How to introduce different cereals into complementary foods. Cereal complementary foods can be introduced in the form

Porridge is one of the main types of complementary foods for children in their first year of life. It enriches the body with essential nutrients and vitamins and promotes comfortable digestion.

Proper nutrition child in the first year of life plays an important role for normal physical development And good health. With mother's milk into the body little man all necessary nutrients and protective antibodies are supplied. Adapted artificial mixtures balanced in composition for the full growth and development of the child. And yet without switching to adult food not enough.

Why is complementary feeding needed?

In 12 months, a newborn triples its weight and increases its height by one and a half times. Such leaps in physical development, as well as increased activity (crawling, walking), require considerable energy expenditure and a complete diet nutrition. In addition, by the age of one year, most babies already have a sufficient number of teeth (normally 8 incisors). This is why it is so important to use complementary foods.

Features of introducing porridge to a child under one year old

One of the most nutritious and easily digestible dishes for children of the first year of life is porridge. This complementary food is recommended for children with insufficient increases in weight and unstable stool. With normal physical development, modern pediatricians advise starting an additional diet with vegetable puree. Porridge is introduced after it after 3-4 weeks at 6-7 months of age.

By this time, the child’s gastrointestinal tract is already prepared to digest heavier food: the first teeth appear, the intestines are populated with the necessary microflora, and enzyme systems are gradually formed. At artificial feeding unadapted mixtures porridge should be introduced earlier due date– at 5–6 months. The baby's body needs a source of vitamins, calcium and iron.

The child’s readiness to introduce a new product into the diet is determined by the following signs:

• appearance of teeth;
• frequent breast demand or insufficient saturation with formula;
• manifestation food interest to adult food (the child reaches to the table, grabs and puts various foods in his mouth);
• begins to sit;
• licks food from a spoon, does not spit it out.

When using complementary foods, it is important to observe the following principles:

• one type of product must be administered over 7–10 days;
• must be applied fractional meals in small portions: on the first day - 1/2 teaspoon of complementary foods, on the second - 1 teaspoon, on the third - 2 teaspoons, on the fourth - 4 teaspoons, etc. up to the age norm;
• after introducing a new product, it is necessary either breast milk (formula);
• in case of development (rash on the cheeks, around the mouth, on the body), it is necessary to urgently remove complementary foods and give the child antihistamine in an age-specific dosage (Fenistil, Suprastin, etc.); V difficult situations– development of urticaria and Quincke’s edema (swelling of the face, the appearance of bright red spots on the body, shortness of breath with signs of suffocation), you need to call an ambulance;
• with poor appetite New Product should be offered several times during the day (2-3 times) so that the child can taste it.

Types of cereals for complementary feeding

Buckwheat - great option for the first feeding.

It is better to start cereal complementary feeding with buckwheat, rice or corn porridge. These cereals do not contain gluten (gluten-free). Semolina, wheat, oatmeal, barley (pearl barley and barley), millet and rye porridge can cause early age grain intolerance (gluten enteropathy) and allergic reactions. These cereals are gluten-free and are prescribed in more late age(after 8–9 months).

Scheme for introducing porridge to children of the first year of life

Child's age	Volume of milk porridge at breastfeeding, quantity in grams	Volume of milk porridge during artificial feeding, quantity in grams
5 months	-	50–100
6 months	50–100	150
7 months	150	150
8 months	150	170
9 months	180	180
10–12 months	200	200

Making porridge for first feeding with your own hands

It is better to prepare porridge on your own for children under one year old using water or expressed breast milk (formula). Whole milk is a product with a high level of allergenicity, so it is used only in diluted form (in a 1:1 ratio with water) or used at a later age. For children of the first year of life, mashed porridge is prepared in two ways.

In the first case, the cereal must first be sorted, washed and dried well, then ground in a coffee grinder or crushed in a mortar. The resulting flour needs to be boiled in water, then you can add milk and bring to a boil. IN ready-made porridge put a piece of butter.

According to the second method, you should boil the cereal until completely cooked and, while hot, rub it through a fine sieve or grind it in a blender. Then you can add hot milk and boil for 5 minutes. The porridge is ready.

To improve the taste of the dish, you can add a little saline solution and sugar syrup during cooking.

To prepare a saline solution you need:

• Dissolve 25 g of salt (1 tablespoon) in 100 ml of boiling water;
• Boil the resulting solution for 10 minutes over low heat, add water to the original volume and bring to a boil again;
• strain through 2 layers of gauze.

To prepare sugar syrup you need:

• Dissolve 200 g of sugar in 100 ml of boiling water;
• Boil the resulting syrup for 15–20 minutes, stirring constantly, then add boiled water to the original volume and bring to a boil again;
• strain through 3-4 layers of gauze.

