Nutritional baby food

Feeding your baby: 6–12 months

At 6 months of age, breastmilk continues to be a vital source of nutrition; but it’s not enough by itself. You need to now introduce your baby to solid food, in addition to breastmilk, to keep up with her growing needs.

Be sure you give your baby her first foods after she has breastfed, or between nursing sessions, so that your baby continues to breastfeed as much as possible.

When you start to feed your baby solid food, take extra care that she doesn’t become sick. As she crawls about and explores, germs can spread from her hands to her mouth. Protect your baby from getting sick by washing your and her hands with soap before preparing food and before every feeding.

Your baby's first foods

When your baby is 6 months old, she is just learning to chew. Her first foods need to be soft so they’re very easy to swallow, such as porridge or well mashed fruits and vegetables. Did you know that when porridge is too watery, it doesn't have as many nutrients? To make it more nutritious, cook it until it’s thick enough not to run off the spoon.

Feed your baby when you see her give signs that she's hungry – such as putting her hands to her mouth. After washing hands, start by giving your baby just two to three spoonfuls of soft food, twice a day. At this age, her stomach is small so she can only eat small amounts at each meal.

The taste of a new food may surprise your baby. Give her time to get used to these new foods and flavours. Be patient and don’t force your baby to eat. Watch for signs that she is full and stop feeding her then.

As your baby grows, her stomach also grows and she can eat more food with each meal.

Feeding your baby: 6–8 months old

From 6–8 months old, feed your baby half a cup of soft food two to three times a day. Your baby can eat anything except honey, which she shouldn't eat until she is a year old. You can start to add a healthy snack, like mashed fruit, between meals. As your baby gets increasing amounts of solid foods, she should continue to get the same amount of breastmilk.

Feeding your baby: 9–11 months old

From 9–11 months old, your baby can take half a cup of food three to four times a day, plus a healthy snack. Now you can start to chop up soft food into small pieces instead of mashing it. Your baby may even start to eat food herself with her fingers. Continue to breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry.

Each meal needs to be both easy for your baby to eat and packed with nutrition. Make every bite count.

Foods need to be rich in energy and nutrients. In addition to grains and potatoes, be sure your baby has vegetables and fruits, legumes and seeds, a little energy-rich oil or fat, and – especially – animal foods (dairy, eggs, meat, fish and poultry) every day. Eating a variety of foods every day gives your baby the best chance of getting all the nutrients he needs.

If your baby refuses a new food or spits it out, don’t force it. Try again a few days later. You can also try mixing it with another food that your baby likes or squeezing a little breastmilk on top.

Feeding non-breastfed babies

If you're not breastfeeding your baby, she’ll need to eat more often. She'll also need to rely on other foods, including milk products, to get all the nutrition her body needs.

Start to give your baby solid foods at 6 months of age, just as a breastfed baby would need. Begin with two to three spoonfuls of soft and mashed food four times a day, which will give her the nutrients she needs without breastmilk.
From 6–8 months old, she’ll need half a cup of soft food four times a day, plus a healthy snack.
From 9–11 months old, she’ll need half a cup of food four to five times a day, plus two healthy snacks.

Feeding your baby: When to start with solid foods

Up to 6 months old

From the first hour of life, through to 6 months old, your baby can receive all of the nutrition she needs to grow and develop from your milk. She doesn’t need anything else – no water, tea, juice, porridge or any other foods or fluids during this period.

Myth: Babies need solid food sooner than 6 months old

When you breastfeed your baby frequently, starting foods earlier than 6 months is not necessary and can even be harmful.

Introducing foods or fluids other than breastmilk to your baby before she is 6 months old can increase her risk of illnesses, such as diarrhoea, which can make her thin and weak, and even be life-threatening. Your baby may also breastfeed less often, so your supply of milk, her most vital food, may decrease.

A mother’s milk is the safest and healthiest food for the first 6 months of life for all children everywhere. It is a constant, safe source of essential nutrition, wherever you and your baby live in the world.

