A nutritious, balanced diet is a prerequisite for the normal development of all organs and systems of the baby. It is important that children receive a certain amount of macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates), minerals and vitamins daily. Thanks to this, they will grow up healthy, cheerful and smart. How to properly organize feeding of children under one year old? Let's look into this issue that interests all conscious parents.

Types of nutrition for children under one year old

There are three types of feeding of children under one year: natural, artificial and mixed. Each of them has its own diet. Let's look at the features different types menu for newborns. General diagrams are given for healthy infants. In case of violations of food consumption norms, the doctor determines.

Natural feeding

A breastfed baby from 0 to 6 months receives only breast milk. According to WHO recommendations, after this age, solid foods (complementary foods) are gradually introduced into his diet. Share breast milk in the daily volume of food decreases, but remains high. Famous children's doctor E.O. Komarovsky insists that introducing complementary foods into more early period inappropriate.

When breastfeeding, most experts recommend feeding the baby freely, that is, at his request. This approach allows you to maintain lactation at the required level. After 2-3 months, even in the case of free feeding, a flexible feeding schedule for the newborn is established: meals occur at intervals of 2-2.5 hours.

Artificial feeding

At artificial feeding the child receives an adapted milk formula. Breast milk may be present in his menu, but not large quantities– up to 20% of the total food volume.

Artificial feeding requires adherence to a clear feeding schedule with certain intervals between meals. E.O. Komarovsky reminds that they must be aged, since the mixture is digested more slowly than mother’s milk.

Mixed feeding

Need for mixed feeding occurs when the mother produces breast milk, but there is not enough for the baby. The deficiency is compensated with the help of artificial mixtures.

The share of mother's milk during mixed feeding is more than 20% of the daily diet. The feeding regimen for this type of nutrition depends on the level of lactation in the mother. If the basis of the diet is breast milk, then the schedule approaches free. If the mixture predominates, feeding occurs by the hour.

How to calculate the amount of food needed?

First 7-10 days

Calculation of the daily volume of formula or breast milk for children in the first 7-10 days of life is carried out in one of two ways:

1. Zaitseva's formula. It is necessary to multiply the child’s body weight at birth by the number of days of his life and find 2% of this number. The result will be the required amount of food per day.
2. Finkelstein formula. To determine the daily amount of milk or formula for a child weighing less than 3.2 kg, you should multiply his age in days by 70. If the baby weighs less than 3.2 kg, you need to find the product of the number of his days of life and 80.

Regardless of the formula used, the resulting daily volume must be divided by the number of feedings. This way you can find out the amount of milk or formula sufficient for one meal.

Over 7-10 days

To calculate the volume of nutrition for a newborn older than 7-10 days to 12 months, the Geibener and Cherny method or volumetric method is used. Geibener and Cherny's method allows you to find the required total amount of liquid per day, including formula, milk, water, juice, tea, and so on. This takes into account the child’s weight and age. The main recommendations are presented in the table.

For example, a baby at 3 months weighs 5.2 kg. He needs 5200÷6=867 ml of milk or formula per day. This indicator should be divided by the number of meals. The total volume of liquid should not exceed 1 liter in 24 hours.

IN modern conditions The technique according to Geibener and Cherny is rarely used, since it is not designed for children with increased body weight, of whom more and more people are being born recently. The volumetric method is considered more rational.

Food consumption standards, depending on the child’s age, are shown in the table.

Introduction of complementary foods

There are special WHO instructions that contain information on the sequence of introducing solid foods into the diet of children in the first year of life. Recommendations broken down by month are presented below.

Porridge must be boiled in water. Starting from 6 months, you should add to purees and porridges vegetable oil. For the first time, it is recommended to limit yourself to 1 drop, gradually increasing the volume to 1 teaspoon. Butter is introduced into the diet at 7 months. The initial dose is 1 g, the average is 10 g. It is advisable to add it to ready-made porridges.

The given complementary feeding scheme is relevant for breastfed children. If a child receives formula, solid foods can be introduced from 5 months, as his body needs vitamins and minerals for normal development. The same table is used, but all rows are shifted by month.

Detailed information on how to feed your baby “adult” foods can be found in the table. All recommendations are general in nature. Before introducing complementary foods, you should consult your pediatrician.

Product	Term	Quantity	Dishes for starting complementary feeding
Vegetables	With normal or overweight from 6 (sometimes from 5-5.5) months.		Puree from 1 white or green vegetable.
Porridge	With normal or overweight body weight from 6-7 months. If the weight is insufficient, then they are introduced at 4-5 months.	Initial - ½ teaspoon. Maximum – 100-200 g.	Gluten-free cereals cooked in water - buckwheat, rice, corn, oatmeal. After introducing each porridge separately, you can cook cereal mixes.
Vegetable oil	6 months	Initial – 3-5 drops. Maximum – 1 teaspoon.	Sunflower, corn, olive oil. They should be added to pureed vegetables or meat.
Butter	7	Initial – 1/3 teaspoon. Maximum – 10-20 g.	High-quality butter without vegetable components should be added to vegetable purees and porridge.
Fruits	8	Initial - ½ teaspoon. Maximum – 100-200 g.	Monopure of soft fruits. Gradually you can make multi-component dishes.
Meat	8	Initial - ½ teaspoon. Maximum – 50-100 g.	Puree from one component - rabbit, turkey, veal, beef.
Yolk	8	Initial - 1/4 teaspoon. Maximum – ½ yolk of a chicken egg.	You need to boil the egg and add the chopped yolk to the puree or porridge.
Dairy products*	9	Initial - ½ teaspoon. Maximum – 150-200 g.	Children's yogurt, kefir or biolact. After 10 months, you can introduce foods with fillers (we recommend reading:).
Cottage cheese*	9	Initial - ½ teaspoon. Maximum – 50 g.	Children's cottage cheese in its purest form. From 10 months it should be supplemented with fruit puree.
Children's cookies	9-10	Initial – 1/3 cookies. Maximum – 5 pieces.
Fish	The average period of introduction is 10 months (we recommend reading:). If the child has a tendency to allergies - 1 year.	Initial - ½ teaspoon. The maximum is 60 g. It is worth feeding your baby fish 1-2 times a week.	Low-fat fish varieties - river perch, hake, cod. It should be boiled or steamed and then pureed.
Juices	10-12	Initial – 2-3 drops. Maximum – 100 ml.	Clarified juices from green and white fruits.