The approximate composition of products for preparing baby porridge is presented in the tables below.

Mixed milk porridge for children up to one year old 10% (rice, buckwheat)

Product	Quantity in grams	Measure	Squirrels	Fats	Carbohydrates	Kcal
Cereal flour	10,0	1/2 tsp.	1,0	0,2	7,2	35,0
Milk	100,0	1/2 cup	2,8	3,2	4,7	58,0
Sugar syrup	5,0	1 tsp.	-	-	5,0	18,7
Butter	2,5	1/2 tsp.	-	2,1	-	18,9
25% sodium chloride solution	1,5	1/4 tsp.	-	-	-	-
Exit	100		3,8	5,5	16,9	130,6

Porridge for children under one year old made from ground buckwheat

Product	Quantity in grams	Measure	Squirrels	Fats	Carbohydrates	Kcal
Ground buckwheat	10–12	1.5–2 tsp.	1,0	0,2	7,2	35,0
Milk	100,0	1/2 cup	2,8	3,2	4,7	58,0
Sugar syrup	5,0	1 tsp.	-	-	5,0	18,7
Butter	2,5	1/2 tsp.	-	2,1	-	18,9
25% sodium chloride solution	1,5	1/4 tsp.	-	-	-	-
Exit	100		3,8	5,5	16,9	130,6

You can also use commercially produced cereals to feed your baby. They are very easy to use. Such porridges do not require boiling and are enriched with vitamins and mineral salts. The powder is diluted with hot boiled water (temperature about 40 ° C) with constant stirring (to avoid the formation of lumps) to the desired consistency. You can also add a piece of butter to the finished dish.

Among the frequently encountered manufacturers of baby cereals on store shelves you can find the following: Nestle, Heinz, Bebi, Humana, Semper, HiPP, Nutricia, etc.

All industrially produced porridges are divided into:

• dairy and non-dairy;
• single-component (oat, buckwheat, wheat, etc.) and multi-component (wheat-oat, 7 grains, multigrain, etc.);
• with fruit, berry and vegetable additives (dried apricots, prunes, apples, bananas, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, pumpkin, etc.), can be with cookies;
• gluten (oatmeal, wheat, semolina, etc.) and gluten-free (rice, buckwheat, corn);
• hypoallergenic (gluten-free, dairy-free, does not contain sucrose and fructose) and regular;
• with probiotics (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli) and prebiotics (lactulose, inulin, oligosaccharides, etc.), which promote the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines and normal digestion.

Conclusion

Thus, porridge is one of the main types of complementary foods. She contributes good digestion, has a high nutritional value, which is very important for children during the period of active physical development in the first year of life.

Thanks to the distribution of products baby food can be purchased in stores different kinds porridge Hypoallergenic ones are suitable for children with allergies, and dairy-free ones for children with lactose intolerance. For unstable stools and digestive problems, you can use porridge with prebiotics and probiotics. But if a child poor appetite, then fruit and berry additives will help improve the taste of the dish.

The choice is up to the parents. Some people don’t trust the modern baby food market and cook the old fashioned way, while others are happy to use industrially produced cereals (in boxes). The most important thing for mom and dad is to take care of the child, while healthy eating should come first.

The program “Doctor Komarovsky’s School” will tell you about complementary feeding and what it includes:

Basics

As strange as it may sound, the rules for introducing complementary foods are actually not particularly complicated; the most important thing is to understand them correctly and choose right time for their introduction. If the baby is fully breastfed, it is necessary to introduce complementary foods for the first time only after the baby is six months old. Until this time, the baby simply does not need complementary feeding; breast milk covers all the baby’s needs.

Unfortunately, not all babies are breastfed, and if the baby is supplemented or is fully bottle-fed, the timing of introducing complementary foods may differ, but not significantly. The first complementary foods are also introduced after six months of life, with the only difference being a couple of weeks.

Modern pediatricians are inclined to believe that it is necessary to introduce complementary foods to bottle-fed babies as late as possible. Minimum possible deadline introduction of complementary foods to children receiving artificial nutrition 5.5 months. This condition is mandatory, since digestive enzymes are not yet completely ready for new foods, and a failure in the system may occur.

In order to digest porridge, or rather the carbohydrates, proteins and fats they contain, minimum term introduction of porridge - 5 months. If you introduce complementary foods earlier, that is, big risk the likelihood of your baby getting intestinal problems. Parents should remember that porridge should be introduced to children with overweight not the first, but as a second complementary food, after the introduction of vegetable complementary foods. The first thing on a child's menu, porridge can be introduced to underweight babies who cannot be corrected after eliminating the problems of breastfeeding and artificial feeding.

