Baby

The Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds, According to Experts

By the time your little one reaches the half-way point of their first year, they’re completely different from that tiny newborn you swaddled in your arms. Six-month-old babies spend their days learning and exploring in a variety of ways, from grabbing, crawling and sitting to even standing. So what are the best toys for 6-month-olds to encourage these emerging skills? Here, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite developmental toys for 6-month-olds, plus some tips and safety guidelines to keep in mind when shopping for toys for your little one at this age.

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What are good toys for 6-month-olds?
Best toys for 6-month-olds

What are Good Toys for 6-Month-Olds?

When it comes to the best toys for 6-month-olds, remember that for the most part, baby isn’t going to be very picky yet. It’s great to have a variety of toys that help them meet those all-important 6-month baby milestones. Six-month-olds are just starting to sit independently and get around by rolling or scooting on their bellies, says Lisa Lohiser, EdD, manager of early childhood development research at Fisher Price. “That’s why the best toys for 6-month-olds can be played with while sitting or lying on their tummy. Sit-at toys with lots of textures and activities provide a great core and fine motor workout,” she says.

Their fine motor skills are more developed than they were a few months ago, so your little one can hold and manipulate things more easily now, Lohiser says. “They are surprised and delighted with peek-a-boo activities and drop-through play. They are starting to understand action/reaction activities and that their actions make big things happen.

Six-month-olds are also exploring everything through their senses. “Kids this age are at the stage of full-blown exploration. While it’s still early for problem-solving and logic, it’s time for varied sensory experiences through sounds, colors and textures,” says Mark Coster, PhD, founder and chief editor of STEM Geek, a website dedicated to STEM activities and toys for kids of all ages. “Toys that react to the push of a button, or squishy toys that change their shape when you squeeze them are popular with this age group, as are indestructible books that baby can hold during storytime.” Rattles, balls, cups, bath toys and activity cubes are also great choices for this age group, he adds.

And though you’ll find lots of toys that provide a variety of sensory experiences, there’s no need to overdo it at this age, Coster emphasizes. “Sometimes, a good toy will be incredibly simple, offering a single type of sensory experience, catering to their touch, vision or hearing.” Bonus points if the activities range from simple to complex so the toy can grow with baby as they develop.

How to choose safe toys for 6-month-olds

At 6 months old, you can be sure that every toy you hand your little one will go straight into their mouth. That means you’ll want to keep an eye on the size of the toy, as well as what it’s made from. “BPA-free plastic or wood are good materials for babies of this age,” says Coster. Look for toys that are specifically rated for 6 months, since these are designed with age-based safety concerns and skills in mind. What’s more, your 6-month-old will soon be on the move, whether it’s scooting, crawling or pulling up to stand. “While this impulse to explore is beautiful in its own right, you’ll have to double down on safety around 6 months old,” says Coster. “And that means lots of falling and tumbling! In other words, a playmat or a playpen is a must whenever you can’t directly supervise baby’s playtime.”

Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds

With this in mind, we’ve selected the best toys for 6-month-olds that will engage them without being overwhelming or too difficult for their little hands to maneuver.

Musical Dog

LeapFrog My Pal Scout

This plush puppy will quickly become your little one’s favorite friend. It helps encourage baby’s first words, feelings and emotions with a variety of colors, lights and simple learning activities. The programmable toy even allows you to customize the pre-loaded songs with baby’s name, as well as their favorite foods and drinks. With an age range of up to 3 years, baby will be holding on tight to this puppy pal for a while. Age rating: 6 months to 3 years

Baby-Safe Mirror

Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror

Six-month-old babies are just beginning to learn about themselves. “Toys that include baby-safe mirrors are excellent educational toys for a 6-month-old, as baby’s sense of self is starting to develop at this time,” says Coster. This standing floor mirror does just that, with some added playful accents to keep them entertained. Age rating: 0 months+

Sensory Tumblers

Plan Toys Sensory Tumbling Set

These wooden stackable, rollable balls are great developmental toys for 6-month-olds that are honing their hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Each offers a different sensory surprise: The auditory tumbler has a rattle, the texture tumbler features soft fabric and the visual tumbler contains a mirror. They’re made from renewable, non-chemically treated organic rubberwood and non-toxic vegetable dyes. Age rating: 6 months+

Bath Toys

Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles Bath Toy

This pack of four BPA-free plastic balls is just right for baby’s bathtime fun. Each ball houses a different colorful character that spins and rattles around inside for endless fascination. They’re each sized perfectly for your little one’s hands to help them learn to reach, grasp and practice hand-eye coordination. Most importantly, the toy features holes for easy drainage, so you don’t have to worry about mold or mildew. Age rating: 4 months+

