One half year baby food chart
12-18 Months Baby Food Chart
last updated: by Kalyani
12-18 Months Baby Food Chart -Now your tiny little bundle of joy is one year. I am sure you have thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful journey with your baby:) You have watched as your baby grows from first smiles to first steps. By now, your baby is ready to enjoy a variety of family foods.
What kind of foods should I give my 12-18 months old?You can give all the foods you cook for your family with fewer spices. Offer a variety of food each day. Your child may have few front teeth now, can chew some foods. But it is still a good idea to mash or cut into small pieces (1/2 inch or less) while giving the meat or any hard foods if it is tough to chew.
Now your child is one year, she can drink cows milk. Cows milk is a readily available source of calcium, and it also provides essential vitamins and proteins for your child. Also, you can continue breastfeeding as long as you and your baby are comfortable.
Prefer whole milk until three years as toddlers need fat in their diet for growth and development. Give only 200 - 300 ml (at the max) of cows milk (in a cup) per day. Anything beyond the recommended amount of cows milk leads to less appetite in toddlers. Also, don't dilute the milk with water as it reduces its nutrition content.
If your baby is not interested in taking plain milk, you can try to flavor the milk with natural homemade flavors, or add milk to porridge's/kheer/desserts or include dairy products such as curd/yogurt, paneer, cheese, etc.
Should my 12-18-month-old feed herself?By now, your toddler might be ready for self-feeding, though she might not be able to do it perfect. She should be able to hold and drink from a cup with little help and may be interested in eating with spoon/fingers.
Foods can be cut into pieces so that she can be able to feed herself with fingers. Encourage self-feeding if your toddler is ready and eat as a family whenever possible. It helps in developing good eating habits.
Finger foods such as chunks of soft-cooked vegetables, fruits, cheese, toasted paneer, homemade cookies/crackers, boiled eggs are easy to prepare and mostly loved by children of this age, and they can experiment on feeding themselves.
What changes can I expect in my one-year-old baby's appetite?After one year, your baby's growth rate naturally slows down, and hence, your baby's appetite might have decreased than before. Also, your toddler might be interested in exploring the world around than eating. The quantity of food consumed on each day may vary from large to small amount depends on the appetite of your child. Be assured that your child knows when she is hungry, and they won't stuff needlessly.
Here are some tips for the fussy eating toddler
- Never force your baby to finish the meal. Let them take their own time and enjoy the food. If your baby refuses food, try again a little later on.
- Encourage self-feeding by offering plenty of finger foods.
- Let your baby experience the food even it is more of playing and a mess.
- Offer a variety of nutritious small meals.
- Reduce sugary foods and avoid processed/junk food as much as possible.
- Be an example for your child in food habits.
For 12-18 months baby, you can offer three meals, two snacks, and cows milk. If you are a breastfeeding mom, You can continue breastfeeding whenever your baby demands. Choose the timings for meal and snack according to your child's preference. Try to give food at regular intervals.
If your child refuses food, try again a little later on.
To ensure your child gets a balanced meal, aim for a variety of foods from four primary food groups as listed below. For the quantity of food, always be guided by your child's hunger as appetite varies from baby to baby, and most babies change from day-to-day. Here is an approximate amount, Offer a serving from within these portion size ranges at each meal and snacks.
- Whole Grains, Cereal & Carbohydrates - 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup
- Fruits & Vegetables -1/4 cup to 1/2 cup
- Milk & Dairy Products - 1 cup
- Meat/Protein/Meat Alternatives - 1/4 cup
Here is a sample food chart with recipes (please click on the hyperlink to get the recipes) for 12-18 months old baby.
Please consider the below points before using this food chart:
- Never introduce more than one food at a time when adding new food to your baby.
- Check for allergy symptoms when you are introducing new food to your baby and stop feeding your baby if you find any signs.
- This food chart is prepared to give an idea of what foods can be included in babies diet. It should not be considered as medical advice.
- Always check with your pediatrician before introducing any new food.
Check out a variety of recipes for babies that are suitable for babies from 6 months to 5 years!
- Baby Food Recipes (from 6 months to two years)
- Toddler Food Recipes
- Healthy Weight Gain Food Videos for Babies
Food Advertisements by
13 to 16 Month Old Baby Food Chart & Homemade Recipes
Your baby is a year old and has been eating solid foods for a few months now.
