2Nd foods for babies age

What It Is, When to Start, and Options to Try

Stage 2 Baby Food: What It Is, When to Start, and Options to Try

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Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD — By Rhona Lewis on September 25, 2020

Accompanying your child through the different stages of learning how to eat real food is an exciting journey. Sometimes, along with the sense of pride — Look, they polished off the whole jar! — you can feel a little confused. How are you supposed to navigate the milestones?

Let’s start at the beginning: What do the stages of baby food mean, anyway?

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your baby’s digestive system won’t make the leap from liquid to solid in one day either. That’s what the stages of baby food are for — to help your baby manage the mechanics of eating and to make the transition easier on your baby’s digestive system.

Defining the stages across the brands

While the different stages of baby food aren’t standardized (it would make your life easier if they were!), most popular brands more-or-less follow these four stages:

Stage 1: 4 to 6 months (watery puree of a single ingredient)
Stage 2: 6 to 9 months (thicker texture that is strained or mashed)
Stage 3: 10 to 12 months (mush that has soft, chewable, small chunks)
Stage 4: After 12 months (finger foods and small, soft pieces of foods you share from your own supper)

What is the difference between stage 1 and stage 2 food?

Stage 1 foods are pretty watery. They’re pureed into a smooth paste that can drip off a spoon easily, so stock up on your bibs. These foods are usually made of a single ingredient: oatmeal cereal, apple, carrots. Your baby will start off eating about half a teaspoon of this.

Stage 2 foods get more exciting. These are strained or mashed into a dense paste. They’re made with a combination of foods that can include legumes and even meats or fish. They may combine flavors, like fruit and veggie blends. Your baby’s appetite is growing and you’ll have to keep pace with bigger portions.

At around 6 to 9 months, your baby is probably ready to move on to stage 2 foods. Not every baby will stick to this schedule simply because every child is a world to their own.

Here are some signs that your child is ready to move on:

Tongue reflex: At around five months, your child will start losing their tongue thrust reflex and won’t immediately push out the food that you try to feed them.
More please: They’ll easily polish off the stage 1 foods and look hungry for more.
Variety: They’ll have eaten foods from all the food categories (vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, meat) and shown no allergy or intolerance.
Enjoyment: They’re managing spoonfuls of stage 1 foods easily, mouthing and swallowing happily.

At this exciting stage, feel free to give your baby most types of foods. By offering them a wide range of tastes and textures, you’re giving them a foundation for healthy eating habits — as well as making it easier for yourself. Keep in mind the following safety points:

Choking hazards: Avoid nuts, seeds, and popcorn at this stage. And make sure to slice round foods like grapes and hot dogs lengthwise.
No honey: Children younger than 12 months should not be given honey because it could lead to a botulism infection.
No juice: Follow AAP guidelines and stick with breast milk, formula or a little water and steer clear of juices.
Safe feeding: Always strap your child into their high chair and keep an eye on them while they’re eating.

And if you’re wondering about peanuts, here’s the scoop: A 2017 release from the National Institutes of Health suggests exposing children to peanut-containing foods as early as 4 months old. (Wait till 6 months for children with mild or moderate eczema.)

Surprised? Don’t be. A recent study suggested that Israeli kids rarely suffer from peanut allergies because they’re munching on Bamba, a peanut-based snack, from as early as 3 months. Talk to your doctor about suggested safe ways to incorporate peanut products into your little one’s diet.

What’s on the menu for stage 2 baby foods? Basically, you can go the store-bought or the homemade route. Or you can mix both depending on how much time you have. It’s up to you and your personal schedule.

Here are tasty ideas for both options.

Store-bought stage 2 baby food

Plum: These organic blends come in easy-to-transport pouches. Try pear, spinach, and pea, or banana and pumpkin.
Beech-Nut: Options are available in jars and pouches. Serve up some apples and bananas or pineapple, pear, and avocado.
Earth’s Best: Another organic option, in pouches or jars. Try sweet potato, barley, and garbanzo or pasta with tomato and white bean.
Gerber: A classic, whether served up from plastic tubs, jars, or pouches. Flavor combinations include peach mango and oatmeal or chicken noodle dinner.

Remember to monitor your little one while they’re eating. Pouches are handy, but the caps can be a choking hazard. Glass jars are at risk of breaking, so keep them out of baby’s reach. Your baby should always enjoy snacks and meals with attentive adult supervision.

Homemade stage 2 baby food

Cooking up a storm for your baby’s budding taste buds at this stage doesn’t have to be challenging. Here are a few recipes to get you going. (You can find even more baby food recipes here. )

Don’t shy away from spices and herbs: your baby will appreciate the added flavor, and the micronutrients in them will give their immune system a boost.

Apple, butternut, and carrot: Boil the ingredients until they test soft with a fork. Drain some of the water, but set it aside in case you need to thin the mixture. Sprinkle in a little curry and blend.
Blueberries and chickpeas: You can cook up your own chickpeas or use a prepared version to save time. Mix equal amounts of blueberries and chickpeas. Blend and add breastmilk, formula, or water to get the right consistency. You can also add in some rice for extra oomph and texture.
Salmon with roasted zucchini and fennel: Spray the salmon and vegetables with oil and broil for about 15 minutes. Add chopped parsley and blend. You can thin the mixture with breastmilk, formula, or water.

