Is baby food considered a solid

When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods | Nutrition

For more information about how to know if your baby is ready to starting eating foods, what first foods to offer, and what to expect, watch these videos from 1,000 Days.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old. Introducing foods before 4 months old is not recommended. Every child is different. How do you know if your child is ready for foods other than breast milk or infant formula? You can look for these signs that your child is developmentally ready.

Your child:

Sits up alone or with support.
Is able to control head and neck.
Opens the mouth when food is offered.
Swallows food rather than pushes it back out onto the chin.
Brings objects to the mouth.
Tries to grasp small objects, such as toys or food.
Transfers food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow.

What Foods Should I Introduce to My Child First?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that for most children, you do not need to give foods in a certain order. Your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months old. By the time he or she is 7 or 8 months old, your child can eat a variety of foods from different food groups. These foods include infant cereals, meat or other proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, yogurts and cheeses, and more.

If your child is eating infant cereals, it is important to offer a variety of fortifiedalert icon infant cereals such as oat, barley, and multi-grain instead of only rice cereal. Only providing infant rice cereal is not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration because there is a risk for children to be exposed to arsenic. Visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administrationexternal icon to learn more.

How Should I Introduce My Child to Foods?

Your child needs certain vitamins and minerals to grow healthy and strong.

Now that your child is starting to eat food, be sure to choose foods that give your child all the vitamins and minerals they need.

Click here to learn more about some of these vitamins & minerals.

Let your child try one single-ingredient food at a time at first. This helps you see if your child has any problems with that food, such as food allergies. Wait 3 to 5 days between each new food. Before you know it, your child will be on his or her way to eating and enjoying lots of new foods.

Introduce potentially allergenic foods when other foods are introduced.

Potentially allergenic foods include cow’s milk products, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Drinking cow’s milk or fortified soy beverages is not recommended until your child is older than 12 months, but other cow’s milk products, such as yogurt, can be introduced before 12 months. If your child has severe eczema and/or egg allergy, talk with your child’s doctor or nurse about when and how to safely introduce foods with peanuts.

How Should I Prepare Food for My Child to Eat?

At first, it’s easier for your child to eat foods that are mashed, pureed, or strained and very smooth in texture. It can take time for your child to adjust to new food textures. Your child might cough, gag, or spit up. As your baby’s oral skills develop, thicker and lumpier foods can be introduced.

Some foods are potential choking hazards, so it is important to feed your child foods that are the right texture for his or her development. To help prevent choking, prepare foods that can be easily dissolved with saliva and do not require chewing. Feed small portions and encourage your baby to eat slowly. Always watch your child while he or she is eating.

Here are some tips for preparing foods:

Mix cereals and mashed cooked grains with breast milk, formula, or water to make it smooth and easy for your baby to swallow.
Mash or puree vegetables, fruits and other foods until they are smooth.
Hard fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, usually need to be cooked so they can be easily mashed or pureed.
Cook food until it is soft enough to easily mash with a fork.
Remove all fat, skin, and bones from poultry, meat, and fish, before cooking.
Remove seeds and hard pits from fruit, and then cut the fruit into small pieces.
Cut soft food into small pieces or thin slices.
Cut cylindrical foods like hot dogs, sausage and string cheese into short thin strips instead of round pieces that could get stuck in the airway.
Cut small spherical foods like grapes, cherries, berries and tomatoes into small pieces.
Cook and finely grind or mash whole-grain kernels of wheat, barley, rice, and other grains.

Learn more about potential choking hazards and how to prevent your child from choking.

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Helpful Resources | Nutrition | CDC

If you would like more information on topics related to feeding your baby or toddler, here are some resources:

General

CDC’s Infant and Toddler Nutrition microsite syndication
CDC offers a free Web Content Syndication service that gives public health partners the opportunity to syndicate CDC content directly to their sites without having to monitor or copy updates. To search the CDC infant and toddler nutrition website available for syndication as well as other resources you can share, visit the CDC Public Health Media Library and browse or search for “infant and toddler nutrition”. Learn more about content syndication and how to add CDC syndicated content on your site.

