Many mothers and fathers are of the opinion that juice is a concentrated source of vitamins. That is why, when a child reaches a certain age, parents rush to expand the diet of a small child with a drink of vegetables or fruits.
In order not to harm the baby’s not completely strengthened body, it is necessary to take a very responsible approach to maintaining complementary foods in the form of juice in the kid’s daily menu, taking into account all the nuances and subtleties and consulting the pediatric pediatrician in advance.
Useful properties of juices
Before talking about the features of the introduction of juices in the menu of a small child, it is necessary to say about its benefits for the children's body. Juice is an excellent source of vitamins, its natural composition helps to strengthen the immune system of the body of a small child. In addition, the drink may have antimicrobial and even antiviral effects. But this does not mean that juice can cure the flu or SARS. A drink can help speed up the healing process due to its rich content of vitamins and other beneficial substances.
In addition, parents should understand that the above properties have drinks, the composition of which is exclusively natural. In the juice for babies should not be dyes, all kinds of additives. Excluded and the addition of flavorings. That is why when buying a drink for your crumbs, you need to carefully study the composition of the juice.
When to start giving juice to babies
An apple and a pear are the fruits from which drinks are made for the first feeding of crumbs. It is necessary to introduce juices into the baby’s diet not earlier than four months if the baby is breast-fed, and not earlier than six if the baby is fed breast milk.
What juices can be given to children
As a rule, the expansion of the daily menu of the baby begins with the addition of apple juice from green varieties of apples. But parents should consider that the benefit of this drink, even if it has enough vitamin C, is minimal.
A baby who is breast-fed can start giving juice from peach and apricot, pear and banana, as well as pumpkins and carrots from the age of five months. For babies eating mother's milk, combination drinks are not recommended to be introduced into the diet before 7 months.
Then you can try to give the baby drinks from cherries, cherries, currants, cranberries or plums. However, their introduction to the baby’s menu should be gradual and begin with 5-10 ml per day, since these ingredients can cause an allergic reaction.
A little later, you can start the introduction of juice from cabbage and beets. And the latest in the diet of a young child are drinks from the most allergenic fruits and vegetables - strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes.
After the baby reaches one year old, it is possible to start introducing into the diet juice containing pulp.
It is extremely cautious to approach the introduction of grape juice, since it can cause increased gas formation of the baby and the appearance of other problems with the digestive system. Young children should not give juices from citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, pineapples and other similar fruits.
Tips for introducing juice to the diet of a small child
Parents need to follow certain tips when adding juice to the kid’s daily menu.
- Juices begin to drink with 5 ml, then the dosage is gradually increased to 30 ml, each time adding 5 ml. The norm for a one-year-old baby is 50-60 ml.
- It is best to drink the baby from a teaspoon or a special device for babies. Older children can be drunk from a glass or a drinker. It is worth remembering that children's dishes should be thoroughly sterilized.
- Do not give babies up to one year old juices containing high fructose corn syrup.
- You can only give juices that have been pasteurized to the baby. Unpasteurized juices can contain very dangerous bacteria - salmonella or E. coli.
- It is strongly not recommended to introduce new nectar during an infant's illness or after vaccination. It is not recommended to experiment with the diet of the baby during the change of the climatic zone.
- Giving a small child juice is recommended only after eating.
- When buying juice and nectar, you need to pay attention not only to the composition of the product, but also to storage conditions, shelf life, and also the integrity of the package. The juice box should not have any dents.
Subject to the above rules, parents will be able to expand the daily diet of the baby without harm to his body. If you experience an allergic reaction after drinking juice or if you have any suspicious symptoms, you should immediately contact a medical institution to seek advice from a qualified pediatrician. The specialist will conduct a survey, the results of which will give a conclusion whether it is possible to continue the introduction of juice in the baby’s diet.
Baby drink manufacturers
Currently, there are a huge variety of brands - manufacturers of baby food. Parents need to choose for themselves the brand whose products are ideally suited for them and their baby. It is worth mentioning the most popular brands.
- Juices "Frutonyanya" kids with apple and pear are most popular due to the affordable price and good taste. The average rating on a five-point scale is 4.5.
- Baby drinks "Agusha", the average rating of which is 4.3.
- Juices "Gardens of the Don". Customer rating - 4.6.
- Drink for children "Subject". The average rating based on reviews is 4.8.
- Nectars "Kids" are popular among a wide range of consumers. The cost of drinks is relatively low. At the same time, juices for babies, photos of which can be seen in the article, are distinguished by good taste and natural composition.
These are not all trademarks in the assortment of which there are drinks for babies.
Cost
The cost of baby juices is different. The price of goods directly depends on the volume of packaging and the manufacturer of the drink. The average price for children's juice with a volume of 200 ml does not exceed 30-35 rubles. Nectars for “Kids” and drinks “Gardens of Pridonya” can be purchased at an even lower price - for 20-25 rubles.
Parent reviews
Many newly minted mothers and fathers prefer juices for the baby. Parents reviews are mostly positive. According to newly minted mothers and fathers, children's drinks for babies are of high quality and natural composition. The likelihood of an allergic reaction is minimal, because the least allergenic vegetables and fruits are used to make juices.
According to many parents, the introduction of juices and nectars into the baby’s diet helped to improve the child’s appetite and emotional activity. In addition, many note that the mood of the baby after drinking juice improves, the baby smiles a lot and even laughs.
Conclusion
Fruit nectars and vegetable baby juices for babies are undoubtedly necessary. They are a source of vitamins and other substances and trace elements. Not to harm the baby's body, but to bring him exceptional benefit is possible only subject to certain conditions and rules.
In no case should you introduce complementary foods too early without consulting a pediatric pediatrician. Only after the examination, the doctor can say whether it is possible to expand the daily diet of the baby with fruit and vegetable drinks or whether it is worth the time. And only a doctor can give the necessary recommendations and instructions to young parents.
Along with juices, compotes should be given. Such drinks are absorbed even better than nectars. Add compote to the baby’s menu should be no earlier than 7 months.
Parents before buying a drink of fruits and vegetables for their young child need to carefully study the composition and storage conditions and be sure to pay attention to the production date and shelf life of the baby food. In no case should you buy juice or nectar, the shelf life of which is coming to an end. When shopping, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the packaging with baby food. It should not be opened and have any dents. Violation of the integrity of the packaging can cause the penetration of dangerous microorganisms into the baby's body and, as a result, food poisoning.