a year. The more the better or not?

It turns out - no. Juices, especially freshly squeezed ones, increase the acidity of gastric juice, irritate the gastric mucosa, and if consumed excessively, can cause digestive disorders and allergic reactions in children.

Recommended daily intake of juices for children of different ages

Decided on the quantity.

At what age can you give different juices to a child?

We will not dwell on juices that children under 1 year old can, we have already considered them

tomato

Tomatoes appear in ready-made baby food from about 8-9 months as part of vegetable and meat-vegetable purees and soups to improve the taste of dishes. That is, they are there in minimal quantities and are subjected to thermal heat treatment.

There are no ready-made tomato juices for children under 1 year old and even up to 3 years old. For children over 3 years old, tomato juice is very useful.

Advantages

• It contains lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, and prevents cancer. Lycopene is not destroyed by heating and boiling.
• Tomato juice contains a lot of fiber, helps with constipation and to reduce excess body weight.

Flaws

It is recommended to give tomato juice to children from 3 years old because it often causes allergies, irritates the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, and is consumed with salt. Tomato juice belongs to the group of foods high in histamine and can cause a pseudo-allergic reaction.

Children over 3 years old can use ready-made tomato juice of industrial production or home-made juice.

tomato juice recipe

Wash ripe tomatoes well, remove the stalks. Cut, pour a small amount of water, bring to a boil. Rub through a sieve so that the seeds and skin remain in the sieve. Add a teaspoon of salt to 1 liter of juice and bring it to a boil. Cool down. Juice is ready. You can drink it.

For long-term storage, hot juice is poured into pre-sterilized jars and covered with sterile lids and liter jars are sterilized in boiling water for 10 minutes.

orange juice for a child

Orange juice is one of the most popular and easily obtained juices.

Advantages

• Orange juice - freshly squeezed, contains a large amount of vitamins C, folic acid, potassium.
• Strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
• Helps lower blood pressure.
• Increases appetite, enhances the secretion of the stomach and pancreas, stimulates intestinal motility.

Flaws

• Has a high allergenicity.
• Acidic, can irritate the delicate lining of the gastrointestinal tract in children and cause digestive upset.
• Destroys tooth enamel.

Therefore, it is allowed for children after 1 year, and with a tendency to allergies from 3 years.

It is very easy for a child to get freshly squeezed orange juice - just squeeze the juice from an orange and strain it through a sieve or cheesecloth.

In the industrial production of juices, natural vitamins are partially destroyed, but juices are additionally enriched with them.

Pomegranate juice for a child

Many consider it the first remedy for anemia, and they try to start giving it to a child with anemia as early as possible. In fact, pomegranate, as well as other fruit juices, only promotes the absorption of iron from meat or liver by the body.

Pomegranate juice has a fixative effect, so it is not recommended for children prone to constipation.

It is also a highly allergenic product, therefore it is allowed for children over 1 year old. Read more about this juice.

Grape juice for a child

Advantages

• Sweet, kids love it.
• It is easy to get at home with a juicer.
• Grape juice contains a lot of sugars: glucose and fructose, this is the most high-calorie juice.
• It easily and quickly satisfies hunger.
• It contains many vitamins and microelements, improves liver function, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, and activates metabolism.

Flaws

• But it contains many simple sugars that cause putrefaction and fermentation in the intestines, especially in babies whose diet is dominated by dairy food. Grape juice is not recommended to be combined with dairy products, even for adults. Simple sugars serve as a medium for the reproduction of harmful microflora in the intestines of a child.
• They destroy tooth enamel.
• Therefore, grape juice is recommended for children from 2 years of age.

Peach and apricot juice for a child

They do not happen without pulp, while their taste and nutritional properties are lost.

Advantages

• They contain beta-carotene (provitamin A) and a lot of potassium.
• They contain a lot of delicate fiber, due to which they normalize intestinal motility.
• They have a pleasant taste
• Not very acidic, less than the previous juices irritate the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.

Pumpkin

Contains a lot of carotene (provitamin A) it is not recommended for daily use because of the possibility of carotene jaundice.