Enjoy this stage with your baby because it won’t be long before they move on to the next stages. And then, sooner than you think, you may be facing competition for that last slice of caramel-topped cheesecake.

Last medically reviewed on September 25, 2020

Parenthood
Baby
06 Months 1 Year

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Du Toit G, et al. (2015). Randomized trial of peanut consumption
in infants at risk for peanut allergy.
nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/nejmoa1414850
NIH-sponsored expert panel issues clinical guidelines to prevent peanut allergy. (2017).
nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-sponsored-expert-panel-issues-clinical-guidelines-prevent-peanut-allergy
Where we stand: fruit juice. (2017).
healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Where-We-Stand-Fruit-Juice.aspx

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Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD — By Rhona Lewis on September 25, 2020

When is a child ready to try a bit more texture?

Once your baby has mastered the art of slurping down smooth purees, it may be time to expand their culinary horizons with Stage 2 baby food. Your little gourmand isn’t quite ready to dine on a plate of spaghetti and meatballs just yet, but Stage 2 foods will give them the opportunity to sample new tastes, as well as consistencies.

Think your baby is ready to graduate onto the next stage of baby food? Here, parents and experts weigh in on Stage 2 baby food. Bon appetit!

What is Stage 2 baby food?

While the jarred Stage 2 baby food you find at the store is typically combinations of food (“sweet potato and chicken dinner”), it’s important to keep in mind this stage is more about the consistency of the food.

“While Stage 1 baby food is completely pureed, Stage 2 baby food has a bit more texture to it,” says Dr. Zulma Laracuente, a pediatrician in Alexandria, Louisiana. “The concept behind slowly transitioning baby from purees to thicker solids is to get them used to chewing and swallowing.”

Of course, every child develops at their own individual pace, so check with your child’s doctor for baby food recommendations during the first 12 months.

When to start Stage 2 baby food

The Stage 2 baby food age may vary based on when your infant started eating Stage 1 foods. The general age recommendation for Stage 1 baby food is between 4 and 6 months, so taking into consideration how long — and how well — your child has been eating these foods will help you determine if they’re ready to move up. According to Laracuente, babies are usually ready for Stage 2 between 6 and 8 months old — but make sure your little one has honed their Stage 1 skills before making the leap.

“Once your baby has done well with Stage 1 solids and has tried multiple foods, it is safe to advance to Stage 2 baby food,” says Dr. Melanie Custer, a pediatrician at at West Bend Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. “These foods usually have multiple ingredients, including some spices and are thicker in consistency.”

“These foods usually have multiple ingredients, including some spices and are thicker in consistency.”
DR. MELANIE CUSTER, PEDIATRICIAN

Signs baby is ready to start Stage 2 food

How do you know if your baby is nailing it with their Stage 1 foods and ready for the next step? Simply put, they’re eating and swallowing.

“As your baby’s oral skills develop and improve, you can move on to Stage 2 foods, which are purees with small chunks and texture,” says Jenifer Thompson, R.D., an advanced practice dietician at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

Thompson says in order to move on to Stage 2 foods, babies should be consistently taking the spoon in their mouth when you offer it to them, without spitting or pushing it back out.

“Once my baby was no longer grimacing or letting his food dribble onto his chin, I knew we were ready to move onto Stage 2 foods,” says mom of two Darcy McConnell of Garwood, New Jersey. “I actually have no idea how old he was when we made the switch since I based it off of how well he was eating!”

What Stage 2 baby foods to start with

It’s important to expose your child to a number of foods, most of which are safe at this point.

“By the time they are 7 to 8 months, babies should be eating a variety of foods from different food groups, including cereals, meat and other proteins, yogurt, cheese, vegetables and fruits,” says Thompson.

“Most foods can be prepared for any stage, so long as they’re texturally age-appropriate,” says Dr. Kristen Treegoob, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “When we think of Stage 2 baby food, we’re thinking of thicker purees with some mashable bits.”

Experts advise introducing as many different foods as possible during this stage of food development so your baby gets accustomed to them.

“While bananas, applesauce and peaches are good options and most babies like them, as they are naturally sweet, it is also important to try other foods that aren’t as common and popular, such as beets, rhubarb and asparagus, so they develop a taste for them,” says Custer.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer recommends delaying the introduction of allergenic foods, particularly peanuts. While it was once advised to wait until your baby was at least 10 months to introduce peanut-containing foods, the AAP now recommends giving babies with no known egg allergy or eczema, infant-safe forms of peanut between 4 to 6 months old. Babies with mild eczema should wait until at least 6 months, and for babies with severe eczema, speak to their doctor before giving them peanut-containing foods. (To find out if your baby has an egg allergy, they must be tested by their pediatrician.)

Which foods to avoid during Stage 2

Even though your little one is venturing into new food texture territory with Stage 2, you should still avoid giving them chunks and small pieces of food, which can pose a serious risk. (Food may be thicker at Stage 2, but it’s still all about the purees and mashes at this point.)

“Infants may have any food that is texture-appropriate for their developmental feeding stage, but it’s important to stay away from choking hazards, such as whole grapes, nuts and seeds,” says Treegoob.

