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Stage 2 baby food: what is it, when to start and what options to try

Contents

• What is stage 2 baby food?
  • Identification of stages by brand
  • What is the difference between stage one and stage two meals?
• When and how should I start feeding my baby 2nd stage complementary foods?
• What are your baby food options for stage 2?
  • Store-bought baby food stage 2.
  • Homemade baby food stage 2
• Conclusion

Accompanying your child through the different stages of learning how to eat real food is an exciting journey. Sometimes, along with a sense of pride - - you can feel a little confused. How should you navigate milestones?

What is stage 2 baby food?

Let's start from the beginning: what do the stages of baby food mean?

Rome wasn't built in a day, and your child's digestive system won't jump from liquid to solid in one day either. That's what baby feeding stages are for - to help your baby manage the mechanics of eating and ease the transition to your baby's digestive system.

Defining milestones by brand

Although the different baby food steps are not standardized (if they were, your life would be easier!), most popular brands more or less follow these four steps:

• Step 1: From 4 up to 6 months (single ingredient watery puree)
• Stage 2: 6 to 9 months (thicker texture, strained or puréed)
• Stage 3: 10 to 12 months (porridge with soft chewy small pieces )
• Stage 4: After 12 months (food that you can eat with your fingers and small soft pieces of food that you share with your dinner)

What is the difference between eating the first and second stages?

Stage 1 food is quite watery. They turn into a smooth paste that runs off a spoon easily, so stock up on bibs. These products usually consist of one ingredient: oatmeal, apples, carrots. Your child will start eating about half a teaspoon of this.

Stage 2 food becomes more exciting. They are strained or ground into a thick paste. They are made from a combination of foods that can include legumes and even meat or fish. They can combine flavors, such as fruit and vegetable blends. Your child's appetite is growing and you will have to keep up with larger portions.

When and how should I start feeding my baby 2nd stage complementary foods?

Around 6 to 9 months of age, your baby is probably ready to switch to stage 2 complementary foods. Not every child will stick to this schedule, simply because every child is a separate world.

Here are a few signs that your baby is ready to move on:

• Tongue reflex: At around five months, your baby will begin to lose the tongue thrust reflex and will not immediately push out the food you are trying to feed.
• More Please: They will easily eat the first stage foods and look hungry to eat more.
• Variety: They ate foods from all food categories (vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, meat) and showed no allergies or intolerances.
• Delight: They easily eat a spoonful of food in stage 1, swallow and swallow with pleasure.

At this exciting stage, feel free to give your child most of the foods. By offering them a wide range of flavors and textures, you give them the foundation for a healthy diet and also make it easier for you. Be aware of the following safety considerations:

• Choking Hazard: Avoid nuts, seeds, and popcorn at this stage. And don't forget to cut round foods like grapes and hot dogs lengthwise.
• No honey: Babies under 12 months old should not be given honey as it can lead to botulism.
• No Juice: Follow AAP guidelines and stick to breast milk, formula or a little water and stay away from juices.
• Safe Feeding: Always fasten your child to a high chair and supervise him while he eats.

And if you're curious about peanuts, here's the scoop: 2017 National Institutes of Health report suggests giving babies peanut-containing foods as early as 4 months of age. (Wait up to 6 months for children with mild to moderate eczema.)

Surprised? Do not be. A recent study showed that Israeli children rarely suffer from peanut allergies because they have been chewing bamba, a peanut-based snack, as early as 3 months old. Talk to your doctor about safe ways to include peanut products in your baby's diet.

What are your baby food options for stage 2?

What is included in the stage 2 baby food menu? Basically, you can go the store or home route. Or you can mix both depending on how much time you have. It depends on you and your personal schedule.

Here are some delicious ideas for both.

Store-bought baby food stage 2.

• Plum: These organic blends come in easy-to-carry bags. Try pear, spinach and peas, or banana and pumpkin.
• Beech-walnut: Available in tins and bags. Serve a few apples and bananas or pineapple, pear and avocado.
• Best in the world: Another organic option, in bags or jars. Try sweet potatoes, barley and chickpeas, or pasta with tomatoes and white beans.
• Gerber: A classic served in plastic jars, jars or bags. Flavor combinations include peach mango and dinner with oatmeal or chicken noodles.

Remember to keep an eye on your baby while he is eating. Bags are convenient, but caps can be a choking hazard. Glass jars can break, so keep them out of the reach of children. Your child should always enjoy snacks and meals under close adult supervision.

Homemade Baby Food Stage 2

Cooking up a storm for your baby's nascent taste buds doesn't have to be a daunting task at this stage. Here are some recipes to help you. (You can find more baby food recipes here.)

Don't skimp on spices and herbs: your little one will appreciate the extra flavor and the micronutrients they contain will boost their immune system.

• Apple, walnut and carrot: Cook the ingredients until they are soft when checked with a fork. Drain off some of the water, but set it aside in case you need to dilute the mixture. Sprinkle with a little curry and stir.
• Blueberries and chickpeas: You can make your own chickpeas or use ready-made ones to save time. Mix equal amounts of blueberries and chickpeas. Mix and add breast milk, formula, or water to get the right consistency. You can also add some rice for added appeal and texture.
• Salmon with fried zucchini and fennel: Drizzle salmon and vegetables with oil and roast for about 15 minutes. Add chopped parsley and stir. You can dilute formula with breast milk, formula, or water.

