Opinions on where to start complementary foods vary from generation to generation. So, our grandmothers considered semolina porridge the most suitable product for this. And just about two or three decades ago, the introduction of complementary foods for the child was supposed to begin with juice (mainly apple), with two or three drops, gradually bringing its amount to several teaspoons. The next product entered into the menu, according to the plan, was fruit puree, then porridge, vegetable puree, etc. was added. At present, this scheme is considered unreasonable. Experts say that juices are a product heavy enough for digestion and can cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, previously complementary foods were recommended by pediatricians as early as four months of age. However, now, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, it is advised to introduce it no earlier than six months.
Experts explain: until the crumbs are five or six months old, he receives all the substances he needs for normal development from his mother’s milk or adapted milk mixture. It’s time for a six-month-old baby to adapt to solid food and teach him to chew on his own, in addition, the child’s enzymatic systems by this time are ripe for new food.
Regarding where to start complementary foods, doctors are mostly unanimous: vegetable puree will be the ideal first “adult” meal for the baby. It is undesirable to cook it from potatoes: this vegetable is a strong allergen, in addition, it is quite high-calorie. Cauliflower is an ideal product for the first feeding - it is very easy to digest. At the beginning, the puree should be monocomponent, then you can gradually add other vegetables: zucchini, carrots, beets, pumpkin. Potatoes are the last to be introduced. Before cooking, it is recommended to soak it for at least an hour in cold water to avoid possible allergic reactions. New products are introduced no more than once a week. If the baby is not gaining weight well, you can start complementary foods with one-component cereals, preferably dairy-free - especially if he is breast-fed. Porridge should be gluten-free, for example, rice, buckwheat. From seven months, you can cook porridge in diluted cow's milk, and pediatricians do not recommend giving it in its pure form for at least nine months, and some up to a year.
It should be noted that in the question of where to start complementary foods, there is still no unanimity between specialists. So, E.O. Komarovsky recommends kefir as the first food, rather than vegetable puree. His opponents, however, argue that kefir is a source of foreign protein, the use of which in food at such an early age can adversely affect the health of the child. Both that and the other point of view has the right to exist, and there are a lot of positive reviews on the Internet, both about vegetable and kefir complementary foods. Each child is individual, and when considering where to start complementary foods, one should proceed from his interests and needs. For example, if the baby categorically refuses to feed, you should not insist - with its introduction it is quite possible to wait a bit.
However, there are general rules for complementary foods: for example, it should be introduced, starting with a very small amount - at the tip of a teaspoon, and carefully monitor the reaction of the baby's body. Any new product should always be given at the beginning of the meal, as a well-fed child may refuse an unusual meal. Another important point in how and with what to start feeding a child is the following: any kind of it, whether it is mashed potatoes, kefir or porridge, should be given only with a spoon. Even if the child does not yet know how to remove food from her lips, he will soon learn this.
It should also be remembered: if the baby is to be vaccinated, feeding should be postponed. The time interval between these activities should be at least two weeks, otherwise the load on the child’s body will be too heavy.