Pumpkin juice contains a lot of potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, due to this it has a calming effect on the child's nervous system. After heat treatment, the pumpkin is well absorbed, therefore it is allowed for children in the form of vegetable puree or ready-made juice 2-3 times a week from 6 months of age.

Ready-made pumpkin juices in their pure form are not produced due to the low moisture content in the pumpkin. There are mixed juices, such as apple-pumpkin or nectars, which contain pumpkin puree, water and sugar.

Raw homemade pumpkin juice can be used by children only after 1 year.

Beetroot

The main property of beet juice, which is used in children, is a laxative. It is preferable and safer to give the child boiled beets or beetroot decoction.

In baby food, beetroot juice is used as a "medicine" (as a laxative) for children suffering from constipation.

Ready-made juices from beets are not produced, and raw beet juice can be given to children of the first year of life very carefully from 9-10 months, starting with drops and bringing up to 2-5 teaspoons daily (until regular stools are achieved) children 1-3 years old can be given up to 50 ml raw beetroot juice. Children over 3 years old 70-80 ml. Beet juice for children is always half diluted with water and should always be given after meals.

Read more about beetroot and beetroot juice

pineapple

Exotic, sour, low calorie & highly allergenic. Children under 3 years of age are not recommended. Therefore, pure pineapple juice for baby food does not exist. Pineapple juice is a part of multifruit juices for baby food recommended from 1 year old. Pineapple juices for children over 3 years old and adults are produced by many manufacturers.

Wild berry juice

Wild berries include blueberries, lingonberries, blackberries, chokeberries, strawberries.

Juice from wild berries differs in that it is very acidic and highly allergenic. Therefore, it is not recommended for children under 1 year old.

As for the vitamin composition, the natural vitamins of wild berries are found only in freshly squeezed juice, and in the restored, at best, there is only an artificially added mixture of vitamins.

Banana

Bananas have a very low water content, so there is no banana juice. There are only banana nectars containing banana puree, water and sugar or mixed juices, most often apple-banana. Banana juice (nectar) can be given to a child from the age of 6 months, after the baby has already tried and got used to apple juice.

Cherry

Very sour, so there is no ready-made pure cherry juice, either mixed apple-cherry juice or cherry nectar. Allowed for children from 8-9 months.

I hope you successfully introduce juice into your child's diet. Stay healthy!

Of course, a properly balanced diet for babies must contain juices. But there are 2 opinions about when they should be introduced.

Old-school pediatricians advise starting to give a drop of juice as early as 3 months of a child's life. They justify this appointment by the fact that even a small amount of the drink contains many minerals and vitamins that the baby lacks.

However, it is the high concentration that causes problems with the early introduction of juices.

Even such gentle juices as apple and carrot are stressful for the still unformed digestive system. In addition, problems from diarrhea to enzyme deficiency are not uncommon.

The first juices should be neutral, regardless of the time of introduction of complementary foods. For example, pear or apple. The first drinks always consist of one type of fruit, vegetable or berry, later you can prepare mixtures.

Juices from brightly colored berries and fruits should not be given as the first complementary foods, because cases of allergic reactions are not uncommon. For example, citrus, strawberry, cherry, pumpkin juice. Later, when the digestive system is able to digest these drinks, they can replenish the diet.

Any juice should be from fresh fruits, vegetables and berries. If you use juice created industrially, you should monitor its quality and expiration date.

Each new type of juice should start with a few drops. If there is no allergy, increase the dose. In no case should a child under one year be given more than 100 grams of juice.

It must be remembered that juice cannot replace milk or water.

How to make juice for babies

Juice for babies can be prepared independently either in a perfectly clean juicer, or using a plastic grater, strainer, gauze.

What the juice will consist of must be washed, then the peel and other excess components are removed, so that only the pulp remains.

In general, fruits, vegetables and berries do not need to be subjected to any pre-treatment. But, for example, it is better to soften the pumpkin for a couple or in the oven, it is recommended to soak the carrots for a couple of hours.

After that, the pulp must be squeezed out in a juicer or manually (in this case, some particularly hard components of the juice must still be grated).