“Infants may have any food that is texture-appropriate for their developmental feeding stage, but it’s important to stay away from choking hazards, such as whole grapes, nuts and seeds.”
DR. KRISTEN TREEGOOB, PEDIATRICIAN

Also, avoid giving your baby honey — raw or cooked — before the age of 12 months, as it may cause a botulism infection.

And finally, when it comes to your baby’s beverage, steer clear of juice. The AAP recommends parents eschew juice, which has “no nutritional benefits over whole fruit,” until at least 1. “At this point, it’s best to stick with breast milk, formula or the odd bit of water (1 to 2 ounces a day), which is mainly for introducing your baby to the skill of using a sippy cup,” says Thompson.

How to start Stage 2 foods safely

Baby should be sitting in a highchair when eating and never left alone. You’ll still be spooning food into your baby’s mouth at this point, but don’t be afraid to let your little one take a whirl at self-feeding in order to get in some practice using utensils.

“At around 9 months, we started letting our son try his hand at feeding himself in his highchair,” says mom of two Erin Henderson, of Waltham, Massachusetts. “It was a mess, but he obviously enjoyed the learning experience.”

Also, during the latter half of your baby’s Stage 2 stint, they may learn how to grab things with their thumb and forefinger and bring them to their mouth.

“Between 8 and 12 months, babies develop the pincer grasp ability and should be able to pick up small pieces of finger food, such as Cheerios or puffs,” says Thompson.

As your baby grows and hones their eating skills, they’ll cut down a bit on how much breast milk or formula they drink — but keep in mind, that should still be their primary source of nutrients.

“Most infants will naturally start to moderate their breast milk or formula intake once their solid intake increases,” says Treegoob. “Solid food may start to account for a significant source of nutritional intake closer to 7 to 9 months. At this time, parents may notice that their baby shows interest in smaller or less frequent bottle or breastfeeds. As long as their weight remains on track and baby is drinking enough milk to stay well-hydrated, there should be no need for concern. Infants typically take somewhere between 24 to 40 ounces of breast milk or formula between 4 to 6 months and 24 to 32 ounces from 6 to 9 months.”

According to the AAP, babies should be eating about 4 ounces of solids (about one small jar of baby food) at each of their meals. And if you’re wondering how long baby food lasts, experts typically recommend 24-48 hours in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Lastly, bear in mind that if at first you don’t succeed with a food, try, try again.

“At this age, if babies grimace when taking a bite or shake themselves, it is most often because of a texture issue, not the actual taste,” says Custer. “It is important to keep introducing these foods as it may take a baby up to 15 times to get used to a texture before you can say for sure he/she doesn’t like it. ”

Ready for the next stage?

Stage 3 baby food

First complementary foods - rules: how and when to introduce complementary foods while breastfeeding

09/20/2018

≈ 11 min read time

Choose the type of food that is best
When to introduce complementary foods
General rules for introducing complementary foods by timing
Home cooking or industrial products?
We introduce vegetables (vegetable complementary foods)
Feeding a child with porridge
Fruit puree: start complementary foods
Introducing fruit juices
Meat: first food
How to introduce meat supplements?
Chicken egg in baby food
How to solve the problem of refusal of complementary foods

When to start the first feeding? If the child has already had the first tooth and has awakened an interest in the food that he sees, and your pediatrician does not object to the introduction of complementary foods, then you can start. Let's learn the rules.

Let's see how the two main areas in complementary foods differ from each other: pedagogical and pediatric.

Pediatric complementary foods are the most common and recommended by pediatricians. According to this technique, the baby is offered special baby food, the first complementary foods are introduced according to the scheme, the order in which the products are introduced is important. At the same time, it is not recommended to abruptly replace breast milk with complementary foods. It is advised to introduce complementary foods from 4 to 6 months, the child is not entertained with food and is not forced to eat.
Pedagogical (or natural) complementary foods for infants are called so because this approach is based on the desire to arouse the child's interest in food, form healthy eating behavior, and teach him to behave at the table. Within the framework of this technique, there are no longer special feeding schemes.

Many nutrition consultants recommend a combination of these two approaches. We will talk about pediatric complementary foods.

According to the recommendations of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, it is recommended to introduce complementary foods in the range of 4-6 months. At this time, the growing body needs more and more vitamins and minerals every week, and the later introduction of complementary foods can cause a pronounced deficiency of some micronutrients. In addition, the enzyme system of the gastrointestinal tract of the child is already ready to accept new food, and he himself begins to show interest in food.

Our grandmothers said that a child is ready for solid food when you can knock loudly on a tooth with a spoon.

But it's important to remember the following:

during teething, the baby is busy with his feelings and his interest in food is reduced;
Complementary foods cannot be introduced before 4 months, because the baby's body is not capable of assimilating food other than breast milk or formula;
do not introduce complementary foods after 6 months to prevent nutritional deficiencies in the baby's diet;
Complementary foods should be introduced after consultation with a pediatrician.