CDC’s Child and Teen Resources
This collection of resources provides parents and caregivers, health care providers, and partners with tools and information to help children and teens maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity.

CDC’s Child Development Positive Parenting Tips (Infants)
This CDC website provides information about infants’ development, as well as tips for positive parenting and promoting the safety and health of infants.

CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early.
This website includes tools to track children’s milestones and resources about children’s development.

CDC’s Parent Information
This CDC website provides resources and information on pregnancy, infants and toddlers, children, and teens. Learn how to handle common parenting challenges through interactive activities, videos, and more. Healthcare professionals and researchers can also find information on children’s health and safety.

CDC’s Division of Oral Health
Tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. CDC’s Division of Oral Health provides information on what parents and caregivers can do to ensure good oral health for your child.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 pdf icon[PDF-30.6MB]external icon
These guidelines provide science-based advice for Americans on what to eat and drink to promote health, reduce chronic disease, and meet nutrient needs. The 2020–2025 edition provides recommendations for all life stages, including infants and toddlers.

Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Young Toddlers: A Responsive Parenting Approachexternal icon
This report presents recommendations for promoting healthy nutrition and feeding patterns for infants and toddlers from birth to 24 months, with an emphasis on dietary quality, portion sizes, and mealtime environment.

Healthy Childrenexternal icon
This website was developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics for parents. It features thousands of articles in English and Spanish on children’s health and safety, as well as interactive tools.

United States Department of Agriculture Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)external icon
The WIC Program provides support to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, babies, and children up to age 5. WIC provides nutritious foods, information on healthy eating, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care.

United States Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)external icon
SNAP provides benefits to low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities.

Feeding and Beverage Recommendationsexternal icon
Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, offers science-based recommendations for parents and caregivers. Tips are available for feeding children from birth through 24 monthsexternal icon and beverages for children from birth through 5 yearsexternal icon. Tips for older children are also available.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Advice About Eating Fishexternal icon
The U.S. FDA and EPA provide advice regarding eating fish. This advice can help people make informed choices when it comes to the types of fish that are nutritious and safe to eat. It is especially important for those who might become pregnant, who are pregnant, or who are breastfeeding, as well as for parents and caregivers who are feeding children. This advice supports the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

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Breastfeeding

CDC’s Breastfeeding Information
CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) is committed to increasing breastfeeding rates throughout the United States. CDC provides information for public health professionals and others to help support breastfeeding mothers, such as managing breastfeeding during various maternal and infant illnesses and conditions, any precautions for vaccines during breastfeeding, and recommendations for proper storage and handling of expressed human milk.

International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA)external icon
ILCA is the member association for professionals who care for breastfeeding families. ILCA’s “Find a Lactation Consultant Directory” can help you find a lactation consultant to get the breastfeeding support you need.

United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA)external icon
USLCA is a professional association for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and other health care professionals who care for breastfeeding families. USLCA’s “Find an IBCLC” can help you find a lactation consultant to get the breastfeeding support you need.

WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—Breastfeeding Support external icon
The United States Department of Agriculture Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Breastfeeding Support website includes resources for expectant and current mothers about breastfeeding, overcoming common challenges, and thriving to make breastfeeding work for their families.

La Leche League USAexternal icon
La Leche League USA helps mothers to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education and promotes a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

Office on Women’s Healthexternal icon
The Office on Women’s Health’s vision is for all women and girls to achieve the best possible health outcomes. They provide information on breastfeeding to help women make infant feeding decisions and to guide mothers through the breastfeeding process.

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Infant Formula

Questions & Answers for Consumers Concerning Infant Formulaexternal icon
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration regulates infant formula and has a list of questions and answers about infant formula.

Infant Formula Do’s and Don’tsexternal icon
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides information on infant formula preparation and storage, as well as other tips on how to keep infant formula safe.

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Food Safety

Food Safety Concerns for Children Under Fiveexternal icon
Food safety is particularly important for young children. Foodsafety.gov provides information on safely preparing food for your child.

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Meal Time

Fruits & Veggies—Have a Plant Movementexternal icon
A resource designed to help spread the word about the health benefits of adding more fruits and veggies to your diet.