First porridge

Enter this complementary foods like porridge, which are carbohydrate-rich and high-calorie, are necessary in order to cover all the baby’s energy needs, which begin to actively increase by 6–7 months of age. Complementary foods containing cereals are indispensable in the nutrition of a toddler; it is with them that a child can receive the amount of carbohydrates that he needs, which provide nutrition to brain tissue and energy. In addition, porridges contain fats that provide plump cheeks and protection from infectious diseases, proteins that ensure muscle strength. There are vitamins and minerals that help normalize metabolism and so on.

Porridges contain the required amount of fiber, which improves performance digestive tract, and helps normalize unstable stools. Of course, the main purpose of introducing porridge is its nutritional value; carbohydrates, which break down in the intestines to glucose, are absorbed and distributed to all cells, giving them energy for proper functioning.

Properties of porridge

Along with vegetables, porridges are optimal products for transitioning a child from full breastfeeding to adult food. The first porridges are similar in consistency and chemical properties to female or mixtures. Porridge is quite easily absorbed by the baby’s body, but only if the parents have chosen the right time to introduce complementary foods.

Early introduction of complementary foods, and even more so the introduction of nutritious cereals, when the little one does not yet expend so much energy, is very dangerous. Calories are stored in reserve, and this can result in the child becoming overweight and obese later.

Usually, porridge is offered to the baby a couple of weeks after the introduction of complementary foods from vegetables. This is justified by the fact that porridges, even without added sugar, as required by the nutritional rules for young children, are sweet in themselves. And if you introduce unleavened vegetables after sweet porridge, children may refuse, they are not tasty compared to porridge. But this is not a strict rule, each baby is individual, and sometimes it is necessary to look optimal options. In some cases, doctors recommend mixing vegetables and cereals, such as porridge with pumpkin.

Parents must remember important rule: in a child with a tendency to constipation, porridge should be administered carefully and very slowly.

What is the strength?

The nutritional value of each porridge is determined based on its composition and what kind of cereal it was made from. Although porridge is one group in a child’s diet, it is quite different from each other, namely in the set of vitamins, mineral components, fiber and carbohydrates. In addition, the level of protein content also differs.

Porridges may also differ in quality and quantity of dietary fiber; rice and semolina contain the least of them, and the most a large number of them in buckwheat, oats and millet porridge. All cereals for babies are rich in B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, zinc and selenium - all these substances are simply irreplaceable for full development.

The greatest benefits among porridges are buckwheat and oatmeal – these porridges are record holders for nutritional value.

Among the porridges, there are also the most useful ones, which are very useful for constipation, these are buckwheat, oatmeal, and barley porridge. But there is one “but”: protein in porridges is quite difficult to digest, with the exception of buckwheat, in which protein composition best balanced.

Where to start?

Modern pediatricians say that it is necessary to introduce complementary foods with cereals and buckwheat, corn or rice porridge. This is explained by the fact that these cereals do not contain gluten or gluten, i.e. special proteins in cereals, which are very dangerous for the immature intestines and the development dangerous disease– celiac disease, or as it is also called gluten diarrhea.

If the baby has a predisposition to celiac disease, or the intestinal wall has not yet matured, then due to the effects of gluten, the intestinal wall can become very thin and gradually lose its villi - which contributes to disruption of the absorption process of substances, in particular fats.

Enteropathy can manifest itself if you give your baby wheat, oatmeal, rye, barley or millet cereals. Gluten is also found in semolina, multigrain porridge or rolled oatmeal, as well as in some milk formulas, such as baby or baby.

In addition to the risk of developing celiac disease, gliadin is a fairly strong allergen that increases the permeability of the intestinal wall to many other allergens. Subsequently, this manifests itself as indigestion, diarrhea in the baby and various skin rashes, and, of course, the functioning of the immune system does not remain aside.

It is for these reasons that gluten porridges are introduced into the diet of many people later than gluten-free ones, and then slowly and carefully. If the child’s first porridge – buckwheat – went well, then after a couple of months you can introduce rice and corn or cereal flakes. Semolina and millet porridge are best given to a baby after one year.

With milk or not?

Pediatricians advise giving your baby's first cereals without milk, since milk contains casein, a protein that can provoke a severe allergic reaction. Porridge needs to be cooked in water, and milk can only be added at the end of cooking; the protein does not undergo heat treatment, which means that porridge can still provoke allergies.

The first porridges can be cooked exclusively in water, without adding spices (salt and sugar). If the baby does not have any reaction, then after about a couple of weeks you can prepare porridge for the baby with the addition of milk, diluting the milk with water 50/50. This porridge can be given to the baby no more than 3 - 5 spoons. After a couple of days, strictly monitor the child’s reaction; if there is no reaction, you can continue to eat porridge.

