First of all, it is worth figuring out how to understand that the child is ready to introduce complementary foods. In this case, it is better to be late than to be ahead of events.
First of all, you should consult with the district pediatrician, but you should not forget about your seventh sense, because for 9 months you and your baby were one. If he began to actively take an interest in the food you consume, looks into your mouth and tries to put something in his, if the resulting milk formula is no longer enough and the child cannot withstand the planned intervals between meals, then you are on the way to the introduction of complementary foods. The congenital expulsion reflex should also be fading in nature, and in the case of consumption of the food offered by the mother, the contents of the mouth should remain inside, and not be shown to others. If it was decided to introduce the first complementary foods with artificial feeding, a prerequisite for readiness for it shouldbe the ability of the baby to sit, turn away from an unwanted product or tilt his head. The child must be at least 4 months old.
Which is better to start the first complementary foods with artificial feeding?
Your baby will tell you the answer to this question. There is an opinion that apple juice is considered the ideal complementary food in the first months, but, unfortunately, there are limiting factors that negatively affect the still fragile intestinal tract of the baby. When choosing the first complementary foods for artificial feeding for your baby, you should give preference to cereals and vegetable mixtures.
Why porridge?
Porridge should be administered if the baby was born small or his weight is slowly increasing. If the baby is mobile and active, then porridge is also suitable for an additional source of energy. The first porridge that comes to mind for many young mothers in relation to the first complementary foods is semolina. But this is wrong. Semolina porridge, like oatmeal, contains a large amount of gluten, which will negatively affect the baby's digestion. The best complementary foods for the first time will be buckwheat, rice and corn porridge. Many mothers prefer homemade food cooked in a double boiler or on the stove. Along with this, the use of finished products in the form of instant cereals is gaining more and more supporters. Judge for yourself, who wants to spend time in the kitchen during the cooking process just for the sake of the baby eating 1-2 teaspoons? It is with this dose that it is worth starting the first complementary foods withartificial feeding, doubling the amount daily. Your child will show you when he is hungry and when he is full. If you need to choose complementary foods with mixed feeding, all of the above tips will be useful, with the exception of one. If, in addition to milk formula, the child receives breast milk, then it is they who should dilute the baby's first porridge.
Why vegetable purees and not fruit purees?
Starting the first complementary foods for children with fragrant and sweet fruit purees, parents are faced with the problem of the baby's rejection of more insipid foods, which are cereals and vegetables. A negative factor can be fruit acids and a high sugar content, which irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach that has not yet fully matured. This can lead to early onset of gastritis and kidney problems. When choosing vegetable purees as the first complementary foods for artificial feeding, it is worth observing the same dosages as when introducing cereals (starting with 1 teaspoon, with a daily increase in volume). If the child is overweight, it is vegetables that will help to normalize his weight. In winter and spring, pediatricians recommend switching to a canned type of food, since it is this kind of storage that allows you to maximize the vitamins and minerals necessary for the growth and normal development of the child. Do not eat brightly colored vegetables for the first time, preferably cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini.