*Note that the approach of Dr. E.O. Komarovsky regarding complementary feeding differs from WHO recommendations. He suggests starting your acquaintance with adult food with the help of sour milk - kefir and cottage cheese.

The new product should be given to the baby in the first half of the day. It is recommended to increase the amount very slowly, gradually bringing it up to the age norm and monitoring the reaction of the child’s body. A child should be introduced to one new dish per week. If an allergy or malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract occurs, the product should be removed from the menu.

Nutrition after a year

The baby's menu after 12 months includes all the main food groups. He no longer needs breast milk as food, so many mothers decide to stop lactation. However, it contains substances that are valuable for the baby, and there are reasons to continue natural feeding remain.

Lactation can be maintained even if the mother goes to work. The frequency of breastfeeding will decrease, but the baby will receive valuable elements. If there is a need to stop lactation, doctors advise not to do this during the child’s illness, when his body is weakened, as well as in the summer, since at this time there is a high probability of contracting an intestinal infection.

The diet of a baby at 1 year old does not differ from his menu at 11 months, but the portions are slightly larger (we recommend reading:). For breakfast and afternoon snacks, he should be fed porridge or pureed vegetables. Dinner and lunch should be filling. For dessert you can offer marmalade, marshmallows, marshmallows, and as a drink - water, tea, jelly, compote or fruit juice.

It’s so natural that for a long time After the baby is born, he feeds on milk. Everything seems simple, but young mothers who are encountering babies and feeding them for the first time often have a lot of problems. important issues, about which it is sometimes embarrassing to ask a doctor or visiting nurse.

Is colostrum nutritious?

Your first feeding will take place in the maternity ward 6-10 hours after birth. It is believed that the sooner a newborn begins to suckle, the better for both the baby and the mother’s lactation.

Soon after birth, the mammary glands begin to produce colostrum, which must be fed to the baby. Its volume is relatively small - it is no more than 30 ml, but the process of its creation in the mammary glands occurs continuously. Previously, colostrum was considered empty, but as it turned out, on the contrary, it is fed correctly and brings great benefits to the baby.

This liquid contains large quantities of bifidobacteria, which, entering the baby’s esophagus and passing through the entire system, after some time settle in the baby’s intestines. Thus, when fed with colostrum, the microflora of the newborn is created, and the immune system begins to launch. Do not be afraid that your baby will not be full of colostrum in the first days: if you are lying in the same room with the baby, then you have the opportunity and time to feed the baby often, at least every half hour, if he asks for it. Such application to the breast will stimulate the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, and, therefore, will only speed up lactation and increase its volume. If you and your baby are lying apart, the nurses will definitely supplement him with formula.

When does breast milk appear?

Two to three days after birth, the first discharge from the breast will change and milk will replace colostrum. It is right to continue to feed your newborn as often as possible, this way you will train his sucking skills and stimulate your own lactation. Carefully feel your breasts: at the first sign of painful lumps inside, massage, rub and express. Do not hesitate to ask medical staff for advice and assistance. They will tell you and show you how to hold your baby correctly and how often you need to feed him in the first days.

How to properly feed a newborn baby?

Often babies, demanding to eat, are so carried away by the process of crying that they do not notice that their mother has been trying to feed him for a long time, and do not take the breast. Any newborn has a developed sucking reflex, so in order for him to start eating, you just need to tickle the baby’s lips with your nipple. The mouth will immediately open slightly and you can begin feeding the baby.

Be sure to make sure that your breasts do not interfere with your baby’s breathing during the process. There should be both a nipple and part of the halo in the baby’s mouth; if this is not the case, carefully “tuck” the missing parts inside.

If you still have little milk in the first days, but the baby has eaten and asks for more, feed the newborn from the other breast. Correctly follow the order of “food sources” and, before offering the second mammary gland, make sure that everything has actually been sucked out of the first one.

If for some reason your milk doesn’t come, don’t give up trying, let the baby try and suck as much as he can until he cries, then offer him formula from a bottle. If you frequently stimulate your nipples, this can eventually trigger the natural mechanism of lactation.

How often should you feed your newborn?

The standard break between meals for newborns is 3 hours. It is not at all necessary to strictly adhere to this time and torment crying baby waiting for the “hour X”. Modern pediatricians believe that feeding on demand is optimal for both the newborn and the mother. You give the baby the breast when he asks to eat, but first make sure that the cause of the crying is not colic or discomfort. Also, the baby may whine if he is lonely and just wants his mother's warmth. When the baby cries, you should determine why he is acting this way - check the diaper, rub his tummy and hug him. If the baby continues to cry, offer him the breast. You will often arrange such checks in the first days, then all mothers can correctly determine the cause of whims by the timbre of crying.

The newborn will also wake up at night in order to eat. It’s up to you to decide where to feed it correctly. Some mothers place the baby next to them and fall asleep together. Others are afraid to crush the child in his sleep and, after feeding, put him back in the crib, thereby losing precious night time for sleep.

Do I need to give my baby extra water?