Vegetable puree is introduced from 4-6 months. If the child has insufficient weight gain, frequent stools, then it is better to start introducing complementary foods with gluten-free dairy-free porridge.
No need to start the first complementary foods with fruits and juices: having become acquainted with sweet tastes, the baby may lose interest in vegetables and any other.
The second complementary food should be offered to the child 3 to 4 weeks after the first.
The same amount of time must pass before you offer your baby a third solid food.
Here's how to introduce basic foods into the diet: porridge, then vegetables and meat; porridge, then meat and vegetables; vegetables, then porridge and meat; vegetables, then meat and porridge.
Of course, during the introduction of complementary foods to a newborn, breastfeeding should continue, it is still in the first place.
The baby can try fruits and juices after the first or second complementary foods - but only as a treat, not the main meal.
It is advisable to offer the egg yolk to the baby when he is almost a year old.
Adapted sour-milk mixtures are a "children's" version of kefir, they can be given to a baby at 9 months.
How many times a day can a child be given complementary foods at 8-9 months? At this age, you can give him 3 servings of complementary foods per day, and the total weight of "adult food" at this age is 400 - 600 g per day.

Industrially produced cereals and purees give a 100% guarantee that the products have passed all stages of testing and are safe for the child. You can be sure that they do not contain heavy metal salts or pesticides, not to mention nitrates or GMOs. Therefore, cereals are great for the first complementary foods. But mashed potatoes that are prepared at home may contain harmful impurities, even if the original vegetables and fruits were grown on their own.

Trust only trusted manufacturers such as Agusha. From the First Spoon range of products, you can choose delicious and healthy dishes - in accordance with the age of the baby and his preferences.

What and in what order to introduce for complementary foods will be advised by your pediatrician, who knows everything about the development and health of your child and has enough experience to make recommendations.

Most often, as the very first feeding, children's nutritionists and pediatricians recommend vegetable purees or cereals. At the age of about 4 - 6 months, the baby's body is already ready to take the first puree food and get acquainted with new tastes. Therefore, vegetables, the puree of which is the least likely to cause allergies in infants, are traditionally considered the first "adult food" of babies. What are these vegetables?

The very first “test” products for breastfed babies in our latitudes are traditionally considered hypoallergenic zucchini and cauliflower, and then broccoli and pumpkin. The baby should be allowed to try complementary foods from zucchini no earlier than 4 months, exclusively in the form of a completely homogenized, that is, without pieces, mashed potatoes.

Safety is above all!

The ingredients used in the preparation of commercially produced baby purees are grown on the territory of specialized farms in environmentally safe places and undergo multi-stage testing, so such purees are the safest for the child.

The introduction of complementary foods is an important step in the development of the child, a serious stage of growing up. Children's vegetable purees "Agusha" have been carefully tested and are prepared in compliance with all safety rules - they introduce the baby to new tastes and help to smoothly switch to new food.

How much puree to give the baby:

First of all, it is worth determining whether the baby has an allergy to the selected product. Therefore, the first purees are given in the afternoon, after the morning breastfeeding.

The baby is offered very small portions at first - from 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per day.
For a week, the amount of puree is brought to approximately 7 teaspoons per day. Of course, only if the little gourmet liked this dish and the crumbs were not allergic to it!
Again, to avoid allergies, the little taster should try no more than one vegetable puree per week. At the same time, no matter how much a young mother wants to experiment with tastes, the first purees should be monocomponent, that is, consist of one ingredient.
In no case should mashed potatoes contain salt and sugar - such products should not be introduced into the diet for at least a year.

Only after the baby has approved all the main types of "safe" vegetables, you can start mixing them. In the event that one of the products is unequivocally rejected by the child, it is worth remembering about it in about a month: perhaps the grown-up baby will reconsider his attitude to the previously “rejected” vegetable. Plus, your little one just might not like the serving form or the amount of puree, so try again!

After the first vegetables (zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin), at the age of 7-8 months, potatoes, white cabbage, and carrots are introduced (with caution, with colic and bloating in a child).

The next after the main vegetables for baby food are potatoes and white cabbage (be careful with the introduction of these products into the diet for colic and bloating!), As well as carrots.

Vegetables that can cause allergies in babies (sometimes severe) traditionally include tomatoes, vegetables of bright colors, including bright orange pumpkin, carrots, celery, beets, and green peppers. Their children should be given carefully, completely excluded from the list for the first feeding, if there were cases of allergy to this product in the family.

Porridge is traditionally introduced as complementary foods after your baby has already become familiar with vegetables. This usually happens within a period of about six months and not earlier than 4 months. Complementary foods for a formula-fed or mixed-fed baby may consist of porridge a little earlier than “babies”.

With what porridge to start complementary foods? The fact is that the main protein of cereals, gluten, in babies can cause severe allergies and such unpleasant phenomena as pain and bloating.

So you need to start with gluten-free cereals: rice and corn grits. Buckwheat porridge is also very good for feeding.

Start with one type of cereal and then gradually, a week after the introduction of the first cereal, offer the baby a new one, even later you can switch to a mixture of cereals.
Preference should be given to cereals of industrial production - as they meet high safety standards, are made on the basis of proven raw materials and have the right consistency, ideal for a small organism.
Try starting with dairy-free porridge made with water or breast milk (and for formula-fed babies, the formula you normally feed them).
Complementary foods and constipation. If the child is prone to constipation, it is better to give up rice porridge, preferring buckwheat or corn. Dairy-free cereals are suitable for children with lactose intolerance or those prone to allergies.

