Tips for preparing the meal

Pursue dietary diversification

Dietary diversification started earlier, around the baby’s 6 months, or even 4 months. At 12 months, your child has already been introduced to new flavors. “During this period, and up to 36 months, this stage will continue even more noticeably. We will see a very clear reduction in bottle feeding in favor of a more solid feeding with a spoon “, explains the pediatrician. Even so, some babies will still need one or two bottles (breast milk or infant formula depending on what you have chosen and / or what your pediatrician has recommended) per day. “Up to 3 years, the child must always benefit from a milk diet: at least 500ml per day in milk or equivalent “, adds Dr Picherot. The latter recalls that this transition must be done quietly.

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What changes in baby’s meals

From 12 months, the diet will become more and more solid. Around the age of 18 months, meals are increasingly presented in small pieces of finely chopped fruit, vegetables, meat or fish rather than mixed. Of course, all of this has to be done gradually.

During this phase of 12 to 36 months, you will continue to provide protein: about 30 to 50 grams per day, which is about 6 teaspoons of fish or meat. “No need to weigh, food should not be obsessive “, insists the pediatrician.

You will also be adding products such as pasta, rice, and almost all types of vegetables to baby’s diet. However, some fibrous varieties will be more difficult, just like for adults. For example, avoid too large a portion of leeks, which are difficult to digest. “The dried vegetables chickpeas type will rather be prepared as a puree. Avoid dried fruits. What is important is to present them with new colors: orange with carrots or pumpkin, white with mashed potatoes. But you will certainly find that at the beginning, the little ones prefer mixtures with unique preparations “, reports the expert.

The pediatrician also advises you to present things to your child that you yourself enjoy, otherwise it will be difficult to convince your offspring!

Access to cheese is possible but in a reasonable way. Be careful, however, to give small children only cooked cheese. Cheeses made from raw milk can cause, in some cases, food poisoning that can quickly become serious for the delicate organism of toddlers.

Plain baguette, country bread … bread is also making its debut. “This is a very good cereal! “, says the pediatrician. But it should not be eaten when it is still hot because it is difficult to digest.

Bet on simplicity and quality

The pediatrician reminds us of some basic rules for meals. Avoid feeding your baby too much fat and too much sugar. “As far as possible, homemade food remains ideal for taste, smell and quality. It is by presenting them with different flavors that children will diversify their diet “, says the specialist.

If the home-made is ideal to introduce new tastes to his toddler and present him with plates full of different colors, it sometimes happens that parents need an alternative. Indeed, young parents sometimes lack the time, ideas or even the desire to cook, whether at home, on a trip or on vacation. Fortunately, some brands offer meals that are perfectly suited to the needs of toddlers.

“We must not forget either that at this age, food becomes more and more social. The child will participate in the meals”, he also explains. The meal must therefore become a moment of sharing with the family. The pediatrician reiterates the importance of investing in a good high chair so that the child is in optimal comfort to take his meal.

Remember to give him water to drink

It may seem obvious, but until 12 months, your baby is mostly consuming fluid through bottles of milk (or breastfeeding if you have chosen to continue). Gold, “Milk is not a hydrating drink, it is a food “, says Dr Picherot. Water is the only drink your child needs at this age.

Decreased appetite

After the age of one, it is very likely that your little one will not eat as greedily as before. “Parents are often surprised at their infant’s spontaneous drop in appetite. But that’s completely normal. The curve of BMI decreases sharply from 12 months. Around 18 months, parents can even face a refusal phase. Unless the child completely refuses to eat, do not worry, and above all, do not force him “, insists our expert. So don’t worry if he skips a meal. The essential indicator remains that of good growth.

Patience!

During this stage of food diversification, don’t worry if your child refuses to eat a new food that you present to him. “You will propose to him again, later “, continues the pediatrician. To make things easier, avoid having him taste several new flavors on the same day.

No snacking between meals

Some children may claim between meals. “Do not give in because this habit will be difficult to erase “, says the pediatrician. At this age, the days of the little ones are punctuated by 4 meals. The specialist concedes that there is still a discussion around the morning snack. “If you opt for this snack, choose a crushed fruit without too much caloric intake “, says Dr Picherot.

Some rules for baby meals

– Breakfast : bottle-fed milk, toast with butter or jam, fruit or compote (preferably homemade). When the child grows up: milk in a bowl or in a cup with possibly small cereals, one or two toast. Regarding the glass of fruit juice, Dr Picherot favors more squeezed fruit juice which avoids too much sugar intake.

– Noon : a contribution of proteins, vegetables, starches and a dairy dessert or a compote.

– Afternoon tea : a milk intake which can take the form of yogurt for example, a portion of cereals (bread or equivalent) and possibly a piece of fruit.

– Evening : a portion of vegetables and a milk intake. You can also add starchy foods depending on what you have given at midday (it is possible to give them both meals in small quantities), but proteins are rather to be favored at midday.

The advice in +: Do not hesitate to consult the Toddler Food Site

Read also :
> Baby wants to do everything on his own
> Growth milk: 7 questions to see more clearly
> Everything you need to know about baby feeding

Article produced in partnership with Beaba