Stacking Toy

Skip Hop Explore & More Stacking Toy

Colors and textures are abundant with this adorable fox-themed stacking toy, making it a top developmental toy for a 6-month-old. Baby can stack four colorful rings and a fox head on a base that wobbles, or simply explore the rings with their hands and mouth (far more likely at this age!). Along with textures, some of the rings feature rattles and a bead mover to help them with their hand-eye coordination and sensory development. Nothing like some stacking fun to get them learning! Age rating: 6 months+

Activity Cube

VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube

While most 6-month-old babies aren’t walking yet, they do enjoy practicing their sitting and crawling skills, which is why an activity cube makes a great educational toy for them. They can enjoy all five sides of it while sitting on the floor, as well as scooting or crawling toward it. This one from VTech is highly interactive, with music, lights, colors and more. Different buttons help familiarize baby with different shapes and animals, while blocks that slide and spin encourage fine motor skill development. With its array of activities, this block will easily keep your little one entertained. Age rating: 6 to 36 months

Object Permanence Box

Adena Montessori Full Size Object Permanence Box

This simple, wooden ball drop toy helps baby learn cause and effect and object permanence. It’s an activity based on the Montessori method of teaching, which focuses on one skill at a time instead of offering your little one a toy that can be overwhelming. Once they drop the ball in the hole, they’ll see it come out of the open side of the box. In keeping with the Montessori principle of using toys made from natural materials, the box and the balls—which are large enough to prevent accidental swallowing—are all wooden. Age rating: 6 to 12 months

Light-Up Rattle

SmartNoggin NogginStik Developmental Light-up Rattle

This award-winning rattle from SmartNoggin has won over parents and babies alike. It’s equipped with fun textures to promote tactile learning, a soft rattle for auditory cues and multiple colored lights that encourage visual tracking and attentiveness. These features help with baby’s developmental milestones from day one. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also BPA-, PVC- and phthalate-free. Age rating: 0 months+

Stacking Cups

Mushie Stacking Cups

Along with helping baby practice hand-eye coordination, these developmental toys for 6-month-olds can be used to teach baby about object permanence, the concept that items continue to exist even when you can’t see them. You can hide smaller items under the cups (just watch out for anything that might be a choking hazard) and then make a game of lifting the cups up for the reveal. This Danish-made set is made from 100 percent food-grade PP plastic and is BPA-, PVC- and phthalate-free. Age rating: 6 months+

Fidget Toy

Manhattan Toy Click Clack Ball

This unique toy comes with all the bells and whistles, so those tiny hands will surely stay busy. With the twist of every one of the ball’s colorful handles, baby is greeted with a click, and with every shake, the beads inside will rattle and roll. This helps refine baby’s motor skills, while the bright colors offer visual stimulation. You can encourage your kiddo to work on crawling by moving the ball slowly away, allowing them to move closer to it. Age rating: 0 months to 3 years

Sensory Balls

Miniland Sensory Balls

Babies this age love mouthing items—but with these developmental toys, you don’t have to worry about what’s going in their mouth. Made from sustainable and non-toxic rubberwood, these sensory balls stimulate baby’s visual and tactile senses and build their shape and color recognition, hand-eye coordination and spatial perception. An extra-nice feature: These don’t have any air holes, meaning you can bring them into the bath without worrying about mold. Age rating: 6 months+

Indestructible Book

Indestructible Classic Nursery Rhymes

Experts stress the importance of reading to your little one, but at 6 months old, baby can be pretty tough on their books! “Try books made of indestructible paper that you can read to them, and enjoy the magic of their babbling back at you,” says Coster. This set of six nursery rhyme classics with a spin are chew-proof, rip-proof, nontoxic and 100 percent washable, so it’s safe to say baby will stay busy and entertained. Age rating: 6 months+

Activity Ball

VTech Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo Ball

This Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo ball is another toy that can grow with your little one, providing hours of fun at any age. Six-month-olds working on sitting up can spin the ball and enjoy the colors, while older babies can begin to learn their ABCs and 123s. There are even 26 animal names and sounds for them to become familiar with, as well as a number of songs for them to sing along to. Age rating: 6 months+

Piano Gym

Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym

An interactive play mat grows with baby through a number of phases, from laying on their back or tummy to learning to sit up—and this one is all about the music. The mat features five light-up piano keys, a repositionable toy arch and four musical settings to always keep them grooving. And once baby is able to sit up, the piano keys can flip so they’re flat and the jamming out can continue. Best of all, the learning content that comes with the gym can change with baby’s age and stage, with a range of sensory, discovery and exploratory settings. Age rating: 0 to 36 months

About the experts:

Lisa Lohiser, EdD, is manager of early childhood development research at Fisher-Price’s Play Lab, where she provides insights into how kids learn and play and how to best support their development. She has a doctorate in education with a focus on learning and teaching in social contexts, as well as a Master’s degree in creativity and change leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Mark Coster, PhD, is the founder and chief editor of STEM Geek, a website dedicated to STEM activities and toys for kids of all ages. He is an organic chemist with more than 20 years of experience in chemistry research and teaching. Also a father of three, he’s passionate about the power of STEM toys.