It is worth starting to give porridge with small amounts - literally from half a teaspoon, gradually increasing the volume to 100 g per week. Moreover, first introduce one type of porridge and after about a week or two, move on to another.

To the question "What time can a child have semolina", we answer - because of the gluten content, it can be introduced not earlier than one of the recommended first cereals (buckwheat, rice), and not earlier than 10-12 months.

First, offer the baby monokashi and only then - cereals from several components or with additives. It should be borne in mind that millet, oats, barley groats and semolina contain gluten, which means that they can be given as complementary foods later than other cereals.

After the child has tried vegetables and cereals, he can get acquainted with fruit purees. The baby may like this taste so much that he will begin to refuse those dishes that he ate before. To avoid this, you can start by adding just a little fruit puree to your cereal or vegetables.

At first, babies are given apple and pear puree, because they are rarely allergic. Then you can offer the child a peach, apricot and plum.
Do not mix different flavors, let the baby try them one by one.
If mum cooks mashed potatoes at home, then there is no need to add sugar: baked fruits are already quite sweet.

Juices are offered to a baby at the age of 6 - 12 months. As the very first new taste, it is recommended to give babies one-component green apple juice without pulp. Such juice, as a rule, is the least allergenic. Children's nutritionists advise starting with commercially produced juices, since both the ingredients themselves and the production process of these products are very rigorously tested. The above applies to juices and compotes "Agusha", created from selected natural ingredients. They contain useful minerals (such as potassium), dietary fiber (in mashed potatoes and juices with pulp), which will be a valuable addition to the daily diet of the baby and mother.

Correct amount.

Giving a try to apple juice to the baby should be after morning feeding, one teaspoonful. If the little gourmet reacted well to his first "adult" drink, the next day the crumbs can be given one more spoonful of juice. During the second week, the volume of juice can be increased to 30 g per day, and the number of doses - up to 2 - 3 per day. By 12 months, a child's daily diet may contain about 100 g of a drink.

It is safest to start introducing juices into a child's diet with apple juice. Agusha clarified apple juice has been clinically proven to be a hypoallergenic drink. The entire product line of Agusha. The first spoon" was created specifically for the first complementary foods. They are made from natural ingredients and undergo strict quality control, so you can be sure that you will choose the right first food for your baby.

2-3 weeks after apple juice, the child can be given other one-component juices without pulp: pear, banana, peach, apricot, plum, pumpkin. These products should not contain sugar, which is not recommended for infants. If the baby perceives the new product well, then his menu can be varied with juices from cherries, black currants.
After another 2-3 weeks, juices from several ingredients can be introduced: apple - pear, apple - pumpkin, apple - apricot, etc. Juices with pulp - apple, apricot, peach, plum - contain dietary fiber and are able to participate in maintaining bowel function. Kids love their thick and rich taste!
Be careful with juices from fruits, vegetables and berries that are allergens: strawberries, citrus fruits, raspberries, tomatoes - they are introduced into the diet of children not earlier than a year. If, after drinking any juice, the baby has an allergic reaction (diathesis, rash, urticaria), then it should be immediately excluded from the diet.

Meat complementary foods can be introduced into the baby's diet no earlier than 6 months. Meat complementary foods are, first of all, the main source of protein in the diet of a child. From 100 g of meat, he receives 14 - 16 g of protein containing a complete set of essential amino acids. Plus iron, zinc, some B vitamins.

The first meat foods are rabbit, turkey, chicken. After them, you can enter veal, beef, horse meat. Today it is believed that it is better to use industrial-made meat purees, as these canned foods undergo strict quality control and, accordingly, are safe for the baby. Refrain from buying meat in unfamiliar places.

Beef is rich in protein and iron, contains minerals including phosphorus and potassium, as well as some B vitamins. Babies allergic to cow's milk can sometimes develop an allergy to beef protein, in which case it can be replaced with other types of meat for the first feeding - rabbit or turkey.
Compared to other types of meat, rabbit meat contains the maximum amount of protein - about 20%, and the proportion of fat, on the contrary, is minimal - about 15%. In addition, rabbit meat is very juicy and tender - and kids adore it.
Turkey is low in calories and low in fat, but its meat is very nutritious.
Chicken, according to the standards of modern pediatrics, should not be given to children before a year. An exception may be industrial-made baby puree or home-breeding poultry meat purchased from a trusted place.
As for pork, this meat has a very high fat content and is therefore not suitable for children's diets. It is better to wait with the introduction of pork into the children's diet until 2.5 - 3 years.

Rules for introducing meat complementary foods:

When introducing meat into complementary foods, you must adhere to the following rules:

You need to introduce meat from half a teaspoon, gradually bringing the weekly weight up to 30 g. It is worth leaving the amount unchanged for several days, checking the child's reaction to a new product. After all, we need not only to feed the baby, but also to avoid allergies!
Since the mother already knows which vegetable purees the child eats with a bang, they can be mixed with the first meat puree. So the baby will be “clearer” to the new food.
At 8 - 8.5 months, the baby's diet can contain up to 50 g of meat, and by 1.5 years the amount of meat in the daily diet can already reach 80 - 90 g, that is, 560 - 630 g per week.
Rabbit meat is considered ideal for children prone to allergies, as well as those experiencing digestive problems.
Toddlers love a homogeneous consistency - after all, pieces of food are still quite unusual for them. Homemade puree has a coarser "structure" and is often rejected by small gourmets.

