When, after the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding, breast milk is no longer the only food for your baby, it’s time to expand your diet. Providing the right nutrition for an infant who is just learning new tastes can be a challenge for parents. The young organism is still growing intensively, therefore it is very delicate and requires special treatment. How to provide the right amount of nutrients in a meal that is safe for a toddler? Ewa Skwarek, a BoboVita expert, answers questions about introducing new foods to the diet of children.
When is the most appropriate time to introduce new products to an infant’s diet?
Ewa Skwarek: During the period when mother is exclusively breastfeeding (experts recommend that the baby should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life), there is no need to give the baby any food other than breast milk. The diet extension should not take place earlier than the 17th week of life (beginning of the 5th month) and not later than the 26th week (beginning of the 7th month)1. At this time, the infant’s body begins to need more energy, vitamins and minerals than it is able to provide from the mother’s breast. Then the toddler usually achieves the ability to sit independently with support and is able to control the head to eat from a spoon.
What foods will work at the beginning of a diet expansion?
Due to the fact that it is more difficult for infants to develop the taste of vegetables, especially green ones, it is with them that the diet should be expanded. After about 2 weeks, the first fruits should be included in the menu, while continuing to serve vegetables. One of the first supplementary products are also porridges, which are a source of carbohydrates, B vitamins and minerals for the baby.2. It is worth remembering that in the first year of life, chewing and chewing skills are only just developing, so introduce solid foods gradually, starting with pureed ones, and then serving meals with lumps and larger pieces.
How to introduce new foods to your baby’s diet?
At the beginning of the expansion of the diet, the infant’s body only gets used to the new foods. This is why introducing new products can be started with serving small portions – for example, 3-4 teaspoons of puree or porridge are enough. When continuing to give more products, however, it should be adopted as a rule that the parent decides when and what the child will eat, and the child decides how much to eat.3. Due to the possibility of an allergic reaction, when giving your baby a meal, it is worth remembering to observe his reaction. For this reason, it is also better to avoid administering several new products at the same time. In addition, you should strive to gradually replace the mother’s milk with solid meals, and if the mother is not breastfeeding – modified milk. At the end of the first year of life, your baby should receive two or a maximum of three milk meals4.
- See also: How often do you weigh and measure a baby?
What products should you use when expanding your child’s diet?
The period of early childhood is a time when the young organism is developing intensively and is sensitive to factors of external origin, including the consumed food. Therefore, when expanding the diet, products intended especially for infants and young children are the best. These are food that meets the stringent quality standards set by national and European Union law, and such recipes are developed by experts in the field of nutrition for the youngest. These products are balanced in terms of nutritional value, and are also completely safe for the baby’s body. A characteristic feature of food intended for children is not a colored label or eye-friendly illustration. It is thanks to the age indication on the packaging that parents can easily distinguish it from general-purpose food. In addition, they can be sure that they choose a product suited to the skills and needs of a child of a certain age.
What kind of porridge will be the best at the beginning of introducing cereals to a child’s diet?
There are porridges for the youngest available on the market, which will work well at the beginning of expanding the diet. When choosing them, it is worth paying attention to the fact that they are mild milk-cereal meals with a smooth texture and composition adapted to the needs of the baby – no added sugar *, no preservatives ** or no dyes **. Moms can also choose porridges without the addition of palm oil, which owe their delicate and delicious taste to carefully selected and single varieties of cereals, e.g. rice or wheat, and fruit. Among the porridges for babies, you can also find offers enriched with valuable vitamins and minerals, which will support the proper development and immune system of the child from the very first dose.
* Contains naturally occurring sugars derived from grains, fruits and milk.
** In accordance with the law, porridges for infants and young children may not contain preservatives and dyes.
Important information: It is recommended to continue breastfeeding while introducing complementary foods. Breastfeeding should continue for as long as desired by mother and baby. Breastfeeding is best for your baby.
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