USDA MyPlate Kitchenexternal icon
This online tool features a large collection of recipes and resources to support building healthy and budget-friendly meals. Site features include:

Extensive search filters on cuisine, cooking equipment, nutrition content, and more.
Detailed nutrition information.
Cookbooks to browse and download or build your own.
Recipe star ratings, review comments, and sharing on social networks.

Video Series on How to Introduce Solid Foods
1,000 Days has developed helpful videos about introducing solid foods to your baby. Topics include:

Is your baby ready to start eating foods?
What is a good first food for your baby?
What to expect when introducing first foods
How much should I feed my baby?
How to win at mealtimeexternal icon
What foods should my baby avoid?
What should your baby eat in the first year?

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Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin and Mineral Fact Sheetsexternal icon
The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements has fact sheets for consumers and health professionals about vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements.

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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.

Useful articles on child nutrition

Articles

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How to teach a child to drink from a mug by himself

A mug should enter a baby's life without stress and tears. To form such a skill as early as possible is the task of caring parents. The need for this stems from the frequent childhood problems faced by pediatricians, neurologists and dentists: malocclusion, "bottle" caries, impaired speech development, selectivity in nutrition.

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How to teach a child to chew solid food

Many studies have shown that active chewing function ensures the harmonious growth of the jaws, teeth and the formation of the facial skeleton. Any violations in the process of chewing lead to poor mechanical processing of food products, a decrease in the absorption of nutrients and the formation of deficient states. To prevent such situations, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the formation of chewing skills and a competent approach to the introduction of complementary foods.

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Hypoallergenic nutrition for children up to a year

It is difficult to find a modern person who has not heard about allergies. Unfortunately, in recent decades in developed countries there has been a significant increase in the spread of allergic diseases. Why this happens is not fully known, but a possible reason is living in the technogenic environment of large cities and the distance of man from nature. Allergy symptoms often begin in early childhood. According to statistics, every fifth baby in the first year of life develops atopic dermatitis - the first manifestations of allergic reactions.

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Child Immunity Foods

What parent does not dream that his child would grow up healthy and happy! Therefore, one of the most frequent questions to specialists in the field of medicine is what to do so that the child does not get sick. Magic pills that can protect us from any infection do not yet exist. The most effective mechanism for promoting health and increasing immunity to microbes is the competent use of natural resources.

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Why are cereals useful?

Tasty and healthy porridge - the queen of the table. Grains form the basis of the pyramid of healthy human nutrition. Their wide range allows you to make the diet not only varied, but also to get the maximum benefit of natural nutrition. This is due to the fact that different cereals will not only determine the taste characteristics of the dish, but also differ in the composition of nutrients and biologically active substances.

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Healthy nutrition for children

Health is the greatest value in human life. Each parent considers it their primary task to do everything so that the baby grows up healthy and happy. Food determines how our body will implement the instructions laid down in the genes. According to this principle, using the "building blocks" of nutrients, the growth and development of a small person occurs. In addition, nutrition in early childhood determines the characteristics of metabolism in adulthood, that is, it has a long-term impact on human health.

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What kind of porridge is better to choose for complementary foods

Foods that are cooked at home often lose many nutrients during heat treatment, thus not replenishing essential micronutrients. Let's discuss the benefits of commercially produced baby food and determine which cereal is the best choice for feeding your baby.

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Baby menu at 6 months

Changes in a child in the first year of life are very rapid, and each month is not like the other. The 6-month milestone is very important, it is largely evaluative and transitional. Breast milk or an adapted formula is still the basis of the diet, but with the beginning of the second half of life, all children, without exception, should begin to receive complementary foods. In the article we recommend a basic approximate diet for a week.

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Baby menu at 8 months

A child at 8 months old is already an adult baby who can do a lot and even tries to defend his right to independence. The pace of growing up and high activity determine the clear requirements for the nutrition of the baby, which must quantitatively and qualitatively meet the needs of children at this stage of life. Let's look at the basic principles of compiling a baby's diet, and also develop a menu at 8 months, indicating an approximate list of dishes and a meal plan for a week.