Proper nutrition for children who refuse meat

For a child under 1 - 2 years old, meat is not a mandatory component of the diet. If the baby is gaining weight poorly, you do not need to look for reasons solely in an insufficient amount of meat: this can be influenced by heredity, the functions of the endocrine system, a lack of trace elements in the body, and a number of other reasons. It happens that children under one year categorically refuse meat and do not want to eat it in any form. It's not a disaster.

If your baby refuses meat, wait one to two weeks before introducing this food and then try again.
If it is impossible to introduce meat into the baby's diet, it is necessary to include cottage cheese, milk porridges in the menu, and after 9 months - kefir and cheese, which are also a rich source of protein.

Whatever choice your little one makes, whether or not he "sets" for meat in his diet, listen to his desires, don't persist with new foods and don't insist on trying them. Remember that all children are different and each develops at its own pace.

Let's get acquainted with one of the most controversial products in the children's menu. Often, mothers are afraid to introduce eggs into the baby's diet because of the risk of allergies. At the same time, many believe that this is the most important complementary food of the first year of life.

Useful properties of eggs

Without eggs, breakfasts would not be as cozy, birthday cakes would not be as delicious, and children's diets would not be as interesting. Eggs are very nutritious and have a high energy value.

The proteins and fats they contain are well absorbed by the body.
Eggs are a source of trace elements necessary for children.
The yolk contains an impressive amount of vitamin D, which is so necessary for the growth of the baby. It helps to absorb calcium, thus participating in the formation of teeth and bones.
A valuable component of the protein is lysozyme, which has a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory effect.

For the first time, your baby can try the pureed yolk with Agusha porridge. Take a few grains of hard-boiled yolk, add 0.5 - 1 teaspoon of your favorite Agusha porridge and serve from a spoon.

How to introduce eggs into complementary foods

If at 7 months your baby has already become acquainted with some vegetables and cereals, you can offer him just a few grains of hard-boiled yolk, mixing it with already familiar complementary foods. By 8 months, you can increase this amount to ¼ of the yolk at a time, and by his first birthday, the child can already eat half the yolk.

If you notice even the slightest hint of an allergic reaction in a child, then the yolk should be completely excluded from the diet. Unfortunately, allergy-prone children sometimes have to wait over 2 years to try their first egg.

Egg white begins to be introduced into the diet after 1.5 years. However, if you have any doubts that the baby will respond well to a new product, it is better to wait until the age of 2 years with the introduction of protein.

Rules for selecting and preparing eggs:

The main rule is only fresh eggs.
Before you start cooking for your baby, wash the egg well with a sponge or brush under running water, removing all dirt from the shell.
Wipe with a cloth or paper towel and leave for a while at room temperature before cooking.
Babies up to a year should boil eggs in boiling water for up to 10 minutes, and then put them under running cold water.
If you cook an egg over high heat, the protein will become denser than the yolk, and when you cook over low heat, the opposite is true.
Do not offer your baby boiled eggs that have been refrigerated.
Buy eggs only from a trusted manufacturer.
Raw eggs are absolutely contraindicated for baby food! They may contain salmonella bacteria.
It is necessary to completely exclude eggs of waterfowl (ducks, geese) from the child's diet, as they can be infected with pathogens of dangerous infections.

Allergic children often take quail egg yolk well - it can be introduced into the diet at the age of about a year. Therefore, quail eggs can be an excellent alternative to chicken eggs, and they can also be included in the usual children's meals. Quail eggs are richer in vitamins and nutrients than chicken eggs, however, during heat treatment, their beneficial properties become almost identical.

Salmonella is rare in quail eggs, as their thick shell membrane prevents the penetration of this pathogenic bacterium. Also, due to the high body temperature, quails are resistant to infectious diseases, so they are kept without vaccination.

The time to get acquainted with the "adult table" has already come, but the kid still refuses to take this issue seriously? He throws himself and spits, screams and turns away from the dishes lovingly prepared by his mother? Let's try to figure out what's going on.

First, do not worry: almost everyone faces this problem. Some babies from the very first spoonful of complementary foods "go into protest." For others, the initial interest in food is replaced by the search for "new forms" of its use. Still others may even be truly scared of an unfamiliar product. Try to listen to what the baby is telling you with his actions, and make a decision based on this.