Plus, more from The Bump:

20 Bath Toys for Good, Clean Fun

The Best Sensory Toys for Babies and Toddlers

24 Best Multicultural Toys That Celebrate Diversity

The 8 best toys for 6-month-old babies to help them learn and develop

Your baby is halfway through their first year and is quickly making the transition from newborn to older baby. They’re becoming more and more interested in the world around them and are eager to interact with it. As your baby begins to get more adept at sitting and making their way through physical, emotional and cognitive milestones, it’s time to upgrade the toys they play with. But the choices for toys for 6 month old babies seem endless, so where do you begin? 

“Play is important to babies because it is through play that they learn about the world around them,” says Kathleen Alfano, child development and play specialist. “For babies, play is observing, exploring, experimenting and discovering. While playing, babies develop and practice intellectual, social and physical skills.”

Kayla O’Neill, a developmental therapist who specializes in baby and toddler development, agrees that free play is an important component in your baby’s development and notes that it encourages growth in an organic and fun way. 

“Play is the most natural way for babies to learn,” says O’Neill. “When engaged in play, babies participate in repeated practice of skills without even realizing they are doing it. Play will naturally motivate your baby to keep practicing and master skills, all while having fun.”

According to O’Neill, here are the best toys for 6-month-olds that will help your baby develop important skills while playing.

1. Pop beads

Good for: developing fine motor skills

Image via Lakeshore

Fine motor skills involve the coordination and use of very small muscles, such as those found in your baby’s hands and wrists. Babies can develop their fine motor skills by playing with toys that they are able to grasp, push, pull and manipulate with their hands.

“Pop beads are a versatile toy that allows babies to learn how to grasp, bring a toy to their mouth, pull and push,” O’Neill says. “Babies love to play with them and they are small enough to toss in a diaper bag while on the go.”

Where to buy: My First Pop Beads ($33, Lakeshore)

2. Activity cubes

Good for: developing gross motor skills

Image via Target

Gross motor skills involve the coordination of baby’s larger muscles, including the legs, arms and torso. Toys that encourage development of gross motor skills usually encourage babies to move around into different positions while playing.

O’Neill loves activity cubes because they allow babies to move around as they explore the toy. “Activity cubes work perfect for enhancing gross motor skills because they encourage babies to play in multiple positions such as on their tummy, sitting and standing with support,” she says.

Where to buy: B. toys Wooden Activity Cube ($60, Target)

3. Stacking cups

Good for: developing object permanence

Image via Amazon

Object permanence is the skill that enables your baby to recognize that objects, such as a favorite toy or mom and dad, still exist even if they are out of sight. Babies begin to develop this skill around 5 months old, and it’s why a game of peek-a-boo is always a big hit with babies this age. Toys that involve hiding will help to develop this skill.

“Having a set of stacking cups can be helpful when teaching your baby object permanence,” O’Neill says. “Use the cups to hide smaller toys under them or inside.”

Where to buy: green sprouts Sprout Ware Stacking Cups ($10, Amazon)

4. Pop-up toys

Good for: developing cause and effect

Image via Amazon

Cause and effect is simply the ability for your baby to understand that doing one thing results in something else happening. Babies begin to develop this skill around 5 months old, and it’s why your baby may start to become amused by dropping a spoon or toy just to watch you pick it up. Toys that include things your baby can push, pull or turn to make something else happen in response are ideal for developing this skill.

“Pop-up toys help your baby learn that if you push a button, pull a lever or turn a knob something happens,” O’Neill says. “This toy is simple but very motivating to babies as they learn how the world works.”

Where to buy: Battat Pop-Up Pals ($12, Amazon)

5. Touch and feel books

Good for: encouraging speech and language development

Image via Amazon

As excited as parents may be to hear their baby’s first word, all babies develop their language and speech skills at their own pace. That said, talking to your baby often throughout the day and reading to them will help encourage the development of language skills.

Board books are the perfect toy for encouraging language development. “Sitting down with a board book allows your baby to grow their receptive language skills every time you label a picture,” O’Neill says. “If you take their hand and show them how to point to the pictures labeled they are sharpening their expressive language skills.”

