When a new person appears in the family, new parents have many questions. They care about everything related to the baby. Not the last place is occupied by the diet of the baby. For example, mothers and daddies are interested in when and with what kind of porridge to start complementary foods. And this moment is really very important: the baby is growing, and for its development, food rich in vitamins and minerals is simply necessary. In this article, we will consider at what age it is best to start introducing new products into a child’s diet, and also find out what are the best porridge for feeding.
How to understand that the baby is ready for adult food
In principle, it does not really matter if your baby is breast-fed or breast-fed. You need to introduce complementary foods only if you are sure that at this moment the baby is not sick. A healthy baby sleeps and eats well, does not be naughty, does not make causeless tantrums during wakefulness.
For the first feeding, it is best to take dairy-free rice or buckwheat cereal. They contain no salt, no milk, no sugar, no flavoring. You may think that this is not tasty, but in fact the child does not yet know what sweet or salted food means, and for him, any new taste, even fresh, will seem unusual, but interesting. Dairy-free porridge for the first feeding is ideal. It was she who at first could become a favorite treat of your crumbs.
It is necessary to begin to introduce porridge into the child’s diet no earlier than four months of age, but it is not worth delaying. It is in the period from 4 to 6 months that it is easiest to form the baby's chewing skills. Also at this age, the child’s body learns to cope with heavier food for him than breast milk or an adapted mixture.
But you must understand that all these terms are conditional. Each child is individual, and if in doubt, consult your pediatrician. The norm for breastfeeding children is considered to be age closer to six months, in artificers, the beginning of complementary foods with porridge is a month or two earlier.
How much to give for the first time?
So, the question of what kind of porridge to start complementary foods is resolved. Now let's find out how much to give the baby food. Many mothers and fathers, due to inexperience, from the very first day, replace one meal with 50-100 grams of porridge, considering this the correct introduction. But in no case can this be done, because the first few weeks the baby and his body only get acquainted with new food.
You need to start with a minimum amount of 5-10 grams for the first few times is enough. Give the child half a small spoon, look at his reaction if he liked the taste. Then observe the reaction of the body: whether the innovation affected the belly crumbs, whether there were rashes. And only if everything is in order and the child calmly reacted to food unfamiliar to him, can you bring the complementary foods to the age-appropriate norm by adding 5-10 grams daily.
The perfect time to feed
Any new food, be it porridge or mashed potatoes, must be given in the morning. In no case should you introduce unknown food between feedings. Dairy-free porridge for the first feeding is given before the main meal, when the child is hungry. This way you can understand if the baby liked the food. You can also watch the reaction of the child throughout the day. If you give the crumbs to porridge after the main meal, he can just spit it out, and you will find that the kid did not like the innovation, when in fact the reason for the refusal was the fullness of the child.
With which porridge to start complementary foods: buckwheat or rice - it's up to parents only. And do not be upset if the child does not like the new food. Set it aside for a couple of days. Also, do not try new tastes if after the first input less than a week has passed.
Lure and weight of the child
Pediatricians advise giving a baby porridge if he has insufficient or average body weight. In such cases, the baby should be introduced to the new food as soon as possible. If the child is overweight, then you should not lean on porridge, limit yourself to entering fruits and vegetables.
Which cereals should I prefer: bought at the store or cooked on my own?
Each parent is free to decide for himself whether to cook porridge for him on his own or to buy ready-made cereals that need only to be diluted with water. Parents' comments on this matter often repeat the opposite. People of the old school believe that there is one “chemistry” in purchased cereals, the new generation is confident that baby food undergoes strict control before sale, and therefore such food is completely safe for the child.
How to cook porridge itself?
If you have already decided what kind of porridge to start complementary foods with, and chose food out of the box, a few tips will help you make porridge for your baby quickly and tasty:
- Boil buckwheat or rice in the usual way for you. The only thing you need to consider: sugar, salt and oil should not be put in the baby’s porridge. It is best to cook cereals in water, because the child is not yet ready to eat dairy products. Put the finished food in a blender bowl and chop. You can use a regular sieve.
- If you need to speed up the cooking process, cook the grinded cereal. First you have to work hard, but then you will save a lot of time on cooking. So, you need to thoroughly rinse the groats thoroughly, dry it and grind it in a coffee grinder, put it in a special airtight jar. It remains only to pour the required amount of prepared cereal with water and after boiling it should be kept on low heat for no more than five minutes. So your rice or buckwheat porridge is ready. Feeding a baby in this way is much easier to cook than the first.
- The third method is even less laborious. You just need to purchase baby cereals made without additives. Reviews of parents who have already tested the finished product are mostly positive. According to mothers, there is no difference in taste, and the cooking process is as easy as shelling pears.
Which grits to choose?
Many parents believe that oatmeal is most useful, and at first they acquaint the child with it, but this is not entirely correct. It is still better to start with buckwheat or rice groats, because they are absorbed much more easily by the baby’s fragile body. Enter oatmeal no earlier than a couple of months after the above.
In no case do not add butter during cooking - such food will be too oily for the child.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is rich in iron and vitamins, it contains a huge amount of trace elements, and with all this, it has a minimal amount of carbohydrates. But buckwheat is a strong allergen. This is perhaps her only minus. Try to give it to the baby literally at the tip of the spoon and watch the reaction. If there were no consequences, feel free to bring complementary foods throughout the week to the age norm.
Rice cereal
Rice groats are just as healthy as buckwheat. It consists of the eight most active amino acids and complex carbohydrates. This porridge can be safely given to children from the age of four months. You should start the same way - with a small amount, gradually bringing complementary foods to normal.
But what about other cereals?
Do not introduce millet, barley, oatmeal or other types of cereals immediately after buckwheat and rice . It is better to start giving new components to months to eight, when the child is already accustomed to the first cereals, vegetables and fruits.
Everyone’s favorite semolina porridge should also be excluded for now - this is a rather heavy food, not rich in useful substances. Because of its huge amount of carbohydrates, pediatricians recommend semolina for children with low body weight.
Now you know what kind of porridge to start feeding, but do not be afraid and do not be shy to ask your supervising pediatrician questions regarding the nutrition and health of your child. Knowing the individual characteristics of the crumbs, the doctor will direct you along the right path, explaining all the possible nuances.
You will be able to deal with the needs of your baby very soon, watching him, his preferences, the reaction of the body. And just a few months after the first introduction of complementary foods, you will be able to delight your child with new culinary dishes for him, which also, undoubtedly, will appeal to him.
The most important thing is a healthy baby. Starting with a few grams of easily digestible cereals, you yourself will not notice how your crumbs will gobble up everything you offer him for both cheeks. Be healthy and happy.