If the baby refuses the bottle and spoon from the very beginning. Maybe he's just not ready yet. Be patient and in no case do not force the child to eat when he does not want to. Place him in a high chair or in your arms when the whole family is at the dinner table - let the baby show interest in the spoon and the contents of the plates before you give him his own dinner set. It also happens that, flatly rejecting the bottle, the baby happily tries to drink from a straw or from a children's drinking cup. Or refusing vegetable puree, the baby reaches for pieces of the same vegetables. Try different options, for sure you will find something that you can interest your baby. Well, if he continues to resist, postpone attempts for a week or two, the right moment will definitely come.
If a child tries some foods but violently refuses others. Treat the little rebel with understanding, because for the first time he had the opportunity to study his tastes and declare them to others. Follow a feeding schedule, but don't be too rigid. Some foods not loved by the baby can be “skipped” and introduced a little later (most importantly, not earlier!) Of the recommended age. Every month, the baby’s diet expands, you can try new recipes: make cocktails from your favorite and unloved purees, add vegetables and fruits to cereals and even fermented milk shakes. In any case, try to follow the same eating rituals every time and introduce the baby to a new dish only when he is in a calm atmosphere and good mood. And do not abuse sweet foods, fruit purees and children's cookies, it is better to start with neutral flavors (vegetables, cereals, dairy products). By the way, do not forget about the current WHO recommendations regarding the timing of the introduction of complementary foods: now the recommended age is 4-6 months, regardless of the type of feeding the baby (subject to sufficient weight gain).
If the child uses food for entertainment. For a small child, food is the main way of knowing the world, and also an important channel of communication. Scattering food all over the kitchen, smearing it on the face and table, splashing from the drinker, the baby not only explores new substances, but also observes the reactions of others. If his actions turn into an active reaction on the part of adults, it is highly likely that next time he will want to try this “method of influence” again. Therefore, try to keep a reasonable middle ground in this matter and follow the same pattern of actions: do not scold the child and in no case punish, but calmly and confidently take away food from him if he indulges, and eliminate (perhaps together with the child) mess.
If the baby has tried a new food well, but suddenly reacts by screaming and crying to the new food. In the world of children, there are many inexplicable things for adults. The baby may be frightened by something that seems familiar to us. A large raspberry may seem like a caterpillar, a bunch of mashed potatoes may reveal the smile of an unknown creature, and the smell of a new dish may remind you of some kind of negative experience. Or maybe he just has a stomach ache. Tiny is still too small to explain his feelings. Be calm about his reaction and do not insist on continuing the meal if the child cries and screams.

Parents, like kids, should take the process of nutrition a little less seriously at first. Let your child tinker with curds, purees and pieces of fruit to get to know and “make friends” with unknown foods; the main thing is that this happens in a different environment and with other rituals than eating. The child should know that although the process of tasting new foods is terribly interesting, play and food are still different things. And of course, be patient - your young gourmet will definitely learn good table manners and, perhaps, even invent gourmet dishes himself. How to get your child interested in food

Do 'tastings' of new foods only when your baby is healthy and in a good mood.
Particular attention should be paid to the condition of his tummy. If the child suffers from colic or indigestion, new complementary foods should not be introduced.
Let your baby try a new product not on the first, but on the second or third feeding (in the morning) before offering breast or infant formula.

Bon appetit to your baby!

Article on our channel Yandex Zen

References

Tutelyan V. A., Baturin A. K., Kon I. Ya., Keshabyants, E. E., Starovoitov M. L., Safronova A. M., Gmoshinskaya M. V. The nature of nutrition in infants and young children in Russian Federation: the practice of introducing complementary foods. Moscow: Collective of Authors Publishing House, 2009.
Goryacheva O. A. Cereal complementary foods. Its types and role in the nutrition of an infant. Article from the journal "Russian Bulletin of Perinatology and Pediatrics", 2011.
Fayzullina R. A., Samorodnova E. A., Pikuza O. I., Shoshina N. K. Nutrition of young children. Kazan: KSMU Publishing House, 2014.

WHO recommendations for the introduction of complementary foods

08.08.2019

Readiness of the child to complementary foods According to the WHO recommendation, existing for 2018, it is optimal to introduce complementary foods to an infant at 6-8 months. Until six months, the baby's gastrointestinal tract is still not sufficiently formed, all the necessary enzymes are not produced for the assimilation of food other than mother's milk or formula. And by 9-10 months, the child can already form stable stereotypes of eating only liquid food, and overcoming them will be painful and difficult for the baby.

Thus, WHO defines the following signs of a child's readiness for the introduction of complementary foods: the maturity of the digestive system; extinction of the solid food ejection reflex; the appearance of the first teeth, making it possible to chew; the readiness of the baby to be stable in an upright position; emotional readiness for new tastes and sensations.

Complementary feeding system WHO has developed recommendations for three complementary feeding options: cereals, vegetables, and meat.

Fruit complementary foods are not recommended for cereals and vegetables. This is due to the fact that up to 8-9 months the gastrointestinal tract of the baby is not ready for the absorption of raw fruits and fruit juices. It is vegetables and cereals that will populate the intestines with the necessary bacteria for the absorption of fruits.

Kefir, according to the WHO, is not considered complementary foods because it is not a solid food. The WHO complementary feeding scheme includes kefir only as an additional food from 8 months. The introduction of cow's milk is recommended by WHO only from 12 months.

Any complementary feeding scheme assumes that portions of complementary foods will systematically increase from half a teaspoon to 100-200 g. The first dishes for complementary foods are prepared exclusively with one-component. Each next component is introduced only after complete addiction to the previous one (6-7 days).