It is believed that mother's milk is quite enough to meet the baby's fluid needs. But in practice, everything is not so ideal. The newborn’s body spends water to produce urine and saliva, soften stools, moisten breath, etc. Such fluid losses are considered physiological and are fully covered by the amount of water that comes through breast milk.

But there are situations when there is not enough moisture. For example, during the heating season the air becomes too dry, or the baby’s intestines malfunction and diarrhea begins, or the baby may feel hot and begin to sweat - in all these cases, mild dehydration occurs. You need to keep an eye on your baby and give him additional fluids to replenish his fluids; this should be done correctly with regular mineral water.

What positions are comfortable for feeding?

The most important factor when choosing a feeding position is comfort. This process should bring pleasure to both mother and baby. There are two optimal feeding positions:

• Many mothers note the convenience of feeding while lying down. So the mother rests, and the baby lies calmly, and both breasts are within his reach. If it is inconvenient for the baby to reach the upper mammary gland, you can place a pillow under the newborn. Be sure to ensure that the mammary gland does not cover the baby’s nose and does not interfere with his breathing properly.
• in a sitting position, you can quickly react if the baby wants to burp. The newborn's head rests on the mother's forearm, and by raising her hand she can adjust its position.

What foods are prohibited for a nursing mother?

It is known that a nursing mother needs to adhere to a fairly strict diet. After all, from now on, everything that she eats goes to the child. The baby’s body is still weak and reacts to everything, so many familiar foods should be excluded from the mother’s diet.

The older generation confidently states that young mothers need to exclude everything red from their diet in order to prevent allergies in the baby. Indeed, nursing mothers are prohibited from eating tomatoes, red apples, pomegranates and berries - cherries, strawberries, wild strawberries and grapes. You should eat sweets and honey with caution. All these products can cause a negative reaction not only in the child, but also in the hormonally unstable mother. At first, a newborn, due to unstable intestinal function, almost constantly suffers from colic, so the mother should exclude from her diet foods that have a gas-forming effect: cabbage, radishes and legumes.

To ensure sufficient lactation, nursing mothers are advised to drink plenty of fluids. A young mother should eat dairy products, lean meats and fish, cheeses and cottage cheese. You can eat any fruit, but not citrus fruits, red fruits or grapes. As for vegetables, avoid tomatoes and cabbage.

It is important to rest as often and as long as possible and be less nervous, because due to fatigue or anxiety, milk production may decrease, and under severe stress, stop altogether.

Do I need to pump?

You will need pumping in the following cases:

1. if you are not with your baby (for example, he or you were admitted to the hospital) or are taking medications, but you need to maintain lactation;
2. if you are forced to leave during the day (for work or business), and one of your relatives can feed your baby your milk from a bottle;
3. if the newborn does not eat all the milk, in order to avoid congestion and inflammation, you need to express and smooth out, knead all the lumps and nodules in the breast.

There is no need to store “harmful” milk - with antibiotics or other medications; after expressing it, it is poured out. Good milk can be frozen for future use; there are special sterile bags for this. It can be stored for a long time without losing its nutritional properties. Defrost it correctly at room temperature and heat it in a water bath. It is not advisable to simply store expressed milk in the refrigerator for more than a day, since in this case everything useful will evaporate from it.

Until what age is it optimal to breastfeed a baby?

As a rule, by the age of six months, the energy that he receives from milk becomes insufficient for the baby. The newborn moves frequently and actively, and the baby’s intestines are almost ready to digest new types of food. Meanwhile, breast milk contains less and less nutrients than it did in the first days.

Pediatricians recommend starting to gradually introduce complementary foods from the age of 5-6 months. The doctor, based on his observations of the baby’s development, recommends where exactly to start - with vegetables, fruits or cereals. So, by gradually introducing new foods into your baby’s diet and replacing entire feedings with them, you will lead your baby to give up breast milk.

Mucus regurgitation after feeding is common (due to gastric smooth muscle weakness) but should resolve within 48 hours. If mucus regurgitation or vomiting persists after 48 hours or in the presence of bilious vomiting, a complete upper gastrointestinal and respiratory tract assessment should be performed to determine congenital anomalies.

Problems with feeding. Minor changes in daily dietary intake are common, and although often of concern to parents, in the absence of signs of disease or changes in growth parameters, particularly weight (changes in a child's percentile on standard growth curves are more significant than absolute changes), do not require adjustment.

Birth weight should be restored within 2 weeks and then increase by 20-30 g/day (1 oz/day) over the first few months. After 6 months, babies should weigh twice as much as at birth.

Breast-feeding

Breast milk is the food of choice.

• For the child: nutritional and cognitive benefits and protection against infectious diseases.
• For the mother: decreased fertility during lactation, faster return to normal prenatal state.

Milk production in primiparous women fully develops in 72-96 hours and in less time in multiparous women. The first milk is called colostrum - it is a high-calorie liquid with a high protein content, which is immunoprotective because it is rich in antibodies, lymphocytes and macrophages; Colostrum also stimulates the passage of meconium.

Subsequent breast milk has the following characteristics:

• It has a high lactose content, providing an accessible source of energy that is compatible with newborn enzymes.
• Contains significant amounts of vitamin E, an important antioxidant that may help prevent anemia by increasing the lifespan of red blood cells.

If the mother's diet is sufficiently varied, no nutritional or vitamin supplements are required for herself or her full-term breastfed infant, with the exception of vitamin D. Premature infants, dark-skinned infants, and children living in restricted-exposure areas sunlight(in northern climates) are at particular risk. After 6 months, breastfed infants in homes where the water does not have adequate amounts of fluoride (supplemental or natural) should be given fluoride drops. Doctors can obtain fluoride levels from their local dentist.

Infants under 6 months should not be given additional water due to the risk of hyponatremia.

