What kind of vegetable oil and butter to give to infants in complementary feeding and when to introduce it. Formula-fed complementary foods

Speaking about vegetable oils, I would like to note that there is not only olive and sunflower oil. There are other oils on sale with healthy composition and excellent taste. Oil is an essential product for the brain; it is necessary for the proper functioning of all systems as a whole. But, like other useful products, if used irrationally, it has small negative aspects.

  1. Vegetable oils provide the body with beneficial ones, such as mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The child’s body needs them for the proper functioning of the nervous system, intelligence, and brain protection. Oils help the body get rid of harmful fats, reduce the intensity of inflammatory processes, and prevent the development of chronic fatigue syndrome.
  2. Vegetable oils are a source of fat-soluble vitamins, which are antioxidants and are needed by the body to protect against adverse factors, to strengthen the immune system and to regulate calcium metabolism.
  3. They envelop the walls of the stomach, protecting them from damage, and relieve local inflammatory processes.
  4. Vegetable oils are a dietary product.
  5. They have proven themselves as a medicine for constipation: they can be taken orally, or used as an enema.

On a note! The body needs monounsaturated, omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids; unfortunately, no vegetable oil has an ideal composition for the content of these substances. Therefore, we recommend combining different oils to ensure that there is no imbalance of fatty acids in your child’s body.

Olive and mustard oils are rich in monosaturated fats.

Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are present in sunflower, sesame and corn oils.

The list of leaders in the content of omega-3-polyunsaturated acids includes flaxseed and rapeseed oil, and walnut oil.

Vegetable oil for newborn skin

Vegetable oils are necessary for the child for the normal functioning of the nervous system. They can also be used for cosmetic purposes - to care for the baby’s delicate skin.

Currently, even the most expensive baby creams contain fragrances, dyes and other chemical compounds that can irritate the baby's delicate skin. Lubricating the folds of newborns with vegetable oil is completely safe. This remedy is suitable for all newborns. Take 1-2 tablespoons of regular refined sunflower oil and boil it for 10 minutes in a water bath, preferably making a new fresh portion every 5-7 days. The same oil is good for lubricating diaper rash and redness under diapers.

Harmful oil for a child

  1. Vegetable oil will not do any good and may cause it if it is expired or spoiled as a result of improper storage.
  2. If it is used in large quantities to prepare fatty fried foods. It is not recommended to consume oil in large quantities; excessively fatty foods have a bad effect on the functioning of the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels, contribute to the development of obesity, and harm the functioning of the thyroid gland.
  3. Vegetable oils should be used with caution in case of increased blood clotting, liver disease, or gallbladder dysfunction.
  4. Prolonged heat treatment. Vegetable oils can cause harm due to the formation of trans fats in them during prolonged heat treatment and industrial hydrogenation (i.e., refined and hydrogenated oil is more harmful). Trans fats are found in baked goods, margarine, processed foods and fast food. These are the main factors in the development of heart and vascular diseases in the future, diabetes and cancer.

Interesting to know! Researchers from the University of California School of Medicine (San Diego) have experimentally proven that the presence of trans fats in food affects the appearance of.

Optimal application temperatures for each type of vegetable oil

Each oil has a critical heating temperature, at which not only beneficial substances are destroyed, but also acrolamide, a substance from a number of carcinogens, is formed.

For rapeseed and corn oils, the critical heating temperature is 160 degrees Celsius. For soybean and sunflower – 170 degrees. For olive - 210 degrees. For peanut oil - 220 and palm oil - 240 degrees.

On a note! Never fry in vegetable oil a second time! Do not regret draining the leftovers from the pan, the child’s health is more valuable.

The temperature of a hot frying pan over high heat can reach 250 degrees.

Do not fry in unrefined oil, as it will cause twice as much harm as refined oil.

Unrefined oil has a smoke point of 107 degrees, while refined oil has a smoke point of 230 degrees. The difference is significant.

Vegetable oils and allergies


Sometimes children develop allergic reactions to certain types of oils or their components.

Vegetable oils are not highly allergenic products, but there are points that you should pay attention to:

  1. In rare cases, an allergy to olive oil is noted if it is unrefined and contains lecithin additives and aromatic additives.
  2. If a child has hay fever, an allergic runny nose and lacrimation from sunflower flowers, then it is possible that sunflower oil will cause the same reaction.
  3. Flaxseed oil causes allergies in extremely rare cases, but if it does, the manifestations are not very favorable; there have been cases of rashes all over the body and swelling.
  4. It is not recommended to use nut and seed oils for children with food allergies.

Taking into account cross-reactions, it is not recommended to use oils from hazelnuts and other nuts if you are allergic to hazelnuts, if you are allergic to peanuts - peanut and soybean oils, if you are allergic to legumes - peanut and soybean oils, if you are allergic to plums - almond oil, if you are allergic to kiwi – avocado, nut and sesame oil.

If a child is allergic to some type of vegetable oil, then replace it with any other; if an allergy is noted to several types of oils, then it is better to remove them from use, replacing them with lard, butter, ghee or soybean oil.

At what age and in what quantity can children use vegetable oil?

Oil can be added to a child’s first vegetable feeding, that is, at the age of 4–6 months. To begin with, one, then two or three drops are enough. Within a week, the volume can be increased to 1/3 tsp. You should not add oil to industrially prepared vegetable purees; read the packaging carefully, most likely it is already added there.

Norm of vegetable oil for a child per day

After eight months of age, the entire daily intake can be divided as follows: 1/3 can be used for preparing soups, 1/3 can be added to side dishes and seasoned salads, the rest can be used for preparing main courses.

On a note! 1 tsp. vegetable oil - 5 g, one tbsp. l. – 15–17 years

As you can see, although vegetable oil is useful, this is not a reason to eat it with spoons, because all the benefits are contained in the volume of a few drops. The daily volume of vegetable oil for a child should not exceed 30 g (2 tablespoons).

On a note! American scientists still cannot come to a consensus on whether vegetable oils bring more benefit or harm. Therefore, in order to avoid a lack of beneficial oily substances, they recommend consuming more, especially tuna. The child must constantly eat nuts and seeds; the diet must include dishes from boiled beans, lentils, and chicken egg yolks.

How to store vegetable oil?

  1. When buying oil, read carefully what the manufacturer wrote on the label: what is the shelf life when unopened, how long should the oil be stored after opening the bottle, what temperature conditions should be maintained.
  2. It is recommended to pour the oil into a dark glass bottle or decanter at home. You cannot use metal containers.
  3. Store in a dark place, such as a cabinet.
  4. The storage temperature for oil should not exceed 20 degrees, so it would be better to put sunflower and olive oil in a floor cabinet, and store flaxseed, sesame and other types in the refrigerator on shelves located on the door.
  5. Rancidity, sediment, unpleasant odor, and cloudiness may be signs of a spoiled product.

Types of vegetable oils for children and their benefits

Sunflower oil. Quite nutritious oil, well digestible, does not have a pungent odor or taste, is affordable, and is the most widespread and frequently consumed in our country. Contains a sufficient amount of and. Its unrefined form is healthier, because in addition to vitamins A and E, it also contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are so necessary for children under two years of age. Refined deodorized oil loses a percentage of vitamins and other beneficial substances, but has a number of other benefits. It is safe for cooking fried foods, baking in the oven, and is used in diets. Price: up to 100 rubles/liter.

