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Infant milks or milks of animal or vegetable origin, quantity of meat, honey, egg, cheese … Many foods leave us in doubt as to the diet of our children! From what age can they consume unpasteurized cheeses, soft-boiled eggs or honey? Is plant-based milk like almond milk suitable for their needs? Our advices.
No milk of vegetable or animal origin before one year
The National Food Safety Agency is very clear on this point: ” Drinks for everyday consumption such as vegetable drinks (soya, almonds, rice, etc.) related to milks or milks of non-bovine origin have not been formulated for children under one year of age. “These vegetable” milks “are therefore totally unsuitable for children. They are more like juices by their method of production and if they provide protein, they do not contain the nutrients essential for the growth of a child, such as essential fatty acids or iron.
Similarly, milk of animal origin is not suitable for the needs of children. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) until the baby is six months old, but if you do not want or cannot breastfeed, it is advisable to turn to infant milk: first age before the start of food diversification, second age thereafter. These milks specially designed for our infants are the only ones to meet their needs. We can then switch, if desired, to animal milk from one year old.
Also, 30% of children allergic to milk proteins are also allergic to soy. A baby who cannot stand infant milk must therefore consume milk with the lowest possible “molecular weight”, such as milk. hydrolyzate-based milks soy for example. Warning: these are specific formulations for babies that can be bought in pharmacies and that have nothing to do with a classic soy “milk”.
Food diversification? Not for 4 months.
Food diversification is quite an art! In order to limit the risk of developing an allergy, it should be started neither too early nor too late… So no orange juice at 3 months! There is no point in wanting to “watch it grow” faster, even if your baby may like other foods besides milk.
In addition, diversification should not come at the expense of milk. A toddler who has started dietary diversification must still drink at least 500 ml of 2nd age milk every day. He can also consume a “special baby” milk per day if he has trouble drinking the quantity of milk he needs, for example for a snack. An infant needs a significant calcium intake.
Baby: we start with grapes or apples!
Slowly start dietary diversification, on the advice of your pediatrician, between 4 and 6 months. Avoid very allergenic foods at first like exotic fruits and prefer vegetables for the very beginning.
Food: what food is prohibited before 1 year?
One year minimum to be able to consume honey
To avoid any risk of infant botulism, it is not recommended that a baby under one year old consumes honey. Botulism is caused by bacteria that colonize the infant’s gut, causing constipation, loss of appetite, weakness, crying, and even loss of control of the eyelids, speech, swallowing, and muscles.
Soft-boiled eggs: not before 18 months
If it is possible that baby consumes well-cooked egg as early as two months after the start of his dietary diversification, it is not recommended to give him raw before 18 months.
Meat: quantities of teaspoons!
In the West we tend as parents to giving too much animal protein to our babies. Indeed, a child does not need to eat meat, fish or eggs, noon and night. Many studies highlight a correlation between too much animal protein intake and a risk of obesity.
However, as milk provides it, other sources of protein (meat, fish and eggs) must be given in small quantities, i.e. 10 g per day before one year (2 teaspoons), 20 g between one year and two years and 30 g at 3 years. Concretely, this means that if you give it meat at noon, it is necessary to favor vegetables, legumes and starches in the evening. Do not forget to inquire about our children’s meals at noon if they are in the nursery or the canteen to adapt our evening menus.
What foods are dangerous for babies?
Sometimes a child is not interested in food, which can be a way to come into conflict with their parents and test them or to express unease. If these reactions become very worrying, that conflicts accumulate and that its growth curve does not progress any more as before, do not hesitate to consult your pediatrician or an infant feeding specialist.
The goal is to succeed in set up a rhythm for his own good: to make him eat at regular times, to make him eat breakfast and to learn to follow a menu.
Sometimes, the opposition only declares itself at the time of the tables but our child asks for cakes, cookies or crisps between meals. Even if the most important thing is that our child eats, then offer him healthier and more balanced foods. It is the best way to fight obesity, snacking being one of the main reasons for this medical disorder.
Fight against processed products
Some foods are to consume with moderation in order to offer our child a balanced diet. While no food is prohibited, some should not be eaten too often. This is the case with fried foods (especially French fries) or crisps for example, which are particularly fatty and very salty. However, salt stimulates the appetite and can also promote obesity.
Processed products in general are not recommended for the good nutrition of our child. They should be consumed in moderation and taking care of detail the label of their composition. For small jars and compotes, we prefer those with the simplest and shortest list of ingredients! Vegetables or fruits, fat, protein, but a minimum of salt and sugar.