Technique

The mother should use any comfortable, relaxed position and support the breast with her hand to ensure that it is positioned in the baby's mouth, minimizing pain. The center of the baby's lower lip should be stimulated by the nipple so that the search reflex occurs and the mouth opens wide. The child should be able to grasp with his mouth as much of the breast and areola as he can, placing his lips 2.5-4 cm from the base of the nipple. Initially, at least 2 minutes pass before the oxytocin reflex occurs. The milk supply increases, the baby grows, and the stimulation of the mammary glands increases. The duration of feeding is usually determined by the infant. Some mothers require a breast pump to increase or maintain their milk supply. 90 minutes of breast pumping per day, divided into 6-8 sessions, provides milk to a baby who is not directly breastfed.

The baby should nurse on one breast until it becomes soft and milk flow slows or stops. The mother may interrupt finger sucking before weaning the baby from one breast to the other. In the first days after birth, babies can only nurse on one side, and then the mother must alternate breasts with each feeding. The mother can wean the baby off the breast if the sucking slows down, let him burp and move the baby to the other side. This change in position keeps the baby awake and stimulates milk production in both breasts.

Mothers should be encouraged to feed on demand or every 1.5-3 hours - with a frequency that gradually decreases over time; Some infants smaller than 2500 g may need to be fed even more frequently to prevent hypoglycemia. In the first few days, newborns may need to be awakened and stimulated; Small infants and premature babies should not be allowed to sleep for long periods of time at night. Large, full-term infants who are well nourished (as evidenced by stool) may sleep longer. At the end of the day, a schedule that allows babies to sleep as much as possible through the night is usually better for both the baby and the family.

The frequency of milk production varies but should be close to the infant's feeding schedule. Expressed breast milk should be immediately refrigerated if it is to be used within 48 hours, and immediately frozen if it is to be used more than 48 hours later. Refrigerated milk not used within 96 hours is discarded because there is a high risk of bacterial infection. infection. Frozen milk can be thawed by placing it in warm water; Defrosting in the microwave is not recommended.

Complications in infants

The main complication is malnutrition, which can lead to dehydration and hyperbilirubinemia. Risk factors for malnutrition include small or premature first-time infants, ill mothers, or mothers with complicated or surgical labor. A rough assessment of the adequacy of breastfeeding can be made daily by examining the diaper. At 5 days of age, a normal newborn urinates through at least 6 diapers per day and defecates through at least 4 diapers per day; lower numbers indicate inadequate hydration and malnutrition. Additionally, stool should change from dark meconium at birth to light brown and then yellow. Weight is also a significant parameter to observe; Failure to achieve the required growth values ​​suggests malnutrition. Constant fussiness before 6 weeks of age may also indicate malnutrition. Dehydration should be suspected if the baby's cry decreases or the skin becomes tight or parchment-like; Lethargy and drowsiness are extreme signs of dehydration and should be tested for hypernatremia if detected.

Complications in the mother

Breast engorgement, which occurs during early lactation and can last from 24 to 48 hours, can be minimized by early, frequent feedings. Wearing a comfortable bra 24 hours a day can help, as can cool compresses after feedings and taking a mild pain reliever (such as ibuprofen). Shortly before feeding, the mother may need to apply massage and warm compresses and express milk by hand to allow the baby to take the swollen areola into his mouth. Excessive suctioning between feedings accelerates engorgement, so pumping should be done only enough to reduce discomfort.

If your nipples are sore, you need to check the baby’s position; sometimes he bites the nipple with his gums, causing irritation. Mother can loosen baby's lips thumb. Cool compresses reduce breast engorgement and provide relief from further symptoms.

Blocked ducts appear as soft, painful lumps in the breasts of nursing women who have no other systemic signs of the disease. The lumps appear in different places and are not painful. Ongoing breast-feeding ensures adequate emptying of the breast. Warm compresses and massaging the affected area before feeding may also help with bowel movements. Women can alternate positions as different areas of the breast are better emptied depending on the position of the baby. A good bra is beneficial for breastfeeding women, as regular bras with wire support or constriction straps can cause milk to stagnate in the constricted area.

Mastitis is quite common and appears as a painful, warm, swollen wedge-shaped area of ​​the breast. It is caused by engorgement of the mammary glands, blocking or obstruction of an area of ​​the mammary gland; infection can occur secondarily, most often caused by penicillin-resistant. The number of cells and cultures when inoculating breast milk can be hallmark infectious and non-infectious mastitis. If symptoms are mild and present for a period of time<24 ч, консервативного лечения (удаления молока при кормлении грудью, сцеживания молокоотсосом, компрессов, анальгетиков, поддерживающего бюстгальтера и снятия стресса) может быть достаточно. Если симптомы не уменьшаются в течение 12-24 ч или если женщина тяжело больна, нужно начать применение антибиотиков, безопасных для младенцев на грудном вскармливании и эффективных против S. aureus; продолжительность лечения составляет 10-14 дней. Внебольничный метициллинустойчивый S. aureus следует предполагать при заболевании, не реагирующем сразу на указанную антибиотикотерапию, или при наличии абсцесса. Осложнениями отложенного лечения являются рецидивы и формирование абсцесса. В каждом случае вопрос о возможности продолжения грудного вскармливания на фоне антибиотикотерапии мастита решается в индивидуальном порядке.

Maternal anxiety, frustration, and feelings of inadequacy may result from lack of breastfeeding experience, physical difficulty in holding the infant, latching and sucking, fatigue, difficulty assessing nutritional adequacy, and physiological changes during the postpartum period. These factors and emotions are the most common reasons why a mother stops breastfeeding. Early management by a pediatrician or consultation with a lactation specialist is helpful and effective in preventing early cessation of breastfeeding.

Drugs

If drug therapy is necessary, the mother should avoid contraindicated drugs and drugs that suppress lactation (eg, bromocriptine, levodopa, trazodone).

