Fruits are nutritious and delicious, making them an essential part of a baby's healthy growth, but what to give them and how to serve it requires careful consideration.
Apple and Carrot Purée
At around 4 months, you should gradually start to introduce complementary foods, such as fruit juice or purée. "Before this, breast milk is the primary source of nutrition for the baby, but at this stage, it is no longer sufficient to provide an adequate amount of nutrients," said Luo Yongjian, a nutritionist at the Nutrition Department of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, in an interview with a reporter from the Life Times. To ensure the baby's nutritional needs are met, in addition to complementary foods, you can give the baby different flavored juices at this time. For fruit purées, apples and pears are recommended, as these fruits are relatively gentle and less likely to irritate the baby's digestive system. It's best to use freshly squeezed and diluted juice, which can be given between milk feeds.
After 5 months, you can give the baby an appropriate amount of fruit purée. Fruits like apples, pears, kiwis, cantaloupes, and watermelons are good choices, but do not give too much at once; an amount about half a small spoonful is suitable. When selecting fruits for your baby, also consider their physical condition and health status. Babies with a weak digestive system or who are prone to diarrhea should eat less of cooling fruits like watermelon and banana. Babies with a thick tongue coating, constipation, or a 'heaty' constitution can eat more fruits like pears and kiwis. For those with indigestion, cooked fruit purée is the better option.
After 9 months, you can offer small pieces of fruit. Once the baby starts teething, you can give them small pieces of fruit to help them develop their chewing skills, but the pieces should not be too large to avoid choking. You should only feel confident letting them eat solid fruit pieces when their gums have become stronger.
In addition, parents should also pay attention to the following points.
It's best not to give raw fruit to babies around the 6-month mark or during seasonal changes. Babies around 6 months old are most susceptible to illness, especially boys. Furthermore, the incidence of intestinal diseases is very high during seasonal changes. At these times, you should reduce the frequency of giving your baby fruit, especially raw fruit.
Tropical fruits like mangoes and pineapples can easily cause allergies and are not suitable for young children. "For example, eating too much mango can easily cause a child to develop eczema," said Luo Yongjian. You can boil these fruits into a water-based drink to feed the baby, which can reduce the likelihood of an allergic reaction.
Follow the principle of introducing small amounts and observing carefully. Because every baby's digestive system development and individual constitution are different, it is difficult to define what fruits are suitable and how much should be given. This requires parents to make a decision based on the specific situation. You can start by giving a small amount and observe if there are any adverse reactions such as diarrhea or allergies before deciding whether to continue.
Mango pudding