Baby feed for 3 months old
Feeding Your 1- to 3-Month-Old (for Parents)
During your baby's first 3 months, breast milk or formula will provide all the nutrition needed. Doctors recommend waiting until your baby is about 6 months old to start solid foods. Some babies may be ready for solids sooner than 6 months, but wait until your baby is at least 4 months old.
What Changes Should I Expect?
As your infant grows, feeding will change. Babies will start drinking more milk during each feeding, so they won't need to feed as often and will sleep longer at night.
Your baby's appetite will increase during growth spurts. Continue to feed on demand and increase the number of feedings as needed.
Your infant also will become more alert as the weeks go by, cooing and smiling. So there will be more interaction between you and your baby during feedings.
The following are general guidelines, and your baby may be hungrier more or less often than this. That's why it's important to pay attention to your baby's signals of being hungry or full. A baby who is getting enough might slow down, stop, or turn away from the breast or bottle.
Breastfeeding: How Much and How Often?
As babies get older, they will start to breastfeed less often and sleep for longer periods at night. Your infant probably is eating enough if he or she:
- seems alert, content, and active
- is steadily gaining weight and growing
- feeds six to eight times per day
- is wetting and soiling diapers on a regular basis
Babies might not be eating enough if they:
- don't appear satisfied
- cry constantly
- are irritable, even after feeding
- are not making wet diapers
Call your doctor if you're concerned your baby isn't eating enough.
A few weeks after birth, breastfed babies tend to have fewer bowel movements (BMs, or poop) than they did before. At around 2 months of age, your baby may not poop after each feeding, or even every day. During growth spurts, you may notice that your little one wants to feed more often. This frequent nursing sends a signal to make more milk. Within a couple of days, supply and demand will get into balance.
Babies who get breast milk only should get vitamin D supplements within the first few days of life. Other supplements, water, juice, and solid foods aren't usually needed.
Formula Feeding: How Much and How Often?
Babies digest formula more slowly than breast milk, so if you're bottle-feeding, your baby may have fewer feedings than a breastfed infant.
As babies grow, they can eat more at each feeding and may go for longer stretches between feedings. You'll also notice that your baby is starting to sleep longer at night.
During the second month, infants may take about 4 or 5 ounces at each feeding. By the end of 3 months, your baby may need an additional ounce at each feeding.
It's easy to overfeed a baby when using a bottle because it easier to drink from a bottle than from a breast. Make sure that the hole on the bottle's nipple is the right size. The liquid should drip slowly from the hole and not pour out. Also, resist the urge to finish the bottle when your baby shows signs of being full.
Never prop a bottle. Propping a bottle might cause choking and it increases the chances of getting ear infections and tooth decay.
Should I Worry About Spitting Up?
It's normal for infants to "spit up" after eating or during burping. Spitting up a small amount — usually less than 1 ounce (30 ml) — shouldn't be a concern as long as it happens within an hour of feeding and doesn't bother your baby.
You can reduce spitting up in these early months by:
- feeding before your baby gets very hungry
- keeping your baby in a semi-upright position during the feeding and for an hour after
- burping your baby regularly
- avoiding overfeeding
- not jostling or playing vigorously with your baby right after a feeding
If your baby seems to be spitting up large amounts, is spitting up forcefully, is irritable during or after feedings, or seems to be losing weight or is not gaining weight as expected, call your doctor. And if your child has a fever or shows any signs of dehydration (such as not wetting diapers), call the doctor right away.
Call your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about feeding your infant.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: November 2021
3-Month-Old Baby: Milestones, Weight and Sleep
Life with a 3-month-old baby is all about settling into the parenting journey by establishing routines and getting to know your little one. There’s still some uncharted territory, but you may be feeling more confident in your abilities as a parent and excited about what’s to come with each passing day. Here, we’ll highlight some of the 3-month-old baby developmental milestones, answer some common questions about life at this stage, and reassure you that, although you may be short on sleep, you’re doing great!
Baby Development Milestones
There’s a lot happening this month as your baby grows and becomes more aware of their physical self and the world around them. Here’s a look at some of the developments you may observe.
Growth and Physical Development: Stronger by the Day
Thanks to developing bones and muscles, your baby is now able to stretch out their body, showing you just how long they are. On average, they’re probably growing about 1 to 1 1/2 inches per month and gaining about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. Keep in mind that every baby is unique, and your baby’s growth may differ from these estimations.
Your 3-month-old baby is slowly gaining more control over their body and the way they move. As a newborn, many of their movements were involuntary reflexes, but now they may start to be more intentional as they move their head, hands, and feet, for example.
With their neck strength increasing, soon your baby may be able to hold their head up independently and look at people and things in their field of vision. At the same time, you may notice your baby begin to reach for objects nearby or follow moving objects with their eyes as their vision improves.
Senses: Building Blocks of Communication
There’s a lot to discover, and your 3-month-old baby is learning to take it all in, bit by bit. Your baby’s vision at 3 months is improving, and they’re now more aware of circular shapes and patterns, including spirals and curls. Faces, especially yours, are among their favorite sights.
When it comes to hearing and speech, your baby has learned to associate your voice with comfort and love. Now, they’re likely becoming more aware of your tone and emphasis on certain words, and they’ll try to mimic those sounds.
At 3 months old, your little one is learning that conversations are a two-way process and picking up other concepts of communication. Watch as your baby takes in your delighted reaction to their babbles and their own delight in your singing or reading to them, for example.
Movement: A Full-Body Workout
At around this time, most babies’ movements become more deliberate, and you’ll probably start to see some exciting developments in your little one’s motor skills. Stretching their body out helps to strengthen their leg muscles, and this is just the preparation they need to be able to roll over. Rolling over probably won’t happen for another two or three months, but they’re getting ready!
Have you tried placing your baby on their feet while supporting them under their arms? You may notice they’re able to flex and straighten their legs on their own, which is great preparation for standing. Try letting your baby bounce themself in this position and see how proud they are of this new ability.
You can help encourage your baby’s movement by providing daily tummy time sessions, handing toys to them, and letting them grasp at objects hanging from an infant gym or playpen. These activities can help your 3-month-old baby with motor development, hand-eye coordination, and other important skills.
And, it’s not only your baby’s legs that get a workout this month. Your 3-month-old baby can now open and shut their hands to grasp things, like toys or your fingers. By now, they’ve likely gained slightly better control of their arms, so they can attempt to reach for objects and may try to bat at something that catches their eyes. Your baby has probably also gotten more successful at bringing their hands to their mouth, so it’s time to be extra careful about what they may be able to get their hands on.