If drug treatment is necessary, the safest alternative option should be used. Data on the adverse effects of most drugs come from case reports and small studies. The safety of some drugs has been established in extensive studies, but others are considered safe only because there are no reported cases of side effects for them. Drugs with a long history of use tend to be safer than drugs for which there is little data.

Weaning

Weaning can be done whenever mother and baby are mutually willing, although preferably after the baby is at least 12 months old. Gradual weaning over several weeks or months while introducing solid foods is most common; Some mothers and babies stop breastfeeding abruptly without problems. There is no correct schedule.

Artificial feeding

Advantages of formula feeding include the ability to determine the amount of food consumed and the ability of family members to participate in feeding. However, other things being equal, these benefits are outweighed by the undeniable benefits of natural breastfeeding.

Manufactured infant formulas are available in the form of powders, concentrated liquids and solutions (ready to use); they all contain vitamins and are rich in iron. Baby food should be prepared with fluoridated water.

The choice of baby food depends on the needs of the children. Cow's milk-based formulas are the primary choice unless fussiness, regurgitation, or gas suggest sensitivity to cow's milk proteins; in this case, a diet based on soy proteins may be recommended. Hydrolysate foods can be derived from cow's milk but contain triglycerides, proteins and monosaccharides digested into smaller, non-allergenic components. Truly elemental formulas (proteins broken down into amino acids) are available for some children who have allergic reactions to hydrolyzed formulas. Special no-carb blends are also available.

When bottle-fed, babies are fed on demand.

Solid food

WHO recommends breastfeeding for 6 months followed by the introduction of solid foods. Other organizations suggest introducing solid foods between 4 and 6 months. Until 4 months of age, solid foods are not required as a source of nutrients, and the extrusion reflex, in which the tongue pushes anything into the mouth, makes feeding solid foods difficult.

Solid foods should be introduced after breastfeeding or bottle feeding to ensure adequate nutrition. Iron-fortified rice cereal has traditionally been the first solid food introduced in the United States because it is non-allergenic, easily absorbed by the body, and an essential source of iron. New foods are recommended to be introduced into the diet one per week so that food allergies can be identified. The foods do not have to be introduced in any particular order, but the main thing is to follow the principle of transition to solid foods: for example, from rice cereal to soft home-cooked food and chopped home-cooked food. Meat that has been pureed to prevent aspiration is a good source of iron and zinc and is therefore a good early complementary food. Vegetarian infants can obtain adequate amounts of iron from iron-fortified cereals, peas, and dried beans and adequate amounts of zinc from yeast-raised whole-grain breads and fortified infant cereals.

Homemade formulas are equivalent to commercial foods, but commercial products containing carrots, beets, turnips, cabbage and spinach are preferred for up to a year (if available) because they are tested for nitrates. High levels of nitrates, which can induce methemoglobinemia in young children, are present in vegetables grown using water contaminated with fertilizers.

Foods to avoid:

• eggs, peanuts and cow's milk, usually until children are 1 year of age to prevent food intolerances;
• honey up to one year due to the risk of infant botulism
• Foods that, if aspirated, could block the child's airway (for example, nuts, round candies, popcorn, hot dogs, meat if not pureed, grapes if not cut into small pieces).

Nuts should be avoided until 2 or 3 years of age because children are unable to chew them fully and small pieces may be aspirated, causing bronchial obstruction or leading to pneumonia and other complications.

At 1 year of age or older, children can begin drinking whole cow's milk; skim milk is avoided until age 2, when the child's diet becomes essentially the same as the rest of the family. Parents should limit milk consumption to 450-600 ml per day for young children; greater volume may reduce intake of other important nutritional sources and contribute to iron deficiency.

Juice is a poor source of nutrients, promotes tooth decay and should be limited to 120-180 ml per day or eliminated from the diet altogether.

After about a year, the growth rate usually slows down. Children require less food and may refuse some food in some dishes. Parents should be advised to assess their child's intake over the course of a week, rather than at one meal or per day. Malnutrition of solid foods is only a concern when children are not gaining expected weight at the required rate.

This topic is extremely important, because the baby’s nutrition is the fundamental basis for his future health - both physical and intellectual. In order for the baby to successfully develop in all directions, he needs a full set of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.

The main task of parents is to organize feeding of the child and do it competently, in order to strengthen the baby’s immunity and health, and prevent certain diseases, including those that often manifest themselves in adulthood. We will rely on the recommendations of pediatricians and child nutrition specialists.

A little about breastfeeding

Mother's milk is the first and for some time the main food of a newborn. The usefulness of breast milk is difficult to overestimate: this food not only contains the entire range of necessary substances for the baby’s complete nutrition, but also plays the role of an immune protector (contains antibodies to viruses and bacteria that the mother has) and a growth regulator. Milk has a specific chemical composition that allows it to be absorbed most completely.

Milk composition:

• amino acids and proteins (in the optimal ratio, taking into account the age needs of the baby);
• fats (in an emulsified state, so they are better absorbed by the baby’s gastrointestinal tract);
• carbohydrates (needed to cover energy needs);
• immune elements (protect the baby’s body from infections until its own immunity is developed).

Alexander Valerievich Dechko (director of the pediatric center “Good Doctor”, pediatrician, doctor of the first category) notes that in addition to all the advantages of breastfeeding, during feeding, all muscle groups work in the child, and according to the laws of biophysics, the correct development of the maxillofacial apparatus occurs.

The best food for a newborn is mother's milk

Mixed and artificial feeding

But besides breastfeeding, there are also mixed and artificial. They are also worth mentioning, because not all mothers produce in sufficient quantities the most valuable food in the world for the baby - milk. Don't be upset if you have little or no milk. First, consult a specialist, perhaps you are doing something wrong, he will help you improve lactation. If lactation does not improve, then modern technologies in the form of adapted mixtures will come to your aid.

