Diet for a 4 month old baby. Should I introduce complementary foods into the diet of a four-month-old baby? About the transition from breastfeeding to regular food

In the first months of a baby's life, breast milk or an adapted milk formula fully provides the baby with all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. However, as the child grows, his needs increase, and the usual food already at 4-6 months is not a sufficient source of energy and minerals. There is a need to expand the diet and introduce additional elements into it that will increase its calorie content.

For many parents, it is important to accustom the baby to eat adult food as soon as possible, but is it possible to start at four months?

What should be the diet at 4 months?

Compliance with a certain daily routine creates the foundation for the harmonious and full development of the child. With the right routine, not only the child will feel comfortable, but it will also become much more convenient for parents to carry out daily care for the little one.

Time	Schedule and sequence of actions
6.30	First feeding.
until 8.00	Waking period. Hygiene procedures, gymnastics and games.
8.00-10.00	Morning dream. It is the strongest and most useful after the night.
10.30	Second feeding.
until 12.30	Wakefulness, which includes games, communication, massage.
from 12.30	Day dream. It is desirable to carry out during a walk in the fresh air. This benefits the respiratory system and brain activity of the crumbs.
14.30	Third feeding.
until 16.30	Awake.
from 16.30	Evening sleep.
18.00-18.30	The fourth feeding at the request of the baby.
From 18.30	Awake. During this period, in addition to games, it is recommended to carry out gymnastics with the baby, aimed at strengthening muscles, and bathing.
22.30	Fifth last feeding before bedtime.

Times are approximate and may vary. It is important to feed the child on this schedule so that the intervals between meals are 3-4 hours.

Daily routine and nutrition are important components for the proper development of the child

How much should a child eat?

In the menu of a child at 4 months, the main component remains breast milk for breastfeeding, an adapted mixture for artificial feeding, or a combination of them for mixed feeding. One meal is usually 150-170 ml, as a result, the daily volume of how much the baby should eat ranges from 900 to 1200 ml.

The diet and its components

With HB at 4 months, complementary foods are not introduced. According to WHO recommendations, for breastfeeding infants, it should be started at six months of age. It is advisable to feed the baby and introduce new foods into the diet at 4 months only if the baby has already been transferred to artificial feeding or is mixed (more in the article:). However, there are limitations in the situation with artificials. You should not expand the menu if the little one has:

• there is a tendency to allergies;
• there are diseases of the digestive system;
• has been vaccinated in the recent past or is about to be vaccinated in the immediate future.

Early feeding at the age of four months refers to children at risk - with insufficient weight gain, functional indigestion, iron deficiency anemia.

Do not introduce complementary foods to a healthy baby who is breastfed

Where to start feeding? Option two - vegetables or cereals. From the first, they begin to feed children prone to constipation or quickly gaining weight. Next, cereals are introduced. Micronutrient-fortified baby cereals are ideal for feeding babies with little weight gain or a high risk of anemia.

The very first vegetables are introduced:

• vegetable marrow;
• any varieties of cabbage, except for white cabbage;
• potato.

These products are the least allergens. After them, you can try to diversify the vegetable menu with carrots, pumpkins or tomatoes.

Modern manufacturers of baby food offer a wide selection of all kinds of vegetable purees. Three types of puree are distinguished depending on the degree of grinding:

1. Homogenized. Designed for children from 4.5 months.
2. Puree. Children can eat at 6-9 months.
3. coarsely ground. For children aged 9-12 months.

Vegetables are the first food to be introduced to baby.

It is not necessary to buy ready-made puree, it is easy to make it yourself from fresh or frozen vegetables. First, the selected vegetables need to be boiled, and then mash the puree with an ordinary pusher or in a blender. In the finished puree, you can add vegetable or melted butter no more than 3-4 grams.

Simultaneously with vegetables and cereals, oil is introduced into complementary foods as a new product. With vegetable oil, crumbs can be introduced as early as 4.5 months, and with butter not earlier than 5-6 months. The oil provides the baby with nutrients, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and the necessary amount of energy.

Kashi

When introducing cereals into the diet, you should first choose cereals that do not contain gluten - rice, buckwheat and cornmeal. Gluten is a protein that can cause pain and bloating in babies. Cereals such as millet, rye, barley and oats are gluten-containing.

