Baby refuses complementary foods: basic rules for the introduction of complementary foods, first products, tips and tricks

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

In order for the baby to enter the world of adults with the greatest comfort, adults should make sure that this process takes place very delicately, including the acquaintance of the baby with adult food.

For starters, parents should understand that there is no strict framework in which a child must be introduced to food. There is no single correct product that should be given to a child on the first day of weaning. Parents should keep in mind that all children are individual, each of them is an individual with their own needs and preferences. In this connection, there are only general recommendations from consultants on baby food, which it is advisable to take into account.

First food

Most parents, long before the introduction of the first complementary foods, begin to figure out how best to arrange this stage of life, how not to harm the baby and, without injuring the child's psyche and gastrointestinal tract, start eating adult food.

To startit is worth determining the approximate age that WHO UNICEF indicates as the most favorable for the introduction of the first complementary foods. This age is from 5 to 7 months. It is believed that it is during this period that the child himself and his gastrointestinal tract are ready for the gradual introduction of complementary foods.

How do you know when it's time to feed?

Indeed, a period of two months is too vague. When is it worth introducing complementary foods? How not to get confused and not make the baby refuse complementary foods in the future?

To do this, you need to monitor the signs of the child's readiness to receive adult food. These include the following:

• child is interested in adult food, pulls hands to parents' plates;
• it's good if the child has already erupted at least one tooth, but this is an optional indicator. Pureed food does not require teeth;
• it is necessary to wait until the baby's weight becomes twice as large as at birth;
• it is important that the child can already sit for a while;
• it is important that the child already knows how to make it clear that he does not want to eat it (i.e. turn away or remove the spoon with his hands);
• baby should be completely he althy at the start of complementary feeding;
• at the time of the start of the introduction of complementary foods, the child should not be vaccinated for at least 3 days.

Parents should understand that the main primary task of introducing complementary foods for a child is not a nutritional function, but a pedagogical one. The child needs to be interested in a new type of food, otherwise he willeating disorder may occur.

Another important point in the introduction of complementary foods is the introduction of microdoses. You need to start introducing a new product with half a teaspoon, every day increasing the dose by half a teaspoon. It is necessary to bring the introduction of the product to three teaspoons. No need to offer the child the whole jar at once! The gastrointestinal tract of the baby will not cope with such a load and may fail. The body will not be able to gain momentum from breast milk (or formula) in such a short time to process new products.

Therefore, it is very important to introduce complementary foods in stages.

Algorithm for the introduction of the first complementary foods

• Complementary food is given before feeding (then supplemented with breast milk or formula on demand).
• Introduce only one new product (monocrop, monopure).
• Food should be pureed.
• Each product is administered within 5-6 days (during this time it is necessary to monitor the appearance of any reactions: allergic, stool changes and others).

List of foods for first feeding

What are the best foods to start weaning? There are several opinions on this matter. Some experts say that it is better to start with dairy-free cereals, others believe that it is necessary to start with vegetable purees.

In fact, there is no fundamental difference in this matter. But children who are hard to gain weight should start complementary foods with cereals. And for children who have no problems with weight gain, it would be better to start complementary foods with vegetable purees (zucchini and broccoli). Fruitenter last.

List of vegetables for first feeding:

• Zucchini.
• Broccoli.
• Cauliflower.
• Pumpkin.
• Potatoes.

List of cereals for the first feeding:

• Buckwheat (dairy-free).
• Rice (dairy-free).
• Corn (dairy-free).

Wheat and oatmeal are introduced a month later.

List of fruits for first foods:

• Apple.
• Pear.
• Prunes.
• Banana.
• Peach.

It is better to start with those fruits that are characteristic of our latitudes.

Later they begin to introduce meat of turkey, chicken, rabbit. Then fermented milk products (cottage cheese and kefir) are introduced.

Baby refuses complementary foods

At five months, this phenomenon is quite normal. If a child refuses complementary foods at 5 months, he is simply not ready. It's still too early. Usually, at 4-5 months, complementary foods are introduced by parents who, having not studied the issues of baby food, listened to the opinion of the older generation. Yes, indeed, our parents and our grandmothers introduced complementary foods to their children at the age of 4 months. Then it was considered the norm. And the women of the 60-90s had no way out. At that time, women did not have the opportunity to feed the baby with breast milk for a long time, so they took forced measures. And our parents have already borrowed the experience of their parents, not having the necessary literature on the nutrition of babies.

Now there is a large amount of research on the topic of complementary foods, which clearly giveadvice not to introduce it before 6 months of age.