Product sequence

The following sequence of introduction of complementary foods is proposed.

Vegetables at 6 months.
Porridges on the water (oatmeal, buckwheat, corn) at 6.5 - 7 months.
Fruit puree, yolk at 8 months.
Milk porridge at 8-9 months.
Meat puree at 9 months.
Meat by-products at 9-10 months.
Kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt at 9-10 months.
Fish at 10 months.
Juice at 10-12 months.
Berry puree at 12 months.
Meat broths at 12 months.

The introduction of vegetable oil (olive, sunflower) in puree and porridge is allowed from 6 months: a scheme with 1 drop with a gradual increase to a volume of 1 teaspoon. The introduction of butter begins at 7 months: the scheme is from 1 g to 10 g in porridge.

For formula-fed babies, the first feeding schedule is similar, with a few exceptions. For these babies, it is better to introduce complementary foods from 5 months, because the milk mixture does not give the small body all the “building material”. The introduction of complementary foods differs only in terms: vegetable purees and cereals are introduced a month earlier.

First cereals

If the child's weight is significantly less than normal, WHO recommends starting complementary foods with non-dairy cereals. For babies, cereals are prepared only with non-dairy, unsalted, semi-liquid, absolutely homogeneous in consistency. The first cereals are prepared from cereal flour (the sorted and washed cereals are carefully ground and crushed).

The following sequence of introduction of cereals is proposed: buckwheat, rice, corn, oatmeal, semolina. It is recommended to cook semolina porridge only once a week, because it contains practically no nutrients, but it is rich in gluten, which can cause problems in the intestines. Proportion for the preparation of the first porridge: 5 g of cereal flour per 100 ml of water. After slightly cooling the finished porridge, chop again. In the finished porridge, you can add 1-2 drops of vegetable oil or a little expressed breast milk.

From 9 months, the baby's nutrition system involves multicomponent cereals, from products already well known to the child. You can already add vegetables and fruits familiar to the baby to cereals. At 9 months, it is allowed to cook barley and millet porridge for babies. And by 10-11 months, cereals on the water will be a great addition to meat and fish meatballs and steam cutlets.

Vegetable food

The first purees are made from one vegetable.

The order in which vegetables are introduced into baby food suggests the following order: zucchini, cauliflower, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, green peas, and beets. These vegetables are introduced within 6-9baby months. After 1 year, you can give your child cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, sweet peppers, white cabbage. After preparing the puree, make sure that the mass is completely homogeneous, there are no fibers and small particles, the consistency is semi-liquid. Don't salt. Add 1-2 drops of vegetable oil or expressed milk.

If the child refuses vegetable complementary foods, cancel this product for 1-2 weeks. Try to temporarily replace it with another and return to it after a while.

Meat supplements

From 9 months old, the first meat purees are recommended for babies. The first courses are recommended to be prepared from lean meats: rabbit; quail; turkey; chicken.

Complementary foods for a 6-month-old baby are recommended to be introduced in the morning. This will allow you to track the child's reaction to an unfamiliar product before a night's sleep: is there a rash, intestinal disorders, anxiety in the baby, profuse regurgitation. It is better to give vegetables or porridge first, and then saturate with breast milk or formula. Gradually, porridge and a vegetable dish will replace one full meal.

2Nd foods for babies age

What It Is, When to Start, and Options to Try

Defining the stages across the brands

What is the difference between stage 1 and stage 2 food?

Store-bought stage 2 baby food

Homemade stage 2 baby food

How we reviewed this article:

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When is a child ready to try a bit more texture?

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How to start Stage 2 foods safely

Ready for the next stage?

First complementary foods - rules: how and when to introduce complementary foods while breastfeeding

Contents

How much puree to give the baby:

After the first vegetables (zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin), at the age of 7-8 months, potatoes, white cabbage, and carrots are introduced (with caution, with colic and bloating in a child).

Proper nutrition for children who refuse meat

Useful properties of eggs

How to introduce eggs into complementary foods

Rules for selecting and preparing eggs:

WHO recommendations for the introduction of complementary foods

Product sequence

First cereals

Vegetable food

Meat supplements

Learn more

2Nd foods for babies age

What It Is, When to Start, and Options to Try

Defining the stages across the brands

What is the difference between stage 1 and stage 2 food?

Store-bought stage 2 baby food

Homemade stage 2 baby food

How we reviewed this article:

related stories

Read this next

When is a child ready to try a bit more texture?

What is Stage 2 baby food?

When to start Stage 2 baby food

Signs baby is ready to start Stage 2 food

What Stage 2 baby foods to start with

Which foods to avoid during Stage 2

How to start Stage 2 foods safely

Ready for the next stage?

First complementary foods - rules: how and when to introduce complementary foods while breastfeeding

Contents

How much puree to give the baby:

After the first vegetables (zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin), at the age of 7-8 months, potatoes, white cabbage, and carrots are introduced (with caution, with colic and bloating in a child).

Proper nutrition for children who refuse meat

Useful properties of eggs

How to introduce eggs into complementary foods

Rules for selecting and preparing eggs:

WHO recommendations for the introduction of complementary foods

Product sequence

First cereals

Vegetable food

Meat supplements

Learn more

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