There may be times when he refuses to eat a particular fruit or vegetable and at times, you may be confused about what you can feed your toddler. To tackle all such situations, here are a few diet plans, tips and food options for babies who are 13 – 16 months old.
Best Foods for a 13-16-Month-Old Toddler
Your toddler can now progress to eating solids. So, pick healthy and rich foods to help him grow and stay healthy. However, don’t overfeed him. Some healthy options are listed below:
1. Fruits
Cut fruits into small pieces so that your child can pick up and eat them easily. Ensure the fruits are tiny and chewy. Otherwise, it can choke your toddler. For instance, you should cut grapes into small pieces rather than serving whole grapes.
2. Milk
Milk is a must for every toddler. It’s highly nutritious and helps him grow physically strong and mentally sharp. Whether you are still breastfeeding your baby or feeding him cow milk, don’t give too much of it.
If his stomach gets filled up with milk, he won’t feel like eating solid foods.
3. Vegetables
By this time, your toddler can have most vegetables including broccoli and cauliflower. You can give these by chopping off the stem and mashing it just a little. Other healthy options are mashed potatoes and carrots, which can be given as snacks. You can also cut carrots into long pieces and give as finger foods.
4. Meat
White meat is a great source of proteins for your toddler. You can cook it and shred it before feeding. Meat is a great 15 months’ baby food as it is an energy booster and keeps your child going throughout the day.
5. Yoghurt
Yoghurt is a healthy food option for toddlers. It is considered safe for children right from the time they turn 6 months old. This dairy product is full of nutrients and also a tasty option for your child.
6. Nuts
Often, parents hesitate to give their baby nuts fearing nuts allergy or choking. Well, if your child is not allergic to nuts, you can start feeding him these right from the time you introduce him to solids.
As for choking, break the nuts into small pieces that your toddler can easily chew and swallow.
7. Grains
A serving of grains is necessary for your toddler’s growth and development. You can introduce him to broken wheat, buckwheat, ragi, millet, and rajgira atta in small amounts.
8. Beans
Beans is another healthy snack option for a 14-month-old baby. If your baby likes kidney beans, three tablespoons of it can be given in a day. Kidney beans have the right amount of calories and no fat, making them a great source of nutrients for your child.
13 to 16-Month Baby Food Chart/Feeding Schedule:
Making a feeding chart for your baby is not an easy task. Here is a chart to guide you. You can personalise it based on your baby’s likes.
| Early Morning | Breakfast | Mid-Morning | Lunch | Afternoon | Dinner |
| 1/2 or 1 cup of milk | Oats/Apple Porridge OR Scrambled eggs/ Apple Porridge OR Whole grain muffins | Vegetable sticks OR Watermelon scoops OR Pancake | Rice and dal OR Ragi Idli | Fruit yoghurt OR Kidney beans OR Vegetable sticks OR Fruits | Rice and yoghurt OR Mashed potatoes
|
Homemade Recipes for 13 to 16 Months Old Toddlers
Homemade recipes are healthy and wholesome.
Here are some healthy homemade recipes you can try.
1. Ragi Idli
This is a healthy Indian dish for 16 months old babies. It’s quite easy to prepare as well.
Ingredients:
For 10 Idlis
- Idli batter (fermented) – 2 cups
- Ragi flour – ½ cup
- Oil – 1 tbsp
- Warm water – 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp
- Salt to taste
How To Prepare:
- Mix the flour with warm water in a bowl to make a thick paste.
- Once the paste is thick, mix it with idli batter and add a little salt. Stir gently.
- Keep aside for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, boil water in a steamer and grease the moulds with oil.
- Pour the batter into the moulds.
- Keep the idli stand in the steamer and allow it to steam for 10 minutes.
- Serve warm.
2. Chikoo Puree
Sapodilla (chikoo) tastes sweet and has amazing health benefits. Your toddler will finish this lip-smacking chikoo puree till the last drop!
Ingredients:
For 2 ½ Cups
- Chikoo – 1
How To Prepare:
- Cut the fruit into half and deseed it.
- Using a fork, mash it to the required consistency.
- Add a little breast milk or cow milk.
3. Oats Chilla
Ingredients for 6 Chillas (for Baby)
- Oats – 1 cup, powdered
- Chickpea flour – 1/4 cup
- Cumin powder – 1 tsp
- Turmeric – a pinch
- Carrot – 1/4, grated
- Onion – 1
- Green chillis – 2, chopped
- Water as required
- Oil/ghee
How To Prepare:
- Add powdered oats and the other ingredients to a bowl. Add water as per your requirement and mix to give it a batter-like consistency.
