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From what age can we give baby food jars?
The ideal age to introduce solid foods has changed a lot over the years. In France, the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) advises parents to follow the recommendations of the National Nutrition Health Program (PNNS). This recommends starting the food diversification between 4 and 6 months. It is therefore quite possible to give baby food from this age onwards.
Pascal Nourtier, dietitian nutritionist, advises to start food diversification by introducing one food at a time. As a reminder, food diversification must be done step by step: “When you start food diversification, you must exclusively give fruits and vegetables”. In addition, milk remains the basic rule of the diet of your baby. If he refuses the breast or the bottle after the puree or compotes, consult your pediatrician.
Which small jars for which age?
Small pots of vegetables
Introducing vegetables to baby’s diet is the first step. At first, you should prefer those that are rich in fiber, because they are easier to digest. Pascal Nourtier advises giving the baby at the start: “Mashed carrots, green beans, spinach, zucchini, broccoli, artichokes, pumpkins, leeks, potatoes. If you make your own baby food, don’t add oil, butter, salt or pepper to your homemade mash. “
Small jars of fruit compote
In general, we introduce fruit after vegetables, They will bring the baby many vitamins, minerals and fiber, especially vitamin D. We can start with applesauce, pears, bananas, apricots, peaches, nectarines… Red fruits can also be offered to the child a little later.
As with purees, add nothing to your compotes, and no sugar. The fruits contain the sugars necessary for the child’s balance.
Fat in baby food jars
“Fat is added to vegetable purees when baby begins to eat good quantities and the quantity of milk decreases, generally around 6 months”, explains Pascal Nourtier, our expert nutritionist. From this age, It is recommended to add a teaspoon of oil per meal. You can use vegetable oil (rapeseed, sunflower, olive, etc.), a knob of butter, or a little cream. “The addition of lipids is important to give baby essential fatty acids, in particular omega 3”, specifies the nutritionist.
Small pots: with meat, fish and egg
From the age of 6 months, you can start to introduce meat, fish or eggs. These foods rich in protein and iron are necessary for baby’s nutrition. Pascal Nourtier advises to integrate “Animal proteins preferably at midday meals, taking care to respect the recommended portions: 10 g / day up to 1 year, 20 g / day up to 2 years and finally 30 g / day up to 3 years” . It is therefore perfectly possible to give baby small jars, homemade or not, containing meat, fish or eggs.
What are the regulations in force for small jars sold in stores?
It must be admitted, the small pots sold in stores are very practical when you don’t have time to cook! In addition, they offer baby a wide variety of flavors, and are therefore often appreciated. You can be completely reassured: their composition and preparation are subject to strict rules, which guarantee optimal food safety. It is even the safest food category on the market.
This regulation, known as “Foods for infants and young children” guarantees in particular:
- The prohibition of colors, sweeteners, artificial flavors, and most additives,
- The concentration of heavy metals, pesticides and nitrates must not exceed organic farming standards,
- An optimal food and diet composition.
How many small jars to give her baby?
At first, since the baby’s stomach is small, it will only take a few spoons of small jars, supplemented by her milk (maternal or infant). Gradually, he will eat more and more: “When introducing solid foods into baby’s diet, we can give him two teaspoons of small jars by choosing a food at lunchtime. As time goes by, listening to its needs, we will give it a larger quantity, while respecting the rule of “food isolation”, that is to say to taste the food one by one. . “Pascal Nourtier also insists:” Do not force baby to eat, there is no quantity to reach and each child is different. »Our expert reminds us that you should not add salt or spices to baby food jars.
How to make baby food at home?
To start baby’s food diversification, we must cook vegetables or fruits in water, and puree all the foods that are presented to him. Indeed, he has no or few teeth, and must learn to pass from the stage of sucking to that of chewing and swallowing.
On the practical side, you will find perfectly suited small glass jars on the market. Wash them thoroughly, or sterilize them, before use. Once filled, store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
For vegetables or fruit, be sure to prepare small “single-flavor” jars, so that baby gets used to the taste of each food.
How long do the small homemade jars keep?
Do you make baby food yourself, and you want to have some on hand for his meals? Do not hesitate to prepare a larger quantity of purees or compotes, and to freeze some. They can also contain meat, fish or milk. Their nutrients will be perfectly preserved, and their food safety respected, provided they comply with the following rules:
- The small homemade jars can be kept for 3 days in the refrigerator,
- Once opened and refrigerated, they must be discarded after 24 hours,
- They can also be frozen, the ideal being not to exceed 3 months,
- Small homemade jars should not be thawed at room temperature, but in the refrigerator, steamed or in the microwave,
- Like any thawed food, small jars should never be refrozen.