It is advisable to start the introduction of complementary foods from the age of five months. For the full development of the baby, it is necessary to add juice to the complementary foods. Parents often ask about the age at which the child can be given juice, and whether it will be harmful.
Juice in complementary foods
The benefits of juices for child nutrition
The juices contain all the necessary set of vitamins and minerals for the full development of the child. They contain organic acids, flavonoids and other substances useful for the newborn. They strengthen the immune system, have a positive effect on blood composition, and promote weight gain. All nutrients are absorbed much better than from fruit purees.
Fresh juices also help:
- to establish metabolic processes;
- to make up for the deficiency of vitamins and minerals;
- restore water and salt balance;
- to establish normal bowel function.
Important! A child should not be given store-bought products containing a lot of sugar and preservatives. Complementary foods should be prepared with fresh fruit.
Nutritional value
The nutritional value of each juice is different. Common in them will be the presence of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins and trace elements. For example, the nutritional value of freshly squeezed apple juice is as follows:
- proteins - 0.1 g;
- fat - 0.1 g;
- carbohydrates - 11 g;
- dietary fiber - 0.2 g;
- calorie content - about 43 kcal.
Freshly squeezed apple juice
How to choose the right fruit
When choosing fruits for making juice at home, certain rules should be followed:
- Clarify the grade.
- Be sure to probe the fruit before purchasing. The fruit should not be loose and soft. Fresh and good fruit is firm, even, without any signs of deformation.
- You should carefully examine the peel. It should not have wrinkles, scratches or other damage.
- Fresh fruits have a rich aroma. If it is poorly distinguished, it means that the fruit is stale and has been on the counter for a long time.
- The appearance of the fruit should be as natural as possible.
Fresh apples for juice
Where to start
It is best to start the introduction of juice into complementary foods with apple. It has the least allergenic activity. The product is well absorbed and contains a large amount of vitamin C and iron. The recommended age for giving apple juice to babies is 5 months. It is very useful to give a drink from green apples, pears.
Important! Adding apple juice to complementary foods reduces the likelihood of infectious diseases.
Pediatricians also recommend starting complementary foods with apricot or peach juice. They contain a large amount of carotene, which is necessary for hair growth and strong bones.
Juice injection sequence
So when can you start giving your baby juices? From the age of six months, it is desirable to introduce pear, peach juices into the infant's diet. At about 7-8 months, you can introduce him to a pumpkin or carrot drink. It is useful to give a drink made from beets. From the age of ten months, juices from black currant, plum, cherry and cranberry can be introduced into the diet.
Freshly squeezed cherry juice
At the same time, it is allowed to give multicomponent drinks. So, a mixture of cherry, blackcurrant, cherry and raspberry juices is useful for a child.
Last but not least, citrus fruits should be introduced into the diet - from 11-12 months of age. When the child gets used to them, you can offer him a mixture of mango, grapefruit, orange.
Attention! When giving juices to your child, remember that apple, carrot or pear drinks have a strengthening effect. Pumpkin, peach, apricot or plum on the contrary - with a mild laxative effect.
What fruits are not introduced into complementary foods
Pediatricians do not recommend giving grape juice to children under one year of age. It contains a lot of carbohydrates and complex organic compounds. The latter can harm the child's body. The same goes for grenades.
When juices are given in complementary foods
The recommended age when you can give juice to babies is 4 months. At this time, the child's need for vitamins increases sharply.
Some doctors advise giving bottle-fed babies juice as early as three months. This is due to the fact that the milk formula does not contain the full amount of those nutrients that are found in breast milk.
According to Dr. Komarovsky, it is impossible to give juices to a child at an earlier age, especially when breastfed. The child at this time is physiologically not ready to digest food other than human milk and its substitutes.
Making homemade juice the right way
There are rules for introducing juice into complementary foods for an infant:
- It is possible to start its introduction only if the baby is healthy.
Important! It is forbidden to give juices to a child during illness. You also need to refrain from this product if the baby has recently been vaccinated - this can cause a severe allergic reaction.
- When starting to juice from one fruit (for example, an apple), you do not need to introduce another product at the same time. It is necessary that the baby's body is fully accustomed to the fruit.
- The initial portion of complementary foods is no more than 5 drops. Its amount is increased daily, bringing it to several teaspoons. If the child is older, you can give a small amount of the drink from a cup or bottle.
First juice feed
- You can not give more than the amount of drink recommended by the doctor, even if the baby asks for it himself. The body's habituation to new types of food should occur gradually.
- At first, it is recommended to dilute the juice with water.
- It is preferable to introduce your baby to new food in the morning.
- You should pay attention to the baby's reaction: a possible change in stool or the appearance of an allergic reaction, regurgitation or the appearance of flatulence.
- The fruit drink should be given during or after a feed.
Attention! If the baby's condition worsens, it is necessary to stop the introduction of the juice. It should be fed with milk or formula.
Complementary feeding rates by month
The question, from how many months you can give a child juices and which ones, is associated with certain rules.
What can be combined with
Juices can be combined with:
- other fruits;
- vegetables;
- cereals;
- cottage cheese;
- milk mixtures.
Do not combine juices with fish or meat dishes.
How often to give
They should be given to the child every day. One feeding will be enough for this.
Number
The recommended amount of drink varies with age. Here's how much and how to give juice to a 6 month old baby and older:
- 4 to 6 months - 5 to 60 milliliters;
- at 7 months - about 70 ml;
- at 8 months - 80 ml;
- from 9 to 12 months - no more than 100 ml.
Possible problems with complementary feeding
Sometimes, with the early introduction of juices into the diet, the child may have mucus in the feces, impaired bowel movement and manifestation of dysbiosis. In this case, complementary foods should be temporarily postponed.
Since juices contain natural carbohydrates, they can cause weight gain. This happens if the parents exceed the permissible complementary feeding rates. Due to the improper selection of fruits and vegetables, children can develop inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract.
Signs of allergies
One of the undesirable manifestations of the introduction of juices into complementary foods is food allergy. Its signs are as follows:
- itching;
- pronounced redness of the cheeks;
- pain in the abdomen;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- the appearance of a green chair;
- increased formation of intestinal gas.
Allergy to juice
If citrus is introduced too early, the child develops the following symptoms:
- redness of the eyes and watery eyes;
- runny nose;
- severe rash;
- respiratory failure, coughing fits.
Juices should be present in the baby's diet from four to five months. They compensate for the lack of vitamins and trace elements, contribute to the full development of the crumbs. Knowing how to add juice to complementary foods avoids nutritional problems.