But if the child’s cheeks turn red, there is a bowel disorder, or there is any behavioral disorder, it is necessary to postpone the introduction of milk porridges for a month. Most likely, the enzymes in the baby’s body have simply not matured yet, and in a month you can try again. If after this time the child’s reaction repeats, then introduction to dairy products should be postponed until 2–3 years.

What about various additives?

Many parents do not regret anything for their babies, and do not want to feed the baby with simple cereals, without adding spices and milk; caring mothers consider them inferior. But this policy is not correct; the first porridge for a baby can be done without it. The cereal itself contains a sufficient amount of mineral components.

In addition, it is worth remembering that when introducing a multi-component porridge, it is very difficult to track which component the baby is reacting to. Only when the baby reaches 8–9 months of age is it fashionable to add berries and various vegetables to porridge. But cocoa, chocolate, nuts and other highly allergenic foods can be introduced into a child’s diet after 3 years.

Cook it yourself? Or buy?

There is no correct answer to this question, every point of view is valid, and the choice falls solely on the shoulders of the parents. Scientific sources advise using industrial cereals for first complementary foods, but not everyone can afford them, or parents may not be satisfied with the composition.

If the choice fell on boxed cereals, then you should pay attention to some features:

The first porridge should be without milk and without added sugar.

You should not pay attention to the deadlines indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging; complementary feeding should be introduced no earlier than after six months.

Porridge does not need to be cooked - it must be measured out with a spoon and diluted with boiled warm water, formula or mother's milk.

When preparing, you need strict precision; if you make it thicker than necessary, the baby may subsequently be constipated, since with such a thick porridge the enzymes digestive system they won't be able to cope.

If the child had constipation even before introducing the porridge, then the porridge should be made with one spoonful of powder less.

Boxed cereals have their drawbacks, the fact is that manufacturers are chasing a large number of consumers, and add sugar and various things that are harmless to the baby’s body to their cereals, but, nevertheless, babies do not need additives - vanilla or fruit juices.

Boxed cereals can be very sweet, and children who eat such cereals may have a negative attitude towards other complementary foods that turn out to be bland. Even when buying modern porridges, you need to carefully read the ingredients, and if the porridge contains milk additives and sugar, then such porridges are suitable for children from 1.5 to 2 years old.

How to cook it yourself?

If the parents decide to prepare the porridge themselves, then they can grind the cereal in a coffee maker and then cook it, or they can cook the cereal as usual and then grind it in a blender - there is no fundamental difference, the most important thing is that the new porridge does not burn and run away.

The first porridges are made at the rate of 5 g of cereal per 100 ml of water, gradually the amount of cereal increases. It turns out that the porridge has the consistency of kefir. And before giving porridge to your baby, you need to add formula or breast milk.

If porridge is prepared at home, then from about 7 months, you can add a few drops vegetable oil, and from 8 months, a third of a teaspoon of butter, but only of high quality, and not like margarine. There is no need to add anything to boxed cereals, they already have everything, the manufacturers have taken care of everything.

Parents can make mixes of vegetables and various cereals, pumpkin or carrots go especially well; from 8 to 9 months, you can add various fruits, and only after that you can add berries, which are non-allergenic foods.

An equally important rule is that porridge for a baby is given only from a spoon, even the first ones, which are very liquid. Such simple manipulations will teach the child the skills of eating, how to chew and this important prevention bite pathologies. If porridge is introduced into the diet correctly, the baby will like it.

In principle, it does not have special significance, whether your child is breastfed or bottle-fed. It is necessary to introduce complementary foods only when you are sure that the baby is not sick at this moment. A healthy baby sleeps and eats well, is not capricious, and does not throw unreasonable tantrums while awake.

It is best to take dairy-free rice or they contain no salt, no milk, no sugar, no flavorings. It may seem to you that it is tasteless, but in fact the child does not yet know what sweet or salty food means, and for him any new taste, even bland, will seem unusual, but interesting. Ideal for first feeding. At first, it can become your baby’s favorite treat.

You should start introducing porridge into your child’s diet no earlier than four months of age, but you shouldn’t delay it either. It is during the period from 4 to 6 months that it is easiest to develop a baby’s chewing skills. Also at this age, the child’s body learns to cope with food that is heavier for it than breast milk or an adapted formula.

But you must understand that all these terms are conditional. Each child is different, and if in doubt, consult your pediatrician. The norm for breastfed children is considered to be closer to six months, for those who are fed artificial porridge - a month or two earlier.

How much to give for the first time?

So, the question of which porridge to start complementary feeding with has been resolved. Now let's find out how much food to give your baby. Many mothers and fathers, due to inexperience, from the very first day replace one meal with 50-100 grams of porridge, considering this correct introduction. But in no case should you do this, because in the first few weeks the baby and his body are just getting acquainted with new food.