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Personality: Your Baby’s First “Conversations”
Watching a baby’s personality emerge is one of the many joys of parenthood. Have you noticed your baby is smiling more and responding to your voice? That’s great! It’s likely that they really enjoy playtime with you and other people, and they’re now able to express their enjoyment with their face and whole body. They may even start to imitate some of your movements and facial expressions. If this isn’t happening yet, or if you’re wondering what a 3-month-old baby “should” be doing, remind yourself that all babies develop in their own way and on their own timeline.
Your little one may now be having “conversations” with you, though these mostly consist of back-and-forth exchanges of sounds, smiles, and gestures. These little “chats” you have with your baby are not just fun but also help build their trust in you and boost their self-esteem. If you have other children in your household, you may notice your baby is increasingly interested in them. At this age, babies often have favorite people and become quite curious about other little ones.
Babies make their needs known in different ways, and as a parent, you’ll get to know your own baby’s subtle (and not-so-subtle) cues that they need something. The ways they communicate with you are important parts of their personality and temperament.
Eventually, you’ll get to know your baby’s urgent needs by the way they cry or from their body language, and you’ll learn to distinguish these cries and gestures from one another. Your baby’s cries of hunger will likely sound and look different than their cries of pain. Similarly, you’ll get to know when they’re simply fussy, or when a change of activity or favorite toy can calm them.
Activities for Supporting Your 3-Month-Old Baby’s Development
Your baby’s healthcare provider will share a variety of ways you can help foster your 3-month-old baby’s development. Many of these suggested activities will encourage movement and help your baby master the skills they will need to roll over, sit, and hold their head up, whereas others will promote cognitive and sensory development.
Try the following strategies and activities to help support your 3-month-old baby’s development:
Practice tummy time. With you close by, place your baby on their stomach on a play mat or blanket for short stretches of time to gain more control over their legs, arms, back, head, and neck.
Promote hand-eye coordination. Encourage your baby to grasp for small objects like toys or your fingers. They’ll need this skill as they learn to bring their hands to their mouth successfully.
Aid visual development. Your baby’s distance vision, color vision, and tracking skills are all improving during this month. Help them along by introducing stimulating colors, patterns, and textures for them to enjoy in the form of toys, books, colorful mobiles, play mats, and other activities.
Feeding Your 3-Month-Old Baby
Three-month-old baby feedings may become less frequent than they were in the early newborn days. Whether your baby’s nourishment comes from breast milk alone, or from formula, or from some combination of the two, most babies this age can consume a larger amount of milk at each feeding than they were able to in the previous two months.
So, how much formula or how many ounces of breast milk might your 3-month-old consume? It’s now about 5 to 6 ounces on average. And how often does a 3-month-old eat when either breastfed or formula-fed? Their feedings will be less frequent, about 6 to 8 feedings in a 24-hour period.
Since every baby is unique, the amount of milk your little one consumes and their feeding frequency and schedule may differ from the average.
Tracking Wet and Dirty Diapers
Tracking diapers is a good way to gauge if your baby is getting enough to eat. Their stools may be more solid now and occur less often. As a newborn, your baby may have passed a bowel movement after every feeding, but your 3-month-old baby may only pass one once per day, or even once every two or three days. So, how many wet diapers might your 3-month-old produce per day? In general, you’ll know they’re feeding well when they produce around six wet diapers per day.
As you’ve no doubt noticed, your baby’s going through lots of diapers. Download the Pampers Club app, if you haven’t already, to turn all those diapers into cash back.
How Much Sleep Does a 3-Month-Old Baby Need?
At this point, your 3-month-old baby’s sleep schedule may be going through some changes. All that growing they’ve been doing means that they’re able to eat more during the day and sleep more during the night. You may be wondering, should you wake your 3-month-old baby to feed? At this stage, it’s possible that your baby may require fewer or no night feedings.
And, what about your 3-month-old baby’s nap schedule? They may take two or three naps during the day, followed by a longer stretch at night. At this age some babies may sleep through the night, which can mean snoozing six to eight hours without interruption, but it’s important to remember that this doesn’t happen just yet for all babies.
How to Put Your Baby to Sleep
When putting your baby to bed at night, or for a daytime nap, follow these guidelines for safe, restful sleep and for reducing the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome):
Always on their back
Never in bed with you
On a firm, flat crib mattress with no loose bedding, toys, or bumper pads
Dressed comfortably for room temperature
With a pacifier, if needed.
Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep
It’s a good idea to aim for a consistent baby sleep schedule that suits you both. Try the following tips for a more restful night:
Establish a routine. Give your baby a gentle massage, read a story, or sing a lullaby. A bedtime routine that includes some or all these activities can help your 3-month-old baby wind down and get ready for sleep.
Let them settle down. Your baby may need a minute to settle down and get comfortable. It’s OK to let them wriggle, babble, or even cry a little before they nod off.
Minimize stimulation. If you need to attend to your baby during the night, try to minimize distractions. Keep the lights low and don’t talk very much during nighttime feedings or other visits to keep them calm and make it easier for them to drift back asleep.
Sleep Training
As your baby nears 4 months old, talk to their healthcare provider about sleep training—a science-backed process in which you teach your baby to fall asleep on their own and stay asleep longer.
If you’re considering sleep training but not sure where to start, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers. This easy-to-use app walks you through the sleep-coaching process, includes a sleep-tracking tool that optimizes bedtimes, and offers effective meditations to help you stay present and positive in frustrating moments. You can get a head start on sleep training today by taking the free sleep assessment.
A Day in the Life of Your 3-Month-Old Baby
Life with your 3-month-old baby can be full of surprises. Even if following a set routine is a ways off at this point, you could glance at this guideline for feeding, sleeping, bathing, and playing to add a little structure and fun to each day:
Your Baby’s Health
Some health issues you may encounter this month may include:
Diarrhea. If your baby has loose, watery stools that amount to more than the number of feedings they’ve had that day, let your baby’s healthcare provider know.
Ear infections. Though older babies are more likely to experience ear infections, it's not unknown for a 3-month-old baby to have one of these. If your baby seems irritable or fussy all of a sudden, especially at night, and may be running a fever, contact their healthcare provider.