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Nutrition diary for a child up to a year

It is very difficult to find the "culprit" of an allergy - a food product that started and maintains this condition. A successful search will be the most effective treatment for the baby, because by removing the causative allergen from the diet, we can stop the allergic reaction. In order to establish a relationship with the reactions that have occurred and the products introduced, parents need to keep a diary of the child's nutrition.

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Daily routine and nutrition of a child at 1 year old

Many modern parents believe that following the daily routine is a relic of the past. Of course, each baby is unique, with their own food preferences, individual characteristics of the time of sleep and wakefulness. Therefore, based on the general rules and recommendations, the task of parents is to create their own daily routine, comfortable for the child and the whole family. The positive influence of the rhythm of life will lead not only to strengthening the health of the baby, but also to educating him for strength of mind and discipline. Let's look at what main blocks of activity should be present in the daily life of a baby, and how to properly organize the daily routine of the year.

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Prebiotics in baby food

Prebiotics and probiotics are popular supplements fortifying a variety of foods and are positioned as absolutely essential for health, especially during periods of intense growth and development. Bebi experts will talk about the benefits of prebiotics in baby food.

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Why iron is needed in the diet up to 1 year

Despite the high nutritional value and diverse vitamin and mineral composition of natural products recommended in baby food, the content of micronutrients in the finished dish does not always satisfy the high need for these substances at an early age. What foods are rich in this micronutrient, and what complementary foods for children can act as sources of iron?

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Consistency of porridge for the first feeding

What consistency should the baby's first porridge be in order not to cause him difficulty in swallowing and further refusal to eat? Why do commercially produced cereals have advantages? We will answer these questions in an article with experts.

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Nutritional norms for a child at 1 year old

Feeding children from 1 to 3 years of age is a transitional stage from breastfeeding to the diet of an adult. What must be in the diet of a one-year-old baby for its full growth and development - we will answer these questions in an article with experts.

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Sugar in baby food

To date, absolutely all the recommendations talk about reducing the share of simple sugars in the children's menu, but energy deficiency is also dangerous for the child. Do not be afraid of sugar in baby food products, because their composition is fully optimized and complies with domestic regulatory documents on baby food standards.

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Milk in baby cereals

One of the first dishes of complementary foods for a child is porridge. This is primarily due to its consistency and high palatability, close to the taste and texture of milk. Due to the enrichment of porridge with milk, the protein value of the cereal dish and the proportion of deficient amino acids (tryptophan, lysine, threonine), vitamins PP, group B and iron increase.

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Can children have tea

A good choice for expanding your baby's diet over 6 months is commercial baby tea. Many parents think that there is no difference between children's tea and regular traditional tea. But this is a delusion. In the article, experts will tell you why this is not so and answer all questions.

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Calcium rich foods for children over 1 year old

For the harmonious development and normal operation of all organs and systems of the baby, a constant supply of nutrients is required. One of the most important minerals absolutely necessary for the human body is calcium. It plays its main role in the formation of the bone skeleton, helping the child grow strong, healthy and strong.

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When and how to introduce a new product into complementary foods

It is important to know how to assess food tolerance and how often to introduce complementary foods with a new food. Currently, there are general rules for the introduction of any new product, as well as recommendations on the sequence of acquaintance of the baby with certain types of food within the same group. Let's talk about this in more detail in our article.

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Complementary foods and dishes

In the food pyramid, the basis and support for the body are complex carbohydrates - the main component of all cereals. The range of cereals on the baby food market is currently quite wide, and this is a popular, but far from complete list of cereals used: buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, rye, corn, barley, millet and wheat. Each of them has its own features and advantages.

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Eating habits

The formation of eating behavior begins from the first days of a baby's life. With the introduction of complementary foods, the child begins to adapt to food other than breast milk, gets used to the products and acquires eating habits that will be fixed and will be implemented throughout his subsequent life. It is in the second half of life that the baby begins to eat on his own, his gradual socialization and transition to a common family table take place.

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At what age to introduce complementary foods

Breast milk is the ideal food for babies in their first months of life. The next most important period in a child's life is the introduction of complementary foods as a stage of gradual preparation for a completely independent diet. Many parents wonder if there are any possible health consequences with an earlier or, conversely, late introduction of certain foods into the diet, and at what months it would be best to start complementary foods.