You need to start with a minimum amount - 5-10 grams is enough for the first few times. Give your child half a small spoon, see how he reacts and whether he likes the taste. Then observe the body’s reaction: whether the innovation has affected the baby’s tummy, or whether rashes have appeared. And only if everything is in order and the child reacted calmly to food that is unusual for him, you can bring complementary feeding to the age-appropriate norm, adding 5-10 grams daily.

Ideal time for complementary feeding

Any new food, be it porridge or puree, must be given in the morning. Unknown foods should never be introduced between feedings. Dairy-free porridge for first feeding is given before the main meal, when the child is hungry. This way you can understand whether your baby liked the food. You will also be able to observe your child's reaction throughout the day. If you give your baby porridge after the main meal, he may simply spit it out, and you will think that the baby did not like the innovation, when in fact the reason for the refusal was that the child was full.

Which porridge to start complementary feeding with: buckwheat or rice - it’s up to the parents to decide. And don’t be upset if your child doesn’t like the new food. Set it aside for a couple of days. Also, you should not try new flavors if less than a week has passed since the first introduction.

Complementary feeding and baby's weight

Pediatricians advise giving infant porridge if he has insufficient or average body weight. In such cases, you need to introduce your baby to new food as early as possible. If the child overweight, then you should not lean on porridge; limit yourself to fruits and vegetables.

Which porridge should you prefer: store-bought or homemade?

Each parent is free to decide for himself whether to cook his own porridge or buy ready-made baby porridge that only needs to be diluted with water. Reviews from parents on this matter often say the opposite. People of the old school believe that store-bought cereals contain only “chemicals”; the new generation is confident that baby food undergoes strict control before sale and therefore such food is completely safe for a child.

How to cook porridge yourself?

If you have already decided which porridge to start complementary feeding with and prefer food not from a box, a few tips will help you prepare porridge for your baby quickly and tasty:

1. Boil buckwheat or rice groats in your usual way. The only thing you need to take into account is that you should not put sugar, salt and butter in your baby’s porridge. It is best to cook cereal in water, because the child is not yet ready to consume dairy products. Place the finished food in a blender bowl and grind. You can also use a regular sieve.
2. If you need to speed up the cooking process, cook already ground cereal. At first you will have to work hard, but then you will save a lot of time on cooking. So, you need to first thoroughly rinse the cereal, dry it and grind it in a coffee grinder, put it in a special sealed jar. All that remains is to pour the required amount of prepared cereal with water and, after boiling, keep it on low heat for no more than five minutes. Now your rice or buckwheat porridge is ready. It is much easier to prepare complementary foods for your baby this way than the first time.
3. The third method is even less labor intensive. You just need to purchase baby cereals produced without additives. Reviews from parents who have already tried the finished product are mostly positive. According to mommies, there is no difference in taste, and the cooking process is simpler than ever.

Which cereal should you choose?

Many parents believe that it is most useful oatmeal, and introduce the child to her first, but this is not entirely correct. It’s still better to start with buckwheat or rice groats, because they are absorbed much easier by the baby’s still fragile body. Introduce oatmeal no earlier than a couple of months after those mentioned above.

Do not add under any circumstances during cooking. butter- such food will be too fatty for the child.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is rich in iron and vitamins, it contains a huge amount of microelements, and at the same time it has a minimal amount of carbohydrates. But buckwheat is a strong allergen. This is perhaps its only drawback. Try giving it to your baby literally on the tip of a spoon and watch the reaction. If there are no consequences, feel free to bring complementary feeding to the age-appropriate norm over the course of a week.

Rice cereal

Rice groats are just as healthy as buckwheat. It contains the eight most active amino acids and complex carbohydrates. This porridge can be safely given to children from the age of four months. You should start the same way - with a small amount, gradually bringing complementary foods to normal.

What about other cereals?

Do not immediately introduce millet, barley, oatmeal or other new ingredients immediately after buckwheat and rice. It is better to start giving new ingredients around eight months, when the child is already accustomed to the first cereals, vegetables and fruits.

Everyone's favorite semolina porridge should also be excluded for now - it is a rather heavy food, not rich useful substances. Due to its constituent huge amount carbohydrates, pediatricians recommend semolina for children with low body weight.

Now you know which cereal to start solids with, but don’t be afraid and feel free to ask your attending pediatrician questions regarding your baby’s nutrition and health. Knowing individual characteristics crumbs, the doctor will direct you the right way, explaining all possible nuances.

You will be able to understand your baby’s needs very soon by observing him, his preferences, and the body’s reaction. And just a few months after the first introduction of complementary foods, you will be able to delight your child with new culinary dishes, which he will also undoubtedly like.

The most important thing is healthy baby. Starting with a few grams of easily digestible cereals, you yourself will not notice how your baby will gobble up everything you offer him on both cheeks. Be healthy and happy.