Rashes and eczema. If you see red, itchy, scaly patches of skin in the crooks of your baby’s elbows and knees, it could be eczema. Check in with your baby's healthcare provider if you see these patches, or if your 3-month-old baby has red rashes or peeling skin.
Spitting up. Spitting up a small amount after feeding or being burped is normal, and often happens within the hour after feeding. However, if your baby seems irritable during feedings or shows some other signs of being ill, contact their healthcare provider.
Infant Massage
You may be wondering if there’s anything you can do to promote health and wellness beyond your baby’s regular playtime activities. Some babies enjoy the relaxation and bonding that comes from an infant massage. This activity can help strengthen your bond with your baby while reducing their stress levels, and possibly decrease their amount of crying.
Your baby’s healthcare provider may have some specific advice, but here are some basic steps to follow:
Create a relaxing environment. You can use your baby’s changing table or your own bed. Place your baby on their back and maintain eye contact as you begin to massage them.
Use a gentle touch. Use gentle strokes to massage your baby starting from their head, neck, and shoulders to their waist, thighs, feet, and hands.
Talk or sing. Your baby will feel more relaxed if you talk softly or sing a favorite song while massaging them.
Gauge their reaction. Continue the massage if your baby seems happy. If they seem restless or fussy, stop, as they’re probably not enjoying it.
You’ll want to wait at least 45 minutes after feeding before beginning a massage. If your little one ends up enjoying this activity, it can continue well into their toddler years, too.
Development Tips for Your Baby This Month
Consider the following tips to help form a strong bond with your 3-month-old baby and foster a feeling of safety and security:
Consistently provide close physical contact. Hugging or cuddling your baby often can help increase their sense of safety and security. Make sure everyone in the household as well as other caregivers outside of the home provide similar loving care to your baby.
Read to your baby every day. Reading at this early stage not only boosts your baby’s language development but can help establish a lifelong love for reading and learning. Reading as part of a bedtime routine can also help calm and comfort your little one.
Show your baby colorful objects of different shapes, sizes, and textures. These items can be sensory toys, rattles, or plush toys (as long as the baby toys are appropriate for a 3-month-old). You may also like to show your baby simple picture books with different colors and patterns and family photo albums.
Talk to your baby throughout the day. Say your baby's name and use simple phrases to narrate what you’re doing when you're together, such as feeding, diapering, and bathing them. Respond to your baby when they make faces or gestures to encourage their attempts at "conversation." If you or your partner speak a foreign language, feel free to start using it with your baby.
Pay attention to your baby’s cues. Respond to your baby when they let you know that they're hungry, happy, upset, or tired. Your loving attention won’t spoil them.
Items You Will Need This Month
Here are some baby gear items you may want to purchase or acquire this month if you haven’t already:
Baby books. Dig out your favorite children’s books or head to the library or your local bookstore.
Baby swing. A baby swing is a great item to have on hand when you need to free your hands for a while and occupy your baby. The swinging motion can help calm a fussy baby and gently soothe them. If your baby falls asleep, move them to their crib.
Diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream. You’ll always need diapering supplies, so stock up whenever you have the opportunity.
Baby pacifier. Some babies benefit from the use of a pacifier—it can serve as a soothing device especially as they fall sleep.
Baby monitor. If you don't already have a baby monitor, you might like to get one this month. There are many different models to choose from, including video camera baby monitors and ones that work with your smartphone.
Baby thermometer. Using a thermometer specifically designed for babies makes taking a temperature much easier.
Your Life as a Parent: Dealing With Sleep Deprivation
Missing those pre-baby mornings when you could sleep as long as you wanted? Any new parent can tell you sleep deprivation is a very real concern. Of course, you want to be at your best for your baby, but lack of sleep doesn’t make it easy.
Here are a few suggestions to try to make things a little easier:
Get help. Share the load between you and your partner and/or other caregivers, like a grandparent or babysitter. For example, you and your partner could take turns handling your baby’s bedtime routine and putting your little one down to sleep.
Prioritize. Don’t try to do everything. Focus on the one or two things each day that absolutely must get done and let the other tasks fall to another day.
Don’t neglect meals and rest. Eat well and make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids. And take every opportunity to rest, such as by trying to sleep and nap when your baby does.
Take some me-time. This may be tough, but try to set aside 30 to 60 minutes a day just for you. It could include running a short errand by yourself, reading a book while drinking a mug of tea, or going on a brisk walk. It’s amazing how refreshed you can feel after a quick break!
Checklist for This Month
If you haven’t already, schedule your baby’s next routine checkup. Your baby’s healthcare provider will track your baby’s growth, do a physical exam, ask you how you’re doing, answer any of your questions, and schedule or give any immunizations your baby may need. Learn more about your baby’s immunization schedule.
Start looking ahead—check out what kinds of things may happen when your baby is 4 months old.
Turning 4 months old is a big day for your little one. Download and print these milestone cards to celebrate and share the news with friends and family.
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how to choose and what kind of baby food is better?
The ideal "baby food" for an infant is breast milk. However, not all mothers can breastfeed their baby, usually this is due to the health of the mother or child. It happens that the woman herself has a serious condition after childbirth and in the early postoperative period, reduced lactation or diseases in which breastfeeding is contraindicated. In such cases, the baby is given formula milk - this is the only alternative to mother's milk. Subsequently, at four to seven months, complementary foods should be introduced into the child's diet, regardless of whether he is breastfed or artificial. The mother is faced with the task of choosing the right baby food for complementary foods.
In this article, we will talk about what foods for babies are and how to choose the best baby food.
Legislation under "baby food" means food products that meet the physiological needs of the body of a child under 14 years of age. And nutrition for young children is food intended for children from birth to three years[1]. It is necessary to make a diet taking into account the age of the baby and the characteristics of his physical condition.
The Union of Pediatricians of Russia created the National Program for feeding children in the first year of life and the National Program for optimizing the nutrition of children from one to three years old [2]. They describe recommendations regarding what formula to feed the baby from birth, how to introduce complementary foods and expand the baby's diet. These programs provide detailed information on what nutrients and nutrients should be included in the diet of children of different ages.
First you need to figure out what kind of baby food is [3]. Products for toddlers can be divided into two categories:
Infant formula. There are for children from birth to six months (formula 1 mixtures, or initial), from six months to a year (formula 2) and from a year (formula 3). The composition of such baby food is adapted, that is, as close as possible to the composition of breast milk.
