Changing the baby's diet is a natural, exciting and responsible process. The first food, which is different from milk, should not harm the baby's body. The first product of complementary foods is most often vegetable purees or cereals.
Instructions
Step 1
You can always make vegetable puree at home by purchasing organic vegetables in a good store. But the choice of ready-made cereals can be a difficult test for young parents.
Step 2
First of all, you need to consult a pediatrician about the choice of cereals. Based on the condition of the child (weight gain, the presence or absence of allergies and other factors), the pediatrician can recommend specific options that are suitable for your child.
Step 3
When choosing cereals on your own, always pay attention to the composition indicated on the package. You should not choose cereals with artificial preservatives, dyes or GMOs in the composition, of all additives, only vitamin C is acceptable. Always carefully inspect the packaging for damage and expiration date, this will allow you to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Step 4
All cereals for babies are distinguished by their gluten content (this is a vegetable protein). Gluten grains include wheat, rye, oats and barley, respectively, semolina or oatmeal porridge are of the gluten type. Such cereals should not be introduced as the first complementary food, since at first it is difficult for the child's body to cope with the processing and digestion of protein. The baby's gastrointestinal system is unstable, so that gluten porridges can cause a violation of peristalsis, and therefore lead to allergies and dysbiosis. Therefore, for the first feeding, it is worth taking gluten-free cereals - corn, rice and buckwheat.
Step 5
Porridge can be dairy and non-dairy. Milk porridges are made on the basis of a substitute similar to breast milk or an artificial milk formula. Such cereals can be a serious allergen if the child has an intolerance to cow's milk protein. Unfortunately, this diagnosis is quite common in infants. Dairy-free porridge in such a case will come to your aid, however, it is best to consult a pediatrician about this.
Step 6
Porridge can be mono-component or multi-component. The latter are made from several cereals; in some cereals, you can find from two to four types of cereals. During the initial introduction of your baby to porridge, you should not experiment. Buy mono-composition options from different types of cereals to master them gradually. Once your child gets used to the cereals alone, you can switch to multi-component cereals.