Olive oil. Contains the maximum amount of healthy and minimum amount of harmful fats. It is very well absorbed, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids necessary for the child’s brain (their percentage is almost the same as in human milk). Olive oil protects the body from development. Removes harmful fats. Promotes absorption in the body, which is why it is necessary for a growing child’s body. It harmonizes very well with Spanish and Italian dishes. You can pour it over croutons made from black and white bread. Ideal for frying children's dishes, because at high temperatures it releases fewer toxic substances than any other oil. Useful for diseases of the stomach, intestines and liver, to improve memory.

On a note! Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the highest grade. The most useful, made without heating, is the first-pressed oil. It should be used as a dressing on salads.

Virgin Olive Oil is also cold pressed, but inferior in quality to the previous oil.

Olive Oil is refined, purified, i.e. it has less benefits for the child. It is made from what is left after obtaining good grades of oil.

Refined can be used for frying, Pure and Extra light can be consumed cold.

Interesting to know! Olive oil is responsible for bone strength. Scientists from the University of Madrid have proven that people who consume olive oil rather than any other oil have the highest levels of the protein osteocalcin, which is responsible for bone strength. Therefore, those living in Mediterranean countries are less susceptible to bone fractures. Price: 300–720 rubles/liter.

Linseed oil. It is highly recommended in the preparation of children's dishes, as it has a unique composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Ideal for brain function, beneficial for diseases of the stomach and intestines, and helminthic infestations. In children under two years of age, it helps brain tissue form correctly. It should not be heated, as it will become bitter and spoil the taste of the dish. Can be added to salads, porridge, greens, vinaigrette, sauerkraut. The oil spoils very quickly, so storing an open bottle in the refrigerator should be stored for a maximum of 30 days. Consuming flaxseed oil is very important for those who rarely eat. It has a peculiar bitter taste, which children feel very well, so season your dishes with it in minimal quantities. Price: 200–450 rubles/liter.

Walnut oil. A good oil both in terms of the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a set of microelements, including. Suitable for weakened children and children in the postoperative period, as it promotes the healing of wounds and burns. Increases immunity, strengthens the body during illness. The child will like it more than the above oils because of its pleasant nutty taste. Perfect for salads, various sauces, and complements the taste of nut desserts and pasta dishes. The oil quickly begins to taste bitter, so it is better to buy it in small quantities. Price: 500–700 rubles/0.5 liter.

Mustard oil. It is distinguished by the content of natural antibacterial compounds, and is the leader in the content of vitamin D. It is more useful to eat it in case of complications. It has a sharp-spicy taste, which is easy to get rid of by heating the oil. It also goes well with a cereal side dish, goes well with fish and meat, pancakes and pancakes fried on it turn out tastier. Salads seasoned with mustard oil spoil more slowly than usual, and baked goods become more fluffy. Price: 200–300 rubles/0.5 liter.

Sesame oil. Ideal for children. It is recommended to use it due to the content of a sufficient amount of calcium, which is easily and quickly absorbed by the child’s body. Thanks to the vitamin E content, it is a good help for the immune system. Sesame oil is useful for respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma, difficulty breathing, tracheitis and bronchitis. Sesame oil can be stored well for up to 8 years, retaining its beneficial properties and does not go rancid. Can be used cold, or clarified and can be fried. Price: 250–650 rubles/per 0.5 liter.

Corn oil. It is not particularly rich in nutritious healthy fats and vitamins and will not bring much benefit to a growing body. It does not have any great advantages over sunflower oil; as a rule, only clarified oil goes on sale, but due to its safety it is ideal for frying and cooking in the oven. It is most often used in the preparation of dietary dishes and dishes for baby food. Price: about 100 rubles/liter.

Pumpkin oil. Also a good oil for use in children's dishes. It is valued both for its fat composition and for its selenium content, and therefore is a necessary product for increased greasiness of hair. It is also better for children with eye diseases and those with increased computer load. When dressing salads with it, it is better to dilute it 1:1 with some other oil, for example, sunflower or olive. This oil is not suitable for frying, as it quickly begins to burn and gives off a not very pleasant smell. This oil is good to give to children to prevent worms, and to do anthelmintic enemas with it. Price: 500 rubles/0.5 liter.

Soybean and rapeseed oil. They do not have a range of useful qualities and are often sold with GMO content, so it is better not to use them in children's kitchens.

Palm oil. Not suitable for frequent consumption by children, because the above oils have a more saturated composition, and palm oil contains saturated fatty acids, which are harmful to the body: they increase the level of “bad” in the blood, negatively affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system and liver, contribute to the deposition of extra pounds.

Combination of vegetable oil with products

  • Vegetable oil can be combined with any vegetables, including, it can be combined with bread, all cereals and legumes, it can be consumed with sour fruits and nuts;
  • a combination of vegetable oil with sour cream, dried fruits, and sweet fruits is allowed;
  • It is not recommended to combine it with animal fats (butter, lard, cream), sugar and confectionery, with eggs; the combination of vegetable oil with fish, meat, and poultry is also considered heavy food.

Recipes

Herb sauce with vegetable oil

  • Vegetable oil – 120 ml;
  • parsley, chopped - 1 tbsp. l.;
  • dill greens, chopped – 1 tbsp. l.;
  • green onions or leeks, chopped - 1 tbsp. l.;
  • salt and black pepper to taste.

All the greens are chopped individually with a knife, then salt and pepper are added, and everything is rubbed a little with a spoon so that the greens release the juice. At the end, vegetable oil is added. Which one should I add? To your individual taste. And if you wish, you can beat everything with a mixer. Prepare immediately before use; the sauce is not suitable for storage in the refrigerator.

Homemade mayonnaise

  • Oil, it is better to use olive oil – 1 tbsp.;
  • chicken egg – 1 pc.;
  • juice of half a lemon;
  • iodized salt – no more than 1 tsp;
  • mustard – 2 tsp;
  • sugar – 2 tsp.

Initially, beat the egg white with a blender, then add the yolk and vegetable oil, beat everything, then add lemon juice and finally mustard, salt and sugar. This mayonnaise is safe for children and is suitable for dressing any meat or fish salad.

We presented the characteristics of oils, their beneficial properties, and cited the conditions under which the oil can be harmful to health. Which one will be in your kitchen is, of course, up to you to choose, but nutritionists and chefs recommend that housewives have several types of oils, some for frying, and others for dressing. And one more tip: buy oil in small packages so that you can use it up faster and buy a new portion of fresh oil. For salad dressings, use predominantly unrefined, cold-pressed oil.


Small, growing bodies need milk fats as a source of energy and for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Milk fats from butter are absorbed by the body by 98%. Despite the fact that butter is considered unhealthy for its saturated fat content, it contains a lot of healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Butter will also be useful for children under one year old due to the vitamins A, D, E, B2 it contains. Vitamin A is necessary for the baby for normal vision development, B2 for hair growth, healthy skin and healthy nails. Vitamin E is involved in the development of reproductive organs, and D strengthens bone tissue.

Butter is beneficial for the body of children and adults only in small quantities, since excess amounts of milk fat and cholesterol can negatively affect fat metabolism and the health of the cardiovascular system.

When should you give butter to your baby?