The principles for introducing cereals are similar to the rules for introducing any new product. First, you need to introduce the baby to one of the types of cereals - on the first day, offer 1 tsp, on the second - 2, on the third 4, etc. (doubling the product). After getting acquainted with several types of cereals, the baby can be offered multi-grain dishes.

Beverages

As soon as the child begins to feed, water is introduced into his diet (if the crumbs were not previously fed). The standard daily water intake recommended by pediatricians does not exceed 100 ml.

Water, like any product, is introduced gradually, starting with a spoon

As for juices, it is better to postpone their introduction until the moment when the baby has already tried cereals, vegetables, fruits and meat. They contain vitamins and minerals in small quantities, and therefore they do not play the most important role in the growth and development of the baby.

Daily feeding rates at 4 months

The feeding regimen of a child at the age of 4 months has its own characteristics and norms. The table below shows a typical diet for a 4-month-old baby. Let's see what and how much he should eat for 1 feeding:

* Scheme of gradual increase in the volume of the product up to 150 gr. presented below.

You need to feed the child in small portions, gradually increasing them.

The introduction of complementary foods requires compliance with elementary rules that will help to secure the baby's acquaintance with new products:

1. Any unfamiliar product must be given in the morning.
2. The first time the product is given in a volume of 1-2 teaspoons before feeding with formula or milk.
3. In the absence of an allergic reaction or other negative manifestations from the digestive system, the next time you can increase the volume, gradually reaching the daily norm.

At the initial stage, the baby may refuse a new product. This is normal - all children get used to new foods individually. Continue to offer your baby a new product periodically.

Below are two examples of new product introductions:

Three months have flown by, behind the establishment of the work of the stomach, intestinal colic. The child has come 4 months of his stay in this world. During this period, big changes are coming in the life of a newborn baby. This means that the nutrition of the child will also change.

What can a 4 month old baby eat?

Breastfed babies continue to receive breast milk without much change. It contains all the nutrients necessary for the growth of the baby. Therefore, it is recommended not to introduce any complementary foods until 6 months.

Many mothers are interested in the question - what to do with water? Should I give my baby a drink? It is believed that there is enough liquid in mother's milk to quench the thirst of a child. But everyone is individual, there are no special rules on this issue. If the baby does not refuse water, then it is better to drink it, since dehydration can pose a significant threat. With children who are bottle-fed, the situation is different. In general, pediatricians are still arguing about the introduction of complementary foods. Previously, it was believed that juices can be introduced into the diet from the age of one month. But now many doctors claim that they often cause allergic reactions in children. Therefore, the introduction of juices should be postponed to a later period.

The same is true for chicken yolk. In former times, it was introduced early, as it was believed that it was a source of vitamin D. Nowadays, children are given Aquadetrim and the need for the introduction of this complementary food has disappeared. Since the yolk is the strongest allergen.

Complementary foods are introduced to artificial children from the age of 4 months. This is due to the fact that the mixture does not provide the baby's body with enough vitamins and minerals. Complementary foods are introduced only as directed by the pediatrician. According to the standard, vegetable puree or cereals are initially introduced. This will depend on the weight of the baby. With low weight, it is advisable to introduce cereals first. If the child is sufficiently well-fed, then first introduce vegetable purees. To get started, cook mashed potatoes based on squash or broccoli, for a child's stomach, these are the easiest foods.

Menu for a child at 4 months

Regarding the menu of a child at 4 months, the opinions of experts also differ. One category believes that you need to start with juices. And then introduce vegetable purees based on carrots, potatoes and pumpkins. Other doctors believe that complementary foods should be started with fruits. The third group of specialists believe that at this age the child is more susceptible to allergies, and it is better to introduce fruit supplements at 11 months.

When introducing one product, feed it to the child for a week without introducing other complementary foods into the diet. If the reaction of the body is normal, then you can move on to the next new product. Everything new in the baby's menu is introduced in microdoses, after which the baby's condition is monitored throughout the day. When rejecting a new product, do not push it in by force, leave it for a later time.

The menu is compiled in each case individually. The default schema looks like this:

1. 6 a.m. - Give your baby an adapted formula or breastfeed.
2. 10 am - The child drinks milk or formula and additional fruit juice based on peach or apple.
3. 14 hours - mixed and puree based on vegetables, it can be made from zucchini or broccoli.
4. At 6 p.m., give your child formula and fruit puree.
5. At 8 pm, add the yolk of a chicken egg, its fourth part, to the mixture.
6. Before going to bed, the child should also suck out the formula.

