Food introduction for babies chart

Baby's first foods: The 10 best foods for babies

These 10 first foods are ideal for your baby because they're full of essential nutrients, reasonably priced, easy to prepare, and delicious. Avocados contain healthy fats, while bananas are loaded with potassium. Blueberries are bursting with antioxidants, whereas broccoli offers fiber and folate. Both lentils and meat are packed with protein. Prunes can help with constipation, and yogurt helps form healthy bones and teeth. Sweet potatoes and winter squash are great sources of beta-carotene and vitamin C.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it's important to offer your baby a variety of healthy foods. There are lots of healthy, baby-friendly foods out there, but these 10 recommended by doctors and dietitians alike stand out from the pack. From vitamin-rich fruits and veggies to meats and beans loaded with protein, these superfoods are full of essential nutrients, reasonably priced, easy to prepare, and delicious.

Many are also favorite first foods. Before introducing solids, talk to the doctor about your baby's readiness for solids, and which foods to introduce and when. Then introduce foods one at a time, waiting at least three days after each new food to watch for any allergic reaction.

Avocados

BabyCenter parents are all about avocado as a first food. This buttery fruit-vegetable is rich in healthy unsaturated fats that help boost brain development. In fact, the fat composition of avocados is somewhat similar to that of breast milk.

Serving ideas: Mash avocado with a fork, or make baby guacamole.

Bananas

Known as a good source of potassium, this grab-and-go fruit also contains vitamins B6 and C, fiber, and magnesium.

Serving ideas: Make banana and mango puree. Or, for your little one's first smoothie, puree banana and peach chunks with whole-milk yogurt.

Blueberries

Blueberries are bursting with antioxidants. The deep, brilliant blue of these berries comes from flavonoids that benefit your baby's eyes, brain, and even urinary tract.

Serving ideas: Blend or mash blueberries well and swirl a spoonful of the juicy purple puree into yogurt, or top silky coconut milk rice pudding with blueberry compote.

Broccoli

This cruciferous vegetable is a rich source of essential nutrients, including fiber, folate, and calcium. Introduce your baby to broccoli's bold flavor early, and you'll be expanding their tastes and encouraging a lifelong love of green vegetables.

Advertisement | page continues below

Serving idea: Steam until soft, cut into pieces small enough for your child to eat safely, and then chill. Steaming takes the bite out of broccoli, and some babies prefer the texture and taste when it's cold.

Lentils

Beans and other legumes pack lots of lean protein and fiber. But unlike larger beans, little lentils simmer into a pleasing mush just right for baby bites. They're also one of the cheapest healthy foods you can buy.

Serving ideas: Cook finely diced carrots along with the lentils. As your baby gets older, double up on nutrient-rich foods by making lentil and spinach stew.

Meat

Lack of iron can cause anemia. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends meat as a first food because it's such a great source of protein, zinc, and iron, especially red meat and dark poultry meat. Plus, babies absorb iron more easily from meat than from iron-fortified cereals, another common first food.

Serving ideas: If your baby is new to solids, try our easy turkey or chicken puree recipe. As they get older, introduce new flavors with chicken curry with green beans and zucchini or shepherd's pie.

Prunes

Whether you call them "prunes" or "dried plums," these humble fruits don't sound glamorous – but they're soft, sweet, and full of fiber. Your baby may suffer from constipation when switching to solids, as it's a big change for their system. Add pureed prunes to your baby's diet to aid digestion and keep things moving.

Serving ideas: Serve pureed prunes alone or mixed with other foods, such as oatmeal, cereal, or applesauce, for a naturally sweet treat.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of the more popular first foods for babies, who tend to like both their sweetness and texture. These colorful root vegetables are packed with beta-carotene, vitamin C, and minerals, including iron and copper.

Serving ideas: Serve sweet potato puree alone or swirled into pureed chicken or turkey.

Winter squash

Orange- or yellow-fleshed hard winter squashes such as butternut, acorn, and pumpkin boast many benefits, one of which is they're exceptionally rich in beta-carotene, recognized for being great for eyes. Squash is also an excellent source of vitamin C. Natural sweetness and a creamy texture add to the appeal of winter varieties.

Serving ideas: Roast a winter squash like butternut, scoop out the flesh, and puree it for an easy first food. As your baby gets older, introduce new flavors and textures with dishes like smashed chickpea and butternut chili.

Yogurt

Creamy yogurt is rich in calcium and vitamin D, necessary for healthy bones and teeth. Your baby can have it at 4 to 6 months, long before they'll be ready for cow's milk.

Opt for plain yogurt with no added sugar. Also look for a brand with the most live cultures, which help regulate the good bacteria in your baby's digestive tract. Make sure you pick up whole-milk yogurt – babies need the calories from fat.

Serving ideas: Yogurt is fine on its own, or swirl in pureed berries or other fresh fruit, applesauce, or mashed avocado.

Baby formula feeding chart: How much formula by weight and age

Is your baby getting too much or too little formula? It's an important question that worries many new parents, especially those with newborns. When deciding how much formula to give your baby, it's important to watch their hunger cues as well as looking at guidelines based on age and weight. In general, before they're eating solids, babies need 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day.