Butter should be included in the baby’s diet along with complementary foods and cereals from 4 months. If you give your baby canned food, then butter no longer needs to be included in complementary foods, since it already contains the required amount of animal fats.

The oil should be introduced a little at a time, observing the reaction of the baby’s body. Opt for unsalted butter. The first portion of butter should not exceed 1 gram. By 6 months you can increase the amount to 4 grams per day. By 12 months – 6 grams. For the next 2 years, the child should be given no more than 20 grams of butter per day, and this amount should be divided into several meals.

Ghee for children under one year old

Ghee is suitable for children who also have intolerance to cow protein. This oil has a beneficial effect on the digestive system, the development of intelligence and thinking abilities, and the development of the reproductive system.

Ghee must be soft in consistency, have an amber color and a pleasant aroma. When heated, it does not produce any sediment or foam. It contains a lot of fat, so you should only consume it in the morning.

Oils and fatty products serve as a source of fatty acids, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) formed from linoleic acid, fat-soluble vitamins A, D (fish oil, milk fat and other animal fats), vitamin E (vegetable oils), phospholipids ( vegetable oils) and some other nutrients. Fats, like proteins, are building materials for body cells, organs and systems. Fats also perform an energy function (when 1 gram of fat is burned, 9 kcal of energy is released).

Animal fats

They are rich mainly in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Saturated fatty acids give fats the property of refractoriness, reduce their “digestibility” by digestive enzymes and assimilation by the body, and excess cholesterol contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. At the same time, animal fats are sources of essential fat-soluble vitamins A and D, which are almost completely absent in other foods. Butter– a product made from concentrated cow's milk fat. It contains 61.5–82.5% fat and 16–35% moisture, has a low (28–35°C) melting point and good taste. The butter contains a large amount of proteins, minerals, vitamins A, D, E, K, C, group B. Butter contains phosphatides (lecithin) and sterols (cholesterol). 100 g of butter contains about 750 kcal, and its low melting point ensures its absorption by the human body by 95–98%. Butter is obtained from sweet or fermented cream.

Butter There are several types: with and without added salt, melted, sweet and sour cream, and butter with fillers is also available on sale - chocolate, with the addition of honey, etc. It is not recommended to use butters with the addition of honey, chocolate, fruit additives in the diet of young children , since “additives” are strong allergens. In addition, as the taste of the oil changes, its calorie content increases due to an increase in the amount of carbohydrates. Considering the fairly high calorie content of this product, as well as the combination of nutrients in it, it is recommended to use it in accordance with age standards (see below).

Melted butter is pure milk fat obtained by melting butter. The oil is heated to 70–75°C with the addition of 1–5% salt for better fat release. This is a very high-fat product, the use of which in baby food is not recommended.

Margarine– a fatty product, the basis of which is milk protein, hydrogenated, that is, vegetable oils or fats of marine animals converted into a solid state. But it is known that during the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, substances (trans isomers) are formed that can increase the content of low-density lipoproteins in the blood, which is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Due to the lack of strict regulation of trans isomers in products, their use in children's nutrition should be strictly limited - their use is permitted only as confectionery fats, i.e. for preparing confectionery products. Margarines can be included in confectionery creams used to decorate cakes and pastries. Therefore, when treating a child over 3 years of age to “sweets” extremely rarely, it is better to give preference to curd creams and use “butter” creams extremely rarely. Children under 3 years old are not recommended to use confectionery products with creams.

Light oils– combined oils in which milk fat is completely or partially replaced by vegetable oils. These oils cannot be a substitute for cow's butter, but can be used very limitedly in baby food as an alternative to margarines.

Vegetable fats

The most important sources of essential fatty acids. These oils, especially unrefined ones, are rich in phosphatides (lecithin), sitosterol, vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids - these are substances that are involved in a number of important processes in the human body, from which biologically active substances are formed. The biological significance of these nutrients allows the use of vegetable oils in diets for most diseases. The highest concentration of beneficial nutrients is in sunflower, corn, olive and especially soybean oil.

In vegetable oils, when exposed to high temperatures, especially for a long time, valuable fatty acids and vitamin E are destroyed, and harmful oxidation products accumulate. Therefore, it is better to use such oils without heat treatment, in salads, vinaigrettes, etc. You cannot fry anything in the same oil for a long time. Using vegetable oils you can fry fish, vegetables, some dough products, less often meat, and you can also sauté vegetables and add it to dishes when stewing. But let us remind you once again that when preparing food for children, it is necessary to use the most gentle methods of heat treatment of food - boiling, baking, stewing.

Vegetable fats are obtained from the seeds of oilseed plants by pressing or extraction. The essence of the pressing process is to squeeze oil out of crushed seeds, from which most of the hard shell (peel) has been previously removed. Depending on the method of conducting the technological process, cold-pressed and hot-pressed oil are distinguished. During hot pressing, crushed seeds are preheated in roasters.

Vegetable oil is purified either by filtration or by exposure to alkalis. In the first case, the product is called unrefined, in the second, refined. Of the vegetable oils, the range of which is very wide and includes fats with different chemical and physical properties, the most commonly used in cooking are sunflower, cottonseed, olive, soybean, peanut, and less commonly used are flaxseed, hemp and corn oils. In confectionery production, sesame and nut oils are used, and in baking, mustard oil is used. You should not overuse vegetable oils, since excess fatty acids can accumulate in cells, oxidize and poison the cells with oxidation products. The exception is olive oil, which contains lower amounts of PUFAs, so it oxidizes less and can be used in larger quantities.

Sunflower oil obtained by pressing or extracting sunflower seeds. Oil produced by pressing, especially hot, has an intense golden-yellow color and a pronounced aroma of roasted seeds. Sunflower oil is sold refined and unrefined. Refined and deodorized oil is transparent and almost devoid of a specific odor. In baby food, it is preferable to use this kind of oil for preparing dishes and dressing salads, in accordance with the age norm.

Olive oil extracted from the fleshy part of the olive tree fruit and from the kernel of its hard pit. The best edible grade of olive oil is obtained by cold pressing, thanks to which it is possible to eliminate the specific taste, but, at the same time, preserve all the beneficial qualities of this oil. Olive oil has a delicate, soft taste and pleasant aroma. It contains less essential fatty acids and vitamin E than sunflower oil, but has a beneficial effect on diseases of the liver and biliary tract, peptic ulcers, and gastritis due to the successful combination of PUFAs contained.

For getting corn oil The germ of the corn kernels is pressed or extracted. Refined corn oil is golden yellow in color; it is used in the manufacture of confectionery products. Mustard, nut, and peanut oils are not used in baby food, since the raw materials for their production are a potential food allergen; they are used primarily in the confectionery industry.

When and how much

Butter (unsalted, sweet cream, i.e. without the addition of lactic acid bacteria) is introduced into the child’s diet simultaneously with the introduction of vegetable puree or cereals - at 5-6 months or later - about 8 months. The need to introduce oil with the first complementary foods varies from person to person. So, if the baby is not gaining weight well, then the oil is introduced earlier, but if the child is gaining well or excessively, then it is better to introduce this product later. The beginning of administration is with 1 g/day (at the tip of a teaspoon), gradually increasing the consumption rate to 4–6 g per year. By 3 years it is 10–15 g/day.