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Can children drink mineral water

How to choose water for a child? This question interests many parents. Children's drinking water is fundamentally different from adult water. The level of total mineralization is one of the most important characteristics of children's drinking water.

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Pedagogical complementary foods: a diagram of how to introduce, where to start

Today, there are two main schemes for the introduction of complementary foods - pediatric and pedagogical. The idea of pedagogical feeding is based on the development of independent eating behavior. The essential difference of this scheme is not the provision of additional intake of nutrients, but the voluntary acquaintance of the child with traditional food products within the family.

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How to introduce complementary foods with dairy-free porridge, which is better to start with

Porridge is the preferred first food. Complex carbohydrates, the main components of cereals, have a very high energy potential, dietary fiber stimulates the maturation and functioning of the intestines, and sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals is important for the normal development of the baby.

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First feeding with milk porridge

Your baby is growing and developing rapidly, and others say that he is changing right before our eyes. By the 4-5th month of a baby's life, every mother begins to wonder if breast milk alone is enough for him, and whether it is time to start introducing other foods.

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How much to give baby food for the first time

The introduction of complementary foods is a responsible and necessary period in the life of both parents and the child. In essence, this is a transitional stage of nutrition, when the baby's body gradually moves from easily digestible, maximally adapted breast milk to a varied adult diet.

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First complementary foods: what time to start

Numerous scientific studies have shown that early childhood nutrition has a very strong impact on future health. Insufficient diet of the mother during pregnancy and lactation, as well as improper nutrition of the baby, increase the risk of developing many diseases.

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What can a child at 10 months old - an approximate menu for every day

The first year of a baby's life is unique. The processes of growth and development are so intense that each new month is not like the previous one. In this regard, the child's diet undergoes changes every month to meet the growing needs of the body for nutrients, vitamins, minerals and other biologically active substances. Let's discuss what changes are taking place in the baby's diet, and what can be included in the diet at 10 months.

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Baby menu at 9 months

Your baby is 9 months old and it's time to adjust his diet again. The activity of digestive enzymes is already high, teeth erupt in the crumbs, and the volume of the stomach becomes larger, which determines the possibility of increasing the amount of food per feeding and further expanding the diet. What can a child eat at 9months?" - this question very often worries the parents of a grown baby.

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What can a baby eat at 7 months?

What kind of porridge, vegetables and fruits can a child eat at 7 months? Is it possible to give a child potatoes, apricots, etc.? Find out more in the BEBI.RU

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What can a 5 month old baby eat?

What kind of porridge, vegetables and fruits can a child eat at 7 months? Is it possible to give a child potatoes, apricots, etc.? Find out more in the BEBI.RU

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Child's diet - what can you eat in a year old?

What can a child eat in a year? What vegetables and fruits can you already feed? We will tell you in detail in the BEBI.RU blog.

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Meat in baby food

Find out at how many months you can introduce meat into your baby's complementary foods, what meat to start with and how to introduce. More about complementary foods in the blog BEBI. RU

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How to introduce vegetables into complementary foods?

Learn how to properly introduce vegetables into your baby's food, what vegetables to start with, and when to give your baby raw vegetables. More on the BEBI.RU blog

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Comparison of dairy and non-dairy cereals

Various cereals intended for baby food may be dairy or dairy-free. The first ones already contain specially prepared milk, suitable for young children. It is enough to dilute this product with water before use. To prepare dairy-free cereals, you need to use breast milk or an adapted mixture, and after 6 months - subsequent mixtures, vegetable broth, juices, water. Many mothers who solve the problems of complementary foods are faced with the question of which porridge is better - dairy or dairy-free.

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Which milk is better for a child - cow or goat?

Breast milk is the best and most correct nutrition for a newborn. Its composition during lactation changes in accordance with the functional characteristics of the child's digestive system, which determines the adequate absorption of nutrients in the conditions of the formation of his gastrointestinal tract. For one reason or another, breastfeeding may be unavailable or insufficient.

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How much iron is your baby getting?