- In the initial mixtures, the amount of protein is reduced to 1.2-1.5 g / 100 ml - in accordance with the composition of breast milk. They also changed the fat and mineral profile. The initial mixtures are enriched with such an essential amino acid as taurine, and micronutrients, probiotics, vitamins.
- After six months, the baby's need for protein increases, mother's milk changes its composition. And babies on artificial feeding begin to be fed with a more nutritious mixture of formula 2. Taurine is no longer always needed: the body of a baby aged from six months to a year is able to synthesize this amino acid itself. Meanwhile, the content of iron, calcium, zinc increases compared to the initial mixtures, because by this age the child's reserves of minerals received from the mother during pregnancy are depleted, and they need to be replenished.
- A child's diet changes after one year - he is already able to eat a variety of solid foods. However, it is advisable to continue to feed him with a mixture, though already formula 3. Pediatricians recommend it as a source of vitamins and minerals that the baby can easily absorb.
Complementary foods As we have already noted, it is introduced when the baby is four to seven months old. This interval is called the "critical window" and is considered optimal for the initiation of complementary foods for several reasons:
- The baby needs a wider range of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. In addition, his baby's digestive system is already ready to accept more solid and complex foods than mother's milk or infant formula.
- At this age, the child develops an interest in food, and it is necessary to offer him the right foods to develop his taste.
- During this period, the risk of developing a food allergy to a new product is lower.
- Timely introduction of complementary foods prevents the risk of micronutrient deficiencies and iron deficiency anemia.
Usually the first food is vegetable puree or monocomponent gluten-free cereals, dairy or dairy-free. Over time, cereals containing gluten, supplements from fruits and berries, and also consisting of several cereals are added. A six-month-old child can already be given several types of vegetables and cereals. Also, at about six months, they begin to give meat puree, then fruit, and from eight months - fish. A child from seven months is allowed the yolk.
From the age of 12 months, complementary foods already make up the majority of your baby's diet. At this age, it is especially important to diversify the child's diet: he can be given soups with small pieces of vegetables, meat, fish and cereals.
Information
During the first feeding, the baby's eating habits are laid, and it depends on the parents how correct they will be. Often, mothers introduce fruit juices into complementary foods too early. And because babies have an innate preference for sweet tastes, they can become naughty and stop eating the unsweetened foods they need, especially vegetables. Unhealthy taste habits are formed, which can later provoke obesity.
Domestic doctors are concerned about such irrational nutrition of young children - due to the wrong approach to nutrition, many babies experience a deficiency of vitamins and an excess of fast carbohydrates.
How to choose baby foods
Finding the right foods for your baby is not an easy task. Store shelves are bursting with boxes, jars and bottles, and manufacturers write on every second package that the baby will be healthy, strong and cheerful after feeding. Of course, the baby will receive the necessary substances, no matter what product his parents choose, because all the production of baby food is strictly controlled by the state. By the way, Russia has some of the most stringent requirements for the quality of baby food in the world.
However, products for children differ in their properties. It is necessary to select food so that by the end of the first year of life the baby has actively developed chewing skills and an interest in independence, and the diet of complementary foods is reasonably varied.
For children from one to three years of age, the diet should be even more varied. It is important that the child receives daily something new from the main food groups: dairy, vegetables and fruits, meat and fish, cereals, butter and vegetable oil. Of course, the baby's diet should be expanded taking into account his state of health.
When organizing the nutrition of a child from the moment of introduction of complementary foods and up to three years, a mother needs not only to know what can be fed, but also to consider what foods should not be included in the diet. Among the prohibited products for children under three years of age:
- any mushrooms, vegetables and fruits in a marinade;
- pickles, preserves in tomato sauce;
- commercial juice concentrates, carbonated drinks, coffee and strong tea;
- various condiments - mustard, ketchup, hot sauces, horseradish, pepper, vinegar, mayonnaise;
- products containing flavors, industrial colors, including chewing gum;
- margarine and refractory fats - lamb, pork;
- chocolates, sweets and other sweets.
To choose the right baby food, you need to know exactly what you should pay attention to and what you don't need to worry about.
When choosing mixtures, it is important to check:
- Absence of palm oil. Formula manufacturers may use palm oil (more specifically palm extract) because, like breast milk, it is rich in palmitic acid. However, in human milk, palmitic acid is in the beta position, while in palm oil it is in the alpha position. Such alpha-palmitic acid can interfere with the absorption of calcium and fats and is generally less well absorbed by the child's body. This can negatively affect the work of the intestines, lead to constipation, regurgitation. Milk fat is better suited for baby food as a source of palmitic acid[4][5].
- Protein ratio. Breast milk protein is primarily whey proteins and casein. A child needs both types of protein, while proteins are easily digested, which cannot be said about casein. If baby food contains a lot of casein, it stays longer in the digestive tract, which can cause problems with the baby's stool.
- The presence of additional functional elements in the composition - lutein, nucleotides, pre- and probiotics. The task of lutein is to protect vision from ultraviolet rays. Nucleotides are low molecular weight compounds that promote the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria in the intestines. And pre- and probiotics in the composition of infant formulas help to establish comfortable digestion.
When choosing complementary foods, pay attention to:
- Age appropriate. It is important that in the diet of a child under three years of age who receives complementary foods, special children's products predominate - in their composition the components are selected taking into account the age-related needs of the baby's body. It is impossible at an early age to transfer children to "adult" foods like pickles, smoked foods, fast food, and so on.
- Fortified products. It is important that the composition contains vitamins and minerals. The National Child Nutrition Optimization Program recommends choosing complementary foods that contain elements designed to prevent anemia, rickets, and vitamin deficiencies.
- For a varied diet. The menu for a baby up to six months is quite monotonous. But as they grow older, the baby needs more various nutrients - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals.
- For the individual reaction of the baby. If the child is already receiving complementary foods, then it is worth introducing a new product only after the previous one has been fully introduced. If the baby is allergic to the product, then it should be administered carefully, carefully checking the reaction of the body.
Ingredient safety testing is optional. Of course, the content of any "chemistry" in the product for feeding a child, whether it be a mixture or complementary foods, is unacceptable. There is no need to worry about this: baby food is carefully checked. If it is registered on the territory of the Customs Union and hit the shelves, then it complies with SanPiN 2.3.2.1940-05 and there will be no "prohibited" components in its composition. Also, contrary to popular misconception, in Russia it is forbidden to use GMOs in children's products.
