How to choose baby food

Baby food is a special product line designed for children under three years old. It is used instead of breast milk, if the mother for some reason can not feed, and for feeding baby.

The best baby food manufacturers

Baby food should be safe for the baby and not contain dyes, GMOs, preservatives and flavor enhancers. It may include natural products, as well as vitamins, amino acids, nutrients, proteins, “good” bacteria and other beneficial substances. Quality products for children rarely cause allergies, and their composition is as stated on the package.

The best brands of baby food are:

1. Nestle (GERBER, NAN, NESTOGEN, Nestle);

2. HIPP;

3. Heinz;

4. Nutricia (Nutrilon, Baby, Kid).

5. Humana.

These brands are known not only in Russia and the CIS, but also in Germany, Austria, USA, Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands and other countries.

Among domestic manufacturers the most popular are:

1. Progress OJSC (for Babies and Frutonyanya);

2. JSC "WIMM-Bill-Dann" (Agusha, Miracle Children).

Types of baby food

Milk mixture

Milk formulas are used from the birth of a child and up to 2-3 years. They are completely replaced by breast milk, if the mother can not feed the baby herself.

Infant formulas are designed to resemble mother’s milk. They contain cow, goat or soy milk, as well as vitamins, minerals, vegetable oils, unsaturated fatty acids and other beneficial substances.

Cow's milk is used in most infant formulas. However, 2–6% of infants are allergic to cow's milk protein, so they switch to food prepared on the basis of goat milk or soy. Sometimes children are diagnosed with lactose intolerance, and they have to eat lactose-free mixtures or soy-based mixtures.

Soy baby food is not suitable:

1. Premature babies who need an increased amount of minerals;

2. Kids with soy protein allergies.

If a child suffers from intestinal upset, flatulence, colic or other health problems, special therapeutic and prophylactic mixtures should be used. They are suitable for:

1. Premature babies;

2. Allergic children;

3. Grudnichkov with colic and unstable chair;

4. Babies suffering from frequent regurgitation.

In the first year of life, it is recommended to choose milk formulas marked "adapted", i.e. most similar to mother's milk in composition. You should also be wary of baby food, which contains:

1. Palm oil - reduces bone density with frequent use;

2. Gluten - can cause intestinal upset or allergies in babies up to a year;

3. Saccharose - can lead to the development of an allergic reaction in children in the first year of life. Sometimes causes bloating and colic.

4. Milk formula can be given to the child only after consulting with a pediatrician.

Porridge

Baby cereals can be used for feeding from 4-6 months.They are multi-component and single-component.

The first porridge for a baby should be one-component, i.e. consist of one type of cereal. It should not be:

1. Gluten;

2. Thickeners (starch) - can lead to flatulence and colic;

3. Palm oil;

4. Salt Pediatricians do not recommend adding salt to baby food younger than a year.

Products from buckwheat, rice or corn grits are suitable for the first feeding. Such paps should not contain milk (this reduces the risk of developing allergies) and sugar, which can cause bloating, gas formation and colic in a baby.

Multicomponent porridge can be used only after all the cereals that are contained in the product, were entered into the baby menu, and he did not have an allergic reaction.

Mashed potatoes

This type of baby food is often used as a first feeding for a baby, who often has loose stools. If the crumbs have a tendency to constipation, the first in the diet you need to enter gruel.

If you feed baby puree for the first time, choose a one-component product that consists of zucchini or cauliflower. Such dishes are least likely to cause an allergic reaction. When a baby gets used to hypoallergenic vegetables, he can be given carrot or pumpkin baby food.

Pay attention to the content of mashed eggs. This product is a strong allergen, so you should not enter it in the menu of an allergic child.

The juice

Juices can be used only after the baby has begun to eat porridge and mashed potatoes. Choose hypoallergenic products that do not contain:

1. Sahara;

2. Artificial flavors;

3. Artificial dyes.

Tips for choosing

1. Carefully study the composition of baby food. It should not contain GMOs, dyes, flavor enhancers and odors, emulsifiers, etc.

2. Buy products that match the baby’s age group.

3. Ensure that the packaging is intact, not deformed.

4. Choose manufacturers whose products meet international quality standards.

5. Before you enter the crumbs in the menu, consult your pediatrician.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.