These guidelines are for babies who are exclusively formula-fed for the first 4 to 6 months, and then fed a combination of formula and solids up to age 1. If your baby is getting a combination of breast milk and formula, talk to their doctor for separate advice.

Your pediatrician can tell you where your baby falls on the growth charts, make sure they're growing steadily on their own growth curve, and help you ensure that they're getting a healthy amount of formula. If you're ever worried about your baby's growth, behavior, or development, talk with their doctor.

How much formula for a newborn

For the first few days, offer your newborn 1 to 2 ounces of formula every 2 or 3 hours. (At first, newborns may only take a half ounce of formula at a time.)

After the first few days, give your newborn 2 to 3 ounces of formula every 3 to 4 hours.

Initially it's best to feed your formula-fed newborn on demand, whenever they show signs that they're hungry. Because your little one can't tell you when they want a bottle, you'll need to learn to read their hunger cues. Crying is often a late sign of hunger, so if you can, try to catch the earlier signs that it's time for a feeding.

Here are some hunger cues to watch for:

Smacking or licking their lips
Rooting (moving their jaw, mouth, or head in search of food)
Putting their hands to their mouth
Opening their mouth
Fussiness
Sucking on things
Becoming more alert
Crying

As time passes, your newborn will begin to develop a fairly regular feeding schedule. You'll become familiar with their cues and needs, and knowing when and how much to feed them will be much easier.

Formula feeding chart by weight

During the first 4 to 6 months, when your baby isn't eating solid foods, here's a simple rule of thumb: Offer 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight every 24 hours, with a maximum of about 32 ounces.

Advertisement | page continues below

Weight	Ounces of formula
6 pounds	15 fl oz every 24 hours
7 pounds	17.5 fl oz every 24 hours
8 pounds	20 fl oz every 24 hours
9 pounds	22. 5 fl oz every 24 hours
10 pounds	25 fl oz every 24 hours
11 pounds	27.5 fl oz every 24 hours
12 pounds	30 fl oz every 24 hours

These numbers aren't rigid rules. They offer a rough estimate for what your baby may need. Some babies will grow well while taking less than the recommended amount, while others consistently need more. Your baby's daily feedings will also vary according to their individual needs – in other words, they may want a bit more on some days and a bit less on others.

Formula feeding chart by age

Here are typical amounts per day based on age:

Age	Ounces of formula
Full-term newborn	2 ounces per bottle every 3 to 4 hours
1 month old	3 to 4 ounces per bottle every 3 to 4 hours
2 month old	4 to 5 ounces per bottle every 3 to 4 hours
3 month old	4 to 6 ounces per bottle every 3 to 4 hours
4 month old	4 to 6 ounces per bottle, 4 to 6 times a day
5 month old	4 to 6 ounces per bottle, 4 to 6 times a day
6 month old	6 to 8 ounces per bottle, 4 to 5 times a day
7 month old	6 to 8 ounces per bottle, 3 to 5 times a day

From 8 months old until their first birthday, you can expect your baby to have 7 to 8 ounces per bottle, 3 to 4 times a day.

As your baby gets older – and their tummy gets bigger – they'll drink fewer bottles a day with more formula in each. It's important not to overfeed your baby so they'll stay at a healthy weight. Your baby shouldn't have more than 32 ounces of formula in 24 hours.

When they reach their first birthday, they can stop drinking formula and transition to cow's milk in a bottle, sippy cup, straw cup, or open cup. Limit your toddler to 16 to 24 ounces (2 to 2.5 cups) a day of whole milk, so they have room for other healthy foods.

Here are signs that your baby's getting all the formula they need:

Steady weight gain. They continue to gain weight after their first 10 days and follow a healthy growth curve during their first year. (Most babies lose up to 7 to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days and then regain it by the time they're about 2 weeks old.)
Happy baby. They seem relaxed and satisfied after a feeding.
Wet diapers. They wet two to three diapers a day in the first few days after birth. Over the next few days, the amount should increase to at least five to six wet diapers a day.

Babies are usually good at eating the amount they need, but bottle-fed babies can drink too much at times. Here are the signs that they're getting too much formula:

Vomiting after a feeding may be a sign that your baby had too much. (Spitting up is normal, vomiting isn't.)
Tummy pain after a feeding can also be a sign of overfeeding. If your baby draws up their legs or their tummy seems tense, they may be in pain. (See other possible reasons for stomach pain in babies.)

If your baby seems to want to eat all the time, even after finishing a bottle, talk to your pediatrician. Using a pacifier may help soothe their need to suck.

Formula-feeding tips

In general, babies eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full, so resist the temptation to encourage your baby to finish each bottle. Overfeeding during infancy can contribute to obesity later in life.
Don't respond to your baby's every cry with a bottle. They may be crying because their diaper is wet, they're cold or hot, they need to be burped, or they want to be close to you. (Learn more about why babies cry, and how to soothe them.)
Your baby may be hungrier than usual during growth spurts. These typically occur 10 to 14 days after birth and around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age.