Note
Baby food in jars (usually mashed potatoes) has a short shelf life after opening because it does not contain preservatives. However, before the jar is opened, the products can stand for quite a long time on the shelves of stores or in the refrigerator at home. This is possible thanks to a special production technology, sterilization and vacuum packaging. If a soft pop is heard when opening the jar, this is a good sign: the puree is not spoiled. But products in jars with swollen lids or a protruding bottom should not be used: microorganisms already multiply in such food, it is not suitable for food.
Features of the choice of dairy products
It is necessary to choose dairy products for babies, following the doctor's recommendations. The specialist will take into account the health of the baby, especially if he is allergic to cow protein. In Russia, such an allergy occurs in 30–40% of children [6]. Such a reaction may occur due to hereditary predisposition and immaturity of the body. But most often, allergies go away when the child grows up.
Goat milk baby food may be a suitable option for young children with a predisposition to allergies. Its protein is perceived by the body better than cow's: alpha-s1-casein, contained in large quantities in cow's milk, makes a product based on it difficult to digest - food stagnates in the baby's gastrointestinal tract, motor skills are disturbed, as a result, allergies often occur. In goat milk, as in breast milk, there is practically no alpha-s1-casein [7]. Therefore, goat's milk, and hence the mixture based on it, are better absorbed.
Of course, with the introduction of complementary foods, other dairy products will appear in the baby's diet. Unadapted fermented milk drinks, such as kefir, yogurt, biolact, can be introduced into the diet from eight months and in an amount not exceeding 200 ml. Also during this period, it is recommended to give cottage cheese - no more than 50 g per day, but according to indications, it can also be prescribed from the age of six months. Whole milk cannot be used as the main food, and it is advised to introduce it into the diet of babies no earlier than a year (in the amount of 100-150 ml per day) [8]. As mentioned above, it must be adapted infant milk or formula 3 formula.
To choose the best baby food, it is necessary to take into account the health of the baby, his tastes, as well as individual reactions of the body. Therefore, before going to the store, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will not only tell you which baby food to choose, but also give recommendations on how to make the child's diet balanced and healthy.
Child nutrition
No matter how trite it may sound, any parent wishes well for his child, and from the very birth he tries to do everything possible so that he grows up strong, healthy and smart. And proper nutrition occupies one of the leading roles here. Naturally, initially - when the baby was just born, there is a stage of breastfeeding, but then questions begin: when can you start introducing complementary foods, what can you eat for a child at six months, what kind of food can you feed him a year, etc. The presented application is designed to provide answers to these and many other questions.
Next, we will consider the following topics:
- Baby nutrition at 1 month
- Baby food at 2 months
- Feeding a baby at 3 months
- Feeding a 4-month-old baby
- Baby food at 5 months
- Baby food at 6 months
- Baby food at 7 months
- Baby food at 8 months
- Baby food at 9 months
- Feeding a 10 month old baby
- Feeding a child at 11 months
- Feeding a 1 year old baby
- Baby nutrition after 1 year
- Child nutrition after 2 years
- Child nutrition after 3 years
- Nutrition for children and adolescents
In each section, we will point out the main rules that you need to pay attention to and give a number of practical recommendations. There is a lot of information on this topic, so the material will be presented in the form of brief abstracts.
So, how should you feed your beloved child in the first year of his life?
First, get acquainted with the complementary feeding table. With it, it will be much easier for you to understand the system by which complementary foods are introduced into the child's diet, and to draw up your own scheme based on it. The table is calculated for the first 12 months of a baby's life.
But let's talk about each month in more detail.
Feeding a baby at 1 month
At the 1st month of life, only breastfeeding is allowed. Mother's milk should generally form the basis of a child's diet in the period up to a year. Water, baby teas and any other supplements, as well as pacifiers and nipples, are prohibited. Moreover, in the first few days after childbirth, the mother does not have much colostrum - it is enough only to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and protect the baby from infections (colostrum contains antitoxins and immunoglobulins). And milk will appear only on the 3rd-5th day after childbirth.
Focus on proper nutrition and feed only when the child asks. Please note: the more mother feeds the baby, the more milk she will have. But the child should be applied at least 10 times a day. A prerequisite is night feeding (by the way, in the period from 2 to 5 in the morning, milk is produced the most).
Mom's diet is also very important, because affects the quality of milk. There should be enough food, but overeating is excluded. It is forbidden to use products that can provoke stomach problems or allergic reactions. The diet should be healthy and varied. If the child’s nutrition is built correctly, in the 1st month of life, he should gain about 800 g and grow by about 3 cm.
In order for the baby to eat enough, it is also necessary to properly attach it to the breast: if the baby completely grasps the nipple and part of the areola, then everything is correct, and you will hear how the baby swallows milk. It is recommended to feed so that the bodies of the mother and child are in contact. In case of any problems with lactation, if the baby does not have enough milk, if it is too low-fat or, conversely, fatty, it is imperative to contact a breastfeeding specialist
women. But all this should be agreed with the pediatrician.
Baby's nutrition at 2 months
At the 2nd month, the baby's nutrition also includes only breast milk. Innovations are not allowed. You should continue to adhere to feeding on demand (that is, when the child asks), but the number of attachments to the breast should be at least 6 times a day. To determine the daily dose of milk, you just need to multiply the baby's weight by 1/5. In the same way, you can calculate the volume of the milk mixture, but it is better to follow the instructions that come with the mixture. It is possible to supplement the baby with teas or water only with the permission of the pediatrician (sometimes this is necessary for the purpose of treatment or prevention).
Feeding the baby should take place in a place where nothing will distract him from the process. Mom should speak quietly with the child, stroke him, sing lullabies. It is also better not to experiment with the nutrition of a nursing mother, plus it is very important to adhere to the rules of a healthy diet. By the end of the 2nd month, the baby should have gained approximately 800 g and grown by 2.5 cm.
To make sure that the baby is getting enough nutrition, you can do a wet diaper test, which determines the number of times the baby urinates during the day. To do this, during the period, for example, from 8 am to 8 am, discard diapers and fix every time the baby pees. After a day, you need to count the diapers. The norm is 11-12 times of urination. If you count 8-10 times, then you should pay attention to the regularity of feeding and other features. If you count only 6 diapers, then immediately consult a doctor, because. This is a clear indicator of underfeeding.