How much should a baby eat at 4 months

As already mentioned, complementary foods should be started with small doses. If we talk about vegetable puree, then it is introduced as follows:

1. From the first day, 5 g of puree is introduced, in the next 3 days, 5 additional grams are added.
2. On the fifth day, the child can already eat 50 g of vegetable puree.
3. Not the sixth day - 90-100 g.
4. The seventh day suggests the amount of mashed potatoes in the amount of 120 g.
5. And on the eighth day, one feeding is completely replaced by vegetable puree.

Until the fifth day, porridge is introduced as much as vegetable puree, on the sixth day the child is already given 80 g of the product, and on day 7 - 100-120 g. Start giving juice 1 teaspoon, by the end of the week the allowable amount is 40-50 ml.

Since the child is not familiar with new food, it is better to give it in the morning and for an afternoon snack. Breast milk or an adapted formula is supplied in the amount of 800-900 g per day. If you notice allergic manifestations in the child or a change in the stool, such as diarrhea or constipation, then complementary foods should be discontinued. Replace existing products with others and monitor the behavior of the baby's body.

A four-month-old baby pleases parents with new skills and discoveries. He grew up and got stronger, became more awake during the daylight hours. There are some changes in the daily routine compared to. It still alternates between periods of sleep, feeding, daytime activities and hygiene. The main changes will affect only the duration of these periods of time.

Approximate daily routine at 4 months of age

At the age of four months, the little man clearly distinguishes the faces and voices of adults. Among those around him, he easily recognizes his mother. Sleep time decreased from 16 to 14 hours, and wakefulness increased by 1-2 hours. The child grows, gains weight and height in a special rhythm programmed by nature.

The daily routine of the baby undergoes changes, and at four months it looks something like this:

Time	Regime processes
7 h	Waking up, first feeding, hygiene procedures (washing, changing a diaper)
7 h 30 min. – 8 h 30 min	Crib games, stay awake
8 h 30 min. – 9 h 30 min	morning dream
9 h 30 min – 10 h 30 min	Second feeding, games and communication with mom
10 h 30 min – 12 h	Sleep (preferably outdoors)
12 noon – 2 pm	Third feeding, gymnastics, light massage and air baths
14h – 16h	Sleep during a daytime walk in a stroller
16h – 18h	Fourth feeding, staying awake, listening to children's songs, spending time with adults
18h – 19h	Dream
19h – 20h	The period of wakefulness, calm communication and games
20h – 21h	Bathing in the tub, the fifth feeding, getting ready for bed
21h – 7h	Night sleep

The baby already distinguishes between light and dark times of the day, and wakes up less and less at night for feeding, preferring to get enough sleep until morning. During the day, he is able to play and spend time without sleep for about 3 hours in a row. The baby is no longer interested in lying around, he loves to listen to the conversations of adults and perks up when they turn to him. During the daytime hours of wakefulness, the baby explores the world through touch, examines the surrounding objects and listens to new sounds.

Baby 4 months: (mother's experience):

Baby sleep at 4 months

The need for prolonged sleep in children at this age remains at a high level. After eating, the baby willingly falls asleep and can take a short nap in the evening. The sleep regimen will be established by itself no later than six months, while the mother cannot always predict at what particular hour her child will fall asleep. Remember that the baby is still too small, and it is not advisable in every situation to follow the schedule on time. It is enough to observe the required total duration of daily sleep.

Norms of daytime sleep

Answering the question of how much a child of four months should sleep, it is worth noting that in a dream the baby should spend at least 14-15 hours a day. At the same time, it takes at least 5 hours for daytime sleep, the remaining 10 hours for night sleep. The duration of daytime wakefulness increases every week, and the sleep pattern changes with it. Some children have four periods of daytime rest followed by three.

On a note! If you see that the child wants to sleep, then do not wait for the right hour “according to the schedule” and put him to bed. It is more beneficial for the baby's nervous system to lull him to sleep at the first sign of fatigue than to try to do it after time has passed, preventing the child from satisfying the need for rest.

Baby food at 4 months

The feeding regimen established for a 4-month-old baby involves a smooth transition to eating five times a day. This is the main difference between the daily routine and previous weeks. Today, mothers have the opportunity to choose the food for their baby - through breastfeeding, mixed or artificial feeding.