Vegetable oils, such as sunflower, corn and olive, are recommended to be used in baby food in their natural form: for dressing salads, vinaigrettes, and as additives in various dishes. For feeding young children, it is recommended to use the same oils with the beginning of the introduction of vegetable complementary foods (the timing of the introduction of complementary foods is also set individually, depending on the type of feeding and weight gain), with the condition of preparing meals independently. Since vegetable puree is introduced gradually, starting from 10 g, adding a couple of drops of sunflower oil to it is quite enough. As the volume of the dish increases, we increase the addition of oil, bringing it to the full volume for this age category (see table). If you use store-bought canned baby food to feed your baby, you don’t need to add oil to it.

Age, months 0-3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9-12 1-3 years
Butter, g - - - -* 1-4 4 5 6 6-15
Vegetable oil, g - - -** 1-3 3 3 5 6 6-10

* Butter can be introduced from 5 months.

** Vegetable oil can be introduced from 4.5-5 months.

For young children, oils need to be added to independently prepared complementary foods, and industrially produced dishes, be it vegetable purees or porridges, already contain the required amount of vegetable and animal fats. So, for example, if you started introducing complementary foods to a 5-month-old (if necessary from 4.5 months) child, then the first dish into which you will need to add vegetable oil will be vegetable puree. We start with a few drops, working up to an incomplete teaspoon - this will be the full recommended volume for this age.

At 6 months, the next complementary food product introduced into the diet will be milk-free or dairy porridge, into which it is recommended to add butter, starting from the tip of a knife (1 g), bringing to the full volume - 4 g. Vegetable oil is still introduced into vegetable oil puree, in the same volume (3 g).

At 7 months of age, the volume of dishes increases, but the amount of introduced oils remains the same. At 8 months, it is recommended to introduce another dish - meat puree, to which you can add 1/3 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Taking into account the oil added to vegetable puree, you get the full recommended volume for this age - 5 g. And we still add butter to porridge, in the amount of 5 g.

Up to 1.5 years, while the range of dishes remains the same, the volume of introduced oils increases, so, in vegetable purees, the volume of introduced vegetable oil increases to 7–8 g, and the proper volume of butter can be equally distributed for preparing porridges (5–7 g) , meatballs, meat soufflés 5 g each (if you melt the butter, 5 g fits in 1 teaspoon).

By 3 years, the daily volume of butter - 15 g - can be distributed as follows: for breakfast, 5 g - for making a sandwich or milk porridge, 5 g - add to porridge or pasta for a lunch side dish, 5 g for preparing a vegetable dish (for example, potato mashed potatoes) or a meat dish (for example, meatballs) for dinner. Vegetable oil - 10 g can be distributed as follows: for preparing the first course - 3 g, for dressing salads or preparing vegetable side dishes - 5 g, the remaining volume can be used for culinary processing of dishes.

Atherosclerosis is the most common chronic disease, with the formation of single and multiple foci of lipid, mainly cholesterol deposits - atheromatous plaques - in the inner lining of the arteries.

Enter in complementary foods oil needed when the baby is 5-6 months old. First - vegetable, and a little later - creamy. The first dose should be tiny and fit on the tip of a knife, that is, approximately 1 gram (that’s a couple of drops). Moreover, vegetable oil is added to complementary foods (preferably olive oil, first cold pressed), and butter is added to complementary foods. It is important that in the second case we are talking specifically about products made from cream (fat content - at least 82.5%). Less fatty ones have a different name - spread - and the natural base in them is replaced by various food additives. It is also important to remember that in canned complementary foods the oil additive will be superfluous: it already contains it in the form of the required amount of animal and vegetable fats.

Why do you need oil for children?

If your little one ate canned (store-bought) complementary foods - vegetable oil he is already familiar with it. It is added to store-bought ones to make them better absorbed. Therefore, if you prepare a vegetable dish yourself, you can safely add a drop of olive oil to it. And the cream product goes well with starchy cereal porridges. But you need to add it directly to the plate, since during the boiling process, vitamins are destroyed, and harmful saturated fatty acids are formed from healthy unsaturated fatty acids.


By the age of one year, the daily “oil” norm for a toddler will be 3-5 grams. But margarine and other “light” foods (spreads) are contraindicated for infants.

Choosing the first vegetable oil for children, it’s best to stick with olive. It contains almost the same amount of fatty acids as breast milk. Over time, you can begin to alternate it with sunflower and corn. And closer to two years, also give rapeseed and soybean. They are the ones that are included in store-bought canned puree. But when buying such food, you should always check the composition for the presence of GMOs.

Olive and more oil for children plays another important role - it provides the body with cholesterol. In small quantities, it is simply necessary, since it is involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones and the production of vitamin D, and is also part of the cell membrane and is necessary for a number of digestive processes. That is, without cholesterol, a child’s development, including intellectual development, may be impaired. But, we repeat, you should strictly adhere to the established standards, since the “oil blow” to the liver and pancreas can be very noticeable. It should also be added with caution to infants intolerant to cow protein.


Vegetable oil for children

This product contains vitamin E, as well as unsaturated fatty acids, which the human body cannot produce on its own. Meanwhile, such connections are needed for the retina and the functioning of the nervous system. Therefore, a grown-up toddler should be introduced to salads made from fresh vegetables, seasoned with olive (sunflower, corn, soybean) oil as early as possible. You can also add it to vegetable purees and... It is also great for preparing fried dishes, since it is not afraid of heat treatment and does not release any carcinogens harmful to the body. But, of course, fried food will appear on your child’s menu no earlier than he turns one year old.

Adding butter to complementary foods

It is necessary to introduce butter made from cream into complementary foods in a timely manner and without fail. Moreover, when the time comes, it should be present in your child’s menu every day (of course, in small doses), providing the body with vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, calcium, phospholipids, and amino acids. If vegetable oil is offered to children at 5-6 months, then a cream product is offered at 6-7 months. For six-month-olds who eat formula - earlier, and for those who are breastfed - later. If your child suffers from allergies, be sure to consult your pediatrician before introducing complementary foods butter.


, we repeat, giving it to babies is very useful. After all, it is a source of energy, an indispensable element that ensures the proper functioning of the nervous system, which has a beneficial effect on the skin, hormonal system, vision, hair, muscle and bone tissue. The unique property of “creamy” is its ability to heal wounds and ulcers in the stomach and duodenum. It also normalizes digestion. Helps treat complex bronchial diseases, skin ailments, colds, tuberculosis. Protects the young body from infections.

They begin to introduce butter for children along with cereal complementary foods, that is, porridge. At first - 2-4 grams per day. By the year the norm is 5-6 grams. By the age of three, a carp should consume about 15 grams, and after 4 years - 25.

Finally, we repeat once again: when choosing, what oil to give to a child, under no circumstances should you buy a spread. After all, this product contains elements harmful to babies - flavoring additives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, flavorings... And it is not difficult to distinguish a natural product from a substitute: at the legislative level it is forbidden to hide the fact that a spread is a spread

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Benefit

How is butter beneficial for the growing body of a little person who is not yet a year old?

  • Source of energy.