• Mixed feeding - when the mixture takes up 50% of the total nutrition.
• Artificial - feeding only with formula or mainly with formula (2/3 of the total nutrition).

The most common reasons for mixed feeding

From the newborn's side:

• light weight;
• depressed sucking reflex;
• diseases, neurological disorders.

From the mother's side:

• illness;
• taking medications;
• cracked nipples;
• mother's social activity.

When combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding, the process should be as close as possible to natural, that is, the child should work in the same way as at the mother's breast. In such a situation, your baby will never refuse breast milk. An orthodontic nipple will help imitate the mother's breast, which resembles the shape of the mother's nipple, so the newborn practically does not notice the difference.

Mixed feeding, according to most pediatricians, is better than artificial, since the baby still receives breast milk with all its benefits

Artificial feeding has a number of disadvantages. Olga Leonidovna Lukoyanova, Ph.D., pediatrician of the highest category, pediatric nutritionist, in one of her articles on mixed and artificial nutrition, highlighted the following:

• There are no protective antibodies in infant formula that will protect against infection, so it is recommended to keep artificially-bred children in so-called quarantine (do not take them to crowded places, do not organize a viewing party at home with a bunch of relatives and friends, ventilate the newborn’s room, if one of the parents is infected wear a mask, etc.);
• beneficial substances (vitamins and microelements) contained in breast milk are absorbed better than the same substances in formulas;
• Artificially born people more often experience iron deficiency anemia and a variety of allergic conditions.

Lukoyanova does not recommend giving up breastfeeding if the mother simply has no desire to feed the child. She also focuses in her works on the fact that often the lack of milk is only apparent; the mother may go through the so-called “lactation period” when the milk seems to decrease. This is the norm for lactation periods. A breastfeeding specialist will definitely advise you on what to do. In most cases, milk increases. Night feeding especially contributes to this.

But if all measures to improve lactation have not been successful, and you inevitably need to introduce a breast milk substitute to your baby, then you need to choose the mixture wisely, based on the individual needs and characteristics of the baby’s body. Your pediatrician will help you with this choice.

Feeding by month to year

1-4 months

Breastfed

The first feeding of a newborn occurs in the maternity hospital - the baby sucks out colostrum. Colostrum is a secretion released from the mammary glands before childbirth and during 3-5 days after it. Colostrum is more high-calorie and nutritious than milk, it contains little liquid, which does not allow it to overload the baby’s still unformed kidneys, and it has a laxative effect to release the original feces - meconium. And this is not a complete list of the positive properties of colostrum. After five days, colostrum is replaced by our usual breast milk - first transitional, then mature.

Most pediatricians teach mothers around the world that the production of breast milk and its quantity depends on the frequency of the newborn's attachment to the breast, and sucking technique is also important. If the baby does not latch onto the nipple correctly from the first day and does not properly stimulate its production at the hormonal level, the milk will fade by 3 months. Perhaps this is the most important thing in the first days of establishing lactation.

Technically, feeding should look like this: the baby’s lower lip is turned out, and he grasps the lower areola of the nipple with his lips. There are different positions for feeding, but if he lies on his mother’s hand, then his nose is located at the level of the nipple. The baby is pressed tightly with his tummy to the mother's belly, his body and head are on the same plane. The baby's head must not be turned.

It’s better if the mother feeds while lying down - this way the body and head are automatically located on the same plane, and the mother’s arms and back rest

Remember: it is necessary to achieve the correct sucking technique in the first 3-4 days. At the age of one month, it is impossible to restructure the baby so that he begins to breastfeed as expected.

A few words should be said about the breastfeeding regimen. There are three types of diets, and which one is the best is difficult to say, since each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

1. On demand - when the mother feeds the baby at his first request.
2. Regular (hourly)- when the mother feeds at certain intervals (every 2-3.5 hours).
3. Free - combines the features of the first and second modes. Mom can reduce or increase the intervals between feedings, focusing on the baby’s mood, his well-being, and depending on the circumstances. For example, if the baby is sleeping and it’s time to feed him, then according to the free schedule, you should not wake the baby, but wait until he wakes up and asks for food.

In general, a baby can eat milk up to 12 times a day. This is the norm.

WHO recommendations state that infants up to six months should be exclusively breastfed. This means that they do not need any other food or liquid (not even water). Breast milk perfectly fills the need for fluid.

On a mixed diet

Basic rules of complementary feeding

• The introduction of each new product begins with a small portion (1-2 tsp) and increases the amount gradually over 5-7 days. Such a small amount of the product is necessary in order to determine whether the baby has an intolerance or allergy to it.
• We give a new product at 1 noon to see the child’s reaction. If you give complementary foods at night, there is a risk of not noticing any reaction.
• Any complementary food should be monocomponent (mashed potatoes or porridge from one component).
• Complementary feeding must be given from a spoon before feeding with milk or formula.
• You should not give a new product to an infant if he is sick, unwell, or has recently been vaccinated.
• If the child does not accept the new product, it is recommended to try it again after 5 days.

Where to begin?

We have 2 products to choose from: porridge and vegetable puree (mono-component). Either one or the other.

Pediatricians note that if the baby is large (for example, at 5 months his weight is 8 kg), then it is better not to start with porridge. In this case, vegetable puree is preferable. And, conversely, if the baby is not very plump or has hypertrophy, then complementary feeding should start with porridge.

There is another criterion by which pediatricians judge which complementary foods to start with - stool. If stool is rare ─ once every 3-5 days, ─ then it’s good to start with vegetable puree. Porridges have the property of “locking up”. It is better to start eating them with frequent, liquid stool.