Breastfeeding nutrition

The most suitable food for children of this age is breast milk. The baby needs to be fed every 3-4 hours. At night, the interval between breastfeeding becomes longer - about 7 hours. The daily regimen for breastfeeding is most often adjusted no earlier than 5-6 months, because. the baby still prefers to eat not by the clock, but on demand. Meanwhile, the number of meals for breastfeeding is reduced compared to previous months.

On a note! Contrary to many opinions, a 4 month old breastfed baby does not need complementary foods. Up to six months, the nutritional value of mother's milk is quite enough for the healthy development and growth of the baby.

Artificial feeding

On artificial feeding, nutrition is carried out exclusively with an adapted mixture, or with a mixture and mother's milk, the amount of which does not exceed 200 ml per day. At this age, a starter (initial) mixture labeled "1" is suitable for a child. The required amount of the mixture depends on the weight and health of the little child. Based on these data, the doctor calculates the approximate volumes and frequency of meals per day.

An approximate nutritional plan for a 4-month-old bottle-fed baby looks like this:

Important!If it seems to the mother that her baby is not getting enough breast milk, do not immediately try to feed the adapted formula. To begin with, you should seek advice from a pediatrician or a breastfeeding consultant. The specialist will tell you how to increase lactation and recognize whether your little one is eating his fill.

First feeding on IV

For formula-fed babies, the first complementary foods are introduced at 4 and a half months to replenish the body with all the missing substances. Pediatricians recommend introducing “adult” food with caution, gradually introducing single-component vegetable purees into the diet, then cereals without milk and gluten, and then fruit juices for baby food.

Acceptable complementary foods for children over 4 months of age:

The reaction of the baby to complementary foods is of paramount importance: the product must be to his taste. Starting with ½ tsp. new food, its amount increases daily by 1 tsp. Ten days later, the volume of the injected component should be 120-150 ml. So, four feedings a day remain exclusively dairy, and the fifth is replaced by an innovative product.

Feeding a baby from 4 months - what to look for:

The day regimen for artificial feeding has its own characteristics:

• As a rule, milk formula is digested by the baby's stomach longer than mother's milk. Consequently, babies stay full longer, and it’s easier to set up an hourly schedule with such babies.
• In infants on IV with a properly selected mixture, colic disappears by 4-4.5 months, so that children sleep at night much calmer than their peers.
• Milk formula consumption may vary from dose to dose. The baby ate 160 ml in the morning, but did not master 120 ml in the afternoon? This is normal and may not be due to a lack of appetite, but to the time of day or even the mood of the crumbs.

mixed feeding

The mixed feeding diet implies that the baby receives breast milk (at least 1/5 of the daily volume) and an adapted mixture. If a four-month-old baby is on a mixed diet, he should be fed on demand. Pediatricians in this case are advised to give a diluted mixture from a spoon, and not from a bottle - getting used to it can have a bad effect on breastfeeding. It is easier to drink from a bottle, and soon many children flatly refuse to breastfeed.

Walking with a child

The peanut begins to show an active interest in the world around him. During the walk, try to tell him about everything that meets on the way: children playing ball, animals, plants and vehicles. It is necessary to go out into the fresh air with your daughter or son at least twice for 1.5-2 hours a day.

The child's regimen in winter and late autumn may vary depending on weather conditions - in severe frost, wind and heavy rain, it is better to stay at home. Also, the child's regimen in the summer can be adjusted on too hot days, which are safer for the baby's health to spend in a ventilated room.

The pros and cons of walking at different temperature conditions can be seen in the table below.