- Heat a pan and grease it with oil.
- Spread a ladle of batter on the pan and let it cook.
- Flip it so that both sides get evenly cooked.
4. Pasta Kheer
Ingredients:
- Milk – 2 cups
- Pasta – 3/4 cup
- Jaggery syrup – 1/4 cup
- Green cardamoms – 2
- Rice Flour – 1 1/2 cup mixed with milk/water – 1/4 cup
- Ghee
- Cashews
How To Prepare:
- Boil water in a pasta.
Add the pasta and cook for a few minutes. - Drain the water and keep aside.
- Take a pan and roast cashews in ghee. Once done, empty the roasted cashews into a bowl.
- Pour milk into the pan and add the cooked pasta to it. Let it simmer for sometime.
- In another bowl, mix rice flour, milk and water well.
- Pour this slowly into the pan. Keep stirring while the contents cook.
- Allow the kheer to thicken. Sprinkle cardamom seeds.
- Add jaggery syrup and let it cook.
5. Oven-Roasted Green Beans
Ingredients:
- Green beans (diced) – 1 cup
- Extra-virgin olive oil – 2 tsp
- Salt to taste
How To Prepare:
- Pre-heat the oven to 425º Centigrate.
- Place a jelly-roll pan for ten minutes in the oven.
- To the beans in the bowl, add a pinch of salt and a little oil.
- Place the beans mixture in a single layer on the baking sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes until crisp and tender..
Feeding Tips for Toddler (13 to 16 Months)
Over time, you’ll have noticed that your child has become very fussy about food. Don’t worry, your baby is not an exception. Many toddlers suddenly become picky about what they eat. These tips might not make a huge difference, but will definitely improve his eating habits.
- If the food is attractive, your baby will eat it with glee! Little ones, like us, are attracted to pretty things. So if you are making sandwiches, use cookie cutters to give them a cute shape.
- Don’t overfeed or underfeed your toddler.
- Don’t force food into your baby’s mouth. Rather, allow him to eat it himself.
- Avoid giving too many sweets or items with high sugar content.
- When you make a diet plan for your toddler, add a variety of recipes to make it appealing. When your baby knows what to expect for lunch, he will become disinterested in the food.
- Only rich and healthy food must be given to babies between 13 and 16 months.
Add fresh fruits and raw vegetables to his diet. By starting early, you can make healthy eating a habit.
Your baby’s body is constantly growing and changing, so it is vital for him to have appropriate food. Following a healthy diet and allowing him to enjoy his food will inculcate healthy eating habits, and also aid his wellbeing.
Also Read: Food Ideas for 17 to 20 Months Old Baby
Scheme of the first feeding of a child (table) with artificial and breastfeeding, what can be given to a baby
The need for the introduction of complementary foods in modern mothers has long been beyond doubt. Pediatricians, pediatric nutritionists and other graduates unanimously say that at some point both mother's milk and formula are not enough to satisfy the growing needs of the child's body for useful trace elements and vitamins. That's when it's time to introduce complementary foods. The fact that your baby is ready to get new experiences and try tastes so far unknown to him is indicated by the presence of the following signs:
• doubling the initial weight of the child,
• ability to sit with support,
• child does not push food out of his mouth,
• curiosity and desire to try something from the common table.
Signs of malnutrition in a child, constant feeling of hunger and anxiety associated with it, weight loss can also be important signals for the start of complementary foods. In these cases, it is recommended to immediately contact a specialist and share your observations with him.
Contents: Hide
- When to start the introduction of complementary foods
- with which products to start the completenance of complementary foods
- We avoid errors
- Table of complementary foods for months with artificial feeding
- Table of complementary foods when breastfeeding
- start introducing complementary foods
The timing of the introduction of complementary foods is still debated. But if we bring scientific reasoning to a common denominator, then the conclusion suggests itself that complementary foods can be introduced from about six months, and for children with certain medical indications - from 3-5 months. Many experts believe that half a year is the ideal time for complementary foods, when the first colic is over, and the digestive system has matured enough to try new foods.