Where to buy: “Who Wears What?” ($7, Amazon)

6. Push cars

Good for: developing cognitive skills

Image via Amazon

Cognitive skills help your baby begin to understand how to learn and solve problems. Toys that encourage cognitive development focus on imaginary play and help them begin to process information, reason and to express emotion.
“Baby push cars open the door to imaginary play which is crucial for cognitive development,” O’Neill says. “Your baby also learns cause and effect as they give their car a push to make it go. You can easily work on following directions and simple commands with your baby during car play as you use target words such as ‘stop’ and ‘go.’”

Where to buy: Bright Starts O Ball 1-Piece Rattle & Roll Car ($6, Amazon)

7. Textured balls

Good for: sensory play and development

Image via Bed, Bath and Beyond

Sensory play includes anything that helps develop your baby’s senses, including touch, smell and taste. These senses help your baby explore the world around them. Toys with different textures are ideal for sensory play. “Textured balls are great for babies because they can explore them using their hands and mouths,” O’Neill says. 

Designed to promote tactile development and sensory exploration, this set includes balls made of different textures, shapes and sizes.

Where to buy: Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set ($12, Bed, Bath and Beyond)

8. Floor mirrors

Good for: developing social skills

Image via Walmart

Social skills are what enable us to easily interact with other people and read and interpret communication. These skills start to develop at birth and continue to grow as baby’s world expands. Toys that encourage your baby to observe human behavior are perfect for developing her social skills.

Floor mirrors are a time-honored favorite for developing social skills. “Mirror play allows your baby to become more self aware,” O’Neill says. “They can spend time looking at their favorite baby in the mirror and discovering what they look like and how they move.” 

Where to buy: Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror ($11, Walmart)

Toys for a child from 6 months to 1 year old

At the turn of the first and second half of the year (at 4-6 months) an important event occurs in the life of a baby – a purposeful grasping and holding of objects appears. Finally, the child can independently, without the participation of the mother, get, touch and pick up an object of interest to him. This new ability of the infant generates a new relationship with the adult, requires new games and toys.
Elena Smirnova

The joy of grasping

A child who knows how to work with objects becomes in a special position in relation to an adult. The former, purely emotional communication is relegated to the background. This is clearly shown in the behavior of the baby. If you take a 7-8-month-old child in your arms and try to just smile and talk affectionately with him, most likely he will decisively move your friendly face away and will grab all the objects that are accessible and inaccessible for manipulation – hair, collar, beads, earrings, etc. . The baby, of course, still needs the caresses of an adult, but more and more often he seeks to switch his mother’s attention to the surrounding objects. He is much more interested in watching an adult play with a toy than listening to affectionate speeches addressed to him. The kid more and more insistently switches interaction into the mainstream of a joint game with objects. If there are no objects, he demands that other games with movements be played with him, for example, “goat” or “on a flat path.” A simple “lisping”, which completely satisfied him only 2-3 months ago, is no longer enough for the child “He needs to do something on his own or with an adult. And this means that the baby constantly needs new objects and toys. Now the adult acts for the child not only as a loving person, but, above all, as a source of new toys and a partner in joint actions with objects

Mastery of grasping objects produces a whole revolution in the relation of the infant to the world. At this age, the baby’s interest in objects is rapidly manifested – he seeks to touch everything he sees. He does not and cannot have an indifferent, contemplative attitude to surrounding objects. When a baby sits on his chair at the table, everything he can reach gets into his hands, into his mouth, flies to the floor. He is overcome by an irresistible desire to grab, taste, wave, knock, throw any object that catches his eye. And these movements, meaningless in the eyes of an adult, bring great joy and pleasure to the baby. But not only. From the second half of the year, manipulation of objects becomes the main activity of the child. It is in it that the development of all aspects of the infant’s psyche takes place. The fact is that actions with objects in the second half of the year give not only the joy of movement, but develop perception, thinking, cognitive activity and other important abilities. And, of course, during this period, the very nature of actions with objects is being improved. nine0010

How to play with a baby

At first, one’s own arsenal of objective actions is very limited. The baby acts in the same way with all objects: touches, feels, throws, shakes, pulls into the mouth, etc. Since these actions do not depend on the quality and purpose of the objects, they are called non-specific. Such actions are primitive, monotonous, so his interest in a particular thing quickly dries up and switches to a new one.