Read more:

Formula Feeding Problem Solver
How to safely store and use formula

Mom's most important book. Pregnancy. Childbirth. Early years / ... / Medical guide

When to start complementary foods

Today there is a tendency to delay the introduction of complementary foods in the diet of infants. This is due to an increase in the allergenicity of products, with a decrease in the amount of minerals and mineral substances in their composition, and with many other factors.

Most domestic pediatricians advise mothers to follow the complementary feeding scheme approved by the State Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (the last time it was edited at 1999)

However, in recent years, thousands of clinical studies have been conducted, as a result of which changes have been made.

Starting complementary foods while breastfeeding

• According to experts, today the most favorable age for the introduction of complementary foods to a child who is breastfed is 6 months. Until this time, the baby does not need complementary foods, since he receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals for normal growth and development from mother's milk. True, provided that the baby is healthy, gains weight according to the norms and the function of the gastrointestinal tract is not impaired. nine0005

• By this period - the age of rapid growth, physiological maturation and development of the child, mother's milk is no longer able to provide the baby with the energy supply necessary for him, the trace elements and minerals he needs, as well as plant proteins and various groups of carbohydrates, not to mention general a variety of products to meet the growing needs of the baby.

• At the same time, based on the individual characteristics of the child, as well as regional opportunities to meet the needs of infants, as necessary, the doctor may advise you to introduce complementary foods as early as 4 months of your baby's life, despite the fact that your baby is breastfed. nine0005

IMPORTANT!

Talk to your pediatrician about when to introduce complementary foods to your baby.

You should know that when we talk about this or that period of introduction of complementary foods - 4 or 6 months, we mean not the beginning of these months of a baby's life, but their end.

What can lead to untimely introduction of complementary foods

• According to experts, the early introduction of complementary foods will rather "replace" breast milk, rather than "supplement" it, which is not physiological for infants. In addition, a decrease in the frequency of sucking can reduce the production of mother's milk, which is still very necessary for the nutrition of the baby. nine0005

• If you start introducing complementary foods after the established deadlines (6-7 months), it will be much more difficult for the child to adapt to food that is significantly different in texture from breast milk. He already has a certain “eating behavior” that will not be easy for you to change later, and often such children become very picky.

• Read the latest WHO recommendations on nutritional needs for infants:

“Starting complementary foods too early has its dangers because:

♦ breast milk can be replaced by complementary foods, and this will lead to a decrease in breast milk production, and therefore the risk of insufficient energy and nutrient intake by the baby;

♦ Infants are exposed to pathogenic microbes present in foods and fluids that can be contaminated and thereby increase the risk of dyspepsia and therefore malnutrition; nine0005

♦ the risk of dyspepsia and food allergies increases due to the immaturity of the intestines, and because of this, the risk of malnutrition increases;

♦ Fertility returns to mothers more quickly, as reduced breastfeeding reduces the period during which ovulation is suppressed.

Problems also arise when complementary foods are introduced too late because:

♦ insufficient energy and nutrients from breast milk alone can lead to stunted growth and malnutrition; nine0005

♦ Micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron and zinc, may develop due to the inability of breast milk to meet the baby's needs.

♦ Optimal development of motor skills, such as chewing, and the child's positive perception of the new taste and texture of food may not be ensured.

Therefore, it is necessary to introduce complementary foods at the right time, at the appropriate stages of development.

Timing of the introduction of individual products nine0005

Introduction of juices

• Formerly: Complementary foods should start with juices.

• Now: Juices are not introduced into the baby's diet until 6 months of age.

• Today, pediatricians prohibit the introduction of juices before six months. Breastfed babies do not need juices in the first months of life. As a result of research, it was revealed that a three-month-old baby does not receive any special vitamins that would not be part of human milk, even from freshly prepared juice. In addition, children who drink juice from the age of three months have a high risk of allergic reactions and disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. nine0005

Introduction of fermented milk products

Formerly: Fermented milk products can be introduced into complementary foods from 5 months.

Now: It is better to get acquainted with kefir and cottage cheese from 8 months.

• Kefir and cottage cheese contain gluten, and it can cause allergic reactions in many children. Nutritionists advise choosing curds without flavorings. To make it sweeter, you can add a spoonful of natural fruit puree (from a green apple or a ripe pear). nine0005

Meat Introduction

• Formerly: meat is introduced from 8 months.

• Now: You can start getting acquainted with meat from 7 months.

• Doctors believe that teaching a child to vegetarianism is a big mistake. Indeed, animal protein, unsaturated fatty acids found in meat, are necessary for the normal growth and development of babies. After six months, neither fruits nor vegetables can satisfy the need of a growing child's body for amino acids and proteins. nine0005

Introduction of fruit and vegetable puree

• Formerly: After juices, fruit purees are introduced at 4 months.

• Now: At 6 months weaning starts with vegetable puree.