The exact answer to the question of when to introduce complementary foods in a particular child can only be given by a pediatrician. In some situations, it may be necessary to introduce new dishes into the baby's diet as early as 4 months, and someone will be ready for this only after six months. nine0007 What foods should I start introducing complementary foods with
Fruits, vegetables or cereals? Which of these foods are best for starting complementary foods? Experts have long answered this question as follows: if the baby is underweight, suffers from frequent loose stools, it is advisable to start with cereals (of course, gluten-free and dairy-free), and if everything is fine with weight, then vegetables will be the first in line. Also, vegetable complementary foods are recommended for breastfed children with constipation problems, rickets, or those born prematurely, whose weight is normal or exceeds the standards. nine0003 Why not fruit? Everything is simple.
Fruits have a bright and sweet taste, and after trying an apple or banana first, the baby is likely to refuse zucchini or broccoli, which do not have the same rich taste. Therefore, the introduction of fruit purees and juices into the diet is postponed until vegetable purees become a familiar dish on the menu. As for cereals, buckwheat, rice and corn are first introduced, as they are characterized by the absence of gluten, saturate and are well digested. Read also: How to properly teach a child to different tastes
Avoiding mistakes
In order for the introduction of complementary foods not to become a test for either the baby or the mother, you need to follow some recommendations. Most importantly, be patient and don't get too upset if things don't go according to plan. Each child is individual, as are their taste preferences and needs.
• Start complementary foods if the baby is perfectly healthy. Contraindications for the introduction of new products will be teething, colds, stress associated with separation or moving, recent or planned vaccinations.
nine0003 • New foods are introduced gradually, starting with half a teaspoon. In the absence of allergies or digestive problems, the amount of the product is approximately doubled the next day. Sometimes the introduction of a new product stretches up to a week. Do not rush, give the child the opportunity to "taste" this dish. If the baby flatly refuses the offer, postpone the acquaintance for at least a week.
• Do not force your child to eat. After all, your goal is to introduce your child to new tastes and help develop good eating habits. nine0003 • The best time for the first feeding is after the morning feed until 12 noon, when the baby is already hungry and ready to eat something else. In case something goes wrong, you will know about it during the day, not at night.
• In the event of an adverse reaction to the product, such as an allergy, seek medical advice immediately. Then, in agreement with the doctor, offer this dish after a certain period of time.
• Gradually increase the amount recommended by your pediatrician.
If you don't fit within a week, don't worry. Listen to your child and act accordingly. nine0003 • Always start feeding with complementary foods. Only then offer breast milk or formula.
• Stick to a 5-meal schedule. Feed your baby at the same time every day.
• Food offered to the baby must be thermally processed - boiled or steamed. The dish should be at a comfortable temperature - about 37 ° C.
• Purees and cereals should be of a liquid consistency so that a child who does not yet know how to chew can comfortably eat them. Thicker dishes with lumps and pieces are introduced into the diet by about a year, when there are already several teeth. nine0003 • Do not use salt, sugar or spices when preparing complementary foods. Also, do not add them in order to force the child to eat something. Let the baby get used to natural tastes.
• Complementary foods are prepared at one time and should never be refrigerated until the next meal. Everything should be only the first freshness.
• If you prefer ready-made baby food, carefully study the top manufacturers, pay special attention to the shelf life when buying. nine0007When introducing complementary foods, be guided by the data in the tables, which indicate which products, in what quantity and in what months experts recommend giving. 6 months