The health of the baby also needs to be monitored. If he is sick, the introduction of complementary foods will coincide with feeling unwell child. The mother will not understand how the food affected the baby’s body. If a child is active, he spends a lot of energy and needs extra calories. This is one of the signs that it is time for complementary feeding.

Do not introduce porridge into complementary foods if the baby is sick

Where to start? There are different options, and doctors’ opinions on this matter do not coincide. Some advise trying to introduce it into your diet dairy products. They are closest in composition to baby food and will not cause allergies.

Others say vegetables are more necessary. This is a valuable source of vitamins. Some pediatricians advise starting with cereals. They are suitable for children who, as they will provide a sufficient amount of calories for a growing body. The choice depends on what this moment more important.

Age table for introducing porridges

Some cereals contain gluten, a plant-based protein. About one third of all allergic reactions that occur in children are associated with this component. It is better to start complementary feeding with cereals that do not contain gluten.

Type of porridge	Why is it useful?	When to start giving
Buckwheat	Lowest risk of allergic reactions. Does not contain vegetable protein (gluten). Porridge is rich in essential microelements, in particular iron and magnesium. Suitable for starting complementary feeding.	After 6.5 months
	Cereals are rich in magnesium and potassium. The child's stomach easily digests and assimilates porridge. Does not contain vegetable protein (gluten).	After 7 months
	The main advantage is that it is easily digestible and there is no gluten in the porridge. There are few vitamins and beneficial microelements. Recommended for diarrhea, as the porridge has a fixing property. It is contraindicated for constipation.	After 7 months
Millet (from millet)	Millet is rich in magnesium, phosphorus, nicotinic acid. Thanks to the large amount of fiber, it cleanses the gastrointestinal tract well. There is more vitamin B6 in porridge than in buckwheat.	After 8 months
Barley	Contains gluten. Porridge contains a lot of phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. It is quickly and easily absorbed by the body.	After 8 months
	It has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract and helps cleanse the body, as it contains a lot of dietary fiber. The presence of gluten increases the risk of an allergic reaction.	After 10 months
Wheat (from wheat)	Porridge is rich in carbohydrates and B vitamins. It improves blood circulation and memory. Contains gluten.	After a year
	The least healthy porridge, provides a lot of calories. High level gluten content.	After a year

Based on this rating, buckwheat and corn porridge. It is recommended to start complementary feeding with these cereals. Popular among grandmothers semolina practically does not contain necessary for the child microelements and vitamins, but “rich” in gluten. It is contraindicated for children with celiac disease.

Which cereals to start complementary feeding with?

Doctors recommend several cereals that will not cause allergic reactions. Dairy-free porridges are best suited as they are safe for first feeding. A good option– buckwheat cooked in water. Risk side effects in this case it decreases to almost zero.

Cow's milk, which is the basis of some cereals, often causes allergies. Such mixtures are especially undesirable for children with lactase deficiency. Gluten-free cereals will also help avoid side effects.

Until the child is one year old, the following cereals are considered the best:

• buckwheat;
• corn grits;
• millet;

You cannot start with multicomponent mixtures. If an allergy occurs, the doctor will not be able to determine which grain caused it.

A woman can cook porridge on her own. If she wants to save time, the market offers ready-made mixtures. They are safe and have been tested by doctors and nutritionists. In the first option, money is saved, in the second it becomes possible to pay more attention to the baby.

Rules for introducing complementary foods into the baby's menu

Women know that the appearance of a new component in the diet can negatively affect the health and well-being of the child. Doctors recommend following several rules when introducing complementary foods. They will help avoid unwanted consequences.

The main tips are:

1. Usually they try to introduce complementary foods in small portions, half a teaspoon.
2. Volume new food increase gradually.
3. A spoon must be used for feeding.
4. If a child refuses to eat, he is not forced. After some time the attempt is repeated.
5. After introducing a new product to the menu, you need to pause for 5-7 days to make sure that there is no allergic reaction. Only then can you add the next complementary food.
6. You should not give your baby several new foods at once. Only one component is introduced into the diet each time.
7. If the mother breastfed the baby up to six months, she should continue to do so. Complementary feeding is needed for gradual transition for adult food. Mother's milk cannot replace any product.

After introducing complementary foods, the mother should closely monitor the child’s well-being. If it worsens, you should not increase the amount of new food. Sometimes you can even temporarily refuse complementary feeding and try again after a while. Also, the mother must take into account special circumstances that are expected in the near future. If you are planning a vaccination, it is better to delay starting a new product.

It is imperative to monitor the portion of porridge that the mother gives to the child. The baby is not yet able to control himself and may eat too much. This will have a bad effect on his well-being. There is a large selection of cereals for first feeding. You just need to take into account the recommendations of pediatricians.