• It is best to start complementary foods with a monocomponent vegetable puree. For him, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli are suitable. Mashed potatoes should be prepared with water, but can also be diluted with breast milk or milk formula that the baby eats. Potatoes are allowed to be added to multi-ingredient mashed potatoes (they must be included in the list of products allowed after 8 months). nine0005

• It happens that pediatricians advise starting complementary foods with cereals. An indication for a change in general patterns may be the nature of regurgitation, and the general dynamics of weight gain in the baby.

Introduction of milk porridge

• Formerly: milk porridge is introduced into the infant's diet at 5 months.

• Now: cereals prepared with milk should be given to a child from 6–7 months. nine0005

• It is better to start with gluten-free cereals: buckwheat, rice or corn. To exclude allergic reactions, it is recommended to cook porridge in water, without sugar and salt. And with oatmeal it’s worth a while, since it, like semolina and millet, contains gluten, a vegetable protein that is a strong allergen.

Russian traditions.

Folk wisdom says: the first complementary foods should be started no earlier than the first tooth appears in the crumbs. nine0005

Scheme for the introduction of complementary foods and dishes, approved by the State Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

*numbers 3, 4, etc. mean that this product should be administered from 3, 4, etc. months;

**number 1 (column fruit puree) means that fruit puree is introduced 2 weeks after the introduction of juice;

***number 2 (column whole milk) means that milk must be used for preparing complementary foods (vegetable puree, cereals, etc.). nine0005

IMPORTANT!

Parents can use this scheme only when they live in areas and areas where it is difficult for them to get competent specialist advice in time. If you do not have such problems, use the advice of your pediatrician or pediatric nutritionist.

Complementary foods and meals recommended by US pediatrician William Sears

Indicators that the child is ready to introduce solid foods into his diet:

• The child can sit without support - this is the position in which it is supposed to receive solid food

• The child controls the movements of his head (to show you that he has already eaten).

• The child knows how to eat food from a spoon.

Introduction of complementary foods to a formula-fed child

• Complementary foods are introduced to a child on artificial feeding earlier than on natural feeding, starting from 4.5–5 months of life.

• The sequence of introducing foods and complementary foods with this type of infant feeding is almost the same as the sequence of introducing them with natural feeding. However, given that the artificial child is already adapted to "foreign nutrition", certain types of complementary foods can be introduced to him at an earlier date. Especially if the need arises. nine0005

• In any case, juices and fruit purees can be introduced to him already from 1.5–2 months, and not from 3–3.5 as with natural feeding. As needed the first food can be porridge, instead of vegetable puree. But kefir and other whole non-adapted fermented milk products are best introduced from 6–7 months. Instead of cow's milk, it is desirable to give preference to "subsequent" mixtures, as, indeed, with breastfeeding. nine0005

The scheme for the introduction of products and dishes of complementary foods during artificial feeding of children of the first year of life, approved by the State Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

*numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. mean that this product should be administered from 1, 2, etc. months.

**1 - puree is introduced 2 weeks after the introduction of juice.

***2 - depending on the amount of adapted or follow-up formula received by the child. nine0005

****3 - for preparing complementary foods (vegetable puree, porridge, etc.).

The diet of an infant who is bottle-fed and receiving complementary foods

• Already after the introduction of the first complementary foods, you can transfer your baby to 5 meals a day. In cases where your baby has been artificially fed not from the first days of life, his transfer to this type of feeding should be gradual, and the younger the child, the more strictly this rule must be followed. The fact is that such a baby is still simply physiologically immature and hardly adapts to nutrition that differs from the human milk intended for him by nature. nine0005

• Feeding your baby 5 times after the introduction of complementary foods does not mean that "free" feeding is cancelled. You must take into account the desires of your baby in this type of baby food, varying the number of feedings depending on his appetite. And if it is easier for your child to eat the food he needs in smaller portions than you offer him, reduce the amount of portions and increase the number of feedings, based on the individual characteristics of your baby. Be flexible about nutrition and change the established "clichés" in favor of your child. nine0005

IMPORTANT!

Artificial milk formulas made from cow's milk stay in the baby's stomach for about 3 hours, cereals for 3-4 hours, and vegetables for 4-5 hours.

Complementary feeding rules

IMPORTANT!

Talk to your pediatrician before you start complementary foods!

• Start complementary foods only if the baby is currently healthy and has stable stools. nine0005

• Do not start complementary foods at least one week before, during, and after your booster shot. Do not introduce complementary foods in hot weather.

• The consistency of the first complementary foods should be at least semi-liquid so that the baby does not have difficulty swallowing new food (homogeneous and well-mashed). After getting used to such food, you can begin to give the child a thicker one.

• Teach your child to take complementary foods from a spoon, not from a pacifier. nine0005

• Give complementary foods before breastfeeding, not after (before breastfeeding, the baby has a strong nutritional arousal that “forces” him to try new food, and after feeding an unfamiliar dish that is inferior in taste to milk, the baby may not only not like it, but cause his constant protest in the future). Many pediatricians advise breastfeeding about 2 hours after feeding.