7 months
8 months
9 months
10 months
11 months
12 months
vegetables
150 g
170 g
180 g
180 g
180 g
200 g
200 g
Porridge
50–100 g
150 g
068
180 g
180 g
180 g
200 g
200 g
fruit
60 g
70 g
80 g
100 g
100 g
100 g
meat
50 g
60 g
60 g 9000
70 g
70 g
70 g
Cottage cheese
9000
068
10-30 g
30 g
40 g
50 g
50 g
Zhelki
1/4
1/4
1/2
1/2
1/2
Fish
9000
30 g
50 g
60 g
Vegetable
1 ml
3-5 ml
5 ml
5 ml
5 ml
9 Sl.
1 ml
3-5 ml
5 ml
5 ml
9006 8 months
9 months
10 months
11 months
12 months nine0012
Silent porridge
10–150 g
150–180 g
150–180 g
180–200 g 9000 g 9000 g 9000 g 9000 g 9000 g 9000 g 9000 g 9000 g 9000 g 9000 g
068
200 g
200 g
200 g
Vegetables
10–120 g
80–120 g
9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000073
150 g
170 g
180 g
200 g
200 g
Military0007
-
-
-
-
-
-
160–200 ml
Fruits
5–60 g
50-60 g
60 g 9000 g 9000 g 900–100 g 900-100 G0007
100–120 g
100–120 g
100–120 g
meat
-
10-30 g
30–70 g
60–70 g
60–70 g
9000 9000
9007 9007 9007 9007 900EA0119 Cottage cheese -
-
5–10 g
40 g
40 g
50 g
yolk
-
-
½
½
½
½ --1
fish
-
-
-
10–40 g
10–40 g
50–60 g
9 vegetable oil
-
-
1 ml
3-5 ml
5 ml
5 ml
5 ml
Cream oil
-
-
1-3 g
3-4 g
5 g
5 g
5 g
, as you can see, the schemes for the introduction of pectoral and artificial feeding are not too much.
In any case, starting to introduce new foods into the baby's diet, you will have to give the baby milk or formula for a long time, which are still the basis of his nutrition. nine0007 How to introduce solid foods by month
3 months
If your doctor advises your breastfeeding or formula-fed baby to introduce complementary foods at 3 months, start with what the specialist has recommended to you. If these are vegetables, start with the classic - zucchini puree. This vegetable contains many beneficial nutrients and fiber. Start with half a teaspoon, carefully observing the reaction of the child's body. Be sure to supplement your baby with breast milk or formula afterwards. In case the child does not like the zucchini, try giving broccoli or cauliflower. Well, if the doctor advised porridge, feel free to choose buckwheat or corn. nine0003 4-5 months
After your baby has tasted zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower, it's time to add other vegetables: carrots, potatoes, green peas.
Do not overdo it with carrots, give it no more than 2 times a week. It is even better if this root crop is combined with other vegetables. It's porridge time! Gluten-free, water-cooked buckwheat, rice or corn. If the baby refuses to eat such cereals, add some breast milk or the usual mixture to them.
6 months
Time to pamper your baby with dried fruit compote, and formula-fed children start giving milk porridge. You can use a milk mixture to prepare such cereals, and in some cases, milk diluted with water. But in general, pediatricians do not advise introducing cow's milk into a child's diet before 8 months, as this can cause allergic reactions.
7 months
After the baby gets used to vegetable purees, you can try to give fruit purees and, if desired, juices, which should be diluted with water. There has been a lot of negative talk about juice lately. There is no fiber in them, but there are a lot of acids, which may not be completely safe for the stomach and have a high sugar content.
So consult a pediatrician and think carefully about whether to give the baby juices or still prefer mashed potatoes and compotes. An excellent alternative to juices is children's herbal teas. Start introducing your baby to fruits with apples (preferably green varieties), bananas, and pears. The baby's menu is replenished with a new product - meat. Rabbit meat, turkey meat are best suited. Chicken and veal are also considered a good option. Low-fat pulp without streaks is taken. It is boiled or brought to readiness for a couple, then crushed in a blender or meat grinder. Meat with a gradual increase in its quantity is given as part of vegetable purees. Also at 7 months, it's time to give the baby a pumpkin. nine0003 8 months
An important moment in the introduction of complementary foods during artificial and breastfeeding occurs exactly at 8 months. It's time to give the baby a yolk. Watch the reaction of the body very carefully: if there are any manifestations of allergies.
In case of a negative reaction of the body to chicken yolk, exclude it from the menu and try quail. It is best to give this product in the morning feeding from 9 to 11 hours. Along with vegetable and butter, gluten cereals are also introduced: oatmeal, millet, barley, pearl barley. It's time to give your child a taste of light vegetable soups. The components of the dish should be familiar to the child. Do not experiment by introducing dishes into the diet even with one unknown ingredient. Meatballs, boiled or steamed, are added to the meat in the form of mashed potatoes. nine0003 9 months
At this age, the baby should be introduced to the diet of low-fat fish: pollock, hake, perch, cod. For these purposes, fillets are taken and steamed, stewed or boiled. For the first time, fish are given in very small quantities. Start with once a week, gradually increasing to two. Remember that either fish or meat is given on the same day, without mixing these 2 products. If at the age of 8 months there were no prunes on the menu of the child, it's time to fix it.
