The doctor named the most common mistakes of parents when introducing complementary foods

When it comes time to switch to a new food, parents often make the same mistakes, which can make it difficult to form an interest in food or cause undesirable reactions. Nutritionist, nutritionist, doctor of Medicine Zulfiya Khusnutdinova explained on December 7 to Izvestia which misconceptions are most common.

"One of the basic mistakes is the start of complementary feeding too early or, conversely, too late. Many parents start giving additional foods as early as four months, fearing that the child "does not have enough milk," or they postpone getting to know new foods until eight to nine months to avoid possible reactions. Both make it difficult to form a normal interest in food. The optimal age is considered to be about six months — it is at this time that the child is already reaching for the spoon, sitting with support and actively trying new textures," said the specialist.

Special attention should be paid to protein. Parents either introduce meat too late, or offer heavy varieties that the family eats. According to the nutritionist, the first meat dishes should be as light and hypoallergenic as possible — for example, turkey. It is most convenient to give it in the form of mashed potatoes, gradually combining it with vegetables.

Among other typical mistakes, Khusnutdinova highlighted the too rapid rate of expansion of the diet, large portions "to get full", feeding in front of the screen, as well as pressure on the child during meals. She stressed that food from the common table — especially salty, fried or spicy — can overload the stomach and increase the risk of negative reactions. It is important for the child to get acquainted with the products one at a time, so that parents can monitor their well-being and taste preferences.

"It is important to remember that complementary foods are not a race, not a way to "improve appetite", but an important part of the formation of eating behavior. A calm pace and comfortable conditions will help the child to accept new food more easily and lay the foundation for a healthy attitude to nutrition in the future," the expert concluded.

Attention, children!

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All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.