The baby, of course, sleeps a lot. But already from 4-5 months the amount of sleep decreases and he begins to be more and more awake. And while awake, the baby never lies quietly. Literally everything moves with him - his arms, legs are constantly in motion, his head is spinning - everything is interesting to him, he is learning about the world. Such vigorous activity, of course, requires a lot of energy. After all, an unformed organism does not yet have the reserves that adults have, so it receives energy with each new meal. But butter is rich in healthy fats, which are transformed in the body into carbohydrates - our main sources of energy.

  • Some vitamins necessary for the body dissolve and are absorbed only in a fatty environment.
  • Milk fats, which butter is rich in, are absorbed almost completely by the body.
  • Lots of vitamins. Including A, D, E, B2. These elements are responsible for vision, help baby's hair grow, make skin healthy, and strengthen bones. And vitamin E is responsible for the proper development of the child’s reproductive organs.
  • For problems with the digestive system, butter is necessary.
  • Diseases of the respiratory system are also an indicator for the use of this product. These may be diseases of the bronchi and lungs. Even with tuberculosis, if the baby has been suffering from it since birth, butter will help alleviate the situation.

  • Helps the body fight skin diseases. Cleanses the skin.
  • Milk fat is an essential element for proper metabolism.
  • Butter helps a child recover faster after an illness by raising and strengthening the immune system.
  • Contains essential and extremely beneficial minerals for the body such as selenium, chromium, zinc, manganese and many others.
  • If you managed to get real butter from cows that grazed on pasture, then you have a unique medicine and preventative against cancer in your hands. After all, this oil contains a high content of natural linoleic acid.
  • When consumed in reasonable quantities, the product is not stored in fat reserves, but is completely converted into energy.
  • The product protects against the development of asthma. It is important that butter enters the body in small quantities, otherwise the benefits can turn into harm. In excess, it harms the heart, clogs blood vessels and negatively affects metabolism, contributing to obesity.

When and how much to give

When should you start giving this healthy product to children under one year old?

From four months, you can easily start adding a little product to the cereals you feed your baby. If you use ready-made porridges from mixtures, then there is no need to add additional oil to their composition - it is already included in the composition of the finished product.


You need to start introducing it little by little - this is the main condition. And after you start giving, carefully monitor the child’s reaction. If negative reactions occur, temporarily stop giving the oil and consult a doctor. But if the child is healthy, then usually there are no problems.

For the first time, children who have not yet turned one year old should be given no more than one gram of oil. And within two months - from the fourth to the sixth - this portion can increase, with a normal child’s reaction, to four grams. By the age of one year, a child can easily master the daily norm of 12 grams.

Of course, you shouldn’t give children under one year the entire daily requirement at once. These 4-12 grams should be divided into several doses - at least two.

How much to give

  • At 6 months - from one to four grams.
  • 7 months - 4 grams.
  • 8 months -5 grams.
  • From 9 to 12 months - 6-12 grams.

How to give - useful tips

Since butter is a fairly heavy and fatty product, introducing it into the diet of a baby who is not yet one year old requires great caution. Some doctors advise feeding your baby exclusively with breast milk for up to 6 months, and then starting to introduce other foods. But not all children have the opportunity to drink breast milk until six months. For many mothers, it happens that milk is completely absent or runs out very early. In this case, you can start giving butter from 4 months of age.

  • Added to porridge, butter simultaneously increases the digestibility of starch compounds in the cereal and improves the taste of the porridge.
  • You should give your baby only exceptionally high-quality, real butter. With 82.5% fat content. The child should not try any spreads, light substitutes or other food waste. Even for adults, the listed products are dangerous, let alone babies. The appearance of such products in a baby’s diet can cause dangerous allergies and poisoning.
  • Add fresh butter to the finished porridge, rather than cook it with it.
  • If there are problems with the digestive system: stool disorders, colic, then the product should be introduced into his complementary foods with particular caution.
  • In order for vitamin A to be fully preserved, the product must be stored covered in the refrigerator.

How to choose

Nowadays, many people have completely forgotten the real taste of natural butter. What points will tell you that this is a real product without additives:

  • Real butter tastes like cream. Without any impurities.
  • It doesn't make you sick, it doesn't cause rejection, even if you eat it with a big spoon.
  • It practically doesn't freeze. Even after taking the real product out of the freezer, you can spread it on a bun - it will not resemble a small brick in its consistency.
  • Doesn't crumble when cut.
  • The color is pleasant yellowish, the smell is characteristic.

Melted butter

Which oil is as healthy as butter, but has a higher digestibility? Of course, baked. This type of product has as many beneficial properties as regular fresh butter. But baked milk is easier to digest and therefore suitable for those children under one year old who are intolerant to lactose and milk protein. Its benefits:

  • It has a remarkable effect on the digestive system, relieving the child’s body of colic and constipation.
  • Helps develop intellectual abilities by saturating the brain with healthy cholesterol.
  • Helps develop and strengthen the reproductive system.

Requirements:

  • The consistency of the product should be soft, without hard lumps.
  • The color is amber, more/less dark/light.
  • The aroma is pleasant, creamy.
  • If heated, the natural product does not produce foam or sediment.

Keep in mind that melted butter is an extremely fatty product, so you can give it to a child who is not yet one year old only in the morning.


In butter, after it has been melted, new elements appear, including high-margin fatty acids, which were not present in the original product. These acids are able to remove harmful cholesterol from the body and strengthen blood vessels.

It can be given to a child who has not yet turned one year old - from 4 to 6 grams per day.

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When the time comes for complementary feeding, children begin to be given vegetable purees, and then porridge. Yes, not empty, but with butter! First, vegetable oil is introduced into complementary foods, after a couple of weeks - butter. At first, just a little bit of both is added. But these precious grams are extremely important for the health, growth and development of the baby!

We are traditionally accustomed to sunflower oil, but now we constantly hear that olive oil is healthier. But there is also corn, soybean, rapeseed, flaxseed... To what extent should all this variety be represented in a baby’s diet? Let's find out!

Oil for babies: benefits and pleasure

A child needs fats, firstly, in order to build his cells and grow, and secondly, to receive energy. When burning 1 g of fat, 9 kcal are released, and proteins and carbohydrates are 2 times less. Significant difference! And you must agree, what a pleasure it is to eat “empty” porridge or puree? With butter, any food is much tastier, more satisfying, and most importantly, healthier.


It’s not for nothing that they say: “It goes like clockwork”! This product makes it easier to introduce complementary foods, helping the baby's digestive system quickly adapt to a new type of diet and unfamiliar dishes. And when the time comes to wean the baby from the breast, it will help you painlessly switch to regular food.

This primarily applies to olive oil, which is closest to breast milk in terms of fatty acid composition (for example, linoleic acid is approximately 8% in both products).

Scientists have proven the key role of this and other fatty acids in the formation and development of the infant's brain, as well as their importance as precursors of a series of biologically active hormone-like substances - eicosanoids. When they are imbalanced in the body, vascular tone and blood clotting are disrupted, the immune system weakens, and the child begins to lag in growth. This must not be allowed!

Oil in complementary foods: a reasonable balance

Fifty to fifty - approximately this should be the ratio of vegetable oil and butter in complementary foods. Mothers usually have no doubt about the benefits of the first, but about the second they sometimes voice objections: “Is butter really necessary for a breastfeeding baby? It’s all cholesterol!”

In fact, there is nothing wrong with cholesterol if its content in everyday foods does not exceed the body’s physiological need for this substance. Cholesterol is used to synthesize many hormones and vitamins, including vitamin D, which strengthens the baby’s teeth and bones, protecting him from rickets.