Dried fruit compote is also an excellent option, which at first is best diluted with water. However, you definitely shouldn’t get carried away with dried apricots, it’s better to wait until the baby reaches the age of one. nine0003 Months 10–12
The diet characteristic of this period is characterized by an increase in portions to their maximum values indicated in the scheme. Also, it is at this age that the last feeding is gradually replaced by milk or kefir.Now that you've come across a set of essential tips, you're ready to start weaning. Once again, consult with a specialist, be patient, not forgetting to listen to the baby's body. We are confident that you will succeed. The main thing here, as in any other business, is a positive attitude. It all depends on you and your desire to raise a healthy and happy baby with competent eating behavior. Don't stop if you fail and don't get frustrated if things don't go according to plan. Everything will definitely work out.
nine0007 #Nutrition for children up to a year #Complementary foods
Complementary foods menu. Complementary feeding by months
There is a need to introduce new products and dishes into his diet, different in their nutritional and biological value, composition, texture and taste. The introduction of complementary foods is an important and crucial moment in organizing the proper feeding of a child in the first year of life, so the approach to it must be responsible and reasonable. The expansion of the child's nutrition is caused by the need to additionally introduce a number of nutrients into his body, the intake of which only with human milk or an adapted mixture becomes insufficient at a certain stage in the development of the child's body. In particular, the child's body needs proteins, fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, a wide range of minerals and trace elements necessary for its further growth and development. Many children, especially in winter and spring, begin to experience a deficiency of certain vitamins.
nine0007 Introduce complementary foods earlier than 3-4 months. inappropriate, since the child's body is not yet ready for this. In addition, early complementary feeding may reduce the frequency and activity of suckling and thus crowd out breastfeeding. At the same time, introducing complementary foods after 6-7 months is also not advisable, because this may cause problems with the perception of denser food, various negative reactions, up to reflex vomiting on solid food particles and the development of deficient conditions. nine0007
Rules for the introduction of complementary foods
In order for the introduction of complementary foods to go smoothly, the following rules must be followed.
1. You can start the introduction of any new product only when the child is healthy.
2. Complementary foods should not be introduced during the hot season, as well as during preventive vaccinations.
3. During the period of introducing complementary foods, breast milk (adapted milk formula) remains the main type of nutrition for the child.
nine0007 4. A new product or a new dish should be given in the morning in order to be able to note a possible reaction to it.
5. Complementary foods are given before breastfeeding (adapted formula).
6. Complementary foods must be given from a spoon, and not through a nipple.
7. Complementary foods begin to be given in a semi-liquid (homogenized) consistency, then the food becomes more dense. nine0007
8. The introduction of a new product (dish) begins with small quantities with a gradual increase in volume.
9. Complementary foods must begin with one type of product of this group with the gradual inclusion of new ones.
10. As complementary foods, it is better to use industrial products that have a stable composition and are made from environmentally friendly raw materials.
For each baby, the timing of the introduction of complementary foods is individual. As a rule, the first complementary foods coincide with the age of 5.
5-6 months and do not prevent further breastfeeding or artificial feeding. nine0007 juices are introduced into the child's diet first. Juices are a source of sugars, potassium, iron, β-carotene. They can be monocomponent (from one type of fruit) and polycomponent, consisting of 2 or more fruits, berries or vegetables. They may be clarified or contain pulp. The nutritional value of juices with pulp is higher. First, monocomponent clarified juices (preferably apple, pear), without sugar are introduced. The sweetness in these juices is achieved by selecting sweet fruits containing natural sugars. They begin to introduce juices from 4–4.5 months with ½ tsp. and gradually, in the absence of a reaction, increase the amount; from 5.5 months you can enter polycomponent juices. For children suffering from unstable stools, it is best to give juices from blueberries, blackcurrants, cherries, pomegranates, which contain tannins and act as a fixative. Cabbage and beetroot juices, prunes nectar, which act as a laxative, are very useful for children with constipation.
nine0007 2 weeks after the administration of juices, fruit purees are prescribed. They can be monocomponent or multicomponent, as well as combined, when dairy additives (cottage cheese, yogurt, cream) or grain additives (specially processed rice, corn, oatmeal) are added to their composition. Fruit purees are also divided according to the degree of grinding: homogenized for children aged 4–6 months. and puree for children 6-9 months. Fruit purees are a source of natural sugars, vitamin C, β-carotene, potassium, iron, bioflavonoids that increase the activity of the immune system. Fruit purees, as well as juices with pulp, contain dietary fiber that regulates intestinal motility. They participate in the normalization of the intestinal microflora and are able to remove toxic substances from the body. With an unstable stool, it is better to use puree from apples, pears, bananas, rich in pectins, which have a beneficial effect on digestion. With a tendency to constipation, apricot, plum, carrot, prunes puree is recommended.
