When can I give baby yogurt to a child?

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Kefir is a useful fermented milk product for adults and children. It contains many valuable substances needed by the body. At the same time, not all parents know at what age children's yogurt can be given to a child. The answer to this question is proposed in this material.

Benefits

Children's yogurt is good for a child due to its positive properties:

1. The product is a valuable source of useful components. It contains proteins, vitamins and lactic acid bacteria. It is indispensable for anemia and rickets.
2. With it, an acidic environment is created in the stomach, which allows for the rapid absorption of various nutrients - calcium and vitamin D.
3. Kefir has a positive effect on the intestinal microflora.
4. It improves appetite and strengthens the immune system.
5. Due to the partial hydrolysis of proteins in this product, it can be drunk by babies with a milk allergy. It is also advised to use it for lactose deficiency.
6. It contains lactic acid, which is considered an excellent antiseptic.
7. Has a positive effect on the nervous system, as it has a calming, tonic effect. Helpseliminate fatigue.
8. Fresh (one-day) yogurt has a laxative effect, and if it is 2 days or more, the effect will be fixing.

Which baby kefir is better? It is advisable to prepare the drink yourself, because only in this case you can get a useful composition. Many store-bought products contain additives that cause negative reactions.

Flaws

If you introduce children's yogurt into the diet early, it will put a heavy burden on the kidneys and digestive system. The carbohydrates and fats present in the formula are very different from those found in formula or breast milk. Among the shortcomings are:

1. Difficult to digest as it contains casein.
2. Refusal of some babies from such food due to the special taste.
3. Exclusion of frequent use with frequent diarrhea and increased acidity of the stomach.

Adverse reactions

Children's yogurt can cause intolerance. It appears as:

• nausea;
• high temperature;
• vomit;
• abdominal pain;
• rashes;
• runny nose;
• sneeze;
• redness on the skin.

Other symptoms may occur. If the storage conditions are not observed, as well as the use of an expired product, food poisoning occurs.

Age

At what age can children's yogurt be given to a child? There is no single opinion on this matter. As you can see from the reviews,many mothers believe that baby kefir can be introduced into the baby's diet from 6 months. Which is better to use for this, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Only then will it be possible to eliminate the negative impact of this drink.

Although baby kefir is allowed from 6 months, it is advisable to give it to babies fed by mother's milk from 8 months. With artificial feeding, it is better to introduce a fermented milk product into the diet from 7 months. By this age, the baby's intestines mature, so there are no difficulties with digestion.

What does Dr. Komarovsky think?

A well-known pediatrician advises giving baby yogurt from 6 months as the first complementary food. The drink is more similar to the nutrition of a child up to six months than vegetable and fruit dishes. The specialist recommends introducing it into the diet at the second feeding. In this case, the first portion should be 15-20 ml. Over time, it is necessary to increase the portion, from the 5th day cottage cheese is added to it.

Komarovsky adds that the product has been used as complementary food in Russia for a long time. The negative impact is not confirmed by studies. Therefore, parents should not worry if only kefir is not included in the menu or it was not introduced until 6 months. Early age and allergies are considered contraindications.

Menu Introduction

Children's yogurt is best introduced into the diet gradually, like other complementary foods. At first, only 1 tsp is required, which should be given at 1 noon. If there is no negativereaction, the portion should be doubled daily until the volume is equal to the norm for age.

In what form to provide?

Drink must be at room temperature. It is given both from a spoon and from a small cup. If the child does not like kefir in its pure form, it is mixed with a banana, apple or other fruit puree. But it is undesirable to add fruit juices, as they neutralize lactic bacteria. Some children prefer to drink kefir on its own, while others like the combination with fruit purees.

Choice

It is undesirable to give the baby a drink from the store if there is no mark on the package that kefir is intended for children. It is best to cook it yourself. If, nevertheless, it is decided to purchase the product, you should familiarize yourself with the composition, it should not contain harmful components.

It is necessary to choose fresh kefir with a minimum shelf life. By fat content, it should be 2-3%. When choosing children's kefir "Agusha" and "Theme", care must be taken, since they are not suitable for all babies. Some people have allergies and other problems.

Home cooking

Recipe for baby yogurt will allow you to prepare a delicious and natural product that will be absolutely safe for the child. Usually mothers use special starter cultures, adding them to milk. The sourdough can be store-bought kefir.

To make a drink, you need to add 1 liter of product to milk (1a glass), which is boiled and cooled in advance (you can also dilute milk 2: 1 with water), and then leave for 9-12 hours in a thermos or in a warm place. It is advisable to cook it in the evening, and then the composition will be ready in the morning. For 2 days, ready-made kefir is suitable for use as a starter for a new drink.

Different from usual

The procedure for making both drinks is almost the same. There are only differences between the choice of product from which kefir is created, and therefore there is a difference in fat content and acidity. Babies are not yet fully developed and may not tolerate fatty foods or low-quality drinks.

The main differences are as follows:

1. For the production of a children's product, lactic acid fermentation is used, and for an adult, usually lactic acid and alcohol.
2. There is a difference in acidity (it is less in children, so it is easier to digest, especially since a child's stomach cannot absorb the acidity of an adult kefir).
3. Children's drink is made from premium milk, and an adult drink is made from first grade raw materials.
4. Children's products are subject to high requirements during the production process, they pass more inspections, so the risk of purchasing damaged goods is minimal.

It should be borne in mind that a children's product is more expensive than an adult. There are also differences in taste. Drinks for adults are usually not liked by kids, and they drink children's drinks with pleasure. In addition, the amount of sugar in it is adjusted by experts, taking into account its negativeaction on the child's body. Before using the product, it is advisable to consult a therapist and only with his permission include kefir in the child's menu.

Recommendations

It is important for parents planning fermented milk products to observe the following rules:

1. If you give kefir in the morning, then the baby will have vivacity throughout the day. A portion at night can improve sleep.
2. Store the product preferably in the refrigerator. But it is advisable to give it to the baby after preparation or purchase.
3. Drink can be given every day, but experts believe that it is better to do 2-3 times a week.
4. If it is difficult for a child to consume the product in its pure form, then it can be mixed with fruit or given with cookies. If the baby does not like it even in this form, then it should be postponed for a while or replaced with other fermented milk foods.

Replacement

There are cases of allergic reactions to the product. In addition, the child may not like its taste, smell or texture. In this case, biolact will be an excellent replacement. It is made from processed cow's milk and can be given from 9 months.

Thus, baby kefir is great as a complementary food. The main thing is to remember to gradually introduce it and provide a fresh and high-quality product.