At the same time, during the second half of the year there is an intensive development of grasping movements and manipulative actions of the infant. At 5-6 months, the child tries to grab all objects in the same way – pressing his fingers to his palm. The hand extended to the object does not move in a straight line, but in a loop, it seems to reach for the object at random, while the baby often “misses” and grabs air. After 6-7 months there is a further improvement of grasping and complication of manipulative actions. However, this complication does not occur by itself, but in the practice of joint games with adults. It is clear that all objects fall into the hands of the baby, appear in the field of view or disappear only thanks to the adult. You can help your baby improve movement. nine0010

So, for the development of the accuracy of movements, games are useful in which an adult changes the position of an object, and the baby looks for it and tries to grab it, while changing the direction of movement. Show the child a toy at close range, then move it to arm’s length, let him reach out and try to grab the toy, and immediately move it to the side. Move the object in front of the baby, now to the right, then to the left, and he will try to grab the fleeing toy (of course, his attempts should not last too long). nine0010

Another direction of help is to open the hand and adjust it to the shape and size of the object. In the first half of the year, the baby’s fists are tightly compressed. As he masters the grasping movements, his arms seem to open up, becoming more flexible, mobile and ready for action. For this it is important
put objects of various shapes and sizes into the baby’s palm so that he feels the object and adjusts his hand to it. First comes the opposition of the thumb to all the others. Gradually, the location of the fingers will increasingly depend on what object the child takes: the ball or ball is taken with spread fingers, the stick with the whole palm, the string with the fingertips, etc. Thus, with the help of an adult, hand-eye coordination gradually arises, which is basis of all human actions and movements. nine0010

The further development of manipulations consists in the fact that the baby begins to act not with one, but simultaneously with two hands, and, accordingly, with two objects. These are fundamentally new actions that require the coordinated movement of two hands and open up immeasurably greater opportunities. The simplest example of such an action is tapping with two rattles or molds. The kid seeks to bring one object closer to another, stick or put one into another, put, put or string on each other, etc. The result of such actions is the object getting into a certain place or bringing two objects into a certain relative position. This result is obvious to the child and brings him great pleasure. nine0010

With the help of an adult, the baby’s capabilities are significantly expanded: the adult demonstrates various objects and new ways of acting with them. It shows that the ball can be rolled, the pyramid ring can be put on the rod, the spinning top can be twisted, the liners can be inserted one into the other, etc. Mastering these skills, the baby proceeds to specific actions with objects that he masters only by the end of the year and which require a variety of toys.

Developmental role of rattle

The most necessary and traditional toy for the baby was and remains the rattle. However, not all parents understand that a rattle is not only fun or a means of calming a baby, but also a real educational toy, especially for a baby of the second half of the year.

During this period, a focus on the result of one’s actions appears and is clearly manifested. The child notices the changes that he himself makes. He feels the effect of his own actions and therefore feels himself. And in this, of course, rattles help. Their ringing or rattling, the rolling of balls or the flashing of shiny pieces of paper enhance the result of the baby’s movements, make simple waving visible, audible, spectacular. The kid notices this result with delight and strives to reproduce it again and again. Such extraction of sounds and waving at this age is extremely useful, because it allows the baby to feel his independence and his capabilities. He learns to control his movements and reproduce them arbitrarily. Accordingly, the brighter, louder and more effective the rattle, the better. Simple rattles on a stick, or on a ring, or in the form of a mace (they are comfortable to hold) can be suitable. Oddly enough, the baby still does not care what exactly the rattle depicts: what geometric shape it is, what color or what animal is drawn on it. The main thing is that the movements of the child give a visible and audible result. Naturally, the roar or the view should not frighten the baby. It is also important that the toy is light and easy to grab and hold in the still weak hands of the crumbs. nine0010

Of course, not only rattles make you feel the result of your actions. Any, even the simplest actions – pushing, squeezing rubber tweeters, approaching and removing objects, cause one or another result. Squeaker toys (the squeak of rubber babies or birds, if they are, of course, easily compressed) also provide a good opportunity to feel your strength. The child begins to notice this result and actively reproduces it. In addition, the tweeters help work out a very useful squeezing action. nine0010

By the end of the year, children notice not only direct, but also indirect results of their actions – they understand that by pulling the string, you can attract the object tied to it, picking up the phone – hear the dial tone. Many kids deftly control the TV remote control, turning it on and off. All these activities bring great pleasure to children, and they tend to repeat them many times.