The latter is given in addition to other fruit purees from 2 to 4 teaspoons per day. nine0007 From 5–6 months, more dense food is introduced into the child's diet - basic complementary foods . The need for the introduction of complementary foods is due to the peculiarities of the development of the child. After four months of life, his neuropsychic development is proceeding at a rapid pace. The kid becomes more active, mobile, keenly interested in the world around him. Therefore, he no longer needs only breast milk or formula, as well as those small amounts of nutritional supplements in the form of fruit juices and purees. Complementary foods are given in fairly large quantities and are actually independent nutrition, almost completely replacing first one and then several breastfeeds or formula. If the baby is breastfed, after each meal, it should be applied to the mother's breast. This creates the prerequisites for a longer preservation of lactation. nine0007
There are various special programs that provide for the gradual introduction of various complementary foods into the child's diet.
The choice of the first product of the main complementary foods is carried out taking into account the state of the digestive system and the developmental features of the child. For children with low body weight, single regurgitation, episodic colic and flatulence, as well as absolutely healthy babies, cereals (grain complementary foods) can be recommended as the first complementary foods. At present, cereals industrial production, which are prepared from environmentally friendly raw materials, using modern technologies, which improves their absorption. They have a stable composition, good taste and guaranteed microbiological parameters. Porridges are enriched with vitamins and minerals necessary for the growing body of a child and are of great importance for the prevention of a number of alimentary-dependent diseases, such as anemia, rickets, malnutrition, which often occur in children in the second half of life. One of the advantages of instant cereals is the possibility of their quick preparation, without boiling.
The range of industrial cereals is quite wide and involves the use of various cereals: buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, barley, corn, etc. Porridges are made from one type of cereal (monocomponent), and using 2 or more cereals (polycomponent). nine0007 There are gluten-containing cereals (semolina, oatmeal, barley) and gluten-free (buckwheat, corn, rice). It is not recommended to introduce gluten-containing cereals into the child's diet before 6 months of age. This is a preventive measure for the occurrence of allergic reactions to gluten, as well as early manifestations of celiac disease. Porridges can be dairy or dairy-free. The latter are diluted with breast milk or infant formula received by the child. They are especially necessary for children who are allergic to cow's milk proteins and lactase deficiency. In the future, gluten-containing cereals (oatmeal, barley, wheat, semolina) and cereals from a mixture of cereals can be used. nine0007
There are also varieties of cereals.
These primarily include soluble biscuits. For its preparation, wheat, oat flour is used, with the addition of various food ingredients (milk, sugar, malt extract, corn starch, egg yolk, etc.). An obligatory component of instant biscuits are vitamins especially necessary for a child (groups B, C, beta-carotene) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron). Instant biscuits can usually be used from 5 months. both in its natural form, which contributes to the formation of the act of chewing, and in the form of cereals, which is especially convenient in road conditions. nine0007 With increased body weight or delayed stools (difficult defecation), vegetable puree can be offered as a starting complementary food from 4–6 months of age. Vegetable puree is a source of organic acids, potassium, iron and dietary fiber, including pectins. Certain types of vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, spinach, etc.) are rich in beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. At the beginning, vegetable puree should consist of one type of vegetable with delicate fiber, such as zucchini.
Further, it is advisable to use a combination of 3-4 vegetables. Vegetable purees can be monocomponent (cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, etc.) and polycomponent (cauliflower and pumpkin, or zucchini, carrots and potatoes). Multicomponent purees can contain not only various vegetables, but also a combination with fruits (apple-carrot, pumpkin-apple, etc.). Multicomponent vegetable purees are richer in the spectrum of nutrients and therefore more useful, but it is recommended to introduce them after no negative reactions to individual vegetables have been noted (monocomponent vegetable purees). There are also combined vegetable purees, when meat (vegetable-meat) or fish (vegetable-fish) is added to vegetables. Vegetable purees, depending on the age of the child, come in 3 degrees of grinding: homogenized, puree and coarsely ground. nine0007
From 5–6 months, cottage cheese is introduced into the child's diet, which is a source of complete protein and calcium. Cottage cheese is introduced into the child's diet from small amounts.