The porridge should be gluten-free and dairy-free: rice, corn, buckwheat. If complementary foods were introduced at 4 months, then at 6 months you can try gluten-free milk porridge: oatmeal, wheat.

The first vegetable purees should be monocomponent - only from zucchini, cauliflower, pumpkin.

It is not recommended to start complementary feeding with fruits or meat. Fruits have a sweet taste, after which the child may not want to eat unleavened cereals and vegetables. Meat itself is a difficult product for a baby’s delicate stomach.

Cauliflower puree in a pressure cooker

• Place the cauliflower florets in a pressure cooker (if you don’t have one, just cook). Set the “Steam/cook” mode for 10 minutes.
• After 10 minutes, put the cabbage in a glass for mashing. Puree using a blender.
• The puree should be tender and homogeneous.

If your baby is gaining weight well, it is better to choose vegetable puree for the first feeding.

Zucchini puree in a steamer

• The vegetable is cleaned, the butt is cut off, and the seeds are separated. The zucchini is soaked for 3-4 hours.
• Take a glass container, pour 50 g of zucchini with 100 ml of water, place in a double boiler and leave for 5 minutes. If you don’t have a double boiler, cook until soft.
• Place the zucchini in a chopping glass and puree.
• If it turns out too thick, add a little water in which the vegetable was cooked to the puree. And again everything is whipped up.

As you can see, organizing feeding a baby is not an easy task; it is almost a science that cannot be learned while lying on the couch. All babies are very individual, each requires a special approach and patience. Just as it is impossible to calculate in advance what positions will be comfortable for mommy when feeding, what kind of feeding regimen will ultimately be built, there is a possibility that there may be some peculiarities with complementary feeding. All data given in the article is approximate. Your pediatrician will tell you more about feeding your baby. He will also write down the schedule and proportions.

The health of any person directly associated with proper and regular nutrition. And what can we say about the health of a newborn or a baby a few months old, who is still feeding on his mother’s breast milk and is therefore called a baby. Feeding a child during the period from birth to one year can be safely called one of his main activities. And there is no secret that he will have to engage in this kind of activity until his very last days. Of course, food gradually changes as the baby grows, but the process of eating it over time becomes a very pleasant experience for all children.

Books are written about food, shown in movies, advertised in every possible way, some turn its absorption into a whole ritual and, in my opinion, attach too much importance. However, no one has ever been able to take or abolish the important place of food in our lives and never will be able to. This is correct, because without food, as they say, you can’t go there and you can’t go there. Although this expression referred to water and not to food, you must agree that you will not be satisfied with water alone.

Feeding a baby in mother's hands

For a child who is barely born, everything starts out banal. He feeds on what God has given him. And he was given his mother’s breast! It has long been proven that children fed on mother's milk from birth grow much stronger and healthier than those who ate, for a number of reasons, artificial substitutes. And no matter how much formula is praised, no matter how many advantages are listed, they will still never be able to replace real breast milk.

Who would argue that normal growth and development is achieved by a baby whose nutrition is filled with a whole range of useful microelements, vitamins and minerals. And by and large, almost all of this is contained in breast milk. Therefore, the main task of a young mother is to treat her child with breastfeeding on time. And the remaining milk should be expressed into a glass somewhere and given to the husband so that he never leaves the mother alone with the child.

The statement about my husband was just a joke. Please don't take him seriously. But you really should express the remaining milk from your breasts in order to prevent mastitis(bacterial infection) and disruption of the lactation process, in other words, the release of milk from the mammary glands. Then you won’t have to worry about what to feed your child for at least the first six months, or even more.

And indeed, at the initial stage, it is quite enough for the child to eat only the mother’s natural product. Indeed, in our time, natural products are becoming a real rarity, so at least for the first months, let the child enjoy the privilege of drinking tasty and healthy mother’s milk.

So, breast milk is beneficial for what it contains:

• Proteins and amino acids.
• Fats.
• Carbohydrates.
• Immune elements.

How to breastfeed correctly

Here, expectant mothers may have a completely logical question: how to properly breastfeed a newborn? To do this, you just need to allow the baby to completely capture his mother’s nipple with his mouth. You don’t have to worry, having done this once, your child will not forget about it in the future. The main thing is for a woman not to be nervous or tense. Remember that the process of breastfeeding is a completely natural phenomenon, inherent in a person by his Creator.

The first few days after birth only colostrum is released. But it contains immunoglobulins and antitoxins, which are simply necessary for the little person to form immunity and ensure proper functioning of digestion. By the third or fourth day, the mother begins to produce real milk, containing a lot of the beneficial substances mentioned above.

Through milk, the baby absorbs the love and care of his mother, clinging to her both body and soul. He feels safe under his mother’s sensitive care, he is happy when she is nearby, he is sad and worried when he does not see her in front of him, does not hear her voice, does not smell her. After all, for an infant, his mother is his whole life!

Mom is love and care. Dad - provision and protection

You may ask, what about the father? Of course, the father is also important and must play his part. obligatory role in a child's life. But understand that the mother is the person who is with the baby almost all the time in the first months of his life. She feeds him, lulls him to sleep, sings him songs, takes care of him, rocks him, changes his diapers, plays. Well, who, tell me, will become dearer to the baby than his mother after all this? If the father, in turn, takes an active part in caring for the baby and caring for him, then over time he will also become a dear person in the eyes of the child.

However, at first, dads should not expect such a result. After all, a father is first and foremost the one who provides and protects his family. And to provide, you need to work. Consequently, a man has significantly less time for a child than a woman. And this is quite natural. However, it does not give a man any right to withdraw himself and not help his wife manage the child. In a family, everything should be as balanced as possible.

It is very good when the mother has enough milk, especially in the first months of feeding. But what to do if there are interruptions in breastfeeding. Or does it disappear altogether for some reason? Some turn to other nursing mothers for help, who have enough milk for more than just their baby. Other mothers have to use dry milk formulas for feeding. Artificial feeding has a number of significant disadvantages.