How to cook porridge correctly

When feeding for the first time, food should contain 5% new product. If the mother took 200 ml of water to prepare porridge, take 10 g of cereal. At first, all food will be liquid, the thickness is gradually increased with each subsequent feeding. Before preparing the porridge, the cereal is ground in a coffee grinder. No salt or sugar is added.

It is not difficult to prepare porridge for the first feeding. Cook the cereal over low heat for 10 to 14 minutes. Stir it periodically to avoid burning. Only freshly prepared porridge is served. The finished product cannot be stored for a long time or heated in a microwave oven.

Rating of the best cereals for baby feeding

Name	Advantages	Product Disadvantages	Price
Friso	Rich in vitamins natural product. The taste is sweet.	It is recommended to give it after a year, as it contains sugar.	For 250 g – 100 rubles
Nestle	Porridges are offered in two versions: water and milk. The child will easily digest the product. The taste is pleasant.	Contains lecithin, which can cause allergic reactions.	For 250 g – 100 rubles
FrutoNanny	IN convenient packaging a wide range of products is offered. Porridge can be purchased in both liquid and dry form. Parents who have started introducing complementary foods have the opportunity to buy a product with one component. For more later Mixtures of several grains are suitable.	When porridge is diluted, lumps form.	For 180 g – 80 rubles
Heinz baby	Several options of porridges with different flavors. The taste is pleasant. The brand is popular among parents, the manufacturer's reputation is high.	The presence of additives is not advisable for the first complementary foods.	For 200 g – 70 rubles
Celia	Natural product High Quality. Flavoring additives (fruits, vegetables, cocoa) will help you choose a porridge that your child will like.	Only formulas containing milk are sold. Cannot be used for first feedings.	For 200 g – 130 rubles
Baby	Low cost and big choice formulas will satisfy the needs of infants and bottle-fed children. The taste is pleasant.	It is inconvenient to dilute, lumps form.	For 200 g – 80 rubles
Agusha	Porridges are offered in dry and finished form. The mixture is easy to dilute.	Small selection of mixtures, short shelf life.	For 200 g – 100 rubles
Swaddle	A variety of natural, odorless mixtures. The mixture is easy to dilute.	Contains sugar. It has a bad effect on the formation of teeth and can cause an allergic reaction.	For 250 g – 100 rubles
Hipp	Mixtures are available with and without a milk base. The composition includes herbs that calm the child and help him sleep. Pediatricians recommend giving porridge before bed.	Sold in large packages, expensive.	For 250 g – 160 rubles

This is a rating of the main baby food manufacturers. It is the mother who decides which porridge to choose. It takes into account all the features of the product. Preference is given to those cereals that are relevant at the moment. For the first feedings they take dairy-free mixtures. If a child is not gaining weight well, high-calorie cereals are suitable. In any case, you need to carefully read all the information on the packaging. This will help avoid allergic reactions and keep the baby healthy.

Feeding your baby porridge You can start after he is completely accustomed to the first complementary food - vegetable puree (no earlier than three weeks after its introduction). However, in cases where the child does not gain weight well enough, is prone to regurgitation, or often has problems with stool (unstable stool with a tendency to liquefy), the introduction of porridge is recommended as the first complementary food. I would like to remind you that for breastfed babies, the first complementary foods are introduced at 5-6 months, and for artificially fed babies - starting at 4.5 months.

Introducing porridge into a child’s diet is very important stage complementary foods, since porridges are very valuable sources of carbohydrates, rich minerals, vitamins (mainly group B), vegetable protein. And the nutritional value of porridge depends on the composition of the cereal from which it is prepared.

Procedure for introducing complementary foods with cereals

You need to start introducing cereal complementary foods with so-called gluten-free cereals. Gluten(gluten) is a vegetable protein that is difficult to digest in children in the first six months of life (sometimes a little longer, depending on the rate of maturation of the enzymatic function gastrointestinal tract). Difficulties in digesting gluten are associated with insufficient amounts of the enzyme peptidase at this age, this manifests itself increased gas formation, bloating and abdominal pain. There is a rare hereditary disease Celiac disease, which is characterized by lifelong gluten intolerance, requiring treatment and a specific diet. Gluten-containing grains include: wheat, oats, rye, barley, millet. Gluten-free: rice, buckwheat, corn.

Thus, the first porridge when introducing complementary foods to a child can be rice, buckwheat or corn. Rice contains relatively little vegetable protein, making it easy to digest and easily absorbed, which is especially suitable for children with loose stools. However, it is not recommended to start with rice porridge if the child is inclined - in this case it is better to start with buckwheat, as it contains a lot of fiber and stimulates digestion. In addition, buckwheat is very nutritious and contains mineral salts and a large amount of iron, which is good for children with iron deficiency anemia. Corn grits It is not as rich in vitamins and microelements as buckwheat, and takes a long time to boil when cooked at home, but can be used to diversify the menu, especially for children with a tendency to constipation, as it is rich in fiber.

