Nutrition of children is always an actual and widely discussed topic. Everyone who participates in the discussion on the diet of baby food and the organization of the process has its arguments, references to its own life experience, folk wisdom and authoritative specialists. But many seemingly unshakable beliefs, deeply deposited in our minds, are in fact just myths. Let's try to find out which dogmas about feeding babies for a year are misconceptions.
1. Power Mode
Most parents, especially young mothers, are confident that the child should be fed strictly by the hour. And they patiently wait for 3 to 4 hours, regardless of the fact that the baby is screaming, can not fall asleep.
Reality
Mode - convenience for the mother, feeding on demand - what is the child's need. When feeding on a regimen, a woman lactates, if she feeds the baby at his request, milk production takes place without problems. A baby who is fed on demand is more relaxed, better asleep and more active during wakefulness.
2. The food ration
Contrary to the recommendations of doctors, some mothers start to introduce their own lure on their own initiative. It is also often observed that a child who has not reached the age of one year is given the same meals that adult members of the family eat.
Reality
A study conducted by the staff of the Scientific Center for Children's Health in 2011-2012 showed that 30% of young children in Russia are overweight, and 50% have a lack of iron in the body. The reason is premature transfer to food intended for adults.
3. Composition of baby food
Many parents quite seriously say that the mixture contains harmful oils. Also, there are often doubts about the advisability of including starch in the baby food.
Reality
In children's milk mixtures, manufacturers add polyunsaturated fatty acids, but they are important for proper metabolism. Starch is easily absorbed by a child's body and does not cause any harm. In fruit puree, starch in very small amounts (no more than 3%) is added in order not to break the consistency of the contents of the jars. All children's products undergo a multi-stage examination. But in order to hedge, it is recommended to purchase baby food in specialized stores or pharmacies.
4. Allergy to baby food
If the baby develops an allergy when introducing a new baby food product, the mother believes that all other mixtures or canned products of this producer will not work for the child. Moreover, she begins to convince friends that this diet should never be given to children.
Reality
An allergic reaction usually occurs on a separate component, but in no way on all products! In addition, the body of each child is purely individual, so it is better if the choice of the mixture is carried out with the help of the supervising pediatrician.
5. Feeding whole milk
The older generation in the family often insists on the introduction into the diet of the baby of the first year of life of cow or goat's milk . They convince that before the kids were fed this way, and the kids grew up healthy.
Reality
Leading nutritiologists are sure: cow milk is a strong allergen. It contains the amount of protein that the baby's body can not absorb. The milk of artiodactyls does not contain the necessary amount of iron and the necessary vitamins, and because of the excess of salts in the product, the load on the kidneys increases.
6. The consistency of food
Parents sometimes believe that until most of the teeth are cut through, the child should be given only liquid and rubbed food.Reality
The baby at 9 months perfectly grinds the components of the soup with the teeth, and by the year can chew a piece of apple or bread. Pediatricians are convinced that chewing is a gymnastics for the oral cavity, thanks to which the right bite is formed and, accordingly, a good diction.
7. Do not give fish!
Grandmothers warn that until the child speaks, he should not be given a fish in any case. "It will be dumb!" They assure.
Reality
Fish is a protein product, therefore it is necessary to introduce the baby carefully. For children under one year, low-fat fish is suitable. The best option - puree from a jar, which can be given at half the tea spoon at the age of 9 - 10 months, by the year increasing the portion to 50 - 70 g.
Warning: It is not recommended to give a small child a fish and meat dish in one day!
Parents of the baby should remember that he is not a small adult. Specificity of baby food exists and it must be adhered to, so that the child grows healthy and active.