Outdoor air temperature	Features of the walk
-8°C and below	Babies still have a rather weak nasopharynx. Walking at low air temperatures can lead to respiratory diseases. If going outside is necessary, then take care of warming the air inhaled by the child. Wrap the baby in a fur hooded envelope, creating an air cushion near the face. You can be outside with a baby at this temperature for no more than 20 minutes.
0°C to -8°C	Short 30-minute walks will help the baby fall asleep soundly. Take care to protect the baby from the wind - use a warm blanket for the stroller or a winter envelope insulated with fur. Before going out, apply a special protective cream against frost on the cheeks and nose of the little one.
+1°C to +8°C	At this air temperature, it's time to arrange long one and a half hour walks for the baby. Children fall asleep wonderfully in the conditions of fresh cool air, mothers can also relax and take a stroll in the park with a stroller without haste.
+8°C to +15°C	The air temperature is comfortable and conducive to walking. You should pay attention to the fact that the little one does not sweat from extra layers of clothing. Do not wrap the baby, it is better in case of unstable weather to cover it in the stroller with a spare blanket for warming.
+15°C to +20°C	In sunny weather, it may seem that it is hot outside, but in the shade and with the presence of wind, it is still far from summer. Consider all the factors before going out into the yard with your child - whether the sun is shining or cloudy, whether the wind is blowing. Do not dress the baby too lightly, at +16 it is still quite easy to freeze, especially when in a stroller without moving.
From +20°C to +25°C	Days filled with sun and warmth are good for long walks with babies. But direct sunlight can be dangerous for defenseless children's skin. Choose thin, breathable clothing, and lubricate unprotected areas of the body with 0+ sunscreen milk.
From 25°C and above	The safe time to go outside is before 11 am and after 3 pm. In this heat, the baby will need extra fluid, so be sure to take drinking water with you. When walking with a stroller, create shade in it by lowering the hood and opening the “window” with a mesh for ventilation. If the walk takes place in the mother's arms, then a headdress and thin clothes that cover the body from the sun's rays are required.

The physical development of the baby

It is important to engage in strengthening and developing muscles in a small child regularly and devote time to this not only in the morning. Gymnastics with a baby is an important step towards preparing and mastering the skills of turning over and crawling. Pediatricians consider the optimal 5-7 minute load, performed with the help of the mother in the morning, afternoon and evening.

• At 4 months, children tend to roll over on their own into the “tummy” position. By strengthening your back muscles, you can speed up the learning process. It is useful to play with the baby in the "ball". Rolling the baby on the tummy and back, accompany the lesson with a fairy tale that he has become a ball and now wants to roll far, far away. This exercise makes the abdominal muscles flexible in children.
• An exercise to strengthen the spine and arms will prepare the baby for the sitting skill. The child grabs the index fingers of an adult; then the parent gently and low pulls the baby towards himself. After counting to ten, lower it back to the supine position.
• To stimulate crawling, an adult can put his hand under the heels of the baby when laying out on the tummy. The peanut will use his palm as a support - trying to push off with his legs, he will make an attempt to move forward. So that the efforts of your child are not in vain, make the surface comfortable for crawling - it can be a floor covered with a blanket or blanket.

Gymnastics and possible exercises with the baby (video):

Games and development at 4 months

Four-month-old children are awake for at least eight hours during the day. A selection of interesting developmental activities for your baby can be a good help for a young mother for every day.

"Excursion"

The baby likes to spend time with her mother in her arms and look at everything around. Take the youngest member of the family for walks around the house. "Traveling" in his parents' arms, he replenishes his passive vocabulary with the names of various objects. All the information heard from adults is gradually stored in the baby’s memory, which will be seen very soon - your child will turn his head towards the subject that was mentioned in the conversation.

"Shurshim - we ring"

Fine motor skills and tactile sensations contribute to the development of intelligence. It is useful for the baby to introduce objects / toys that have a different texture surface. Children enjoy rustling paper, crumpling a teddy bear and examining a rattle with holes. It is important to focus on the material, and not on color - toys oversaturated with shades scatter attention.

"Musical moment"

Rhythmic music is what delights four-month-olds. Simply clapping your hands to the beat of the melody helps to develop a sense of rhythm from the cradle. Just pick up a child and dance with him to the perky music - this activity improves mood, develops memory and coordination.

"Magpie - white-sided"

The little ones are very amused by finger story games, such as “Okay”, “Hide and seek”, “Goat is horned” and various game actions with their legs and arms. In combination with funny faces, stroking fingers, the brain centers are activated - they are responsible for the preparation of the articulatory apparatus, and, in the future, speech.

Options for the introduction of complementary foods to a child at 4 months. Types of complementary foods and their quantity.

Young mothers have a lot of questions about feeding a child. This is especially true for mothers who do not breastfeed their babies, but give them mixtures. In each individual case, the feasibility and period of introducing complementary foods is discussed with the pediatrician.

Is it necessary and how to introduce complementary foods at 4 months while breastfeeding?

Even now, many pediatricians argue with each other about complementary foods for children who eat mother's milk. Previously, it was possible to introduce fruit juices into the child's diet, starting from the age of one month. At the same time, it did not matter whether the baby was breastfed or bottle-fed.

But there were a lot of allergic reactions, and later the researchers determined that such a young organism is not yet able to fully process and absorb the beneficial substances of the juice.