The baby's first porridge must be monograin (from one type of grain) without any additives (fruits, nuts, honey, chocolate, etc.).

An approximate sequence for introducing cereals may be as follows:

• 6-7 months: rice, buckwheat, corn;
• 7-8 months: oats, you can start combining several grains if they are well tolerated by the child;
• 9-10 months: barley (barley), rye, millet.

After 1 year, a child can be given semolina porridge, because, despite the pleasant taste, semolina porridge in children reduces the absorption of calcium, which contributes to the formation of rickets. In addition, semolina contains few vitamins and microelements, but a lot of gluten.

After 1 year, when preparing porridge, you can use whole cow's milk in cases where the child is not allergic to it.

For healthy children, porridge with various additives fruits and vegetables are recommended no earlier than 6-7 months.

Principles of introducing porridge

The rules for introducing complementary foods with porridge are the same as for vegetable puree. To make it easier for the child to get used to the new product and its consistency, first prepare 5% porridge (5 g of cereal per 100 g of water). Porridge is cooked in water. First, give the baby one teaspoon of 5% porridge, then over the course of 7-10 days, bring the volume of porridge of the same percentage to the full feeding volume (150 g). If all this time the porridge is well tolerated, i.e. none skin rashes If the child has stable stools, they switch to a gradual (starting from 20-30 g) introduction of porridge of the same cereal, but with a 10% concentration (10 g of cereal per 100 g of water). In other words, thicker porridge is introduced no earlier than 7-10 days from the beginning of the introduction of porridge. The complete administration of 10% porridge to the baby is also carried out in 7-10 days. The third week is when the child completely gets used to the new dish. Only after this can you introduce a new grain (in the form of 10% porridge) or the next complementary food.

You need to give porridge from a spoon, preferably in the morning for breakfast. After the porridge, at the stage of its introduction, the baby should be offered the breast. When artificially feeding, the volume of the mixture after a serving of porridge should be such that, together with the porridge, it is 200 ml for five feedings a day. Subsequently, the volume of the porridge portion gradually increases, amounting to 160-170 ml at 7-8 months, 170-180 ml at 8-9 months, up to 200 ml after 9 months (one feeding of the child is completely replaced by complementary foods - porridge) .

Example of introducing porridge:

• 1st day - 1 teaspoon (5 g);
• 2nd day - 2 teaspoons (10 g);
• 3rd day - 3 teaspoons (15 g);
• 4th day - 4 teaspoons (20 g);
• 5th day - 50 ml (50 g);
• 6th day - 100 ml (100 g);
• Day 7 - 150 ml (150 g).

Types of cereal feeding

Cereal complementary foods can be introduced in the form of:

• Porridge prepared at home (requires flour for baby food or grinding cereals using a coffee grinder and cooking);
• Instant (instant - not requiring cooking) cereals;
• “Ready” canned cereals in jars. Such porridges contain cereals with fruits or vegetables (dairy-free porridges) or with the addition of milk (milk porridges); They are convenient to use on the road.

We prepare porridge for introducing complementary foods ourselves

To prepare porridge at home, you need to carefully sort and rinse the cereal, then grind it in a coffee grinder (there should be no coffee residue in it!). Then the cereal should be poured cold water(this is how rice and buckwheat are cooked) or pour into boiling water (to prepare oatmeal or semolina) and cook over low heat until tender (depending on the type of cereal), stirring well. To improve the taste of the porridge and increase its nutritional properties, immediately before feeding the baby, you can pour a little (20-30 ml) of expressed milk into it. breast milk or adapted milk formula. Then the porridge should be poured into a plate and cooled. For up to 8 months, porridge is cooked in water, then you can use diluted specialized baby milk(half the volume). After a year you can cook porridge in the usual way- on whole milk. It is not advisable to add sugar and salt to porridge for up to 1 year.

In the finished porridge prepared at home, at the stage of the child’s complete adaptation to the new dish (third week), butter should be added, starting with 1 g and gradually increasing the volume to 4 g, and from 8 months - to 5 g.

"Factory" porridge

Unlike porridge homemade, instant (instant) cereals are convenient because... do not require additional effort when preparing them: you only need to mix the dry powder in the amount indicated on the package with warm boiled water or milk (mixture); they are made from high-quality raw materials, have a balanced composition (contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates in quantities necessary for the child by age), and are also enriched with vitamins and mineral salts (including calcium, iron, iodine); There is no need to add salt, sugar or butter to them. Industrial cereals are presented in wide range, including porridges made from cereals that are difficult to digest at home, such as corn, barley, rye, as well as from several cereals.