We love fruits for their pleasant taste and healthy vitamin and mineral composition, so it is not surprising that mothers want to introduce babies to fruit complementary foods from an early age. Apricots can be called one of the fruits most loved by children. To acquaint the child with them correctly, you should first learn about their benefits and some of the features of their use.
Benefit
- They are rich in carotene, thiamine, vitamin PP, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iodine and iron.
- Have a positive effect on the work of the myocardium and brain.
- There are beneficial effects on the condition of vision, bones, hair, teeth and nails.
- You can prevent anemia and increase hemoglobin levels.
- The fruit is good for digestion as it helps to eliminate dysbiosis and bloating. It acts as a mild laxative.
- Due to the presence of pectin, apricots help to remove harmful and toxic substances from the child's body.
You will learn even more about the benefits by watching the program “Living Healthy”.
Minuses
- An allergic reaction may occur.
- The fruits can be processed with chemical compounds that have a harmful effect on the growing child's body.
- If eaten on an empty stomach, digestive upset is possible.
- Due to their high sugar content, they should not be consumed in diabetes.
From how many months can you introduce into complementary foods?
The age at which apricots are introduced into the baby's diet depends on the type of feeding. For children who are fed with milk mixture, such a fruit is introduced at 6-7 months after they get acquainted with apples, pears and a banana. Breastfed babies start giving it a month or two later.
Fresh apricots are offered to babies no earlier than 9-10 months.
How to give?
Usually, their introduction to the children's menu begins with mashed potatoes.
Many mothers choose ready-made mashed potatoes to start with apricot complementary foods, but if you want to cook a dish for your baby with your own hands, you should purchase ripe apricots and boil them for 10 minutes. Then the fruits are peeled and pitted, the pulp is crushed in a blender and, if necessary, add liquid (milk, mixture or water) to the puree for the desired consistency.
How can you save for the winter?
The best way to harvest apricots for the winter, which will be used for making baby puree, is to freeze them. In the freezer, the halves of the fruit will not lose their beneficial properties.
You can also make delicious jam from them.
Tips for choosing
When buying apricots for baby food, choose medium-sized ripe fruits with a pleasant smell. Avoid buying fruit that is dented, rotted, or damaged.
What to do if a child swallows a bone?
Apricot pits are dangerous due to their rather large size and sharp edges, but you do not need to panic if the baby accidentally swallowed one of them if the child does not have the following symptoms:
- Repeated vomiting.
- Severe nausea.
- Stomach ache.
- Blood in the stool.
If the child's well-being has not changed, just observe the baby and his stool to make sure that the bone is safely released naturally. If you experience any warning symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
What to do if you have an allergy?
Apricots are considered allergenic fruits, so babies who try mashed them for the first time may develop rashes, nausea, diarrhea, skin redness and other signs of intolerance. There is also a cumulative reaction, when manifestations of allergies occur after a few days of mashed potatoes, when the product is given daily with an increase in the portion.
In case of any negative reactions to apricot complementary foods, the new product is immediately canceled and the introduction into the diet is re-tried only after a few months. If the allergy is severe, you should consult a doctor for the selection of an appropriate antihistamine.
About the benefits and harms of apricot - in the program "On the most important thing."
Find out if your child's weight is normal using the following calculator.
