Young parents always have a lot of questions - one of the relevant ones - when to introduce complementary foods? In 3 months? AT 4? After six months? Where to start, how much to give and how to cook?
Let's figure it out in order. Earlier, in the days of our mothers and grandmothers, pediatricians recommended the introduction of juices from three months old. The first juice was apple juice. And it was necessary to enter it literally drop by drop. Now, the vast majority of pediatricians consider this harmful and unacceptable. Juices at such an early age can cause allergies or problems with the gastrointestinal tract of children.
According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), complementary foods at 3 months are unacceptable, it should be administered from 6 months (if the baby is breast-fed, which is also recommended). So you give time to mature and strengthen the digestive system of the child. And it’s worth starting not with fruits, but with vegetables. By the way, if you introduce fruits first, and only then vegetables, the child may refuse to eat them - they are so tasty, and given that salt is not possible for such kids, it’s very tasteless. You can start with zucchini, then add potatoes, cauliflower, carrots - a little each product, no need to try to feed the child to the dump. He tries, learns new tastes. It is possible that he might not like something. Vegetable puree can be bought, but you can cook it yourself. It is recommended to cook vegetables for children in a double boiler - so all the useful elements and vitamins will remain in place, not boiled out. And the taste of vegetables prepared in this way is slightly different, which the child may also like.
According to research by some scientists, early feeding at 3 months may even cause obesity in the future.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is conducting research, which turns out everything new and new about early feeding. For example, that the introduction of juices up to 6 months may be the cause of destruction of baby teeth in the baby. And this, along with an upset stomach, problems with the pancreas and an upset digestive process. If you give juice, then from six months and very carefully - first half dilute with water. Only then give in pure form.
If parents cannot wait to introduce complementary foods at 3 months, you can also start with cereal or fruit puree - it is healthier than fruit, since fiber is present in it, and it neutralizes the aggressive effects of concentrated juice.
This all applies to healthy babies born on time. There are a number of indications in order to introduce complementary foods from 3 months. This is rickets, anemia, prematurity, underweight, inferiority of breast milk. If the baby is breast-fed or in some cases mixed, early feeding is also introduced.
Some doctors advise injecting a chicken yolk from about 3.5 months old. This is a highly controversial lure, however, not as aggressive as juices. If you decide to introduce the yolk, you need to give it to the baby crumbs - in the literal sense. Mix it with milk and give before meals. Gradually increasing the proportion of eggs in this mixture to about half the yolk.
Always complementary foods should be introduced in the morning to look at the possible consequences - allergies or indigestion. New products should be introduced in very small quantities - start with half a teaspoon, gradually increasing. We introduce the products one at a time, so that in case of an allergy, we understand what it arose. As a child learns a new product and in the absence of an allergic reaction to it, you can mix the components - for example, make zucchini with carrots and potatoes.
How often to introduce a new product? According to doctors, once every five days a week, not earlier. The child must get used to one taste.
Do not introduce a new product before and after vaccinations - about a week before and a week after. If the child falls ill - also refrain. Ask relatives if they have allergies. This is important, as the child may also have an allergic reaction. In this case, you must inform your pediatrician about the presence of allergies in the family. And, of course, study different points of view on feeding a baby at 3 months - so that the decision is conscious and serious.