The same debate arose with the use of chicken yolk. First of all, it is worth understanding that the yolk was given as a source of vitamin D, now children are given Aquadetrim, so there is no need to give the yolk. This product is also a strong allergen.

According to WHO, babies who are breastfed and gain at least 500 g per month do not need complementary foods until they are 6 months old. That is, the introduction of complementary foods at 4 months is out of the question. This can cause a decrease in the amount of milk in the mother and the appearance of allergies in the baby.

introduce complementary foods at 4 months breastfeeding

How to introduce complementary foods at 4 months on artificial feeding?

Formula-fed babies need complementary foods as early as 4 months old. This is due to the lack of vitamins and minerals that are contained in the mixture. Because of this, there may be problems with the stool, the baby often spits up and does not eat up.

The pediatrician will tell you what is better to give the baby as complementary foods. But usually vegetable puree or porridge is introduced first. The choice of one or another option depends on how well the child is gaining weight. If the baby weighs little and eats the mixture very poorly, porridge is introduced. They are higher in calories and promote weight gain. If the crumb is “thick”, then vegetable puree is introduced. It is best to give mashed zucchini or broccoli. They are easily digestible and do not cause allergies.

correctly introduce complementary foods at 4 months on artificial feeding

Vegetable complementary foods at 4 months - what vegetables and how to introduce?

It is best to choose light-colored vegetables as the first vegetable puree. Zucchini, cauliflower and broccoli can be considered ideal. To begin with, the vegetables are poured with cold water and brought to a boil. After that, boil until cooked.

Salt, pepper, sugar and butter should not be added to the mixture. Next, boiled vegetables are chopped in a blender and a decoction is added to make the puree liquid. It is recommended to introduce a new vegetable every three weeks. Be sure to watch for reactions.

If the baby vomits, spits, or expresses resentment, delay the introduction of complementary foods. Under no circumstances should food be bottled. Vegetable puree, even a liquid consistency, should be given from a spoon.

If you decide to introduce complementary foods, then you should not immediately replace the intake of the mixture with vegetables. It is necessary before the next meal to offer the baby a teaspoon of mashed potatoes and supplement with the mixture, that is, give 150 ml of the mixture.

On the second day, give 2 tablespoons of puree, the mixture already needs 130 ml. So gradually increase the amount of puree. In a week, you will be able to completely replace one dose of 150 ml of the mixture with vegetable puree. It also needs to be given 100-150 ml. Do not mix vegetables to puree.

Introduce complementary foods in the morning and look after the well-being of the child. If bloating, restlessness, and loose stools are observed, delay the introduction of complementary foods.

Porridge is a popular type of complementary food among babies who are not gaining weight well. Usually these children have loose stools, they are constantly worried and do not recover well. In no case should you introduce semolina, this porridge is the most useless of all. It is very low in vitamins and minerals.

It is recommended to give rice or buckwheat porridge. Oatmeal is recommended if the child does not have a reaction to gluten. Initially, porridges are boiled in water without the addition of salt and oil. The consistency of the porridge is very liquid. If before that the baby was given cow or goat milk and there is no reaction, then it is allowed to cook cereals in milk, after diluting them in half with water.

The best cereals:

• Gluten Free
• Dairy-free
• One-component

They can be purchased or you can make them yourself by grinding ready-made porridge with the addition of cereal broth.

Mode and diet of a child 4 months: complementary feeding scheme

The main thing is not to rush with complementary foods. First you need to understand that at 4 months the child should eat 5-6 times a day, that is, the break between meals is 3 hours. Milk mixture is given in the morning. After that, after 3 hours, complementary foods are introduced in the amount of 20-150 g. A mixture is given in proportion to the mass of complementary foods. That is, if you gave 50 g of puree, then the mixture should be given 100 ml.

It is impossible at this age to replace the mixture with vegetable puree for more than one dose. The calorie content of puree is low and the child may begin to lose weight. In addition, there may be problems with the stool.

complementary feeding scheme

Here is an example menu:

• 6.00: breast milk or adapted formula
• 10:00 am: milk or formula and fruit juice (it's apple or peach)
• 14.00: mix and puree of vegetables (zucchini, broccoli)
• 18.00: mix and fruit puree.
• 22.00: mixture plus egg yolk (1/4 of the yolk)
• Before you put your baby to bed, feed him formula

No need to try to stuff as much fruit and adult food into the child as possible. The baby's digestive system is not quite ready for this. As a result of improper feeding, malfunctions in the digestive system can occur.