No matter how you squeezed the juice, before use, you need to strain it and dilute it with cool boiled water.

apple juice for babies

Fresh apple juice is an indispensable source of trace elements (iron, potassium, boron, copper, molybdenum, chromium and others). It contains enzyme substances that improve the breakdown and digestion of food. Apple juice is able to normalize bowel function with the help of pectins.

Beet juice for babies

Beetroot juice is known for its laxative effect. For infants, the use of this drink in small doses (no more than 1 tablespoon per day in a diluted state) often becomes a salvation from constipation, normalizes the digestion process.

Carrot juice for babies

Carrot juice is not toxic at all and is good for babies. Vitamin A or, as it is also called, the growth vitamin is found in carrots in large quantities. This element is necessary for normal growth and development, resistance to infections, maintaining the elasticity and firmness of the skin and mucous membranes. Vitamin A is also essential for bone development and vision. Carrot juice is also high in vitamin C.

Even without added sugar, the drink has a pleasant taste, loved by almost every child. And the excellent digestibility of the child's body allows you to start complementary foods with it.

Prune juice for babies

Prune juice in a small amount is usually given to babies with constipation. The drink should be strongly diluted with water, or given in the form of compote, decoction. Also, prune juice can strengthen the immune system and become a source of many useful trace elements and vitamins.

Pear juice for babies

Pears almost never cause allergies in babies, so the juice from them can be given one of the first. Pear drink is rich in potassium, vitamins and trace elements. In case of severe constipation, such juice will not help, but fiber, which is part of all varieties, has preventive properties against constipation.

pumpkin juice for babies

Like all brightly colored berries, pumpkin can cause an allergic reaction in a child. Therefore, pumpkin juice should be introduced very gradually.

The usefulness of pumpkin juice lies in the content of rare vitamins K and T, which improve metabolic processes and contribute to the rapid removal of harmful substances from the body. In addition, pumpkin juice contains: vitamin K, pectin, carotene, potassium salts, iron, vegetable proteins and fats. The components of the juice improve the condition of the eyes and skin, strengthen the immune system, have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, and help fight inflammation.

The appearance of a small child in the house is a common reason for mom's worries about his good nutrition, especially when he grows up.

Considering apple juice safe for babies, they try to introduce it as early as possible, advocating the need to saturate the body with useful substances. But is everything so simple with this drink and when is it actually desirable to introduce it into the diet of a small child so as not to harm?

In modern pediatrics, the introduction of complementary foods is recommended no earlier than six months. If the baby is breastfed, then new products will first be a variety for him in the usual menu, rather than constant food. It is necessary to take this into account and in no case force the baby to eat if he does not want to.

The first "adult" food for a child should consist of light fiber, such as zucchini, broccoli, etc.

But fruit drinks should be introduced into the baby’s diet after he has tried cereals, fish, different types of vegetables, etc. It is believed that the early introduction of such a drink can provoke gastrointestinal diseases, allergies, and metabolic disorders. We will discuss the reason for this below.

Pros and cons of early introduction of juice into the baby's diet

At the time of the Soviets, all pediatricians recommended introducing the first complementary foods with apple juice into the baby's diet from the third month of life. It was the first thing the baby tried besides breast milk or formula. Of course, at first it was drops, the dosage increased over time and if the baby responded well to the product.

Doctors were sure that this practice prevents the development of anemia in infants, but today it is known that at this age iron is not absorbed from plant foods. This is a translation of the product and great harm to the child. Why is that?

Cons of early introduction of apple juice

The juice contains quite a lot of fruit acids, natural sugar and salts. These components can affect the gastrointestinal tract and other organs, causing discomfort and some diseases.

Apple juice to a newborn can be harmful due to the following factors:

• The immature gastrointestinal tract of the baby, which, up to six months, can normally accept only breast milk or adapted mixtures. Early introduction of juice in the future can contribute to the development of diseases such as pancreatitis, gastritis and others.
• Fruit drinks can provoke allergies, which may not occur immediately, but after a month or two. And it is not immediately clear what it is.
• The increased amount of sugar in fruit drinks is also not necessary for babies of this age, because due to the sweet taste, they may refuse healthy food and demand sweetness.