Let's move on to the specifics of feeding. Let's try to create something like a descriptive table of a child's nutrition by month.

Child's diet

From birth to 2 months

Most pediatricians strongly recommend limiting yourself to breast milk for six months. And add formula milk to the diet only if there is a lack of breast milk. Feeding regimen for a baby from birth to two months 5-6 times a day every 3.5-4 hours.

What is the easiest way to determine whether your baby is getting enough nutrition? We determine it using the simple old-fashioned method - by wet diapers.

• If you count 11-13 wet diapers, then that means the baby has enough of his portion.
• If your baby wets 7-9 diapers, you need to feed him more often.
• And, if there are 6 or fewer wet diapers, you need to contact your pediatrician with the problem of decreased appetite.

During the first month of life, a child, as a rule, gains about 750 grams of weight and grows by 3 cm. If this is the case for you, then your baby is healthy and gets enough nutrition.

At the 2nd, 3rd month

The child gains weight up to 2 kg and grows by 7 cm, counting from his birth. His main diet is still mother's milk (formula). At the 3rd month, the mother is recommended to accustom her baby to a certain schedule. The child gets used to it quite quickly. Meals need to be broken up at certain intervals. During this period, it may seem that there is not enough breast milk. But the whole point is that the child has grown up. So don't panic. The more often the baby stimulates the mother's breast when he sucks, the better the lactation process occurs.

Complementary feeding is unacceptable at this age for the simple reason that the baby’s gastrointestinal tract has not yet had time to fully form. And “rough” food that is unusual for a child can be harmful.

During the period of breastfeeding, every mother must follow her own diet. Citrus fruits, legumes, all kinds of marinades and pickles, coarse baked goods, semi-finished products, onions, garlic and other foods that are difficult to digest are completely excluded. Do not forget that what the baby receives with her milk directly depends on the mother’s nutrition. For drinks, try to avoid carbonated water, coffee, and strong tea. It is allowed to drink special tea that increases lactation.

Subsequently, by 4, 5 months

Baby can add some fruit juice to your diet. According to the norm, 20 grams are given per feeding, but no more than 3 times a day with five meals a day. By this time, the baby is already quite accustomed to both the diet and the routine. Juice is added to the main diet 2-3 drops per meal, gradually increasing to a normal dose if the little person accepts the new product well.

Important to remember that the juice should always be fresh, and not left over from the previous feeding. During this period, berry and sometimes fruit juices are given. But in no case bought in stores. They should be prepared from fresh berries and fruits immediately before feeding.

Gradually, as the baby grows, the fruit diet increases according to the age table. If the baby eats formulas, then their quantity also increases. Dosages for preparing artificial milk are indicated on the box of the mixture itself. There is also information about diet depending on the age of the child.

From five months

The baby may refuse breast milk. Often it simply stops being enough. Here You can already try giving your baby juices with pulp. If the baby’s digestion reacts normally to feeding, then this is a signal to the mother that it is time to add thin fruit puree to the diet. Which one specifically you can consult with your pediatrician. Do not introduce fruit purees too abruptly into your baby's diet. Remember, he is not yet strong enough for drastic changes, although he has grown by 15 cm and doubled his weight.

When the child reaches the first half of the year

You can start feeding him more boldly. However, again, do not make assorted fruit purees. Remember that changing the diet of a child up to one year should be very careful. Start with a puree of one ingredient, after 10 days try adding something new. By the way, it’s time to start accustoming your baby to vegetables, also in the form of a homogeneous mass. You can feed them with hard-boiled egg yolk and mashed into a paste.

Six months is the time when the first teeth appear. For many children, this is a rather difficult period, accompanied by severe itching in the gums and often fever. As well as the appearance of diarrhea and loss of appetite.

By 7 months

Baby food can include porridge cooked with milk, pureed meat, finely grated meat is also suitable. You can also include cookies and bread in your diet, which must be soaked in water, because... The child does not yet have enough teeth, or even none at all, to fully chew food.

In addition to the maternal nature of the product, at this age You can give cottage cheese and kefir made independently from fresh milk. Do not forget that you should gradually accustom your baby to fermented milk products, starting with 1 small spoon and gradually increasing.

At seven months, the child sits confidently, so all feedings are done while sitting so that he does not suffocate.

At 8 months

Gradually reduce breastfeeding, replacing it with meat broths, fruit purees, adapting the child to more adult food. The diet can include butter and vegetable oil, boiled meat (chicken, turkey). At this age, a child can be taught to use a spoon. Let him try to bring it to his mouth on his own. This will help him develop coordination of movements.

9 month

Seafood added to the diet. In particular, fish. Remember to thoroughly debone fish before feeding it to your baby. The fish is given boiled and in no case fried or canned. Gradually, the child’s menu can be diversified by adding new products.

For 10 months

Instead of meat puree You can serve boiled meatballs so that the baby learns to chew food. You can also give vermicelli milk soup, semolina and cottage cheese casserole. Make puree from plums and pears. It is entirely acceptable for a young gourmet to become acquainted with watermelon. I hope you don't forget to pit it.

At the 11th month

Breastfeeding, if still present, reduced to twice a day to no. Now the baby’s main products are porridge, cottage cheese, vegetables and fruits, bread and meat. Yes, almost exactly like an adult.

And finally, your baby turns one year old

By the age of one year, the process of lactation in the mother’s body stops. The child eats almost adult food. However, do not overfeed him with sweets. Better limit yourself to cookies and fruit.

We remind you once again that in the first year of your baby’s life, and after a year too carefully monitor his nutrition and diet. Fewer experiments, and then you won’t have to visit the children’s clinic more often than expected.