As you can see, ideally it is best to breastfeed your baby up to 6 months. With normal weight gain, the baby does not need complementary foods. On artificial feeding, complementary foods are introduced at 4 months.

VIDEO: Feeding at 4 months

In the first months of life, the child feeds on mother's milk. However, the baby is growing, and when he turns 4 months old, parents ask themselves the question: what kind of food can be given to a child at 4 months old? The answer to this question is simple - nothing. If the baby is exclusively breastfed, then up to six months he should not receive anything other than breast milk. However, it matters here whether the child's breastfeeding is properly organized and whether he receives an adapted milk formula.

Complementary foods at 4 months while breastfeeding

The most natural way to feed a newborn baby is breastfeeding. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (hereinafter - WHO), a child who is breastfed (hereinafter - LB) does not need additional food and liquids on demand up to 6 months. The meaning in this case is the words "on demand".

GW on demand

Breastfeeding on demand suggests that the baby is breastfed whenever he asks for it. A newborn baby cannot ask for milk either with words or gestures. In addition, the desire to breastfeed is often not associated with a desire to eat milk - a newborn may want to breastfeed in the following cases:

• he is hungry;
• wants to drink;
• tired;
• frightened;
• just wants to mom;
• experiencing a feeling of anxiety;
• the baby is in pain.

Also, in the body of a child, phenomena can occur that the mother may not be aware of. For example:

• the child begins to get sick and his body needs more fluid;
• the baby receives insufficient nutrients and by frequent breast sucking makes up for this deficiency;
• is in the growth spurt phase, when the body needs enhanced nutrition.

The human body, even the smallest one, is able to understand when and how much it needs to eat. Breast milk, in turn, is created by nature in such a way that the baby can eat it 24 hours a day. It is quickly digested, well absorbed and contains all the necessary substances for the normal development of a child up to 6 months.

In addition, breastfeeding contributes to a feeling of calmness in the baby - he is cozy and warm at his mother's breast. Breast milk is pain-relieving and calming. If a newborn baby receives a breast on every demand, then no additional food and liquids should be given to him.

Dummy for breastfeeding

It is important to understand that pacifier sucking eliminates breastfeeding on demand. This is because when a child begins to act up, the mother decides on her own whether to give him a breast or a dummy. The guideline for the mother is how long she fed the baby. And if it was, say, 30 minutes ago, she decides that the child does not want to eat and he just needs to be given a pacifier so that he does not act up. However, as mentioned above, there may be other reasons for a baby to breastfeed other than to eat. When he is given a pacifier, he satisfies only the sucking reflex and calms down (or falls asleep), without getting what he asked for. In this case, non-demand DHW takes place.

GW by regime

Sometimes parents limit the presence of the child at the breast. This can happen for various reasons. For example, if a mother does not have the opportunity to be around the baby around the clock or feeds him by the hour, because she is afraid to overfeed or worries that the baby will get used to the constant presence of her mother nearby.

There are other objective or subjective reasons why mothers are not ready to often (every hour or more) breastfeed.

If the mother nevertheless decided to follow the diet in breastfeeding, it may make sense to transfer the baby to mixed feeding and feed it with an adapted infant formula in order to provide his body with all the necessary vitamins before the introduction of the first complementary foods at 6 months.

With HB according to the regimen, water should be given in some cases:

• if it is hot outside or in the apartment and the child sweats a lot;
• the baby is sick (ARVI, diarrhea, etc.);
• the baby has signs of dehydration (pees a little, cries loudly, there are no tears when crying, the fontanel has fallen).

However, it should be borne in mind that if the baby drinks a lot of water, then there will be little room for breast milk in the stomach and the baby may completely refuse the breast. And if you refuse milk, the baby may experience a lack of nutrients and vitamins.

If the mother nevertheless chose GV for the baby according to the regimen, then it is better to breastfeed the child as often as possible, at least during the crisis periods of his life - during the period of illness, hot weather and others.

With artificial and mixed feeding

On artificial feeding (hereinafter - IV), the child is fed with an adapted mixture, diluted with water, strictly by the hour (usually every 3 hours). A child on IV does not need to be fed with anything for up to 6 months, except for a mixture. The child can drink water as much as he wants - unlike breast milk, one mixture does not satisfy the baby's needs for liquid.