Attentive mothers must have noticed that almost all baby cereals and mixtures are enriched with iron. This is done for a reason. The need for iron in children is about five times higher than that of an adult. This trace element makes up the majority of erythrocytes - red blood cells responsible for oxygen saturation of every cell of the body. An iron deficiency in a child can lead to delayed development. And all due to the fact that his body will not receive the necessary amount of oxygen. Knowing the reasons that can provoke a lack of iron in a child, you can avoid many problems in his development.

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Why does the child's body need trace elements?

Man is a part of nature, so it is not surprising that almost all known chemical elements that exist in the environment are present in our body. Four of them are basic - carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, all tissues of living organisms are built from them.

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How to cook the first porridge?

The timing of the introduction of complementary foods for each child is individual. It is determined by the pediatrician. In general, the baby is ready to try new foods when he confidently holds and turns his head, his body weight has doubled since birth, and after breastfeeding or formula he is not saturated. It is important that the child recognizes the spoon and opens his mouth when it is brought, and also knows how to move mashed food in his mouth. Pediatricians often advise cooking porridge as the first complementary food.

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The benefits of cereal porridge for a child

One of the most important places in the structure of nutrition of infants belongs to grain products - cereals, as they are commonly called in Russia. Abroad, they are better known as cereals. The benefits of cereals for children lies in their high nutritional value and the content of almost all nutrients: vegetable proteins, carbohydrates, fats, a number of vitamins and minerals, and dietary fiber. These features distinguish cereals from many other food products.

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Allergy to baby food

Allergies to baby food are common in newborn babies. This is due to the fact that in the first year of life the child is actively acquainted with new products. The mechanism of allergy development is simple. In response to the entry of an allergen into the blood, antibodies begin to be produced, which, upon subsequent encounter with the same product, trigger protective mechanisms. Usually, the product that causes allergies is not difficult to determine, since the reaction occurs after a few minutes, less often hours.

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Pregnancy baby food

Pregnancy is a kind of test for the body, so a woman should make sure that he has the strength not only to bear the child, but also to ensure normal lactation. Of great importance in this is a balanced diet that supplies vitamins, elements, proteins, fats and carbohydrates necessary for the mother and the developing fetus.

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Gluten in baby food

Kashi occupy one of the most important places in the structure of baby food. They are favorably distinguished by high nutritional value, the content of almost all nutrients - dietary fiber, carbohydrates, fats, vegetable proteins, a number of vitamins and minerals. It is no coincidence that it is cereals that are included in the diet of babies as the first complementary foods. However, this should be done with extreme caution, because in addition to all the listed nutrients, cereals contain gluten.

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Vitamins in baby food

Vita - translated from Latin means "life" - the name itself determines the mandatory intake of these substances in the body. Indeed, who among modern people does not know about the benefits of vitamins for maintaining health? This is an extensive group of compounds that do not have nutritional value, but are necessary for the coordinated work of all organs and systems. Vitamins can be compared to an orchestra - each of them plays a role in the body.

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Best food for thought

Genetics determines a lot in our lives, but everyone knows that a child is not born a genius or a fool. Human intelligence depends on hereditary predisposition, but external factors play the most important role in the realization of what is laid down by nature. A child's environment and personal experiences at an early age have a strong influence on intelligence.

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Learning to live with taste

When we raise a baby, we are often guided by the recommendations of our mothers and grandmothers - in a word, those principles that are considered traditional. The same applies to nutrition - we often exclude from the menu of our crumbs everything that has one or another pronounced taste, leaving only a limited set of neutral products. However, in some other countries, the nutrition of babies is treated differently - seasonings and flavors are added to their diet from an early age, in our opinion, only acceptable for adults. Why?

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How to feed a capricious?

For a loving mother, such a situation as a baby who “constantly does not eat enough” is comparable, perhaps, with the global financial crisis or tsunami. Thousands of articles and megabytes of texts on the Internet are devoted to the problem of whims at the table. Is there a solution to this, such a global issue that worries many generations of parents?

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Defeat allergies from the first spoon

Allergy is an unpleasant disease that more and more often overtakes us and our kids. But this is not a reason to get upset and limit your baby in everything - today we are offered a wide range of delicious products that allow us to provide a versatile low-allergenic diet.