But it's not only that. By not giving your baby butter and using only vegetable oil in children's dishes, you will achieve only one thing - indigestion. Too much vegetable oil for a child, no matter how beneficial it may be in itself, causes diarrhea in infants. Therefore, it should be about half of the total amount of fat that a child receives up to one year, and then even less - only 10%. The rest of the fats are supposed to be of animal origin: their main sources at an early age are butter and egg yolk.

Butter for babies: vitamin “F”

Fatty acids are considered universal building materials. Moreover, it is easier for the body to use ready-made molecules split off from edible oils and fats for its needs than to synthesize them itself from scratch. The body is so accustomed to receiving fatty acids from the outside that it has forgotten how to produce some of them (linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic). Therefore, they are called essential and are equated in importance to vitamins, united under the general name “vitamin F” (from the English fat – “fat”).

The largest amount of this factor, which is so necessary for the baby’s body, is contained in olive, corn and sunflower oil, which is why pediatricians recommend using them in the diet of children in their first year of life.

Dispute about the benefits of different oils in complementary feeding

Vegetable oil for a child, especially fresh, is useful regardless of where the original product is made and what kind of oil it is - sunflower, corn or olive (the child should be given one today, a second tomorrow, a third the day after tomorrow, because each has its own advantages).

It cannot be said that sunflower, for example, is worse than olive. The further north the crop is grown, the more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are super beneficial for babies are in the oil. Sunflower oil is the absolute champion in this indicator - it is at least 4 times faster than olive oil.

True, sunflower oil is inferior to olive oil in terms of composition balance, that is, in the ratio of the two main classes of PUFAs.

The fact is that normally a child should receive 5–6 times more linoleic acid than linolenic acid. The first is designated as omega-6, and the second belongs to omega-3 acids. In this ideal ratio, these acids are found in olive oil, which is traditionally received by babies born in southern Europe.

And for a long time, children in Russia have been helped to maintain a balance of PUFAs by combining different oils. Sunflower is rich in omega-6 acids, but corn, flaxseed and rapeseed have a lot of omega-3. But due to the fact that we now practically do not consume the last three types of vegetable oil, the ratio of linoleic and linolenic acids in the diet of Russians has shifted from the optimal 5–6 to 20–25.

To bring these numbers back to normal, one could limit oneself to one olive oil for a child, but the problem is that the total amount of PUFAs in it is less than in all others. But the child urgently needs them, and this despite the fact that his body cannot yet absorb a lot of oil.

This means that the baby needs to be given those types of oil in which the concentration of PUFAs is the highest, and these are sunflower and corn. It’s a good idea to add flaxseed to them.

But what about olive oil? Of course, it can and should also be used in the baby’s menu from time to time.

Secrets of choosing butter for babies

Remember that natural vegetable oil is a very capricious product!

The fact is that the unsaturated fatty acids contained in it are very easily oxidized, because they contain unused (double) chemical bonds and at every opportunity they try to attract an oxygen atom to themselves. As a result, the product loses its beneficial properties, and its taste also deteriorates.

This is why vegetable oil for children's dishes should always be fresh (latest harvest) and preferably unrefined, and this is especially true for sunflower oil: it is richer in valuable substances that are removed during the purification process.

Always look for extra virgin on containers of olive oil. This means that it is the very first and at the same time cold pressed. This oil is obtained by single cold pressing of olives, as a result of which their liquid oil part is separated from the solid.

Keep the bottle of vegetable oil in a dark place at a temperature of +10...–15°C, since the quality of this product deteriorates significantly when stored in light and heat.

We measure correctly

The most convenient way to do this is with spoons - you can use special measuring or ordinary cutlery. So, 2 ml of oil is placed in a coffee spoon, 5 ml in a tea spoon, 10 ml in a dessert spoon, and 15 ml in a tablespoon.

There are no problems with vegetable oil, since it is liquid. As for butter, don’t be confused by the fact that its dosage is usually indicated in grams: you can easily measure the same amount in milliliters by melting it directly in a spoon.

Add 1 ml of vegetable oil to vegetable puree while the portion is small (up to 50 g), and you can add 3 ml to a 100-gram portion - this is the daily norm for 5–7 months. At 8–9 months the baby needs 5 ml, at 10–12 months – 6 ml of vegetable oil per day. Add butter to the porridge at 6 months, increasing the dose from 1 to 4 g by 7–8 months. At 9 months the baby needs 5 g, at 10–12 months – 6 g per day.

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Oil is an extremely useful and, I repeat, vital product. It should be immediately present in the diet of a baby who has just begun to introduce complementary foods. If you started complementary feeding with canned food, it most often already contains vegetable oil. Or add a couple drops of oil yourself. Vegetable oil is added to vegetables, it helps their absorption, and butter is combined with starchy dishes - cereals. By one year, a child should receive up to 3-5 g of oil per day, by three years - 5-8 g per day, from three years and older up to 10-18 g per day. The best vegetable oil is olive (cold pressed), as well as native sunflower, soybean and corn oil; they can be alternated. The combination of fatty acids in olive oil is close to the same combination in breast milk. Until the child turns two years old, oils that contain a lot of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids should be added to his food. Therefore, canned food most often contains soybean and rapeseed oil, rather than olive and corn. There are many claims regarding the quality of soybean and corn oil, based on the frequent use of genetically modified raw materials. Some well-known manufacturers (such as Semper) have stopped using corn oil for these reasons. Therefore, you should study the packaging to see if it contains the indication “does not contain GMI.”

Butter is added directly to the plate, because... When boiling, vitamins are destroyed, and unsaturated fatty acids are converted into harmful saturated ones.

Margarine and butter spreads (so-called “light” butters) are not given to children. The amount of butter needed by a child 1-3 years old is 15 g per day.

What about cholesterol? According to specialists from the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, cholesterol, on the contrary, is necessary for a child. Another thing is that in quantities recommended according to the age of the baby. Cholesterol is involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones, including sex hormones, enters the cell membrane, and its deficiency can lead to disruption of its functions, which in turn will affect the development of the baby. Children suffering from cow's milk protein intolerance need to be very careful when introducing butter into their diet. And finally, no matter what wonderful properties butter has, you shouldn’t overdo it with it, it seriously strains the pancreas and liver.

Linen. Considered the most valuable. Rich in vitamin F. Nourishes the brain, improves cellular metabolism, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. It is called the oil of youth, therefore it is often recommended for older people. It oxidizes easily, so it must be protected from exposure to light and air. In terms of the content of unsaturated fatty acids, flaxseed oil surpasses all conventional products: only 1-2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil provide their daily requirement. In infants, flaxseed oil promotes the normal formation of brain tissue; in adults, it helps maintain proper metabolism, giving additional strength. In old age, fatty acids regulate blood cholesterol levels. Flaxseed oil helps normalize fat metabolism and seemingly unattainable weight loss with complete abstinence from consuming fats becomes a reality with the consumption of flaxseed oil. The use of flaxseed oil is very important for vegetarians and people whose diet does not include fish, the fat of which contains unsaturated fatty acids. In terms of the content of unsaturated fatty acids, flaxseed oil is superior to fish oil. It is especially useful to use it for dressing fresh salads and vinaigrettes, mixing with cottage cheese and herbs.

