Contents
1/Breast milk: a vital food
When dietary diversification begins, breast milk remains essential for your baby. Thanks to the calcium it provides in good quantities, it helps the normal development of its bones and teeth. Breast milk is also a source of iron, essential fatty acids, zinc and vitamins A, D, E, C … All these nutrients that a toddler needs, are provided by breast milk or by 500 to 800 ml of 2nd age milk (also called “follow-on milk”) and make it possible to cover their needs up to 1 year, in addition a diversified diet with vegetables, fruits, starchy foods, meat and fish and special baby dairy products *. Growth milk, at a rate of at least 350 ml per day, takes over from 10-12 months until the age of 3. On the other hand, be aware that cow’s milk, like all mammalian milk or vegetable juices, is not yet adapted to its nutritional needs.
Everything you need to know about baby milk: click here
2/Special baby milk *: for dessert and afternoon tea
To meet baby’s specific needs, it is advisable to turn to dairy products specially designed for babies *, such as Nestlé® dairy products in the baby food section, one of the benchmarks in this field. From 6 months, they can be offered for dessert or afternoon tea. Sources of calcium, they have an adjusted protein * content and are guaranteed to be free of colorings * and preservatives *. In addition, they participate in the learning of taste thanks to their different textures; brewed, smooth, jellied… and with their varied flavors of: raspberry, peach, strawberry, pear or vanilla. There are also other varieties of baby milk * without added sugars ** or organic. Practical for trips or walks, they have the particularity of being stored at room temperature before opening.
3/Butter and crème fraîche: a hint of delicacy
Around 6 to 7 months, you can start to garnish your baby’s vegetable purees with a knob of raw butter, alternating with vegetable oils. The essential fatty acids, like alpha-linolenic acid, which these fats provide are important for the growth of toddlers. The vitamin D contained in these fats contributes to the normal development of baby’s bones as well as to the normal functioning of his immune system. In addition, the fat emphasizes the flavors of cooked vegetables and helps awaken the taste buds. From one year, depending on your child’s chewing abilities, it will be possible to offer him a small toast of buttered bread during his meals or to taste it. From 6-7 months, crème fraîche, which contains calcium and vitamin A, can also be added sparingly – 1 teaspoon every now and then – in your baby’s purees to make them creamier.
4/ Cheese: in small quantities
A good source of calcium and protein, cheese helps your baby’s food diversification. Around 6 months, you can add a teaspoon of cream cheese to pasteurized milk in its purees. And around 7 to 8 months, a pinch of grated Emmental will enhance the taste of his meals. With the introduction of the first pieces of tender vegetables, around 8 to 9 months, baby may appreciate a small piece of cooked hard cheese (Emmental, Comté…) to taste at your own pace. On the other hand, be aware that cheeses made from raw milk should be avoided because they present health risks for young children. And, because hard cheese is very rich in protein, after 12 months, care should be taken not to exceed the amount of 20 g per day.
* In accordance with the regulations on baby food
** Contains naturally occurring sugars
Important: Milk feeding, preferably breastfeeding, should be continued for as long as possible.
Find out more about the stages of diversification: click here
DME, or child-led diversi fi cation, consists of letting your baby discover and eat, on his own, certain foods of suitable texture and size. Dr Arnault Pfersdorff, pediatrician-resuscitator in Strasbourg and specialist in diversi fi cation, answers Dorothée Saada’s questions, to help all parents who want to get started!