Feeding signs

If you see your baby with her hands near her mouth when she’s still younger than 6 months, you may think she’s not getting enough to eat from your milk alone. Actually your baby is showing normal feeding signs, they are just more developed now that she’s older. It doesn’t mean your baby needs solid food early. Your baby is ready when she is 6 months old.

Myth: Boys need more than breastmilk

Both baby girls and boys need the same amount of food to be healthy and grow strong and smart. Your milk alone will meet the nutrition needs of both a son or a daughter in these first months of life.

6 months and older

When your baby reaches 6 months, his rapid growth and development require more energy and nutrients than your milk alone can provide. He needs to start eating solid foods in addition to breastmilk to keep up with his growing needs.

When to feed your baby solid foods

Feed your baby whenever you see him give feeding signs. After washing hands with soap, start by giving your baby just two to three spoonfuls of soft food, such as porridge, mashed fruits or vegetables, twice a day. Continue to breastfeed as often as before.

Non-breastfed babies

If you do not breastfeed your baby, the best time to introduce her to solid foods is also at 6 months of age. This is the age when all babies, breastfed or not, need to start getting solid foods to ensure they are getting all the nutrition their growing bodies need.

Living with HIV

If you are living with HIV, introduce your baby to his first solid foods at 6 months and continue to breastfeed him while taking your ARV medicines and following your treatment plan.

Don't wait too long to start solid food

Your baby’s body needs the extra energy and nutrients to help him to keep growing. Waiting too long may cause your baby to stop gaining weight at a healthy rate, and put him at risk of becoming thin and weak.

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.
The baby's nutrition after one year changes - 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 the best time to start weaning 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 he needs to be offered 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;
store-bought juices with concentrates, carbonated drinks, coffee and strong tea;
various seasonings - mustard, ketchup, hot sauces, horseradish, pepper, vinegar, mayonnaise;
products with flavors, industrial colors, including chewing gum;
margarine and refractory fats - lamb, pork;
chocolates, sweets, 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 (or extract of it) 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.
Diet diversity. 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.
On 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 organism. 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.

Infant formula without palm oil | How to choose a blend without palm oil

Formula milk is the best substitute for mother's milk if the mother is unable or unwilling to breastfeed her baby. In the article we will talk about:

what to look for when choosing baby food
how to properly prepare and store formula
what you need to be prepared for when switching to artificial feeding

How to choose infant formula

Baby food up to a year should be recommended by a pediatrician who knows the history of the child and his peculiarities of digestion. Mixes are divided into classic and special. Special ones are prescribed for medical reasons for babies who need a special approach due to early birth or health problems. In our article we will talk about classic and improved mixtures. On the topic of special, look for information dedicated specifically to your task.

Composition of infant formula

It is important to understand that baby food is subject to mandatory certification. This means that the state monitors the quality of the product and is a guarantee that it is safe for newborns. Why is not every mixture suitable for every child? It's all about some of the ingredients and their quality. Let's figure it out.

All products consist of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements.

The amount of protein in baby food is an indicator that depends on the type of formula and the age stage. It is not necessary to control it. But you can pay attention to the ratio of whey protein and casein. All manufacturers strive to bring the composition of baby food closer to the composition of mother's milk. Therefore, the ratio of proteins most often corresponds to their ratio in the mature milk of a woman - 60 to 40. The situation is a little more complicated with fats and carbohydrates.

There are three types of carbohydrates: sugar, starch and fiber (prebiotic). The main carbohydrate for babies up to a year old is milk sugar - lactose. In specialized mixtures, lactose can be replaced by other sugar. Babies begin to receive starch later - with the introduction of complementary foods with cereals. A prebiotic is sometimes added to the mixture. These are dietary fibers that are not digested and are a breeding ground for beneficial bacteria. Therefore, mixtures enriched with prebiotics help to normalize digestion in the intestines.

Babies need different types of fats for development - saturated and unsaturated, which are found in breast milk. Neither animal nor vegetable fats can independently reproduce this composition. Therefore, they are combined in infant formulas. Often, as a vegetable component, there is palm oil, which in its pure form is poorly absorbed by the child's body. Hence, there was an opinion about its harm. However, it is important to know that there is a fraction of palm oil that is highly digestible. It's called palm olein. It is worth paying attention to the form in which palm oil is included in baby food.