Of note, some infant nutrition researchers have concluded that early introduction of a fruit drink may cause weight or GI problems later in life (6-12 years).

In adolescence, when the body is rebuilt, it can generally lead to obesity. Therefore, industrial juices, which are indicated "from 3 months" should be questioned and introduced a little later than the specified period.

Benefits of apple juice in the diet

But do not be afraid of the above, if the introduction of an apple drink occurs correctly and at the right time, then the baby's reaction is normal. After all, fresh juices in small quantities can bring tangible benefits to a healthy child.

• If complementary foods with apple juice occurred when the child is already receiving basic nutrition in the form of cereals, vegetables, fish, meat, etc., then a fruit drink will be able to stimulate the enzymatic activity of the baby.
• An apple drink, diluted in a 1: 1 ratio, has a good effect on the gastrointestinal tract of a healthy child older than a year, so the drink can become a prevention of constipation.
• A large amount of iron in the drink will help maintain hemoglobin levels at the proper level and prevent anemia in babies.
• Also, apple juice saturates the body with vitamins, which is especially important for beriberi.

Recall again that all the positive aspects of fruit drinks are only suitable for healthy children.

If the child has problems with the gastrointestinal tract (weak immature mucosa, frequent swelling, gases, etc.), allergic reactions, then such a drink should be administered only after a year and when the baby feels good. From how many months apple juice is introduced to a healthy child and in what proportions we will consider below.

How to inject apple juice

Any complementary foods are introduced according to a certain scheme.

Baby 3 months old

Consider how to introduce apple juice at three months, if you still decide to do this for certain reasons. First, try to eat a regular green apple, if the baby does not have a reaction to it, then give the child a drop of juice. Then increase the dosage.

It is better to give a drink after the morning feeding.

Baby 4 months old

If you introduce apple juice from 4 months (modern pediatricians believe that only at this age the baby's stomach is ready to accept such food), then you need to start with five milliliters per day, in the morning.

baby 6 months old

But from how many months can you give apple juice to make the baby feel comfortable? The best option is six months. This is especially important for those babies who are on breastfeeding, since they have an easier absorption of mother's milk, therefore, their mucous and enzymatic systems mature somewhat later than those of artificial ones.

In the first week of introducing complementary foods, half a teaspoon is enough, in the second - a whole spoon, and in the third - two teaspoons. Thus, by the year the daily dose of apple drink should be about fifty to sixty milliliters.

When to give apple juice to a baby

As mentioned above, it is better to introduce complementary foods in the morning, after the first feeding with milk (mixture). So you can track the reaction to a new product by the evening and, if necessary, refuse it.

When should you stop giving juice?

If the baby feels discomfort in the stomach (complains of pain in the tummy, he has gas, strong rumbling), he has diarrhea or constipation, the baby spits up profusely, then it is better not to give the drink temporarily. Wait at least a month and then try again.

If the symptoms recur, it is better to postpone the introduction of apple juice until the child reaches one year of age.

quality of apple juice

When introducing any new complementary food, it is very important to pay attention to its quality. It is recommended to use juices specially designed for baby food. Look carefully at the composition of the product - in apple juices there should be nothing but juice. If there is sugar, starch or molasses, then it is better not to purchase the product.

Give your baby a clarified apple drink for the first time. If the product is well tolerated, then after a month or two you can carry juice with pulp. Concentrated fresh juices should be diluted with water, and homemade natural drinks should be introduced no earlier than one and a half years.

For store-bought drinks (this includes any that are not related to baby food), the introduction time is not earlier than three years.

As you can see, choosing apple juice for babies is quite simple, the main thing is to carefully read the label. Remember that in some cases it is better for babies who have not reached the age of one to make mashed apples from apples, and give ordinary water as a liquid. Do not rush to introduce new products, especially if the child does not really want it. Be healthy!

Unfortunately, the defenders of juice from 2-3-4 months, except for: “We drink - and everything is fine” or “Our mothers gave us water and we give water” ... they don’t give any other argument, and they ignore the arguments of modern medicine, referring to the experience of those same mothers and grandmothers, who once gave them juice, from 2-3 months.