Games and toys that develop thinking

Oddly enough, the best conditions for the mental development of a child are created by a variety of simple actions – manipulating objects. Thus, the baby learns the properties of objects, forms his own ideas about them, establishes the simplest connections and dependencies in the objective world. In addition, in actions with objects, cognitive activity begins to form, which is the first step towards the most diverse types of human thinking. nine0010

By 8-9 months, the baby begins to be attracted not only by actions and their results, but also by the properties of objects, thanks to which these results become possible. This is evidenced by a change in attitude towards unfamiliar objects. Novelty attracts the child throughout the first year, but until a certain moment a new object is only new material for known and familiar manipulations. The emergence of interest in the properties of a new object is expressed in the fact that before starting to act with an unfamiliar object, the child, as it were, explores it: examines, feels, turns over, slowly moves, and only after such an examination begins to manipulate, and not mechanically, but as if finding out What is this item good for? nine0010

Gradually, behind the changing impressions, the object begins to appear for the child as something constantly existing, having unchanging properties. At 8-9 months, children already understand that objects that have disappeared from their field of vision have not ceased to exist, but are simply in a different place; they are already aggressively looking for hidden objects. “Hide and seek with toys” is becoming a favorite pastime for kids. If a familiar toy is covered with a handkerchief in front of a child, he will delightfully remove the cover and discover the hidden toy. Such games not only amuse the child, but contribute to the formation of children’s ideas about the constancy of objects. The hidden object no longer disappears for the baby, but continues to exist in his mind. nine0010

In addition, handkerchiefs and rags provide an opportunity for a wide variety of baby actions: cover themselves, put them in different containers, wrap different toys in them.

Around the same age, children begin to recognize objects regardless of their position in space and correctly determine the size of objects, regardless of the distance to them. Thus, the impressions obtained during manipulation add up to images of perception, which are the basis for elementary forms of thinking. nine0010

By the way, the second half of the year is sometimes called that – the age of the sliders, and the characteristic infant clothes are called “sliders”. However, the baby will not learn to crawl right away. Attractive toys that encourage forward movement can play an important role in learning to crawl. Running balls, balls or koloboks, tumblers or cars encourage the baby to move towards them as soon as possible and help to feel their own possibilities in mastering the space

While playing with toys, the baby gets acquainted with the various properties of objects – their shape, size, weight, density, stability, etc. We have already said that when playing with toys, the child adjusts his hand to the object. The object, as it were, “teaches” the hand to adapt to its properties, and the eye “learns” from the hand. By 10-11 months, this “learning” leads to the fact that, after looking at the object, the baby folds his fingers in accordance with its shape and size. nine0010

Changing the position of the fingers, while the baby’s hand reaches for the object, can be a good indicator that he is already oriented in shape and size. There is a visual perception of shape and size.

In addition to shape and size, manipulation with objects leads to the discovery of more and more new properties in objects: movement, falling, sound, softness or hardness, compressibility, stability, etc. For sensory cognition of these properties, it is important to enrich the sensory experience of the child, offering him a variety of toys – hard and soft, filled with cereals or peas, rustling or ringing, round and flat. Such items can be not only toys, but also various household utensils: pot lids, bowls, rolling pins, spoons, etc. A kid can put different items into a pot, try on lids of different sizes, knock on the table with a spoon. In this way, the baby develops his perception and begins to understand that different objects are arranged differently and require different methods of action. However, the child “knows” all these properties only at the moment when he acts – as soon as the action stops, “knowledge” disappears. Therefore, he is ready to return to these studies again and again. nine0010

The transition to the manipulation of two objects opens up new properties – the ability to disassemble into parts, find one object inside another (on, above or under another), detect the movement of one object under the influence of another, etc. This requires not simple rattles, but complex, composite toys where you need to operate with two hands. For example, rotate the ball with your finger, move the parts of the toy along the wires, pull the string, etc. Playing with such composite toys that have several parts opens up new opportunities for the development of thinking. nine0010

The most important prerequisite for the formation of thinking in infancy is the development of cognitive activity. The discovery of toys hidden in the box, the accidental discovery of new phenomena (for example, if you turn the bottle over, liquid will pour out of it), the examination of incomprehensible objects encourages the baby to new experiments and gives rise to a cognitive need.

Numerous modern toys that require simple but varied actions, such as putting in and putting out, rotating, moving, pressing, etc., contribute to the awakening of this need. These toys give the baby a lot of new experiences. For example, a large soft cube with recesses in which you can hide and then take out a fish, a mouse, a ball, etc. (all these elements of the toy are attached to its base with strings). Or an apple from two halves, opening it, you can find a worm, which either stretches or shrinks. Or numerous musical toys with a surprise – you press a button and you will hear amazing music. There are a lot of such toys now (. All kinds of developing rugs equipped with different pockets, buttons, rustlers, squeakers, etc. are very useful for the baby. All this variety occupies the baby for a long time and allows him to master different actions on his own.

