How to introduce the first complementary foods correctly. When and where to start the first complementary foods, how to introduce new foods correctly: basics, tips and rules First complementary foods at 2 months

In the second month of life, the child begins to explore the world. A variety of surrounding objects, the voices of mom and dad, the smiles of people begin to attract a two-month-old baby. He will have to gain about 800 g of weight, grow by 3 cm, learn to hold his head upright and move his arms and legs more actively. All this requires a large number of energy. To receive it, the child's nutrition at 2 months is directed.

But how much can your baby now eat in one feeding? Here you need to consider whether he is breastfeeding, mixed or artificial feeding.

Breast-feeding- the easiest option. After all, nature itself took care that the amount of milk from the mother increased with the increase in the needs of the baby.

Pediatricians talk about the need to feed the baby "on demand". In this case, you should not worry about the amount of milk eaten. The volume can change during the day, but the baby will take “his own” and won’t eat more than he needs, because at 2 months there is still a natural instinct to control nutrition.

This is true if the child does not cry between feedings, falls asleep and wakes up at approximately equal intervals of time, and gains weight well. When a mother’s body fails and insufficient milk is produced, it is necessary to seek the advice of a breastfeeding specialist.

Try to empty your chest in a timely manner. The child has not drunk, - express everything to the last drop. The reflex will work, and by the next feeding there will be a little more milk. Just don't panic. Excitement, anxiety, stress are bad allies for mom.

Breastfeeding a 2-month-old is chaotic as the regimen has not yet had time to take hold. To improve the psychological state of the child, they are applied to the chest as often as possible: being next to the mother, the baby will feel the necessary warmth and care.

The regimen for a two-month-old, as a rule, includes from 5 to 7 feedings per day at various intervals. But deviations are possible, and there is nothing to worry about.

mixed feeding

If the specialist has determined that the mother does not have enough milk for a 2-month-old baby, the baby is transferred to mixed feeding. Preliminary, control feeding is carried out during the day, the baby is weighed on an empty stomach and an analysis of the current weight gain is carried out. Only after an objective medical assessment of the collected data can we talk about the need for supplementary feeding (the specialist will have to determine its norm).

It may happen that you have to supplement with expressed mother's milk. This is the safest option for the child, although it adds to the hassle of parents. Doctors recommend creating your own home bank by freezing expressed milk.

Supplementation with donor milk

A worthy alternative to the previous method is supplementary feeding of the child with the milk of a wet nurse. For many reasons this option better application infant formula. There are donor milk banks in Russia, but the network is underdeveloped.

Such milk is stored:

8 hours at room temperature;
5 days in the refrigerator;
3 months in the freezer.

Sometimes moms and dads, posting information on social networks, asking friends, agree without intermediaries. But here we must remember that not only useful, but also harmful is transmitted with milk. Therefore, an independent search for a nurse is extremely dangerous.

Supplementation with infant formula

For supplementary feeding of a 2-month-old baby, highly adapted mixtures are used - hydrolysates. They are deliberately made less tasty than breast milk so that the child does not refuse the breast at all. A specialist should help with the choice of such a mixture.

With mixed feeding, the diet of the crumbs "on demand" is maintained. Both breasts are given at the beginning of feeding, and only then - hydrolyzate. Feeding with the mixture is carried out strictly according to the regimen: by the hour, during the daytime, with the obligatory control of urination. Supplementation is given from a syringe, spoon or special system, but not from a bottle.

Mom retains the ability to restore or. A lactation consultant or pro-breastfeeding pediatrician will help set up supplements and remove them when possible.

Benefits of mixed feeding:

protecting the child from allergies;
together with mother's milk, the baby receives antibodies;
Mom has a chance to restore lactation.

The complex science of artificial feeding

Artificial feeding is introduced when the mother cannot feed the child herself due to objective reasons (unwillingness to “spoil” the shape of the breast or “mess around” with the baby does not apply to those). A complete transition to formula feeding should be justified, and the arguments - weighty.

Even a newborn can drink from a bottle. AT emergency the child is given whole cow's milk, but it is necessary to choose an adapted mixture on the advice of a specialist as soon as possible. A pediatrician will help you calculate the number of servings and determine the feeding regimen. But parents themselves should collect information on this issue.