Here we'll talk about them.

Why did our mothers give us juice

The technique of introducing complementary juice juice was especially common in the period before the 70s. And not only in Russia, but also in Europe and America. But already in the late 60s in America and Europe, the first recommendations appeared to limit such food activities for children.

From observations of children 6-12 years old who grew up on a wave of early copulation, doctors were able to get information that such methods can be fraught with long-term consequences. The danger lay in wait not only in the form of instant allergic manifestations, but also in the subsequent reactions of the maturing organism. The gastrointestinal tract of the child, already from birth, receiving unadapted food (and recommendations to give juices were from 3 weeks), worked in extreme conditions, “for wear and tear”. And at the time of physiological stressful periods (before adolescence and adolescence), he simply broke down corny, rewarding the child with a bouquet of diseases such as gastritis, pancreatitis, problems with the intestinal mucosa, etc.

And again, referring to that time, we recall that the main emphasis was on artificial nutrition (and at that time it was considered BETTER to supplement the child with a mixture, and the mother was recommended to use the services of a nursery as soon as possible to go to the factory) - the child needed additional food sources. That's just the principle of "lesser evil" has become relevant.

Yes, juices as the first complementary foods are harmful. But malnutrition due to the lack of breast milk, on a milk formula of an unbalanced composition from cow's milk or kefir, is more dangerous for a child. Nutrient deficiencies provoke severe developmental defects, while gastrointestinal problems firstly appear at a later age and secondly are potentially familiar and theoretically treatable.

And now the numbers
I will give an example on iron. More precisely on its content in various food sources suitable for the infant and the child's needs for it.

In breast milk, the iron content is negligible on its own, about 0.04 mg per 100 grams. But iron in breast milk has a unique bioavailability of 50-75%. No product in the world gives such. That is, the absorbed amount in mcg / 100 grams is about 20-30.

In modern adapted mixtures, the content of ferrous sulfate is about 0.2-0.4 mg / 100 grams (in enriched mixtures 0.6 mg / 100 grams). Taking into account its bioavailability (and this is about 20%), the absorbed amount is from 40 to 120 mcg / 100 grams.
According to the WHO, 20 mcg/100 g is sufficient to meet the needs of a child up to the age of 6-8 months on average. In mixtures in which there are no additional factors stimulating absorption, the iron content, as can be seen, is too high.

But in the milk formula that our mothers fed us, the iron content is two times less than in breast milk 0.02 mg / 100 g. Bioavailability is low - 10% ... and the amount of absorbed iron is only 2 μg / 100 g of the mixture.
That is, for a child who That time was on artificial feeding, the prevention of iron deficiency anemia was Very relevant. Because from the available food he received less than 1/10 of the required amount.

Juices acted as at least some alternative to solving such a problem. Really, at least some. Because it is impossible to offer solid food to a child who is not ready for complementary foods. Exceptionally fluid. So, juices… the iron content in fortified apple juice is about 0.4-0.5 mg/100 g. Bioavailability - 1-2%. That is, about 4 mcg / 100 g is absorbed.

Therefore, by the age of the physiological decrease in iron reserves in the body (about 4 months), a child who is fed with a poor formula should already have an ENOUGH amount of another source of iron - juice in the diet. At least at least these 100 grams of juice per day. But if you immediately give them to a child, he, excuse me, will be bent. Therefore, they were introduced as early as possible in order to stretch the period of addiction. Reduce stress effect.

Why was this recommendation so general?
During that period, artificial feeding dominated breastfeeding. That is why, based on the principle of lesser evil, guided by the good of the majority, this recommendation was universal. If there is any harm, it will be small, compared with the problems of a growth defect in a child in the first year due to poor nutrition with unadapted food.

The main trouble is that in the conditions of modern nutrition of babies, the advantages of introducing juice have lost their relevance. And when there is not even a dubious benefit, then what is left?