Gradually increase the dose and after 3-4 days bring it up to 20 g per day in one or two doses, then up to 40 g and by the year - up to 50 g per day. They give cottage cheese specially prepared for baby food in dairy kitchens or in baby food shops of dairy factories. From 6 months, you can enter egg yolk . From 6 months - ¼, from 8 months. - ½ hard-boiled egg yolk. It must be carefully separated from protein, which is not given to children under 1 year old, as it is difficult to digest. The yolk can be given simultaneously with milk porridge or vegetable puree. However, children with food allergies should not be given yolk, as ovalbumin is a strong allergen. Meat is recommended to be introduced into the diet of a child from 7 months with natural feeding and from 6 months with artificial feeding. In some cases, if the child lags behind in development, there are manifestations of rickets, anemia, meat can be given earlier (at 5.5 and even 5 months at the same time as vegetable puree).
nine0007 Canned meat is a valuable source of: animal protein, iron, magnesium, B vitamins, including B12. Canned meats come in three degrees of grinding: homogenized (with a particle size of 0.4 mm), puree (with a particle size of 1.5 mm) and coarsely ground (with a particle size of 3 mm). Some manufacturers produce canned food in the form of meatballs, with vegetables, i.e. there is a formed dish. Canned meat can be monocomponent, multicomponent and combined, with vegetable raw materials (cereals or vegetables). nine0007
From 8–9 months vegetable soups may be introduced into the child's diet. Meat broths are currently not used in the nutrition of children under 1 year of age, as they mainly contain substances that cause irritation of the gastric mucosa. Soups are used as the first course when the child is already preparing lunch. They are given in a small amount of 30-50 ml to stimulate the function of the digestive glands and increase appetite. The small volume of the 1st dish is due to the importance of providing the child with the 20th dish in the required volume, as it is more complete in terms of nutrient content.
nine0007 Expert advice:
- Take your time with complementary foods. The baby's body is designed so that up to 4-6 months he can only digest mother's milk or adapted mixtures, and other products are unacceptable for him. That is why it is necessary to introduce new food very carefully, giving the child's body the opportunity to get used to it.
- With mixed and artificial feeding, it is recommended to introduce complementary foods two weeks earlier than with exclusive breastfeeding. nine0016
- Up to a year and a half, it is better to introduce each new juice with caution and in no case give the baby multicomponent juices until the child's reaction to each juice of the components of such a drink has been studied.
- Alternate complementary foods according to the nature of the products - if the first complementary foods were vegetables, then it is better to choose cereals as the second.
- If you prepare complementary foods yourself, do not do this in advance - all food for the baby should be fresh.
nine0015 Up to 1.5 years, it is categorically not recommended to add salt and sweeten the child's food. Sodium salt is poorly excreted and accumulates in the body, besides, the child's kidneys are not yet sufficiently developed. Sugar, on the other hand, contributes to the development of caries in milk teeth, loads the pancreas and forms the habit of sweets in the baby.
Sample daily diet for a 6 month old baby
| Feeding hour nine0073 | Menu composition | Approximate amount g/ml |
| 06:00 | Breast milk or formula | 180–200 |
| 10:00 nine0073 | Breast milk or formula fruit puree | 180 fifty |
| 14:00 | vegetable puree Fruit juice | nine0069 100 fifty |
| 18:00 | Breast milk or formula Cottage cheese Fruit juice | 180 twenty twenty nine0007 |
| 22:00 | Breast milk or formula | 180–200 |
Example of a daily diet for an 8-9 month old baby
| Feeding hour | Menu composition nine0007 | Approximate amount g/ml |
| 06:00 | Breast milk or formula | 200 |
| 10:00 | Porridge nine0002 Fruit juice | 170 fifty |
| 14:00 | vegetable puree Yolk Or meat puree Fruit juice | nine0069 170 ¼ pcs. fifty 400 |
| 18:00 | Kefir or baby milk Cottage cheese fruit puree | 180 nine0007 40 60 |
| 22:00 | Breast milk or formula | 200 |
Sample daily diet for a 1 year old child
| Feeding hour nine0007 | Menu composition | Approximate amount g/ml |
| 08:00 | Milk porridge fruit puree Fruit juice | 200 nine0007 thirty fifty |
| 12:00 | Vegetable broth with croutons vegetable puree steam cutlet Fruit or vegetable juice | 30/10 nine0007 150 60 thirty |
| 16:00 | Kefir Cottage cheese fruit puree | 100 100 nine0069 fifty |
| 20:00 | Vegetable puree or porridge Baby milk fruit puree | 100 100 fifty |
| 24:00 | Kefir or baby milk | 200 |
If the child continues to receive breast milk, then each feeding should end with the attachment of the baby to the mother's breast.