Initially, it is better to feed the child when he asks for food. A clear and understandable feeding schedule will gradually form. Even the most expensive and high-quality formula is absorbed worse than breast milk and takes longer to digest. Therefore, when switching to artificial nutrition, the breaks between feedings can increase up to 3-4 hours.

An approximate regimen for a baby at 2 months is as follows:

6 to 7 feedings per day;
the norm of a single serving is 120-150 ml.

Don't be too quick to worry if your baby hasn't eaten everything at the time of feeding. Most likely, in 1-2 days he will receive his norm. And don't force yourself to eat. This can lead to profuse regurgitation and abdominal pain. But do not hesitate to consult a doctor if it seems to you that the baby is not eating enough.

Adherents of the principles of free artificial feeding recommend not to reduce the intervals between feedings, but to offer the amount of the mixture at the request of the child. As a rule, this mode provides weight gain and good absorption of food. At each feeding, about 20 ml more than the norm is poured into the bottle, allowing the baby to independently determine his needs.

How to determine the amount of the mixture?

There are many formulas for determining the amount of formula for artificial feeding.

Simplified calculation for a child under the age of 2 months. Divide your baby's current weight by five. This will be approximately 600-800 ml with 7-8 feedings per day with a night break of 5-6 hours. How many milliliters to give at a time? Divide the daily amount of formula by the number of scheduled feedings.

Avoid the temptation to give solid foods and juices for the following reasons:

the gastrointestinal tract of the infant is not yet completely formed, so the early introduction of complementary foods may contribute to the development of allergies;
the muscles still cannot coordinate the sucking and chewing movements necessary for taking solid food, which the baby is not yet able to swallow;
early introduction of complementary foods interferes with obtaining the necessary nutrients from milk or an adapted mixture.

Here is what Dr. Komarovsky writes about this:

“If a nursing mother can afford good nutrition, or if parents are able to purchase a high-quality adapted milk formula, there is no need to feed the child with anything until the age of 5-6 months.”

Read books about child development, look for answers to your questions on the Internet, discuss your problems with friends and family. Brick by brick, you create the foundation on which the full development and health of your child will be based. But the most useful thing you will learn from communicating with your baby. And let love and care be the main criterion for the correctness of your actions.

Proper nutrition is the basis of a child's health, which is laid from early childhood. By 4-6 months, the baby's need for additional energy, vitamins and minerals increases. Food should provide the baby with all the useful substances that are necessary for the growth and formation of his body. The first meals of the child should consist of vegetables (vegetable purees), dairy products for children and cereals. The first additional food promotes the development of the chewing apparatus, stimulates enzyme systems gastrointestinal tract and prepares the baby for weaning.

baby food

Started complementary feeding of the child (from how many months)

Children on GV

Children on IV

The readiness of children for the first complementary foods can be determined by focusing on their age and taking into account the following signs:

the child more often than usual asks for his mother's breast or formula in a bottle (does not eat up);
the weight with which the baby was born,;
the baby is able to sit with the support of an adult, while confidently holding the head and turning it in all directions;
when solid food enters the child's mouth, the reflex of pushing it out with the tongue is absent;
the child has not been ill for several weeks, he has not been and will not be vaccinated in the near future;
the baby is interested in the food of his parents, looking into the plates and into the mouths of those who chew.

Read more about how to determine that the child is ready for complementary foods. -

Rules for the introduction of complementary foods

Any New Product offer the baby only if he is absolutely healthy. Preparation for vaccinations, the period after them and recovery from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are also contraindications for the introduction of new complementary foods.
Complementary foods to give before breastfeeding (juices after feeding). We start with 5 g and gradually (within two weeks - a month) bring the amount of complementary foods to 150 g. All this time, carefully monitor the baby.
When preparing juices and purees at home, take the necessary measures: wash your hands, kitchen utensils, fruits thoroughly.
food for baby must be freshly prepared. Even a short storage of the finished product in the refrigerator quickly leads to a deterioration in its quality.
Complementary foods are given in a warm form, with a spoon, in the position of the child sitting. It is not advisable to give 2 dense or 2 liquid complementary foods in one feeding.
It is not recommended to give the same type of food 2 times a day.
Switch to another type of complementary foods only after the child gets used to the first - after 10-15 days.
The main rule of complementary foods is the gradual and consistent introduction of new products. A new type of complementary food is introduced after complete adaptation to the previous one.
When introducing complementary foods, watch the baby's stool. If the stool remains normal, then the next day the amount of complementary foods can be increased.
At each new stage of the introduction of complementary foods, be sure to consult with your pediatrician.