Juice is a very big irritant with a high acidity factor. The complete absence of fiber, but a deadly carbohydrate environment, due to sugars. The child's intestines simply cannot digest this yet, for the digestion of juice, additional enzymes are needed that the pancreas of a child does not produce in infancy. And it turns out that an irritating product lies in the intestines - sugar from juice. Up to a certain age, the mucous membrane of the baby is very perceptive and sensitive, molecules penetrate into the blood through its walls, and sugars begin to strongly irritate the mucous membrane, the body receives a signal to get rid of the aggressors as quickly as possible, the pancreas tries to form enzymes to break down juice carbohydrates. The intestine collects additional fluid to partially neutralize aggressive sugars and begins to contract, removing the irritant. Outwardly - quite quickly after the infusion of juice, the child may have a chair. But at the cost of a huge stress on the pancreas, mucous membranes and the body as a whole. At the same time, the necessary minerals and vitamins are washed out of the body, the child loses a lot of fluid. The carbohydrate component creates an ideal environment in the intestines for the reproduction of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic flora (candidiasis, staphylococcus), therefore, after copulation, thrush in the child's mouth is so frequent.

Juice- this is one of the most cruel methods of influencing the baby's body, therefore, before pouring juice into a 3-month-old baby, do not forget to ask yourself: "Why !?". It is better to drink this wonderful juice yourself than to spoil the child's health.

The earliest when juice can be introduced is from 1.6 years old, and better later, starting with green apple varieties. And best of all, if it is your squeezed juice and diluted with mineral non-carbonated water, in a ratio of 1: 1 (2) (1 part juice to 1 (2) parts water).
Freshly squeezed carrot juice is diluted in a ratio of 1:2 (3) (1 part of juice to 2 (3) parts of water). The first time the juice is introduced (2-3 months), the juice is given 1/4 cup a day, in the morning or at lunch, after that it is gradually brought to 1 glass a day, up to 5-7 years. Give juice diluted with water to children up to 5-7 ... years. But Baby juice, marked on the bottle “from 5 months”, if the child is not allergic, after 3 years you can not dilute it with water, if the child is allergic - continue to dilute until 5-7 ... years.

But it's better to cook compotes from dried fruits, and after a year and a half years and from fresh fruits and berries.
Can be made weak fruit drinks, for example: mash a spoonful of fresh cranberries, pour boiling water and add sugar to taste, cool. You can also give children's tea.

Do not rush to give your child production juices from unknown bullshit:

________________________
P.S.: Stupid comments like: "Oh God ...", "It begins ...", please by, I will delete.

I don’t even think about introducing my juices yet, I definitely won’t give them until 3 years old. Let fruits, berries, dried fruits and some vegetables chew like that. But compotes and fruit drinks of my own preparation, I have been giving since a year, as well as children's teas.

My loves very much children's tea "organic":

For the first time, the juice was tried at 3.2 years old, diluted with water in the proportion of 1 part of water: 1 (2) parts of juice, after about six months it stopped diluting it.

If your child is 4 to 6 months old, then you are already faced with an avalanche of feeding tips from loved ones and friends.

Some say that the most correct thing is to start complementary foods with juice, others advise introducing the baby to porridge first, and still others insist on vegetable puree. Which of them is right? When to start introducing new flavors to your baby and how to introduce juice into complementary foods? I propose to sort it out in order.

Juice in complementary foods - myth or reality?

Literally 20-30 years ago, pediatricians insisted that complementary foods with juice during breastfeeding should begin as early as 2 months. Formula-fed babies were encouraged to do so even earlier, at about 1 month. At the same time, our mothers prepared juices for the first feeding on their own from apples or carrots.

But today there is a different point of view on juice in complementary foods.

And all because, it turns out, juices contain acid, which negatively affects the baby's still fragile digestive system. Too early introduction of such drinks can result in various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, pancreatitis, etc.) in adolescence.

Attention! My deep opinion, as a consultant on complementary foods and correction of the child's appetite, is that it is better not to introduce whole juices into complementary foods until the age of 3 years.

Juices too affect children's fragile kidneys and can lead to the development of inflammatory diseases.

When to start feeding

The average age is 6 months.