• Introduce each new complementary food gradually, starting with very small amounts (juice from a few drops, puree and porridge from half or one teaspoon). Wait a week, watch the reaction. If all is well, gradually increase the dose and introduce the next product. nine0005

• If an infant develops allergic reactions or bowel dysfunction, stop giving him this food dish and try to introduce it again, if this dish is really necessary for the child, after a while. In case of repeated intolerance to this type of complementary foods, replace it with a similar one (for example, one type of porridge for another, oatmeal for buckwheat, etc.).

• Start introducing a new type of food with one particular product, and only after making sure that this product does not cause an allergic reaction in the baby and is well tolerated by him. Move, as necessary, first to a mixture of two, and then to a mixture of more products of this group (apple juice, pear, etc. ). nine0005

• Introduce complementary foods such as cereals and mashed vegetables gradually, starting with one or more scoops, and try to completely replace one breastfeed with this new food over the course of a week.

• Complementary foods for healthy babies start with applesauce from green apples. If the baby has problems, for example, he is not gaining weight well, complementary foods can be started with gluten-free cereals (buckwheat, rice, corn).

• Let's try a new product at a time of the day when the baby is in a good mood and not too hungry. For the first attempts, the middle of the morning or afternoon is perfect. nine0005

• Introduce new food in small portions, gradually moving to larger ones. Update the diet no more than once every 5-6 days.

• Do not be guided by other children: if a neighbor's peer is already eating potatoes with meat with might and main, this does not mean that it is time for your child too.

• If your baby is an "artificial", then be careful when calculating the dose of complementary foods so as not to overfeed the baby from the first days. Normally, newborns should lose 5-7% of their weight within a few days. In fact, "artificial" lose much less than infants or children who are breastfed with supplements. Keep in mind that excessive nutrition from the first days of life can disrupt the metabolic process and affect later weight. nine0005

Baby feeding safety

• When preparing meat puree, cut the meat and poultry across the grain into small, thin pieces.

• Carefully remove all bones before mashing the fish.

• Avoid fibrous foods such as celery and long string beans as they can choke. In addition, "dangerous" foods include: nuts, seeds, raw carrots, fresh apples, grapes, unripe pears, hard beans. nine0005

Do you cook yourself or prefer industrial products?

Benefits

• Cooking for your baby is your way of expressing your love to him.

• You don't just cook mashed potatoes or porridge for him, you communicate with him, talking about potatoes, carrots, green peas. .. You introduce him to flowers - carrots are orange, and peas are green... In addition to the names and properties of products, your baby understands the main thing - you are with him and take care of him now. After all, he will eat the puree. nine0005

• You don't just use any baby foods, you use the very best of those foods you can find.

Drawbacks

Our food has become unsafe. In products - nitrates, pesticides and other "chemistry". And you cannot be sure that the ruddy apple that you have chosen for your baby in the store for puree or juice is completely safe for him. But only a guarantee of food safety allows you to prepare complementary foods yourself. nine0005

IMPORTANT!

If there is no such guarantee, then it is better to use various commercially produced complementary foods that guarantee the chemical safety of their products.

Helpful Hints

• To prepare complementary foods, choose vegetables and fruits from your summer cottage. So you will be sure that there is no excessive amount of mineral fertilizers.

• Vegetables must be whole and healthy in appearance. nine0005

• If vegetables are purchased from a store or market, they can be soaked to reduce their fertilizer content.

• Potatoes grown with mineral fertilizers often show signs of damage (brown and black spots) that are visible when cut.

• Following WHO recommendations, it is desirable that the basis for the introduction of complementary foods is the food that your whole family eats, but processed differently, taking into account the age characteristics of the child. nine0005

• If you are preparing mashed potatoes for all family members, then before salting and adding spices, set aside the portion he needs separately for your baby, soften the mashed potatoes as required for the baby's age, add a small amount of breast milk to it. Instead of milk, you can add boiled water, after cooling it.

• Remember that baby food should not contain a lot of salt or sugar, it should be well softened, kneaded, making it accessible to the child in terms of consistency. nine0005

Industrial baby food products

What applies to industrial baby food products for children in the first year of life

• Canned fruit, vegetable and fruit and vegetable juices and purees.

• Dry instant cereal and cereal-milk mixtures (cereals).

• Meat and meat-vegetable, fish and fish-vegetable purees.

Benefits of industrial baby food

• According to their chemical composition, they strictly correspond to the needs of a child of a particular age in proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as in vitamins and microelements.

• When preparing baby food products industrially, strict quality control of the initial products is carried out, which guarantees the safety of such food for the baby. nine0005

• The set of products in different types of complementary foods is strictly balanced.

• Simplicity and ease of use. Saving mom's time and energy.

• On the road, in the country, at a party, canned vegetables, fruits or meat are very convenient.

What to look for when buying

• For age, from which this product is useful for the baby (is it appropriate for the age of your baby). nine0005

• At , the composition of the ingredients included in this complementary food dish is the amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins, as well as the energy value of the product.

• For , the release date and expiration date is (you cannot buy expired canned food).

• At storage conditions of this product.

• For country and manufacturer. Modern technology for the production of baby food is quite high in all countries, and domestic products are not worse than foreign ones. nine0005

Helpful Hints

• Do not feed your baby directly from a can.