The video talks about how to balance the diet of the child and provide him with all the necessary nutrients.

Where to start the first feeding

It used to be thought that the first product an infant should try (may be introduced at 4-5 months). (By the way, we read on the topic:) but this is not so.

Porridges and vegetables - these are actually the main products for introducing the first complementary foods. If the child is underweight or has an unstable stool, it is best to start with cereals. Conversely, with excess weight, normal weight or a tendency to constipation, it is recommended to introduce complementary foods with vegetable puree.

Attention!

A few words about fruit purees and vegetable purees.

Fruit puree(usually a green apple and a pear) is such a traditional complementary food that has been one of the first to be introduced to the child for decades, because. it contains fiber, which has a good effect on the functioning of the intestines, and children eat it with pleasure. But some nutritionists and mothers notice that when they try sweet fruits first, children do not want to eat vegetable purees and cereals later.

vegetable puree quite difficult to enter. It is not easy for a child to go from the sweet taste of breast milk or a substitute to a completely unsweetened vegetable. You should be patient. You need to offer a new dish not once, but at least 10-12, and only after the child stubbornly refuses it, move on to another type of vegetable.

Error . After the child has not accepted this or that vegetable, parents usually switch to cereals, making a big mistake! It is highly likely that the baby will not want to eat vegetables at all after the introduction of sweet porridge. Moms make another mistake when they additionally sweeten porridges of industrial production.

Vegetables (vegetable puree). Ideal for starting weaning: zucchini, broccoli, potatoes, cauliflower. It is important to first offer 1 type of vegetable and observe the reaction of the child within 5-7 days. If during the adaptation period there was no allergy or indigestion, you can introduce a new type of vegetable, and then make a mixed puree. It is not necessary to add salt to the puree until the child is used to different tastes, he will like everything. (We read a detailed article on the rules for the introduction of vegetable complementary foods + 3 popular ones)
Kashi. It is important to choose one-component, low-allergenic cereals that do not contain sugar, lactose, gluten (gluten-free cereals): these are buckwheat, corn, rice and oatmeal. It is better if it is a product of industrial production, since it is quite difficult to cook porridge from the most crushed cereals, saturated with all the elements and vitamins necessary for the baby. Do not sweeten the porridge! We repeat - it is recommended to introduce cereals as the first complementary foods for children who do not gain weight. ()
Dairy. If the baby does not suffer from intolerance to cow's milk protein, at 6-7 months, cottage cheese () can be introduced into his diet. It is better to cook it yourself by heating kefir in a water bath.
- See about for newborns;
- See for newborns .
Meat puree. At 7 months, the baby is ready to eat mashed meat. Best to offer early canned puree industrial production, starting with turkey, rabbit, beef or chicken (For details and see the article -).
Juices and fruits it is better to offer the child later: at 7-8 months. The least allergenic are pear and green or yellow apple, then apricots, cherries, bananas, plums should be introduced. After 8 months, you can offer crumbs of kiwi and strawberries. If the baby eats cottage cheese, add fruits that he tolerates to it - you get a ready-made afternoon snack.
Fish. Only after 9 months of age should the child be given fish meals. Such complementary foods should be introduced very carefully, since fish is a strong allergen. To start fish feeding, flounder, hake, pollock are suitable. At the same age, you can give your child kefir or bifidok at night.

(An article is being prepared with a clear menu of feeding a child for months up to a year. A link will appear here soon)

(Complementary feeding table. Clickable)

Feeding table (click to enlarge)

5 feeding mistakes

The correct introduction of complementary foods in the baby's diet is the key to his good health. But often parents themselves provoke allergies and other problems, wanting to feed the baby with something useful.

