When and how to start food diversification in babies? With which fruits and vegetables to start first and according to his age? Find all our advice with our experts on food diversification from the age of 4 months.
Since birth, baby is exclusively fed with milk (infant or maternal). But between 4 and 6 months, he will gradually begin to taste new foods, smooth at first, during food diversification. How to go about it and with which foods to start this diversification? What are the quantities to give to baby and from what age to start the pieces? Here are the advice of Dr. Eric Saban, pediatrician, as well as our advice on food diversification and baby meals.
At what age should food diversification begin?
Food diversification takes place between 4 and 6 months. If we wait too long, the child may have trouble eating with a spoon, says the expert.
What is late diversification?
If the diversification is done late, after 7 months for example, the different stages can be done in an accelerated way, every 15 days instead of every month. The child will then catch up with the normal rhythm at the latest in two months. If your child is bottle-fed, there is no harmful consequence on his health, because the iron and calcium intakes are respected.
On the other hand, if you breastfeed him from birth until 7-8 months, there may be a risk ofanemia with iron deficiency, resulting in reduced immunity, fatigue, apathy, less alertness, and an increased risk of infection, especially if your baby is placed in a crèche.
Food diversification begins with the gradual introduction of vegetables and fruits in baby food.
- “At the start, favor small pots (130 grams) because of their semi-liquid consistency, even frozen purees with vegetables”. This makes it possible in particular to avoid lumps present in compotes prepared “home”.
- After 10 to 15 days, when your baby gets used to the spoon, you can prepare “homemade” purees, using a blender.
- THE vegetables and fruits must be offered to the child, one product at a time, in order to prevent the risk of food allergy. Indeed, in case of redness around the mouth for example after the consumption of a mixture of vegetables, it would then be difficult to determine the food responsible for the allergy.
- Use a plastic spoon, softer for baby than the metal spoon.
“Vegetables and fruits must be offered to the child, one product at a time, in order to prevent the risk of food allergy”.
What vegetables should be favored at the beginning of food diversification?
To get off to a good start, promote the taking of green vegetables (rich in iron), such as green beans, artichokes, spinach, zucchini, broccoli and peas, 5 to 6 times a week. There carrot like pumpkin are low in iron, but their sweet taste appeals to babies. Do not hesitate to offer them from time to time, one to twice a week.
What fruits to give to baby?
As it concerns the fruits, opt for yellow fruits : apples, pears, quinces, bananas, peaches, apricots, oranges, clementines and tangerines…
What foods according to baby’s age?
- Red fruits are contraindicated before the age of 6-7 months, and exotic fruits before the age of one year (because they are potentially allergenic).
- Potatoes suitable for babies from 6 months.
- Cheeses, from 4-6 months (in the form of processed cheese in preparations)
- Special baby yoghurts and dairy products (preferably plain) can be offered from 6 months
- The proteinssuch as meat, fish and eggs can be introduced between 6 and 7 months,
- The pieces such as a bread crouton or a boudoir can be offered around 9 months, as can small pasta.
- let’s remember that honey should not be given to a baby before one year
Our advice on baby food diversification
Introduction of pieces, types of food, fruits, vegetables… Here is all the expert advice on baby’s food diversification.
Food diversification and breastfed babies: what is changing?
Breastfeeding does not change food diversification. Nevertheless, it is better that the feeding times are well regulated to start, so that your baby takes 4 meals to 5 meals per day. Two of these meals should begin with a spoonful of vegetables at midday, supplemented by a feeding, and a spoonful of fruit at snack time, supplemented by a feeding.
| 4 months | 6 months | 9 months | |
| Morning | 210ml milk | 240 ml of 2nd stage milk | 240 ml of 2nd stage milk |
| Noon | 1/2 jar of 130 g of vegetables with a spoon + 150 ml of milk | 200 g vegetable puree (3/4 green vegetables and 1/4 carrot or potato) + a teaspoon of well-cooked mixed meat (or well-cooked fish, ham, poultry or egg yolk) + 60 to 90 ml of milk (or Swiss cheese with fruits) | 200 g vegetables (3/4 green vegetables and 1/4 carrot or potatoes) + 2 teaspoons of meat (or fish, chicken, ham or egg yolk) + a fruit yoghurt or two small fruit Swiss + possibly a small crouton of bread |
| To taste | 1/2 130 g jar of fruit spoon + 150 ml of milk | 150 ml of milk (or 120 g of white dairy: natural yogurt, or 2 small Swiss cheeses, or 120 g of white cheese with 20% or 30% fat) + a small jar of fruit (130 g), including red fruits | 150 ml of 2nd age milk (or 120g of “white” dairy: natural yoghurt or 2 small Swiss cheeses, or 120 g of natural white cheese) + a 130g jar of fruit compote (or a well-crushed fresh fruit) + possibly a “boudoir” |
| Evening | 210ml milk | 120 to 135 ml of milk + 130 g of vegetables (all in the bottle) | 150 to 200g of vegetables (mash or soup) + a little melted cheese (Kiri or Laughing Cow) +120 ml of 2nd age milk (or natural yoghurt). Possibility to put in the evening soup a tablespoon of small pasta (alphabet or vermicelli, or semolina) |
My child refuses to eat with a spoon, what should I do?
Sometimes after a spoon or two, your baby pushes it away with his tongue. It’s not that he doesn’t like mashed potatoes or compote, but he thinks it doesn’t go fast enough! In this case, it is enough for him offer the bottle of milk before the puree or the compote to “calm” him up, and then offer him the half pot of vegetables or fruit.
If your baby still refusesthere is no other alternative than to mix the puree or the compote with the bottle of milk, but in this case you must persist in offering him the spoon regularly, until he eventually gets used to it. .