In the second half of the year, the child goes a long way from simply grasping an object to exploring the world around him. However, it should be emphasized that the cognitive activity and research activity of the crumbs is largely determined by your participation. The baby needs more than organization
diverse and safe space, but also your emotional involvement: rejoice and be surprised with it. Only together with you, opening different boxes and different properties of known objects, the child makes his first discoveries in his still small and close world. nine0010

Toys needed for a baby from 6 months to a year:

• Rattles
• Rubber Squeaker Toys
• Balls, marbles, roly-poly doll, cars
• Handkerchiefs and rags that enable the baby to do a wide variety of activities: cover himself, wrap various toys in them, etc.
• To enrich the sensory experience of the child, he needs a variety of toys – hard and soft, filled with cereals or peas, rustling or ringing, round
  and flat, etc. nine0081

• Toys requiring simple but varied actions such as insertion and insertion, rotation, movement, pressing, etc. For example, a labyrinth
  the wires of which you need to move parts, developing mats equipped with different pockets, buttons, clasps, musical toys.

4 -5-6 months what kind of toys

April 12, 2021

Your baby is more than 4 months old, he starts to move more and more, grab objects, walk. nine0010

Lying on the tummy, the child raises his head high, leaning on the handles. Feeling your own body for the baby plays a very important role! It is advisable not to use devices holding the child (chaise lounges), give the baby freedom of movement and development!

The baby’s back is still weak, it is well trained by the “lying on the tummy” position. Don’t be afraid to lay your baby on the floor, use a mat, blanket or blanket. Use bright sounding toys to encourage your baby to crawl. The baby begins to pull himself up in order to sit down in the future. nine0010

What can be put on the shelves of a 4-6 month old baby?

It is best if the toy rack is open so that the child can see all his toys and low so that he can take the toys himself.

Make sure that there are few toys on the rack, there is “air” on the shelves.

The baby begins to crawl and very soon he will be able to crawl to the rack and pull the toys off)

1. Tumbler balloon like a work of art!
Musical wooden ball, hand-painted, melodious sounds when swinging. The kid will follow the movements of the ball, hear its sound, look at the landscape painted by the artist! This is an excellent toy for crawling motivation – from a light touch it rings and rolls, but not far, rolls around the child! Real magic! nine0010

2. Safety mirror – babies love looking at their reflection in the mirror! Be sure to add this element to the interior of your children’s room!! If you are afraid that the child will break it – use this safe acrylic mirror! You will be sure that everything will be in order!!

3. Cardboard books with large realistic pictures and minimal text

You can place the book on a crib or mattress where your baby is awake. Large images of animals will attract the attention of the child and add interest in the study of the surrounding space! nine0010

4. Caterpillar rattle is the baby’s first tactile toy, which is one of the first sources of knowledge about the world around him.
Consisting of five wooden elements in pleasant pastel colors, a round head and a bell.
Wriths, stretches and bends due to the fact that the wooden rings are strung on an elastic band, the bell rings loudly when the rattle is shaken.

5. One of the first baby toys – connected discs Montessori . The child, shifting discs from hand to hand, stimulates both hemispheres of the brain and develops the wrist. And this toy rolls, encouraging the baby to crawl.

6. Roll with colored beads in pleasant pastel shades. Develop your baby’s fine motor skills by touching the beads with your fingers
There is a little bell in the gurney that rings when the toy rolls away! Your little one will crawl trying to catch up with this exciting toy! The LIMITED collection of beads is remarkably polished, very strong and reliable.

Choking – The Pediatric Clinic

What is choking?

Choking is the coughing spasm and sputtering that happen when liquids or solids get into the windpipe. A child’s cough reflex will clear the windpipe of liquid within 10 to 30 seconds. Complete blockage occurs when solid food (for example, a piece of hot dog) or a foreign object (such as a small toy) gets stuck. (It can also occur with severe croup.) If this happens a child is unable to breathe, cry, or speak. The child will be in a state of panic and, if the obstruction isn’t removed in 1 or 2 minutes, the child will pass out.

What should I do if my child is choking?

Encourage coughing.

As long as your child is breathing and coughing, do nothing except encourage him to cough the material up by himself. The main purpose of your child’s cough reflex is to clear the windpipe. Don’t give your child anything to drink because fluids may take up space needed for the passage of air.

Give FIRST AID.

• IF BREATHING STOPS in a child OVER 1 YEAR OLD give high abdominal thrusts.
• Grasp the child from behind, just below the lower ribs but above the navel, in bear-hug fashion.
• Make a fist with one hand and fold the other hand over it.
• Give a sudden upward and backward jerk (at a 45-degree angle) to try to squeeze all the air out of the chest and pop the lodged object out of the windpipe.
• Repeat this upward thrust 10 times in rapid succession, until the object comes out.
• If the child is too heavy for you to suspend from your arms, lay him on his back on the floor. Put your hands on both sides of the abdomen, just below the ribs, and apply sudden, strong bursts of upward pressure.