Baby's nutrition at 3 months
At the 3rd month, the baby's nutrition should again not change much, and only milk should remain food. An important point is that in the 3rd month of feeding, the mother may experience a lactation crisis. Transferring a baby to mixed or artificial nutrition is strictly prohibited. You need to put the baby to the breast more often.
You can start to switch to hourly feeding, but the feeding regimen must be introduced gradually, synchronizing it with the daily regimen. For example, at 2 pm you played a little with the child and fed him, at 5 pm you came from a short walk and fed him again, then at 8 pm you bathed your child and fed him again before going to bed.
In addition, such a schedule will help the child develop the habit of going to bed after the evening feeding, which will undoubtedly come in handy in the future. If such a habit is not formed, it will be very difficult to rebuild the baby on a new schedule later.
At the 3rd month of feeding, many nursing mothers begin to feel that there is less milk or a lactation crisis. In fact, the amount of milk has not changed - just the baby has grown. Also, mothers note a reduction in the intervals between feedings, dissatisfaction with the child and frequent attachment to the breast. This is considered normal, lasting no more than 3-4 days.
A calm environment, a favorable emotional background, the use of liquid food and tea will help to cope with a lactation crisis. All this will help to normalize lactation. The child cannot be supplemented and fed, because. it will not increase either the number of attachments or the amount of milk. As a rule, by the end of the 3rd month of life, the baby gains weight by another 750 g and grows by 2.5 cm. on mixed or artificial feeding. Such can serve, for example, a few drops of fruit or berry juice, including freshly squeezed. When introducing complementary foods, it is important to monitor the well-being of the baby, pay attention to his skin (if there are any manifestations of allergies), the frequency and nature of the stool.
If there are no changes, you can continue to give complementary foods, increasing its portion by a few drops daily. This should be done for several months, bringing the amount of complementary foods to 30 ml (6 teaspoons) per day. It is impossible to give the child a daily allowance of complementary foods at one time. It is also not recommended to mix juices, but you can change them. Juices should be without pulp.
Juices can be prepared by yourself, and even without a juicer. Take, for example, an apple, grate it on a fine grater, wrap the apple mass in gauze or a sterile bandage and squeeze it into a teaspoon - that's the juice for you. Do not bottle feed with nipples - feed with a spoon, such as a drinking spoon.
If the child is not feeling well, if he is due to be vaccinated (or has been vaccinated), or if he has some kind of allergic reaction, complementary foods should be introduced early. Breastfed babies should not be introduced to complementary foods. You need to feed on demand, but at least 6 times a day. The lactation crisis should have passed by now, and the amount of milk should be normal. If it is not enough and it is difficult to express on your own, you can use a breast pump (they are manual, mechanical, electric), but before that you need to find out the reviews of other mothers.
Feeding a child at 5 months
At the 5th month of life, the main thing, as before, is breast milk. If your baby is bottle-fed and has already begun to eat solid foods, you can slowly begin to give fruit purees and juices with pulp. With the introduction of new complementary foods, monitor the behavior of the baby's body. For any negative reaction, return to the previous diet.
You can also start giving complementary foods to breastfed babies. It all starts the same way - with juice, and with a gradual transition to juices with pulp, fruit purees. Together with milk and complementary foods, the baby's body will receive all the vitamins and microelements necessary for normal healthy development. The amount of juice drunk by a child should not exceed 50 ml.
You can start a more “coarse” complementary food with an apple scraped off with a teaspoon. When the child recognizes the taste of an apple, you can let him try an apricot, pear or banana. If no negative reaction follows, the fruit can be mixed. As for mashed potatoes, there are good options in stores for winter and spring, but in summer and autumn, when fruits are in abundance, it is better to cook homemade mashed potatoes.
Puree should not exceed half a teaspoon per day at first; then it is gradually increased to 3-4 tablespoons. By the way, at the first acquaintance with mashed potatoes, the baby may spit - there is no need to be scared, because. This is a normal reaction that will soon pass. Complementary foods should be given at the end of a feeding session.
Do not give young children grape juice, citrus fruits, raspberries, strawberries and other allergenic foods. Any of them can provoke an allergic reaction of an unprepared child's body. The intervals between feedings can be slightly increased. By the end of the 5th month of life, the child doubles in weight relative to birth weight and grows by about 13 cm. The amount of food eaten by the baby rarely exceeds 900 g per day, including formula and milk.
Nutrition of a child at 6 months
If up to 6 months the child ate only breast milk, then, starting from this age, it is necessary to introduce complementary foods (after making sure in advance of medical contraindications, of course). Children's digestive system can already absorb thicker and more solid foods. But the main nutrient is still breast milk. Products are introduced gradually: each next - 10 days after the previous one.
In the same period, the first milk teeth break through in babies, and it's time to learn to chew food. Juices with pulp and puree are the best option. First, tiny portions of juice (half a teaspoon or a few drops) are given and reactions are monitored. It is recommended to introduce complementary foods at lunchtime. Over time, it will be possible to completely eliminate milk formulas or breastfeeding from it. The maximum portion of puree is up to 150 g.
The first vegetable purees in the children's menu should also be one-component. To begin with, boiled potatoes ground in a blender are suitable, then canned potato, carrot, pumpkin and squash purees (if desired, you can add a small pinch of cooked rice, buckwheat or semolina to them).
Egg yolk should also be part of the diet of a 6-month-old baby, because it has great nutritional value and contains vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins. If the child does not have allergies, you can give hard-boiled egg yolk. You need to start with small portions diluted with breast milk or vegetable broth.
Gradually, the yolk is mixed with vegetable puree, and the dishes themselves are alternated: one day - vegetable puree with yolk, two days - without yolk, then again with yolk, etc. A little later, a drop (5 g per 150 g serving) of olive, corn or sunflower oil can be added to the puree. By the end of the 6th month of life, the baby gains another 600 g and grows by 2 cm. beef, veal or rabbit meat, cottage cheese and kefir. Initially, dishes should be one-component. It is too early to refuse breastfeeding, and it should be present in at least two feeding sessions. You can start giving your child a spoon so that he gradually tries to eat on his own and gets used to it.
Cheeses, fish and meat purees, crackers, bread and cookies are gradually added to the diet. And again: do not forget about the diagnosis of allergic reactions, pay attention to whether there are regurgitation and bloating. Check the temperature each time you cook and stir frequently to ensure they cool evenly. If suddenly the child refuses to eat, breastfeed him (provided that he wants to eat at all).