• Lay a tablecloth, transfer the puree from the jar to a beautiful plate, heat to a comfortable temperature. Put a beautiful bib on your child, give a children's plastic spoon in your hands and encourage the baby to eat on his own.

• You can turn on calm music.

Child learns to eat from a spoon

• The first attempts to eat with a spoon are not easy. At first, the child may not be able to remove food from the spoon. If you transfer the contents of the spoon to the tongue, it will soon be back on his chin. And if you put a spoon in your mouth, the baby may choke.

• It is best to touch the spoon to the baby's mouth and wait until he, making sucking movements, eats its contents. Even a small amount of food eaten in this way will be enough to interest the child. nine0005

• Yes, do not force feed your baby. Eating is a pleasant activity, and children who are allowed to choose the amount and type of food themselves always have a good appetite. The baby knows how much he needs to eat, and will let you know by turning away from the spoon or pursing his lips.

Useful acquisitions.

High chair

• From the age of 6 months, when the child learns to sit on his own, he will need a high chair.

• Sitting in a highchair at a common table, the baby becomes a full member of the family breakfast, lunch or dinner. And he enjoys it immensely! nine0005

• Well, if the high chair can be used as a place for creativity. There are models that transform into a workplace where you can sculpt, draw, do applique and play.

IMPORTANT!

Always fasten your baby in a high chair.

Types of high chairs

Chair and table set, similar to adult furniture, but smaller version

• It can be wooden and plastic, plain or painted "under Khokhloma". This option is only suitable for a child older than 1.5 years.

• There are also more modern models - a plastic armchair placed on tubular metal legs. A baby up to a year old can sit in it, but it will be hard for him. In addition, usually such chairs need to be additionally equipped with safety belt systems.

high chair

• A folding chair takes up little space. It is easy to assemble and disassemble. As a rule, such a chair weighs a little more than 5 kg.

Hanging chair

• Hanging chair - one of the folding options. He will help you out if there is not enough space in the kitchen and in the room. In addition, it will come in handy when traveling.

• Hanging chair consists of a metal frame, removable soft cover, hard back and seat. There is no footrest, and this, of course, is inconvenient. nine0005

• Hanging chair is installed on the parent dining table or on a table in a railway compartment using clips.

• The hanging chair is fixed on the tabletop using the lever method, that is, due to the weight of the child. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the weight of the baby does not exceed that recommended by the manufacturers of this seat, otherwise the child may roll over. There is another method of fastening (quite reliable) - using a system of screws.

• The hanging chair takes up little space, weighs less than 5 kg, is compact enough to be attached to almost any table in a few minutes. As a rule, the price of such chairs is low.

• Such chairs are designed for children from 6 months. The maximum weight that they can withstand is 15 kg.

Travel chair

• A travel chair is a structure that is attached to any chair with a back using straps. In this case, the child is securely held by the seat belt. nine0005

• There are many different models of such chairs.

• The seat of the support chair where the travel chair is attached must be flat and firm.

• You can not install a high chair on a stool, folding chair, high bar stool.

Transformer

• The simplest models of domestic production are a structure with an area of approximately 1 sq. m. The seats are usually made of oilcloth, which is easy to clean. The tabletop can be removed after a while. nine0005

• If the countertop does not have sides, it becomes useless, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to fix a plate on it (if it is not equipped with a special suction cup).

In addition, it is necessary to buy additional belts for such a chair in order to ensure safe feeding for the baby in the chair.

• When the baby grows up, the structure is dismantled into "spare parts", and the baby gets a workplace from a table and a stand-alone chair. nine0005

• In different transformers - a different number of levels to which they can be lowered (from 1 to 7). Thanks to this, you will adjust the height at which the child sits to the level of the dining table or to the level of the chair on which the mother sits.

• Multifunctional center for the baby - a version of the transformer. It can perform the functions of a chair, rocking chair, swing, fold and unfold. At the same time, it takes up little space.

• In such models, the tables are made of reliable and safe plastic, have sides and recesses in which you can put dishes or, nine0005

such as drawing supplies. In expensive models of chairs, you can change the angle of the backrest and the height of the footrest, and the table can be mounted at different distances from the child. In any case, the highchair should have a footrest and a comfortable table top.

• Such a chair can serve a child up to 3-5 years.

• The disadvantage of the same design is that it is not very compact and very heavy. It is not suitable for the kitchen, since for such a stationary chair you will have to allocate a permanent place. nine0005

Things to consider when buying a highchair

• Most modern chairs are made of plastic. But there are also models with a metal frame or individual parts made of various alloys. There are also chairs made of wood. As a rule, they are cheaper. However, they are not always comfortable and are difficult to keep clean.

• Check the chair for stability. This is important, as the baby will spin in the chair and hang from it. nine0005

• If you are going to move the high chair inside the apartment, it is better to purchase a high chair on wheels. There are models with 2 wheels. However, a highchair with 4 wheels is easier to move.

• The wheels must have comfortable and reliable brake locks. A restraining strap is also required, otherwise the baby will slide between the seat and the table.