On the topic of food:

Anna Gapchenko consults and answers questions: at what age and where to start complementary foods, in what quantity to introduce new products

Video: Introduction of complementary foods

The child is 2 months old. What can cause you concern?
Baby development at 2 months
Intestinal colic in children.
Two month old baby.
two month old babies. Classes with a child at two (2) months.

Feeding your baby in the second month of life

WHY BEGIN BOTTLE FEEDING

A mother who is breastfeeding may start bottle feeding her baby if she has an intention to return to work or school earlier, if she plans to wean her baby before he can drink milk from a cup on his own (usually this happens at 8-9 months) or wants to be able to occasionally spend time without a child.

Women who naturally feed babies are less free than those who bottle-feed, but many of them still find the opportunity to go somewhere between feedings or go out to the movies in the evening after they put the baby to bed. Here are some reasons why women refuse to bottle feed their baby:

fear that the child will develop dependence on the bottle and then he will have to be weaned twice from the usual ways of feeding: first from the breast, then from the bottle. Such mothers usually start cupping the baby as soon as he can sit up on his own and use the cup to supplement both formula and breast milk;
unwillingness to influence the production of breast milk in any way;
the child refuses to eat from a bottle; mothers who do not feel a strong need for this usually decide not to insist.

HOW TO BOTTLE FEED

When to start
Some babies transition easily from breast to bottle and back again, but most do better both if they start bottle feeding after 6 weeks. Early complementary feeding can interfere with normal breastfeeding, and some babies refuse to take a nipple after a bottle because breasts and bottles require different sucking techniques. For the same reason, many older children refuse rubber pacifiers.

What to use
Since cow's milk is not suitable for small child, mothers who choose to use a bottle can use breast milk or formula.

Breast milk
One of its advantages is that after buying a breast pump (the cost of which can range from almost symbolic for most manual suctions to very high for electric models), you will get it for free. But it often takes a long time to express milk (from 45 minutes to 1 hour at first and 15 to 30 minutes later, although some women manage to empty both breasts in 10 minutes once they gain enough experience). Of course, breast milk provides optimal nutritional composition and protection against disease, and the occasional use of formula will not underestimate its beneficial effects.

artificial mixture
The time and cost will vary depending on which mixture you choose. Ready-made formulas are expensive, but they take almost no time to prepare, so they are preferred by those women who use mixtures only occasionally. Mixes that need to be diluted are cheaper, but they take longer to prepare. In terms of nutritional composition, artificial formula is not as perfect as breast milk, but nevertheless it can serve as a good substitute for it (in very rare cases, a child who has developed an increased sensitivity to milk in the womb or after being given it inadvertently in can have a very strong reaction to the first few sips of milk (either formula or whole) If your baby is crying in pain or you notice swelling of the lips, tongue, and mouth lining, call the doctor right away. give the mixture only occasionally, do not use varieties with iron supplements).

Regardless of whether you decide to use breast milk or formula for complementary feeding, you must remember that in any case, you must express milk if you are away from the baby for more than 3 hours to prevent clogging of the milk ducts, leakage and reduced lactation. . If you plan on using formula all the time, start giving it early so your baby gets used to the new taste.

How much to use
One of the great benefits of breastfeeding is that you don't have to keep track of how much your baby has eaten. Once you start using a bottle, it's very easy to get caught up in the magic of numbers. Ask the person who will care for the child in your absence not to give the child more food than he wants, not to force him to eat a certain amount. An average infant weighing about 4 kg can take 170 g of food for one feeding, the other is 60 g, and there is no need to overfeed the baby, as this may lead to overweight or he will refuse to suckle when the opportunity arises.

Train your child
Before you try to give your baby a bottle for the first time, wait until he is hungry (but not overly) and at the same time good mood. The first few bottles will be taken with great pleasure if you pre-warm the nipple to body temperature under a stream of warm water, and if someone else offers them, it is advisable that you are in another room in case the child starts acting up. But if the baby carefully takes the pacifier and then spits it out with obvious displeasure, try a different type of pacifier next time. If your child is suckling on a pacifier, a similarly shaped nipple may be to their liking.

Switching to a regular feeding schedule
If your personal routine requires you to regularly skip two meals a day, start with one meal at least 2 weeks before you plan to return to work or school. Give your baby a week to get used to one bottle before moving on to two. This will help you get used to new form feeding not only to your baby, but also to you if you intend to feed him with formula instead of breast milk. The biological mechanism itself will adjust the volume of milk to meet new needs, and you will feel more comfortable when you return to work.