Porridge should not be very thick. The first cereals are buckwheat, which contains many vitamins and iron, and rice, rich in starch. After them, it is allowed to give semolina and oatmeal. In case of an allergic reaction of the child's body to goat or cow's milk, cereals should be boiled in water, and after readiness, breast milk or milk mixture should be added to them.
In the 7th month of life, the baby's diet will consist of breast milk, fruit juices, fruit and vegetable purees, milk and dairy-free cereals, egg yolk, meat, butter and vegetable oil. The baby should gain about 550 g of weight and grow by 2 cm. Nursing mothers often experience a new lactation crisis during this period. To overcome it, use the recommendations that we talked about above.
Baby's nutrition at 8 months
At the 8th month of life, the baby's nutrition becomes more varied. It is impossible to completely abandon breastfeeding, but most of the feedings can be replaced with complementary foods. However, be sure to either supplement breastfeeding or breastfeed in the morning and evening.
The diet may include mixed cereals, for example, assorted, or with the addition of fruits. You can cook porridge in ordinary milk or water, to which the milk mixture is added. It is allowed to add a little sugar or fruit puree to the porridge.
The menu is also complemented by meat broth or soup-puree cooked in meat broth. It is allowed to increase the amount of chopped boiled meat as an additive to cereals (but only to cereals on the water) or mashed vegetables. The meat should be lean (chicken, beef, veal, turkey). You need to remain attentive to the reactions of the child's body to new ingredients.
Continue to feed your child with cottage cheese and kefir (it is better if they are home-made or from a dairy kitchen), baby cereals that are poured with boiling water, canned puree (fruit, vegetable, meat). Considering that almost all children begin to actively erupt their teeth and itch their gums, you can give pieces of dryers and bagels and crackers. Firstly, it is an excellent rodent, and secondly, the child gets used to bread.
Differences in the nutrition of formula-fed and breast-fed babies are approaching a minimum. By the end of the 8th month of life, the child usually gains another 500 g in weight and grows 1.5 cm.
Baby nutrition at 9 months
At the 9th month of a baby's life, breast milk no longer dominates the diet, although it is still present. New products continue to be added to the menu. So, fish are introduced little by little. To begin with, it is better to boil and grind low-fat ocean fish such as hake, pollock and cod, or river fish, for example, carp or pike perch. Naturally, you need to cook at home, be sure to check that there are no bones and peel left in the pulp (the peel and head can become the basis of fish broth).
If you are unable or unwilling to cook yourself, you can buy fish fillets and canned fish for children. Canned food is purely fish and with the addition of vegetable oil, cereals and vegetables. And fish fillets can be combined with semolina, rice and buckwheat, tomatoes, carrots and potatoes (it’s better to start with a clean fillet).
It is not allowed to feed the child with ordinary canned food, because they contain fish with bones, and the product itself contains preservatives, seasonings and additives that can cause indigestion in a child. Fish is introduced into the diet in small, gradually increasing portions.
If there are no allergic reactions and malfunctions in the child's body, you can introduce the child to a children's mug (at the first stage, you should use non-spill mugs equipped with special lids). But there should be little liquid in the mug, plus you can not leave the baby with the mug unattended.
Breastfeeding can be left in the morning and evening (if necessary, add one at night), but it is worth looking at the situation. By the end of the 9th month of life, babies gain 450 g of weight and add about 1. 5 cm in height.
Feeding a child at 10 months
At 10 months of age, mother's milk remains in the diet, but nutrition becomes more complete, because the baby gets used to the previously introduced products. There are fewer new foods, but more cooking options. The pulp of plums, pears and watermelons stand out from the new products. But they must be fresh, not overripe, not unripe, not contain stones and peel. If the baby has constipation, the pear should be discarded, but plums and plum puree are recommended.
The focus of a child's diet is not on new foods, but on variations on old ones. For example, meat puree is replaced by meatballs (at first, simple, and later - with the addition of ground onions). You do not need to completely grind the finished meatballs - just cut into small pieces. The child already has several teeth and needs to learn how to chew and get used to solid foods. In addition, chewing promotes the development of chewing muscles and jaws.
Milk porridges alternate with noodles and pasta boiled in milk. Instead of cottage cheese, a cottage cheese casserole is sometimes given (initially - one-component, and a little later - with the addition of fruits, raisins, apples, pears and other fruits to which there are no allergic reactions).
In general, a child's diet at 10 months remains almost the same as at 9 months. The only exceptions are portions - they should be slightly larger. Two breastfeeds a day is still the norm. By the end of the 10th month of life, the child should gain 400 g in weight and 1.5 cm in height.
Feeding a baby at 11 months
At 11 months of age, it is impossible to wean a baby completely, even if it seems that it is time. It is better to breastfeed in the morning and in the evening, but it is worth starting to refuse from night feeding completely.
The baby's diet already contains vegetables and fruits, bread, kefir, milk and cottage cheese, cereals, fish and meat, and the menu is quite diverse in its composition. Despite this, in no case should you offer a child fried foods and everyday adult food, as well as sweets, spicy foods, sausages, sausages, smoked meats, herring, canned food and citrus fruits. The children's gastrointestinal tract is still developing, and the processing of the above food will negatively affect its functioning.
Note that by this age children have more teeth, and therefore you can safely reduce the amount of mashed potatoes and grated dishes. It is useful to supplement the diet with steamed fish and meat cutlets, dishes from fresh vegetables and fruits, and berries. Juices alternate with berry and fruit jelly with the addition of freshly squeezed juice.
Baby nutrition at 1 year old
At the 12th month of life, the baby's nutrition can already be called quite complete, and many mothers decide to stop breastfeeding. In addition, lactation is ending, and it is quite logical to stop breastfeeding. If there is a desire to breastfeed (and milk itself), you can continue to do this. But breastfeeding is no longer a way for a child to get food, but an opportunity to be closer to mom.
Those who want to stop breastfeeding should know that it is impossible to wean a baby from the breast if he is sick or feels unwell; it is not advisable to do this in the summer, because it is during this period that the likelihood of gastrointestinal diseases is especially high. In the case when breastfeeding is stopped, it is undesirable to start it again. In moments of anxiety, the baby needs to caress him, stroke him, sing a lullaby and calm him down, but try not to put him on the chest.