1. The baby asks for food too often (breast milk or formula). This may indicate that he is not full and the usual portion is no longer enough for him;
2. The baby's weight has doubled since birth;
3. The child has learned to sit confidently;
4. The kid is interested in what adults eat. He may demand that you give him what is on your plate;
5. If a piece of solid food gets into the child's mouth, he does not seek to push it out with his tongue.

If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you can start introducing complementary foods. At the same time, it is very important that the baby is absolutely healthy and that you have not done any preventive vaccinations in the past few weeks.

Where to start?

The introduction of complementary foods with juices is the worst option that you can choose.

• To introduce the baby to adult food, it is better to use vegetable purees or cereals;
• If the child is prone to constipation or is gaining weight too actively, then it is better to start with vegetables. And for those crumbs who, on the contrary, are not gaining weight well or have an unstable stool, it is better to start complementary foods with cereals;
• Ideal vegetables for the first feeding are cauliflower, zucchini or broccoli. They are hypoallergenic products and gently affect the digestive tract of the baby (read the article on this topic: >>>).

It is necessary to start their introduction with any one vegetable.

To begin with, give a taste of the product on the tip of a teaspoon.

Important! Yes, I know that you want to feed your baby with complementary foods as quickly as possible, but you can’t do this. Rip off the digestive tract and earn an allergy.

We move smoothly, methodically and look at the reaction of the child.

• When choosing porridge, preference should be given to one-component and hypoallergenic, in which there is no gluten and lactose. This is buckwheat, oatmeal, rice or corn grits. Read the useful article: >>>;
• After 1-2 months, the child will be able to try meat puree and fermented milk products;
• After 9-10 months, fish should be introduced into his diet;
• And only after 1 year you can introduce carrot juice or juice from a green apple into complementary foods.

All of the above refers to the traditional complementary feeding scheme given by pediatricians. Usually there are still large volumes that the child must eat.

But let's be honest, in 10 years of work, I have never seen a baby who would eat 120-150 ml. vegetables or porridge for 1 feeding, and at the same time, after 1-2 weeks, he would not close his mouth and would not refuse complementary foods at all.

Therefore, I myself am with my children, and in teaching mothers who come to the course on complementary foods, I give a slightly different scheme for the introduction of complementary foods.

We successfully combine pediatric complementary foods, with its sequence of products, with pedagogical moments, in order to immediately accustom the child to clean and tidy behavior at the table.

You can learn this approach on the online course The ABC of Complementary Feeding: Safe Introduction of Complementary Feeding to Babies >>>

When can juices be given to children and in what volume?

Even if, for some reason, you started introducing complementary foods early, in no case should complementary foods with juices at 4 months become the norm.

Do not spoil the child's stomach and urgently cancel any juice.

The opinion about the benefits of juices for the child's body is greatly exaggerated. But indigestion and allergic reactions in crumbs after the early introduction of juices are very common.

Important! It is worth introducing juice into complementary foods no earlier than 1 year, and even later is better.

At the same time, it is desirable to dilute any juice with water, which will reduce the effect of acids on the delicate mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

Fruits as an alternative to juices

• If this thought does not leave you, then replace the juices with fruit purees. The amount of vitamins and other useful substances in them is much higher, besides, they are less aggressive for the still immature digestive system of the child;
• You can do this from 6-7 months. For the first fruit food, it is better to use a baked green apple or pear. After heat treatment, the amount of allergens in them will significantly decrease, but useful pectin will appear;
• A month later, you can introduce your baby to an apricot or plum that is grown in your area;
• But with citruses and other exotic fruits, it is better to wait up to 1 year, as they often cause allergic reactions.

Know! Fruit purees are introduced in the same way as all other products. For the first time, the crumbs can eat no more than half a teaspoon of the product. If within 2-3 days no negative reactions followed, then the amount can be gradually increased.

The introduction of complementary foods is a very responsible and individual matter.

It is better to initially do everything right and not bite your elbows, which disrupted the child's gastrointestinal tract and now he does not eat anything or is covered with an allergic crust.

Ludmila Sharova, breastfeeding and complementary feeding consultant,