How to Organize Occasional Bottle Feeding
If you're only going to give your baby a bottle occasionally, feeding him from both breasts to empty before leaving the house will help prevent overfilling and leaks. It is important that the baby is not fed before you return so that you can breastfeed as soon as you return home.

FEEDING FROM A BOTTLE IF THE CHILD IS NOT NUTRITIONAL

In some cases, formula feeding is recommended if the mother does not have enough breast milk. In such a situation, the mother is often lost: on the one hand, she heard that bottle feeding can further reduce milk production; on the other hand, the doctor says that if artificial formula is not started immediately, the consequences for the child's health can be very serious. The best way out of this situation is to give the child an artificial mixture, while stimulating lactation.

RESERVE FOR EMERGENCY
Even if you don't intend to bottle feed your baby, you can still express and freeze enough breast milk to fill 6 bottles. This way, you will have a reserve o in case you get sick and start taking medicine that might pass into your milk, or you have to go away unexpectedly. Even if your baby has never eaten from a bottle, it will be easier for him to come to terms with such a need, because it will be filled with familiar breast milk, and not artificial formula.

The first 2 months of a baby's life are characterized by a period of rapid growth. If the development of the baby goes well, the weight of the child at two months will be approximately 4500 - 4800 grams. Average height - 53 - 57 cm.

In case of deviation from these norms, seek help from your doctor - pediatrician. Most likely, the main problem of deviation from the norm will be an insufficient amount of milk, a mixture. It is necessary to reconsider the diet of the crumbs.

When breastfeeding, special attention is paid to the nutrition of the mother. After all, from proper nutrition mother, depends on the composition of breast milk. There can be a lot of milk in the breast, but its nutritional properties remain in question.

Don't stop breastfeeding your baby. Breastfeeding is the key to success in strengthening the immune system of the child. Nothing can replace the benefits of breast milk.

The mother's diet should include:

Milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, cheese. Dairy products are rich in calcium, which is very useful for strengthening the skeleton and teeth. Milk contains vitamins such as: A, H, E, C and many others. Cottage cheese is an indispensable product for good growth muscles. Kefir contains many minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus;
Vegetables and fruits. There are no questions here. Vitamins of such groups as:

BUT. Promotes the growth of teeth, has a beneficial effect on vision;

IN 1. Vitamin is useful for good heart function, strengthens the structure of muscles and muscle tissue;

IN 2. A vitamin that is important for the growth of the body;

To. Helps blood clotting and many others.

How to feed a baby

Getting all the crumbs of vitamins necessary for the development of the body directly depends on what the nursing mother uses for food. The mode of introduction of complementary foods depends on the psycho-emotional characteristics of the development of the child.

In the period from 2 to 3 months, there is no need to supplement the baby with "new" products. All necessary elements enter the body with mother's milk.

When artificially feeding, follow the instructions on the packaging of infant formula. The reaction of the baby to the introduction of mixtures at 2 months is varied.

Several adverse reactions of the baby to the introduction of the mixture:

The child's well-being may worsen;

The appearance of rashes on the skin;

Frequent regurgitation;

Deterioration in the health of the baby.

Such reactions are associated with the problem of adapting to the "new". The digestive system of the baby at 2 months is not yet strong enough. Observe the condition for about 3 days, if there is no deterioration, then the mixture is suitable for complementary feeding of an artificial baby.

In the case when there are obvious violations in development and behavior, it is necessary to abandon the existing mixture. Stop taking this product in your baby's diet. After a while, try a new mixture, after consulting with a pediatrician in advance.

By two months, most children have already formed a diet. Since by this time there is more breast milk, the breaks between meals become longer - about 3-3.5 hours, and some babies even refuse night feeding. Most often, nursing mothers experience excitement about the saturation of the crumbs, unconsciously comparing it with other women's little donuts. Let's talk about the most important points, which may help you cope with all the difficulties.

