2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
Today we have to find out at what age you can give yogurt to a child. Actually, answering this question is not as easy as it seems. Why? There are many reasons for that. First, children's diet is individual. It is impossible to say with certainty that kefir is allowed for all babies at one age or another. Secondly, the mentioned drink is different. And they are allowed to give it at different times. What should every mother know about complementary foods and kefir? How should a baby eat at 6-7 months? The answers to all these questions will be found below.
Complementary foods and feeding
First you need to understand how the child will use this or that product. The thing is that there are several options for the development of events. Most often, children are introduced to new foods as complementary foods. It is about him that will be discussed further.
Complementary foods are the introduction of new liquid or puree products into the baby's diet that do not replace feeding. Usually treats are given before the main meal (formula or breast milk).
From what age can kefir be given to a child as complementary foodsor main course? As already mentioned, it is problematic to give a correct answer to this question. Each child is an individual. Only a doctor will be able to say 100% exactly when to introduce this or that product into the baby's diet.
Begin feeding
First of all, you need to understand that the start of complementary foods is recommended by doctors and WHO at about 6 months. Earlier weaning of the baby from breastfeeding is not welcome.
How long can kefir be for a child? Do not rush into this product. This is due to the peculiarities of the formation of the gastrointestinal tract in the baby. At 6 months, according to doctors, the child's body is already ready for the first feeding. It is recommended to start it with vegetable purees and baby cereals. But dairy products must first be excluded from the diet of the baby. Breast milk or formula only!
First experiments
So where do you start introducing your baby to adult food? As already mentioned, vegetable purees are ideal. Fruit and berry baby food is recommended to be postponed. You can’t start with it - the child will refuse vegetables after sweet and tasty fruits. Not the most pleasant experience.
From what age can kefir be given to a child? As already mentioned, you should not rush with this product. At 6 months, you can introduce your baby to the first vegetable purees. Zucchini and cauliflower are ideal for this venture. In addition, you can stop at the pumpkin - it has a lot of beta-carotene, which is necessary for improving digestion.
Second attempt
So, the firstfood has been introduced. What's next? At 7 months, children are usually offered a more varied diet. At this age, various kinds of mashed potatoes are also given. But in addition to them, many doctors recommend introducing cereals. They are needed when the child is not gaining weight well.
At 7 months, the baby, as already mentioned, should be given dairy-free cereals. Rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, corn - all this is extremely useful for the baby. The main thing is that they do not contain dairy and sour-milk products. This is the technique that many doctors adhere to.
Among the vegetable purees are:
- carrot;
- corn;
- potatoes.
It is these products that can be given to a baby who is 8 months old. Of course, zucchini, pumpkin and cauliflower should not be forgotten.
Kefir - first samples
What kind of yogurt to give a child and at what age to start such complementary foods? The mentioned delicacy is not included in any feeding scheme for modern children. It can be used as a supplement, but nothing more.
Pediatricians recommend postponing the child's acquaintance with kefir. The first time you can offer a product no earlier than 8 months. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the fact that "adult" kefir is generally prohibited for baby food. This is due to the fact that the child's body simply cannot process such a product.
Artificial feeding
Every mother should understand that the diet of the child will directly depend on the type of feeding of the baby. Not earlier than 8 months homemadekefir for children is recommended to be given only to babies who are breastfed. It is generally accepted that breast milk provides enough vitamins and nutrients for the development of the child. Therefore, complementary foods for such babies are introduced later.
Slightly different formula-fed children. Such babies begin to be introduced to new products not at 6, but at 4-5 months. Dairy and sour-milk products are given to them earlier. This is normal.
From what age can kefir be given to a child? At 6 months (sometimes at 7), if the baby is completely bottle-fed. Mixed feeding involves introducing the baby to yogurt at 8 months.
Consumption rates
And how much to give this product? Any complementary food has its limitations on the amount of consumption per day. For example, mashed potatoes are first given at 1/2 teaspoon, gradually increasing the amount of food.
In the case of kefir, everything is somewhat different. The first time it can be given to a baby at about 7-8 months. You need to start with 30 milliliters. Further, if there is no allergic reaction, you can gradually increase such complementary foods.
It should be noted that kefir for children at 9 months is not given very often. In addition, as already mentioned, it completely replaces one feeding. Thus, you can give up to 200 milliliters of kefir per day at 9 months. And nothing more.
About children's and adult yogurt
As already emphasized, it is forbidden to give "adult" yogurt to babies. For complementary foods, you will have to use a special baby product. Usually, the packaging with such kefir indicates the approximate age at which you can introduce the child to complementary foods. It is not difficult to guess that mostly parents will see the inscription "8+".
Children's yogurt (from 6 months or from 8 months) fully meets the requirements of the baby's gastrointestinal tract. These products have low acidity. In addition, kefir for babies is not so sour. It has a delicate taste. All this contributes to a good assimilation of the product.
Regular, bio-, bifido-
Another very important nuance is the type of kefir for babies. There are several interpretations of this product. For example, ordinary kefir, biokefir, bifidokefir. What is the difference?
Kefir without a variety of prefixes contains milk fungi that stimulate the growth of the intestinal microflora of the child. Therefore, it is recommended not to introduce such a product immediately.
The prefixes bio- and bifido- indicate that the drink contains bifidobacteria necessary for the development of its own intestinal microflora. Usually such kefir serves to improve digestion.
Which is better to give preference to? There is no single answer. If the baby tolerates all types of yogurt equally well, it is recommended to stop at only one of them. The prebiotic drink is in high demand among parents and doctors.
Results and conclusions
Now it’s clear at what age you can givebaby kefir. In fact, the exact answer, as already emphasized, can only be given by a pediatrician. It cannot be argued that at 7-8 months every child should try baby kefir for the first time. This scenario is possible, but not required.
As a rule, it is recommended to give children not kefir as complementary foods, but children's cottage cheese from fermented milk and dairy products. It does not replace feeding, but it fully meets the needs of the baby's body.
What kind of yogurt to give a child? Without fail, the package with the product must be marked "for children". Parents should pay special attention to the composition and labeling - it must indicate the minimum age at which it is allowed to introduce the baby to the product.
Doctors do not consider yogurt to be complementary foods or a staple in infant nutrition. Therefore, this delicacy will not be found in any table of complementary foods. This is normal.
At 6-7 months, a baby with artificial feeding is given kefir quite often. But with breastfeeding, the product is introduced into the diet much later. There is simply no need for it.
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