Conclusion

Enjoy this stage with your child because he will soon move on to the next stages. And then, sooner than you think, you may face competition for the last slice of caramel cheesecake.

Infant formula for newborns (0 to 6 months) | Baby food for babies

This is a complete baby food from the birth of a baby. If breastfeeding is not possible for some reason. Products for the smallest are called adapted, because their composition is as close as possible to mother's milk.

In the article we will talk about how to choose baby food for babies. Let's talk about what mixtures are for newborns, how to choose the right one, and how to understand that it did not fit. And also about the correct transition from one mixture to another.

Classification: First of all, choose the type of mixture

Baby food should be recommended by a pediatrician. Be sure to check with a doctor who knows your child. The pediatrician will take into account all the factors influencing the choice: the age of the baby, the characteristics of his health, the method of birth - naturally or through a caesarean section, the date on which he was born, the weight of the child, the risk of allergies.

Healthy babies who were born at term naturally have a digestive system that is mature for their age. They are prescribed regular baby food, which is produced according to the standards established by the Ministry of Health, which means it contains all the necessary nutrients. It is important for parents only to monitor the timely change of stage. After all, babies from six months need a different composition, which is present in products labeled with the number two.

Manufacturers of adapted formulas for newborns compete in only one indicator - the proximity of the composition to breast milk. For example, the latest discovery of scientists made it possible to add oligosaccharides of mother's milk to it. They are involved in the formation of the child's immunity, which, as you know, the mother transmits when she breastfeeds. At the end of 2019years, such products are considered the closest to breast milk.

Under the Materna brand, this is Materna Gold HM-O.

Read more about breast milk oligosaccharides in our article.

By age

All baby food is usually divided into age stages:

• Stage 0 - for premature babies (but not all brands have this stage)
• Stage 1 - 0 to 6 months
• Stage 2 - from 6 to 12 months
• Stage 3 - from 12 months

The mixture can be fed up to 1.5-2 years. By this time, the children are completely switching to adult food. You can supplement at night if the baby wakes up to eat. Or cook baby cereals on them. They are very nutritious and enriched with additional vitamins. Children who do not eat well are sometimes supplemented with formula. Some manufacturers create stage 4 products just for such cases.

There are products that are not age-labeled. This is a special diet that is prescribed by a doctor according to indications. The packaging must indicate at what age it can be used.

Composition

By composition, products for newborns can be divided into classic and enriched.

• Classic . The Materna line includes Materna Classic, Materna Gold and kosher dairy products Materna Mehadrin. They are usually suitable for all healthy children. After all, these products are created according to the norms of the Ministry of Health and contain all the necessary components for the nutrition of babies.
• Enriched . - This is a classic diet, supplemented with vitamins and trace elements. Materna has Materna Extra Care. This product has been the most popular among our customers and around the world. In 2017, for example, he was recognized as the best in Israel. Now the leading place is occupied by Materna Gold, as the product closest to breast milk.

As intended

Separately, we can talk about special baby food, which is prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the health characteristics of the baby. It can be both basic for the child and recommended for the period of illness or recovery after it. Let's look at the main types of special mixtures.

1. Low lactose . Recommended for children diagnosed with dysbacteriosis or other digestive disorders. In the case when the enzymes in the intestines are not enough to digest milk sugar - lactose. In the Materna line, this is Materna Comfort.
2. Lactose free . They are used in case of congenital lactase deficiency or galactosemia, a disease characterized by the inability to absorb certain carbohydrates. This is a very rare case. If lactase deficiency appeared against the background of indigestion, then a low-lactose product is most likely suitable. So the body is more likely to start producing its own lactase enzyme. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Materna Soy is a soy lactose-free product in the Israeli baby food line.
3. Dairy-free . They are prescribed for allergies to lactose and milk protein casein. In such products, animal protein is replaced by vegetable protein. As, for example, in Materna Soy blend.
4. Sour milk and goat milk . In fact, they are very close to the classical ones. The only difference is that the protein is in them in an easier to digest form.
5. Antireflux to relieve the symptoms of severe regurgitation. They are thicker in consistency and more difficult to throw back into the baby's esophagus. Most often prescribed in addition to regular food to reduce the amount of regurgitation.
6. Hypoallergenic or hydrolyzed . They are created on the basis of a split protein and are prescribed to children in cases of very serious allergies. This product is bitter in taste, kids do not like it. Therefore, it is appointed in extreme cases, when there are no other options.
7. Night . Produced on the basis of starch, which takes longer to digest and maintains a feeling of satiety.
8. For premature babies . They are high in protein and calories. They are designed to help the child quickly gain weight. After the indicators reach the norm, the baby is transferred to a normal diet. Read more about how to choose a formula for a premature baby, read here.
9. Based on vegetable protein . They are used in case of allergy to animal protein casein. And they are the main food during the period of rotavirus infection, when the use of dairy products is contraindicated.

By consistency

Most baby products are dry mixes that are diluted in warm boiled water. But there are also ready-made diluted products that only need to be heated.

How to make the right choice

There is only one answer to this question - listen to your pediatrician and be aware of what is on the market. You can contact us for a free consultation.

Zinaida Rassadina

Pediatrician, experience - 14 years

How to tell if a mixture is not suitable

Here are some signs that you need to think about changing the mixture.

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