In the summertime, mothers are happy to treat their children with fresh fruits and vegetables, for example, juicy plums. But before giving the baby plum puree for the first time, it is worth learning more about the benefits and possible dangers of such a fruit, as well as about the optimal time for introducing plums into complementary foods and the features of making plum puree.
Benefit
Plums are a source ascorbic acid, B-group vitamins, tocopherol, niacin and vitamin K... They are also rich in minerals, in particular phosphorus and potassium... Useful substances in the composition of plums are also pectins, organic acids, nitrogenous and tannic compounds. All of them help in the development of the child's body and strengthen the immune system, and also support the baby's health.
See the video for the benefits of plums.
Minuses
- Excessive consumption of fresh plums by a child can result in an upset stomach, a deterioration in well-being and an exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases (if the crumbs have them).
- An allergic reaction occurs on plum puree or plum fruit compote, manifested by the appearance of redness and flaking on the skin, swelling on the face and other symptoms.
- Plums are not recommended for diabetes and diseases of the digestive system.
Will the plum weaken?
Plum fruits have the ability to liquefy stools, so they can be used as a prevention of constipation. For this reason, parents need to be very careful when giving their baby plum puree to avoid causing diarrhea.
At what age can you introduce into complementary foods?
The plum is offered to the baby after getting acquainted with fruit complementary foods in the form of apples and pears. This usually occurs at 8-9 months of age with breastfeeding and a few months earlier for artificial babies.
How to give?
The child's stomach does not digest fresh plums well, so they begin to introduce such fruits into the children's diet in the form of puree. First, it is prepared from light varieties of plums, and later they treat the baby with dark fruits. Also, compote is often cooked from plums, and children over 1.5 years old are offered this fruit in the form of a filling for various pastries.
How to make plum puree?
- Rinse the fruit under running water and then cook for about 10 minutes.
- After peeling the plums, remove the seeds and place the pulp in a blender.
- Prepare a homogeneous mass, into which you can add a little water or juice for a thinner consistency. It is also permissible to add human milk to such mashed potatoes.
- Ideally, you don't need to add sugar to the puree, but if the plum is sour, you can sweeten the dish with fructose.
Tips for choosing
Plums intended for baby food must be ripe and intact.
Choose fruit free of dark spots, dents, moldy or rotten areas. The color of the plums should be uniform, and the fruit should be firm to the touch, not too dry or softened.
What to do if a child swallows a bone?
In such a situation, you need not panic, but carefully monitor the child's condition. The danger of the plum seed is associated with its large size and sharp edges. It can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as damage the mucous membrane.
When a child swallows plum seeds, parents should not give the child a lot of liquid or food, or give a laxative or emetic. It would be more correct to observe the baby and his chair. You should immediately seek medical attention if:
- The child developed nausea.
- The kid complains of abdominal pain.
- Repeated vomiting appeared.
- There is an admixture of blood in the feces.
What to do if you have an allergy?
If the child reacted to the first serving of puree with an allergic reaction, you should immediately abandon this product and reintroduce it into complementary foods only after a few months. In case of severe allergies, after consuming plums, you need to show the child to a doctor to select the correct treatment.
Find out if your child's weight is normal using the following calculator.