It happens that a baby refuses complementary foods at 6 months. Parents have been waiting for this day for a long time, stocking up on all kinds of jars, plates, spoons and bibs, and the child, grimacing on his pretty face, clearly makes it clear that he is not going to eat it. Parents in a panic: "How so? It's time! Who recommends it!".

Calm, only calm

Actually, in this case, you shouldn't worry too much. WHO gives relative recommendations, which can vary depending on individual differences in babies. Every child is an individual. And it is quite possible that today he is not yet ready for complementary foods. Never force a child. It is better to postpone complementary foods until better times, waiting a couple of weeks.

No solid foods after 6 months

Some parents, not seeing their child's readiness for complementary foods, start it only after 6.5 months. But they start to panic if the child refuses complementary foods at 7 months. Or they call all the doctors they know. The concern of parents is quite understandable if a child refuses complementary foods at 8 months. After all, the children of acquaintances by this time are already fully aware of adult food.

Weaning age limit

Actually, many babies don't start eating adult food at 6 months, but only after 7-8 months, and this is considered the norm.

But after 7-8 months it is worthwhile to figure out why the child refuses complementary foods. itmay be associated with disease or disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. With such suspicions, you should definitely consult a doctor.

The presence of food interest is very important, it is important to catch it in time and develop it correctly.

First of all, in no case should you try to feed a child against his will. Otherwise, it may cause a negative association with food intake in the future.

It is also very important not to overfeed the baby. Because mothers are often concerned that after complementary foods, the child refuses formula or breast milk. Most likely, in such cases, he has already eaten. Under no circumstances should this be allowed. Breast milk and formula remain the main food for a baby up to a year. Complementary foods remain at feeding, but not instead.

Baby he alth and complementary foods

One of the reasons an infant refuses complementary foods is a he alth issue.

The following problems are possible:

• Earache and sore throat. In such situations, it is painful for the baby to swallow.
• Stuffy nose. It is possible that because of discomfort, the baby may refuse to eat complementary foods.

In the above cases, consultation of a pediatrician is necessary. He will prescribe the necessary drugs for treatment.

Another problem that can cause the first weaning to fail is teething. On such days, the child's gums are inflamed, the baby behaves restlessly and irritably.

Types of complementary foods

There are two types of complementary foods: pediatric andpedagogical. Most parents, without hesitation, choose the first. And parents who study complementary foods leave the choice to the second method.

Pediatric complementary foods

Conservative moms use this technique.

Pediatric complementary foods are the standard complementary foods most parents choose. The essence of such complementary foods is the introduction of products in a certain sequence according to certain rules. Clearly following the instructions, mothers accustom the child to adult food.

The advantages of such complementary foods are a he althy gastrointestinal tract. Minus - refusal of adult food.

Mothers often do not pay attention to refusals to eat by the baby with this type of complementary foods, which can subsequently affect eating behavior problems.

Pedagogical complementary foods

This technique is used by innovative moms who are interested in everything new.

The essence of this method is that mothers give adult food to the baby only if the baby has shown interest in it. With this type of feeding, the child is seated at a common table during lunch, the baby gets used to such a ritual and gradually shows interest in what adults do, what they eat.

Important! This type of complementary foods is suitable only for those parents who adhere to the rules of proper nutrition. It is desirable that the food was not s alted and, of course, did not contain all kinds of preservatives and dyes.

Food should be boiled, stewed or steamed. Do not use fried foods or foods containing sugar as first complementary foods.

Introduction Tipscomplementary foods

Check with your pediatrician before introducing complementary foods. Let the doctor examine the baby for he alth and advise which product is best to start with.

Complementary foods are introduced only to a completely he althy child. Do not introduce a new product within 3 days after vaccination. Better wait 5 days.

Each product is administered for 5-6 days, in order to be able to identify which product specifically the baby has a reaction to (if any).

Don't feed a completely hungry baby. He should be lightly eaten, otherwise, a disruption of complementary foods is possible due to an irritated and psychotic baby.

It is important to start complementary foods with single-ingredient foods. If vegetable puree, then it should contain only one vegetable. If porridge, then not multi-grain, but single-grain.

Dairy-free and gluten-free cereals (rice, corn and buckwheat) are beginning to be introduced.

Don't conclude that your baby doesn't like a new product after one try. Worth trying at least 5-7 times.

The most important rule after 8 months: if the child refuses complementary foods, the pediatrician will tell you what to do. This is the first person to contact in such a situation. If there are no he alth problems, then you should not worry. Refusal of adult food is a temporary phenomenon.