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Buckwheat porridge for the first feeding

Buckwheat porridge for the first feeding: useful tips from Bebi. How to cook (breed or boil) buckwheat porridge for a child. On the Bebi website you will learn how to cook and introduce buckwheat porridge into complementary foods.

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First meal with rice porridge

First feeding with rice porridge: how to prepare rice porridge for feeding a baby. Tips for compiling a menu for babies, nutritional features for the first feeding. Learn how to cook rice porridge for babies.

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Formula-fed complementary foods

The introduction of complementary foods for a child with artificial feeding: when to introduce the first complementary foods, tables and nutrition patterns for babies by months on the Bebi website. Rules for the introduction of complementary foods, norms and features of the menu for newborn babies. When and how to start complementary foods with artificial feeding, the order of administration with a schedule.

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Complementary foods with cereals: where to start and how to introduce

Porridges for the first feeding of a child: which one is better to start with and how to properly introduce the second porridge into complementary foods. On the Bebi website you can read how to start feeding a baby with dairy-free and milk porridges, which ones can be given after 6 months, in what sequence new porridges should be introduced into the baby's diet.

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Complementary foods by months

First feeding by month: a complete description of the introduction of complementary foods for a child with artificial and breastfeeding from Bebi. The recommended order of introducing complementary foods in the table.

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Complementary foods while breastfeeding

Complementary foods during breastfeeding: a table of complementary foods for a child by months on the Bebi website. Rules for the introduction of the first complementary foods for children: how and when to start introducing for a breastfed baby, a daily schedule, the correct complementary foods menu.

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How much does a newborn eat per feeding?

How much does a newborn eat per feeding? What volume of milk in ml should a baby suck? Learn more about newborn nutrition on the BEBI website.

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How to introduce artificial feeding: how to switch from breastfeeding to artificial feeding

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Is it necessary to give water to newborns when breastfeeding and formula-feeding

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Feeding regimen for artificial feeding of a child: basic rules for feeding and the regimen of a newborn

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Cereals and vegetables in baby food

Porridges and vegetables in baby food: are the foods compatible in the baby's diet? We study the rules of compatibility of products in baby food. Find out more information on the BEBI.RU blog.

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When to give cookies to a child?

When can cow's milk be given to an infant? What should I do if my baby is allergic to protein? Komarovsky's recommendations and much more in the BEBI.RU blog.

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When can a child have cow's milk?

When can cow's milk be given to an infant? What should I do if my baby is allergic to protein? Komarovsky's recommendations and much more in the BEBI. RU blog.

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Corn porridge: first baby food

The first feeding with corn porridge: how to cook deliciously and which dish is healthier - with milk or water? Read how to cook and introduce corn gruel to babies to avoid allergies. Read on BEBI.RU.

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Oatmeal for baby: introduction to complementary foods

Oatmeal for the first feeding: from how many months can you introduce oatmeal to a child. How to cook porridge for babies: recipes for water and milk for children of all ages. Read on BEBI.RU.

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Vegetables or porridge: what to choose for the first feeding?

Porridge or vegetables: where to start the first complementary foods? Experts recommend what to introduce first - porridge or vegetables. Find out more on the BEBI.RU blog.

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Why is porridge called milk and not with milk?

Why is porridge called "milk" and not "with milk"? The material in our article will help to dot the "and" in this matter. Find out more on the BEBI.RU blog.

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Why does a child refuse complementary foods and what to do about it?

The child refuses complementary foods: the reasons for the sharp refusal of the baby from food. Why and how to behave to the mother so that the baby begins to eat complementary foods? Komarovsky's recommendations and much more in BEBI.RU.

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The child does not eat porridge: what to do?

Reasons why a child refuses porridge. Expert advice on what to do if the baby does not want to eat porridge. Read on BEBI.RU.

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The child does not want to eat meat and fish

The introduction of meat into complementary foods does not always go smoothly. Reasons why a child does not want to eat meat and fish. Expert advice on what to do if the baby refuses meat.

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Allergy in infants to complementary foods

Can an allergy occur when complementary foods are introduced to a baby? How allergic reactions manifest in children with complementary foods, what to do and how to continue introducing complementary foods - read on BEBI.