Introduction to complementary feeding

K.S. Ladodo At the age of 1.5-2 months, applesauce should be introduced into the child’s diet, starting with 2-3 g, and gradually increase its amount to 50 g by 3-4 months. After getting used to applesauce, the child can be given puree from apricots, pears, bananas and other fruits, as well as canned fruit and berry purees for baby food. Each new type of fruit puree should be given in small quantities at first, and only after making sure that it is well tolerated by the child can the dose be gradually increased. From 3-3.5 months, the child’s diet includes the yolk of a hard-boiled chicken egg. The yolk is also initially given in small quantities and, if well tolerated, after 7-10 days it is increased to 1/2 yolk per day. In this form, children can receive an egg every day throughout the first year of life (the child is given protein only after a year). From 4 months onwards, it is recommended that the child be given cottage cheese obtained from a dairy kitchen or prepared industrially in specialized workshops for the production of baby food products. They begin to give cottage cheese with 5-10 g, gradually increasing the dose to 20 g per day. At 5 months, a child can receive 30 g of cottage cheese per day, at 6 months -40 g, by a year -50 g. After 4 months, the child’s development proceeds at a faster pace and it becomes necessary to introduce another, more concentrated food into the diet. The child is prescribed complementary foods. Typically, healthy children should be given complementary foods from 4.5 months. Earlier introduction of complementary foods is indicated for rickets, anemia, retardation in physical development, as well as for premature babies. Later than this period, complementary feeding is prescribed for digestive disorders, febrile diseases, as well as during the hot season, when the production of digestive juices in the child decreases and any new food is poorly digested. Vegetable puree, rich in carbohydrates (starch, sugars), minerals, is recommended as the first complementary feeding. substances, pectin and other food ingredients. The first is given pureed vegetables containing relatively little fiber - carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, turnips. First, puree is prepared from any one specified product, and only after the child gets used to this dish, the range of vegetables is expanded. Later, the child should prepare mixed purees from a wide range of vegetables (cabbage, beets, zucchini, tomatoes, etc.). Like all new products, purees are started with small quantities - 1-3 teaspoons and gradually, over 10-12 days, increased to 100-150 g, replacing one of the breastfeedings. Usually, the child is given a yolk along with vegetable puree, and fruit juice as a snack.