Vitamins and trace elements in baby food - this is how different brands differ from each other. Below are the recommended norms for nutrient intake in the Russian Federation. You can evaluate the selected food for compliance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.

9019one 5 to 20 mg 9019one Magnesium

Substance	Physiological need per day	Comment
Energy	110-115 kcal/kg body weight	for children under 1 year old
Squirrels	2.2-2.9 g/kg body weight	for children under 1 year old
Fats	5.5-6.5 g/kg body weight	for children under 1 year old
Carbohydrates	13 g/kg body weight	for children under 1 year old
Cholesterol	no more than 300 mg	for kids
Vitamin C	30 to 90 mg	for kids
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)	0.3 to 1.5 mg	for kids
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)	0.4 to 1.8 mg	for kids
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)	0. 4 to 2.0 mg	for kids
Niacin	for kids
Vitamin B12	0.3 to 3.0 µg	for kids
Pantothenic acid	1.0 to 5.0 mg	for kids
Biotin	10 to 50 mcg	for kids
Vitamin A	from 400 to 1000 mcgr. equiv.	for kids
Vitamin E	from 3 to 15 mg current equivalent	for kids
Vitamin D	10 mcg	for kids
Vitamin K	30 to 120 mcg	for kids
Calcium	400 to 1200 mg	for kids
Phosphorus	300 to 1200 mg	for kids
55 to 400 mg	for kids
Potassium	400 to 2500 mg	for kids
Sodium	200 to 1300 mg	for kids
Chlorine	300 to 2300 mg	for kids
Iron	4 to 18 mg	for kids
Zinc	3 to 12 mg	for kids
Iodine	60 to 150 mcg	for kids
Copper	0. 5 to 1.0 mg	for kids
Selenium	10 to 50 mcg	for kids
Fluorine	1.0 to 4.0 mg	for kids

Source: Guidelines. 2.3.1.2432-08 "Norms of physiological needs for energy and nutrients for various groups of the population of the Russian Federation" dated 11.12.2008

How to properly prepare infant formula

The ratio of the volume of dry powder and water depends on the type of mixture and the age of the child and is always indicated on the packaging. Recall the general rules that are important to follow:

sterilize the bottle and teat in a sterilizer or boil;
wash your hands with soap;
prepare boiled water at a temperature of 36-38 degrees;
fill the bottle with water and add the required amount of powder;
close and shake until completely dissolved;
Check your temperature by dropping it on your wrist.

Now you can start feeding.

How to store prepared milk formula

The finished mixture can not be stored for more than two hours. Prepare a fresh batch before each feeding.

Do not heat baby food in the microwave. Use a jet of hot water or a water bath.

Close the opened package tightly with a lid and store at room temperature. You don't need to put it in the refrigerator. The measuring spoon should not be stored inside the pack.

Until what age is formula given to a child

Mixtures are divided into stages or steps.

Stage 1 - from 0 to 6 months

Stage 2 - from 6 months to 12 months

Stage 3 - from 12 months

Stage 4 (less common) - from 18 months

Adapted diets are gradually phased out of the diet as they move to solid foods. Parents decide when to stop. It is important to listen to the needs of the child.

Babies over a year old who have already switched to an adult diet are often given formula at night because it is convenient. Or at bedtime, because it is high in calories and helps to sleep until the morning without waking up. Moms sometimes cook porridge for older children with a mixture - it's tasty and healthy.

Classic mixtures and mixtures with improved composition.

Such nutrition is suitable for healthy babies who were born at term.

Materna Gold is closest in composition to breast milk. This is the latest development of Israeli nutritionists - nutrition containing breast milk oligosaccharides, which are involved in the formation of the baby's immunity.

Materna Classic Milk is a traditional dairy food enriched with elements necessary for every age of the child.

Materna Extra Care is an improved formula of the classic blend. It strengthens the immune system and helps fight colic due to pre- and probiotics in its composition.

Materna Mehadrin - kosher food, similar in composition to the classic. The difference: Materna Mehadrin uses the milk of cows, which are carefully monitored by the Rabbinate of Israel.