How much should a baby eat at 2 months

Experts believe that at this age, about 800 ml of breast milk or an adapted mixture is enough for a baby. However, do not rush to worry if your daughter or son drinks much less milk. One of the formulas for calculating the nutritional norm: the daily volume should be 1/5 of the baby's weight. Please note that this result is indicative: a lot depends on the temperament of the child, the fat content of mother's milk and appetite.

Those mothers who already have both a daughter and a son will notice that boys tend to eat more actively. If the child is lethargic and does not show interest in food, it is worth visiting a pediatrician. What else to pay attention to? Let's list the main points:

powerful regurgitation, as a result of which a significant part of what is eaten comes back - perhaps this is a congenital pathology of the digestive system or other disorders, do not try to cope with this on your own, with such a symptom, a doctor's consultation is required;
sudden loss of appetite: one of the likely causes is a sharp change in the taste of breast milk caused by a product with a bright taste, the mother's diet should be carefully analyzed and, for example, garlic or other foods should be excluded from it;
in extreme heat, children eat less - do not try to feed the child with force or other tricks, just give him more ordinary water (not from the tap, you remember that newborns need to be given a pure product with a balanced mineral composition).

If an artificial baby, during the first weeks of life, used one mixture and for some reason it needs to be replaced with another, do it gradually, offering the baby a small portion of the new product.

How to determine how much breast milk the baby drank?

This question is asked by almost all mothers. In fact, everything is very simple: weigh the baby before feeding, and then after. Calculate the difference and you'll know how much your child ate. But there is one point that many people forget: the appetite of babies can change depending on mood or external factors. Therefore, a reliable result can only be obtained by several control feedings.

Since most parents do not have special scales for weighing newborns, and there is no opportunity to go to the clinic often, we suggest focusing on the behavior of the baby. It is worth sounding the alarm if 3 hours have not passed after feeding, and the child screams with a characteristic “hungry” cry - most likely, he did not eat last time or breast milk has a low fat content. Do not rush to introduce complementary foods, see if the baby will be satiated next time, take care of a calm atmosphere in the house - some children are sensitive to scandals and quarrels.

Lack of breast milk

Recipe for the occasion::

There are moments in the life of every breastfeeding woman when she wants to give up and switch to artificial feeding. Do not hurry! Give your baby a chance to acquire your immunity. Try to feed him more often for a couple of days, while at the same time taking a set of measures to increase lactation, which we already wrote about in the previous article of this series. Other Tips:

temporarily reduce the interval between feedings, if before you offered the breast to the baby every 3.5 hours, reduce this interval to 2.5-3 hours;
try to switch to a diet that does not contain foods with a sharp taste - it is possible that the baby is not sucking breast milk well because of its bad taste;
if the child is so weak that he is not able to suckle on his own, express breast milk for him, but offer it not from a bottle, but from a spoon or syringe.

If within 3-5 days the situation cannot be normalized, then you will have to abandon breastfeeding. Do not make such a serious decision on your own, be sure to consult a pediatrician.

Beware, food!

You should not think about the introduction of complementary foods at two months. Majority eating disorders at this age is caused by the desire of parents, most often mothers, to force things. Very often, the early introduction of complementary foods is caused by “helpful” advice from neighbors or acquaintances. Focus only on information obtained from reliable sources - in your case, this is a doctor or specialized literature. The only product that should be given to the baby other than milk is water. And it must be absolutely pure and without impurities. Do not assume that the baby is suitable mineral water- substances contained in it can have Negative influence on his health. Optimal choice- purified table water or special water intended for babies.

be careful

A common problem is the appearance of allergies in young children. Its signs can appear both in artificial babies and in infants who feed exclusively on mother's milk. The main signs are characteristic spots on the cheeks. When they appear, you should immediately analyze the diet of the nursing mother or stop feeding with a mixture that could cause such a reaction. Other worrisome moments:

the appearance of mucus in the stool - this may be a manifestation of an intestinal infection;
quickened or green stool is one of the signs food poisoning, do not treat the baby yourself, urgently rush to the doctor;
symptoms of indigestion - heterogeneity of the stool, lumps, strange color: consult a pediatrician.

Always pay attention to changes in the child's behavior, they can be caused not only by his emotional state, but also by health problems. In all doubtful cases, refrain from independent decisions - visit a doctor, and then you will be able to avoid problems caused by self-medication.