• Check how secure the fasteners with which you will fasten the child to the high chair are. They must be five-point. It is good if the chair has an anatomical protrusion between the legs, as it additionally holds the baby, preventing him from slipping under the table. nine0005

• The frames must be firmly fixed so that the child does not pinch his fingers.

• Make sure the table is smooth. The seat must be washable.

• Choose models with a streamlined shape, without sharp corners. It is convenient when there are various handles in order to move, tilt and carry the chair.

• There are high chairs that can simply be moved to the dining table, and there are those that have a separate tabletop. In the first case, you should choose a model so that the height of the chair matches the height of the table. Then the baby will be comfortable and sit and eat. nine0005

• Find out if the seat height can be changed. Comfortable models have several levels of its fastening.

• If the high chair has a tabletop, make sure it is large enough and has rims around the edges. The tabletop is also convenient when the design involves a removable tray. In this case, you can remove the top tabletop after the baby has eaten, and he can immediately do something else.

• Pay attention to the footrest, the angle of which can be easily changed. Of course, it is more convenient for the baby to sit when his legs rest on this step. nine0005

• Please note that chairs with a hard, non-adjustable back are suitable for well-seated children. For those babies who are not yet too confident in sitting, models have been created in which you can change the position of the back, easing the load on the fragile spine.

• Practice folding and unfolding the chair of your choice. It is better not to take a chair with a complex or weak mechanism.

Introducing solid foods to your baby: how to teach your baby to chew - Parents.ru

About nutrition

Photo: Getty Images/E+

Pediatrician at Human Health Children's Medical Center

When to start introducing solid foods -8 months.

In fact, age in the development of chewing skills is not the main thing. The baby should be ready for the introduction of solid foods both physically (to be able to actively work with the tongue and press it correctly against the palate) and psychologically: food interest should “wake up”, the desire to look into the parent’s plate and try what adults eat. nine0005

“The appearance of the first chewing movements occurs at 4-5 months, at the same time the gag reflex moves from the middle to the back third of the tongue,” says pediatrician Yulia Rakhimbekova. - And if during this period you do not introduce complementary foods, but continue to stimulate only the sucking reflex, then the chewing reflex that is not supported by practice will begin to fade. A few years ago, the baby, before the appearance of the first milk teeth, received drying, crackers or even a chicken bone from his mother and learned to “chew” with his gums. Today, parents often introduce complementary foods after 6 months and later, when 2-4 front teeth have already appeared in the mouth. But these teeth are used for biting, it is impossible to chew them, and - what is important! - they prevent the baby from chewing with their gums. This is how the moment is lost. Further, normally at the age of 7-12 months, the child continues to strengthen the skills of biting and chewing, developing lateral movements of the tongue and the ability to move food to the teeth with the tongue. He is already able to eat cereals, chopped fruits and vegetables. Of course, everything is individual. Full-term or premature, healthy or with health problems, have teeth or have not yet appeared - one way or another, by the year the baby should produce high-quality chewing movements with the jaws. nine0571 But this will only happen if the parents gradually taught him this. It does not happen that a child is fed only with breast milk, but at the age of one he sat down at the table, took a spoon and began to eat busily from the common table.

If the baby is over two years old, and he is accustomed to mashed food, chews reluctantly or does not know how to chew at all, please be patient: to catch up, you will need time - from a month to six months.

Why you need to learn to chew before the age of

The ability to chew solid food is absolutely necessary for a child:

for strong teeth

The inability and unwillingness of the baby to chew solid pieces of food leads to a violation of the formation of bite, and subsequently - the oval of the face. Milk teeth are not sufficiently stressed and may fall out prematurely.

The use of products mainly in a puree-like state negatively affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract: it provokes the appearance of allergies, intestinal disorders, bloating, constipation. Since the food that you just need to swallow does not mix well with saliva, the baby's digestive enzymes are poorly produced. The gastrointestinal tract becomes "lazy", receiving only tender food, which is no longer for the child's age. As a result, problems grow like a snowball: underdevelopment of the enzyme apparatus, excess weight, increased sensitivity of the intestine. nine0005

“The inability to chew is not the direct cause of speech delay or its absence,” says speech therapist Tamara Novikova. “At the same time, this is an indicator of negative changes in articulatory tone. It is likely that the child will be uncomfortable, uncomfortable pronouncing some sounds, because this also requires efforts.

“Until the age of 1.5, we ate only pureed food, as we choked on pieces. It didn’t bother me at all: 15 seconds in a blender - and you’re done. To be honest, it was even more convenient for me, because it was faster and easier to feed. Only now he refuses to eat meat ”- a similar story can be found on any parent forum. Many mothers feel sorry for their babies (and themselves) by giving them pureed food. But the age of 1–2 years is quite dangerous in terms of manipulating a child with parental opinion. Make every effort to ensure that the little one cannot blackmail you with his unwillingness to chew and swallow hard pieces, because in the future this can turn into much more problems. nine0005

Food "pieces" should appear in the children's diet no later than the first tooth erupts. The ability to chew well is the key to healthy teeth and clear articulation.