Sunflower. Our dear. The biological value of unrefined oil is very high: it contains a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids, phosphorus, iodine and other minerals that are destroyed when the temperature rises, so it should be stored at low temperatures (no higher than 18 degrees). The widespread distribution of sunflower oil was facilitated by its recognition by the Russian Orthodox Church as a Lenten product. Sunflower oil came in so handy in an Orthodox country that by the middle of the century, in some regions in the south, up to half of the area was sown with sunflowers, and for a long time vegetable oil was sunflower (and flaxseed), which became ingrained in the language.

Olive. It has an ideal formula for vegetable oil: a maximum of healthy fats and a minimum of harmful ones, with 75% of monounsaturated fats being the most valuable of them - oleic acid (3.5 times more than in any other oil). Olive oil is almost 100% absorbed by the body. To get 5 grams of essential fatty acids, a person must eat almost 0.5 kg of butter, and only 31 grams of olive oil! It is extremely beneficial for the heart and blood vessels, protecting them from atherosclerosis and lack of oxygen. In addition, olive oil has a healing effect, a calming effect on the functioning of the intestines, stomach, and pancreas. It was experimentally established that during the frying process, much more toxins were formed in sunflower oil than in olive oil. It is believed that pure olive oil, even with repeated heat treatment, does not form carcinogens. High-quality olive oil is sold only in dark glass containers and cannot be cheap. ( Olio extra vergine di olive– natural extra-virgin olive oil. Acidity no more than 1%. This is virgin oil without heating)
Corn. It goes on sale only in refined form. It has no particular advantages over sunflower oil, but this oil contains a large number of useful accompanying substances, which is why it is very popular. Corn oil contains such an essential fatty acid as linoleic acid – up to 56%. In addition to polyunsaturated fatty acids, corn oil contains a significant amount of tocopherols (vitamin E). It protects cells from the “attack” of free radicals, improves brain and muscle function and is considered a dietary oil.

www.baby.ru

Many parents are wary of butter because of its high content of animal fats, but for children this product is not only healthy, but also in many ways irreplaceable. Let's talk about butter for a small child.

The baby is introduced to butter between 4 and 6 months, when complementary foods are introduced. This product is usually added to porridges, but it can also be used to season vegetable dishes. If you buy canned food for your baby, the oil additive will be superfluous: the required amount of dietary fat is already there. The nutritional value of the butter is determined by milk fats, which the body of a small child needs as a source of energy and fat-soluble vitamins.

They are easily broken down and absorbed by 98%. In addition, they contain not only saturated, that is, “harmful” components, but also useful ones - monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Milk fats also contain vitamins A, E, D, B2. Vitamin A is part of the visual pigment rhodopsin and ensures the perception of color, B2 is needed for hair growth, healthy skin and nails, E affects the functioning of the reproductive organs, and D helps strengthen bone tissue. At the same time, butter contains quite a lot of cholesterol and calories, so you shouldn’t get carried away with this product. An excess of both in the body can lead to impaired fat metabolism. Consumption standards.

Like any complementary food, butter is introduced into the baby’s diet gradually. You should start with unsalted or sweet cream. They do not contain lactic acid bacteria, which can upset the balance of the intestinal flora of a small child. The first serving is 1 g per day. By 6 months it can be increased to 4 g (for comparison: a teaspoon holds 5 g of melted butter), and by a year - up to 6 g per day. From 1 year to 3 years, the baby can consume 15-20 g of this product daily. It is better to distribute the volume over 3 meals: in the morning, put butter in porridge or spread on bread, at lunch - put it in a side dish, and in the evening, cook any dish with it that you want to offer to the baby for dinner.

Melted butter is also very useful. Since it contains almost no cow's milk proteins and lactose, this product can be given to children with lactase deficiency and intolerance to cow's milk proteins. Ghee helps digestion and has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system and intellect. In addition, it improves memory, increases thinking abilities and keeps the central nervous system in good shape. When buying it in a store, pay attention to the smell, color and consistency of the product for a small child. High-quality butter has a caramel aroma and amber color; it must be soft. The taste of the oil is sweetish, with a slight nutty tint. If you melt it, it will become transparent and will not give any sediment. When heated, the product should not foam. Due to its high fat content, it is best to eat it in the morning, spread on cookies or bread.

www.vashaibolit.ru

.:: 24.08.2015

Until four months of age, the baby’s body is not yet ready to accept any food other than milk substitutes due to an incompletely formed enzymatic system. The secretory activity of the gastrointestinal tract is also not sufficiently developed. Their development is completed by 4-5 months of the postnatal period and the child is ready to accept and digest denser foods than milk or formula.

The only thing that can delay the timing of complementary feeding is the inability to swallow complementary foods. If the baby holds the puree in his mouth for a long time, trying to swallow, coughs, chokes or immediately spits it out, do not insist, offer food later. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, postpone attempts to introduce complementary foods for 1-2 weeks, take your time, you still have enough time left. The first feeding for a normally developing baby occurs at 5-5.5 months. After 5.5 months, formula or breast milk alone is insufficient nutrition; the child develops a deficiency of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and lipids for full development and health.

In the nutrition of babies up to one year old on any feeding, two concepts are used - complementary feeding and supplementary feeding. Supplementary feeding does not replace feeding, but is introduced as an addition to formula or breast milk if the baby does not get enough to eat. Complementary feeding is introduced not only as an introduction to new food for the sake of variety in the menu; a complementary feeding dish replaces one feeding with formula milk, and therefore must be complete and nutritious in its composition and energy value.

Where to start complementary feeding

It is traditionally believed that the first complementary food should be vegetable puree, especially if your baby is of average weight or slightly larger, and even more so if there is a tendency to constipation. Vegetable puree contains enough dietary fiber to keep your intestines from getting lazy.

If the baby's weight is below average, or the stool is excessively liquid, pediatricians advise starting complementary feeding with cereals.

  • the first porridge should be made from only one type of cereal, and not multi-grain
  • the first porridge should be gluten-free (do not contain gluten), the least allergenic - rice, corn or buckwheat

You don’t yet know how well your child will assimilate a new product, so choose not based on nutritional value, but on the least problematic porridge. Buckwheat is healthier than rice, but it is rice that is more easily accepted by children as their very first complementary food.

You can buy ready-made dairy-free and gluten-free porridge from baby food, or you can cook porridge yourself. The rice must be washed thoroughly and the first water after boiling must be drained. Then add clean water and cook until thickened. Do not add butter or sugar to the porridge, beat it in a blender until pureed and dilute it with the usual mixture.

Porridge consistency:

  • for children 4-6 months - homogeneous consistency (well mashed, semi-liquid),
  • for children 7-9 months - puree (thickness of sour cream),
  • by 10-12 months - more dense, in small pieces.

The first sample is one teaspoon - give it in small portions. During the day it will become clear how it is absorbed, observe changes in stool and skin. If everything is ok, increase to 1.5 teaspoons the next day. Depending on how well the child accepted the porridge, increase the portion to 150 g in 5 days, that is, 30 g per day. In this case, porridge is first added to one of the feedings, and then completely replaces the mixture. It’s up to you to decide which feeding to replace with complementary foods; mommy knows best when the baby is used to eating more willingly. Some give complementary foods at lunchtime, others eat well after sleep at about 5 p.m., and others at night. Everyone has their own biorhythms.