Children's diet at this stage does not change significantly, but portions increase slightly. The baby should have breakfast with milk porridge, vegetable or fruit puree, cottage cheese or kefir with gingerbread. And lunch is important to make as nutritious and satisfying as possible.
On the first birthday of a child, you do not need to treat him with new dishes. As a festive dish, a dish of fish, meat, fruits or vegetables (you need to cook them, observing all precautions) or a cottage cheese and fruit casserole, symbolizing the first cake, is suitable. By the end of the 1st year of life, the baby should gain about 350 g in weight and grow by 1.5 cm.
When a child reaches the age of one, his diet will change very slowly and systematically, without abrupt addition of new products and dishes. Further, we will not dwell on each month and year of life, but we will point out the basic principles of nutrition for children after a year.
Nutrition of a child after a year
In the nutrition of children after a year, breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner and feeding before bedtime must be included. You can make some changes to each of them, but in accordance with certain requirements:
- Diet must contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates
- Most food should be semi-liquid or puree
- Pieces of solid food should be no larger than 2-3 cm
- Meat dishes are best given in the morning
- Children's menu items may be stewed, boiled or steamed, but never fried
- The volume of the average daily ration is 1200 ml, excluding liquid
Now specifically about products:
- Dairy products. Must be mandatory. Every day you can give milk, yogurt and kefir, and every other day - cream, sour cream, cheese and cottage cheese. If the baby has lactose intolerance, milk is completely replaced by mixtures.
- Vegetables. Also must be present in abundance. You should start with cucumbers and tomatoes. Then you can cook dishes from pumpkin, beets, sweet and yellow peppers, potatoes, cauliflower, zucchini, onions and carrots. Greens should be introduced very carefully. It is too early to give white cabbage, because. it is difficult to digest and absorb. Vegetables should be no more than 200 g per day, and specifically potatoes - no more than 150 g.
- Meat. The baby should consume it every day. The diet can include beef, lean veal, turkey, chicken and rabbit. Beef liver is especially useful. The average daily norm of meat depends on the weight of the baby, and can be 50-100 g per day.
- Fish. You can spoil her baby no more than 1-2 times a week, thus replacing meat dishes. The average volume of a fish dish is 30-40 g. The fish should be lean, and stewed fish fillets, steamed cutlets and meatballs will be excellent dishes.
- Kashi. In the children's diet, they are present in a variety of ways, including cereals. The average daily rate is about 200 g. Useful porridge mixed with fruits, vegetables or meat. And you can replace porridge with vermicelli, for example, with cottage cheese, milk, cheese or meat.
- Liquid food. When breastfeeding, liquid food is not required. But if the mother has stopped breastfeeding, then the baby must be given soups. Vegetable broths are preferred over meat broths. You can feed soups once a day.
- Berries and fruits. As an additional element of the children's diet, they are very useful. Apples, pears, bananas, cherries, raspberries, currants and others may be present on the menu. The daily norm of fruits is 100-200 g, berries - 20 g.
- Liquid. As a drink, it is recommended to use boiled or special children's water, juices for children under 3 years old and freshly brewed compotes. Any canned drinks are prohibited. The daily norm of liquid is 800 ml in the period from 1 year to 3 years, from 1. 5 to 1.7 liters - in the period from 3 to 7 years and 1.7-2 liters - after 7 years.
- Salts and condiments. Should be excluded from the children's diet for as long as possible, but if necessary, little by little dishes can be added salt. The daily amount of salt should not exceed 1 g, and seasonings should be delayed.
- Sugar. Instead, it is best to use fructose, because. the body assimilates it more evenly and more slowly, but if desired, it is not forbidden to give the baby sugar. The daily norm of sugar or fructose is not more than 40 g.
- Sweets. It is not recommended to pamper a child with sweets, chocolate and other sweet foods until they reach the age of 3 years. But it is quite possible to treat with cookies and homemade cakes.
- Other products. To determine the allowable diet and norms of other products, it is best to use special nutrition tables. Here is one of those (there are other options on the Internet):
And a few more additional recommendations:
- Vitamins. Try to make the child's diet so that it contains all the vitamins his body needs: vitamin A (pumpkin, carrots), vitamin C (fruit juices, herbs, bell peppers) and vitamin E (vegetable oil, peas, rye).
- Trace elements. The diet should also contain foods with essential trace elements: iron (beans, chicken eggs, meat, fish), calcium (dairy products, beans) and zinc (chicken egg yolk, oatmeal, meat).
After 1 year, there will be no special changes in the child's nutrition system. However, several important features must be kept in mind.
Child nutrition after 2 years
At this age, children usually have an average of 16 to 20 teeth, which means that they can already chew solid food more or less calmly. So the food can no longer be completely crushed, but on purpose leave more small but hard pieces.
There are usually no general nutritional problems. Many parents begin to give their children normal everyday foods (except for the unhealthy ones). But fatty, as before, should be excluded, as, indeed, chocolate and caramel.
The number of meals is reduced to three main meals and one snack.
Feeding a child after 3 years
At this stage, things are even easier. Most children quite calmly eat "from the common table" with their parents, because. they chew food normally, and the gastrointestinal tract is formed enough for stable work and digestion of even quite heavy food.
Despite this, one should always keep in mind that the less junk food a child gets, the healthier he will be. And as soon as the baby begins to treat his diet selectively, there is no need to limit it, because. eating habits begin to form. But vigilance should not be lost either.
Nutrition for children and adolescents
Children after 3 years of age and adolescents grow rapidly, their body undergoes serious hormonal changes and changes in the work of the cardiovascular and nervous systems and the brain. Mental and physical stress increases, because children begin to actively interact with the outside world and people, go to kindergarten, make new friends, go to school, etc. Therefore, the children's diet should be carefully thought out.
The menu should provide the child with energy. It is not recommended that children eat foods high in sugar and fat. It is best to instill a healthy lifestyle and diet. Irrational loads and malnutrition can cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys, impaired metabolism, scoliosis, myopia and other ailments. A diet that contains all the food ingredients, vitamins and microelements that improve immunity, increase the body's resistance, and positively affect the work of the central nervous system, intelligence and performance will help to avoid all this.
Among other things, the diet of a growing child should always be regular and varied. The ideal option is to instill in him the principles of healthy eating discussed in our course. In order for your child to grow up without deviations in physical or mental development, you need to offer him a balanced diet that provides his body with plastic processes and energy costs, taking into account age.