Why a baby refuses to chew

Photo: Getty Images/Westend61/Sebastian Rothe

Situations when the baby refuses to chew happen quite often. Why is this happening?

Too early or abrupt change in the consistency of food

Do not immediately switch from homogeneous puree to food in pieces: at first the baby may simply not understand that it is also edible, and the absence of "normal", from his point of view, food will make him nervous. The logical result of this is streams of tears and a tightly compressed mouth. Do not worry! Each baby has its own pace of development and maturation of body systems. If you have introduced solid foods according to all the rules, and the baby stubbornly refuses “solid” foods, consult a specialist (pediatrician, gastroenterologist, neurologist). nine0005

Disorders of articulatory tone

“The conditions in which a woman today carries and gives birth to a child are far from ideal,” explains speech therapist Tamara Novikova. - A large percentage of expectant mothers work to the last, exposing themselves to stress and hypoxia, drive a car, do not always give up bad habits - all this indirectly affects the development of dysarthria (impaired tone of the muscles of the speech apparatus) in the child in the future, because a weakened fetus is already forming in utero . What do we get next? A tongue that cannot turn food over in the mouth, poor functioning of the muscles that close, raise and lower the jaw, and an unwillingness to chew. Parents who give up breastfeeding too early also do a disservice to the baby. To get milk from the mother's breast, the baby needs to work hard - work his muscles. With a regular bottle, articulatory tone is much more difficult to develop. Nevertheless, all these difficulties can be overcome. nine0005

Physiological problems

The baby may refuse to chew even if it is difficult for him to swallow. Trying to cope with solid food can cause him to cough and even vomit. Swallowing disorders may be associated with malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract or other diseases: for example, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, stomatitis, inflammation of the oral cavity and larynx. “Possible problems that can interfere with high-quality chewing will definitely show up during the child’s medical examination,” pediatrician Yulia Rakhimbekova reassures. - Do not neglect the dispensary appointments of doctors. Up to a year, a child should visit the dentist twice, 4 times - at the neurologist, 3 times - at the surgeon. If necessary (for example, there is a suspicion of a short frenulum of the tongue), the baby can be referred for a consultation with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. nine0005

How to introduce solid foods to your baby

There is no special technique for teaching chewing, because everything should go on as usual. However, with the help of our tips, you will help your baby master this skill faster.

Photo: Getty Images/Foodcollection

Organize a space. Think in advance where the baby will feel most comfortable: in a high chair or on your lap.
Pick a moment. It is important that the child is not too hungry - otherwise he will be nervous, and your efforts will go down the drain, but at the same time he wants to eat.
Prepare cutlery. Use a light plastic spoon with a rounded handle for feeding - then the baby can use it independently.
Consider your diet. “We usually advise mothers to offer their babies pieces of an apple or soft biscuits that they will bite into and thus learn to chew. An inquisitive kid will definitely agree to taste a new product, and at the same time understand why he needs his teeth, and practice chewing movements, says Yulia Rakhimbekova. “Any dish that you think is appropriate at the moment will do, considering whether it’s part of dinner, a snack between meals, or a dessert after a hearty meal.” When buying a jar of puree, be guided by the markings on the label: among the jars recommended for the age of 8-10 months, you will definitely find those that say "pieces that teach you to chew." nine0005
Take your time. Start small meals. If the baby refuses a new complementary food, do not insist. Make the consistency of the offered dishes thicker over time - thanks to this, the need to work with the jaws, lips, and tongue develops. If the dish is too thick, add some water or milk.
Use his curiosity. At 4-7 months, your baby will persistently procrastinate in his mouth and try to chew whatever you give him. Your job is to make sure it's safe. The main thing is to avoid sudden transitions in the diet: you should not give hard carrots if before that the baby ate only ground cereals and mashed potatoes. nine0005
Don't distract. Let the baby concentrate on the process of eating, then the actions of the hands, tongue and lips will be coordinated as much as possible.

Mom's helper: nibbler

Nibbler is a device reminiscent of the methods of our grandmothers, when some product (an apple or a lump of sugar) was wrapped in gauze and a child without danger to life could procrastinate it in his mouth for a long time. Nibbler promotes the taste of the product, activates salivation and trains chewing movements. The main thing is to monitor the integrity of the mesh and rinse it thoroughly after use. nine0005

How to overcome dislike for solid foods

Photo: Getty Images/Tetra images RF

“If parents delay their child's transition to solid foods, as a rule, problems begin,” says Yulia Rakhimbekova. - Even a two-year-old baby's eating behavior is already formed, it becomes very difficult to teach him to chew and just make him take something unusual in his mouth. The main advice in this case is not to rush, not to pressure and in no case starve (they say, nothing, get hungry - eat). The transition from pureed food to "pieces" should be gradual. Involve the child in cooking, chop the product together, first in a blender, using a meat grinder or grater, a little later with a fork. Remember that children are very fond of imitating, so be sure to practice “joint dining”, where you will chew food together with great pleasure. nine0005