If the child does not want to eat rice porridge, offer him buckwheat and only corn remains as a backup option. If the baby is over 6 months old, you can try oatmeal and barley (barley).

Some mothers ask exactly how much porridge in grams to give to formula-fed children at a given age, and whether it is possible to give two types of porridge on the same day at separate feedings. In fact, you must determine it yourself based on the baby’s condition. If the child eats willingly, does not show any signs of allergies and uses diapers beautifully, if his tummy does not growl or has any anxiety at all, feed him healthily and do not bother bringing him to the norm in grams.

A week after getting used to one type of grain, you can add a second type of porridge for another feeding or add vegetable puree.

Vegetable puree also starts with one vegetable. The healthiest, most hassle-free and delicious for your baby are cauliflower, pumpkin and zucchini. Babies take broccoli less well, but it’s worth offering. If you have successfully mastered these vegetables, add carrots, white cabbage, and if the season coincides, add new potatoes.

Features of complementary feeding

The consistency of complementary foods should change gradually from semi-liquid to thick. By the age of one year, a child is able to eat thin “mush” - with well-cooked lumps and flakes.

A food temperature of 37 degrees, like breast milk, is most comfortable for a child.

Give the first complementary foods from a small spoon, not from a bottle, and when fermented milk products are added to porridge and vegetable puree - kefir, fermented baked milk, yogurt, teach the baby to drink from a cup.

Procedure for introducing complementary foods

We have already decided that the first complementary foods are porridge or vegetables, in the order that is more suitable for your baby, and not for the average imaginary one.

Vegetable purees improve intestinal motility, porridges are more nutritious and satisfying. If your baby rejects vegetables, offer porridge; perhaps he will intuitively choose what he likes. If your baby refuses, be patient and don't back down.

After getting used to one product, from about 6-7 months you can include multi-component feedings.

After accustoming your child to cereals and vegetables, from 6 months you can offer him meat puree. Beef, turkey, rabbit meat. Only fillet, no fat. If you cook the meat yourself, be sure to drain the water, along with the foam, after boiling. Rub the meat not with the broth in which it was cooked, but with vegetable broth or vegetable puree.

When to give fruit puree

Accustoming to new food occurs gradually over 1 month. And only after this you can offer fruit juices and purees.

Why not earlier? The fact is that fruits (in any form) cause digestive system disorders and very often allergic reactions in babies 3-4 months old. Fruits contain a high content of simple carbohydrates (glucose and fructose), a high proportion of organic acids, they can provoke increased formation of gases, colic, regurgitation, and diarrhea. Even if you do not observe such symptoms, it does not mean that everything is in order with the absorption of fruits. There is such a thing as acid-base balance (osmolarity of a product or dish) - the more this indicator deviates from maternal breast milk, the greater the load on the kidneys. The osmolarity of fruit juices and purees is almost twice as high as that of breast milk or high-quality formula (for comparison, it is 1.5 times higher in cow's milk). Therefore, modern pediatricians advise starting fruit complementary foods no earlier than in the second half of life, closer to 7 months.

Cottage cheese, meat, fish in complementary foods

Cottage cheese can be given to artificial babies from six months with 10 g, and by 8 months it can be increased to 30-40 g. Homemade yoghurt with sourdough from milk with a fat content of no more than 3.2% begins to be tried from 8 months, at the same feeding as cottage cheese, from 50-80 g, gradually increase to 200 g. Sourdough for making yogurt or kefir can be purchased at the pharmacy.

From 7 months, egg yolk appears in the baby’s diet. You should start with a quarter of the yolk or one fifth. The boiled yolk needs to be ground and mixed with already familiar food. By 8 months, increase complementary feeding to half a yolk.

From 8 months onwards, fish puree can be recommended for a bottle-fed baby. Use half a teaspoon - fish is a fairly strong allergen, and not every fish is safe for a baby due to the content of heavy metals in it. No tuna or tilapia! Suitable fish for first feeding include cod, haddock, hake, and pollock. The fillet is subjected to careful heat treatment to avoid infection with helminths. You can prepare the fish stew for yourself, pinch off a piece for your baby and thoroughly grind it into a paste. Fish has a specific taste, and although a child at this age already eats thick food well and meat can be offered in the form of meatballs or meatballs with the addition of cereals (rice or pearl barley), it is easier to taste fish in the form of a puree, without fibers or lumps. Fish should be alternated with meat (one day - fish, one day - meat).

Remember, not only the taste is important for the baby, but also the texture of the dish and the sensation on the tongue. If he rejects a new dish, just try preparing the product differently.

Bread, which is the head of everything, can be well digested by children only in the form of crackers. Bread itself does not have the same nutritional value as other foods. And you need to be very careful when choosing the bread from which you will dry the crackers. It’s good if you prepare homemade bread in a bread machine or slow cooker, and you know exactly what you put in it. And store-bought bread may contain margarine and improvers. This is categorically unacceptable. Buy bread for complementary feeding or crackers made from wheat flour, with sunflower oil (not vegetable, but sunflower) and without improvers, very preferably without yeast. It is difficult to find bread without yeast, but it is possible. In general, bread and crackers are not a replacement for feeding, but food for variety, a delicacy, so if you cannot make good bread yourself or buy it in a store, it is better to avoid it altogether.

What vegetable oil to give to a baby

Vegetable oil for complementary feeding from 6-7 months a child needs no more than 3 g, you should start with 1 g - that’s 2 drops. There are many conflicting opinions among mothers and pediatricians regarding the type of oil.

The national strategy for feeding children of the first year of life in the Russian Federation, developed by the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, recommends using refined, deodorized oil for complementary feeding: sunflower, corn or olive. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends starting to add vegetable oil not at the right time (6-7-8 months), but at the time when the main complementary feeding of porridge is 100 g. Then one feeding will be 120-130 g of porridge and ½ hour . spoons of vegetable oil.

Still, mothers argue which is better - olive or sunflower. In fact, the quality of purification, the absence of GMOs and the tendency to oxidation are more important. You should not run out and buy a bottle of Extra Virgin, not because it is expensive, but because it is impractical and dangerous - the oil quickly oxidizes and goes rancid. Oxidized oil is harmful for adults, and even more so for infants. Therefore, the freshness of the oil is important. Unrefined oil begins to oxidize from the moment the jar is opened, after a week it is already stale oil. And if you take into account the need (half a spoon per day), by the time you use up half the bottle, you will be slowly poisoning your baby. Therefore, it is recommended to use only refined oil in complementary foods for children. Sunflower oil contains more polyunsaturated fatty acids than olive oil and less monounsaturated fatty acids. But the vitamin E content differs several times: olive oil - 12 mg, sunflower oil - 40-60 mg. When bottle-fed, a child, compared to an infant, receives significantly less vitamin E, so sunflower oil is still preferable.

Butter - only the highest quality GOST, not weighed from the market, is introduced on the same basis as vegetable oil, the norm from 6-7 months to a year is 4 g, from 8 months to a year - 5 g. Butter can be added to porridge, vegetable puree. Moreover, butter improves the taste of the product; if your baby is reluctant to eat some vegetable or cereal, try adding butter to this particular complementary food, perhaps this will affect his cravings.