IF BREATHING STOPS in a child UNDER 1 YEAR OLD, give back blows and chest compressions.

• Place him or her facedown in a 60-degree incline over your knees or on your forearm.
• Deliver 5 blows with your hand between the shoulder blades in rapid succession.
• If breathing has not resumed, lay the child on the floor and apply 5 rapid chest compressions (chest thrusts) over the lower third of the breast bone (sternum) using 2 fingers. Alternate back blows and chest thrusts. Repeat until the object comes out. Reason to avoid abdominal thrusts under the age of 1 year: Risk of liver or spleen laceration)

IF THE CHILD OR INFANT PASSES OUT, give mouth-to-mouth breathing.

• Quickly open the mouth and look inside to see if there is any object that can be removed with a sweep of your finger (usually there is not).
• Then begin mouth-to-mouth breathing. Air can usually be forced past the foreign object temporarily until help arrives.
• If mouth-to-mouth breathing doesn’t move the chest, repeat the abdominal thrusts or chest compressions.

Call the rescue squad (911) IMMEDIATELY.

Call the rescue squad (911) immediately in all cases of choking on a solid object.

In general, choking on liquids is temporary and harmless. Call the rescue squad if your child chokes on a liquid and turns blue, becomes limp, or passes out.

How can choking be prevented?

Choking can be life-threatening, so try to prevent it from happening by not giving young children foods or small objects that are most likely to cause choking.

Foods that are most likely to cause choking are nuts of any kind, sunflower seeds, orange seeds, cherry pits, watermelon seeds, gum, hard candies, popcorn, raw carrots, raw peas, raw celery, and tough meats. Do not give these hard foods to children who are less than 4 years old. They do not have enough molar teeth to chew them well and they may not understand that some seeds should be spat out rather than swallowed.

The soft foods that most often cause complete blockage and death are hot dogs, sausages, large pieces of any meat, grapes, gummy candy, and caramels. These foods must be avoided or chopped up before serving. Warn babysitters and older siblings not to share these foods.

Choking on a rubber balloon is the leading cause of deaths resulting from choking on objects other than foods. Most incidents occur when children suddenly inhale a deflated balloon they have been chewing. Warn your child never to chew or suck on pieces of rubber balloons. Even teenagers have died from this freak accident. Chewing on an inflated balloon is also dangerous because it could burst. Mylar helium balloons are much safer. Rubber balloons should only be used with strict supervision. Other items that can cause choking in young children include coins, marbles, pen or marker caps, and small button-type batteries.

what to do if baby chokes on water Archives

How do I know if my child is dry drowning?

A parent wrote to me with this question…

What are the signs of dry drowning? How do we, as parents, know how much water is too much?

– Concerned parent

Dry drowning and secondary drowning, which is also sometimes referred to as delayed drowning, are not accepted medical terms. Here’re the facts. so

Hyponatremia or Water Intoxication

Hyponatremia or water intoxication results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside safe limits by excessive water intake.

– Wikipedia

It Takes a Lot of Water for It to Be Fatal

So, how much is a lot of water? The recommended daily amount of drinking water for the 6 to 12-month-old baby is two to eight ounces on top of the water they get from breast milk or formula.

It’s doubtful that your baby would accidentally swallow anywhere near two to eight ounces or more of pool water during a swimming lesson or at bathtime.

So, the likelihood of your little one ending up with hyponatremia is very scarce. But in the off chance that your baby swallows a large amount of water (which is unlikely), it can lead to Hyponatremia.

The symptoms of Hyponatremia are vomiting, dizziness, lethargy, confusion, behavioral changes, completely clear urine, and swelling of the face, arms, or legs. If your baby shows these signs, seek medical attention immediately.

Aspiration Pneumonia

In some of these incidents, the child contracted aspiration pneumonia — an infection that develops from water trapped in the lungs. But that isn’t drowning, Dr. Peter Wernicki, member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council said. It’s a rare condition, he added, and a child with it would show symptoms, including coughing and labored breathing many hours after leaving the water, and parents would know something was wrong.

– Dr. Peter Wernicki

It’s Been So Blown Out of Proportion

How Do I Know If My Child Is Dry Drowning?

So now we believe that anytime a child inhales or swallows a little bit of pool water that it’s life-threatening. It’s not the case.

If your baby ingests or drinks a little bit of water unintentionally, you’ll know because he’ll cough for a few seconds after the incident. Don’t worry; it doesn’t harm your baby. And when or if this happens, remain calm. Your baby looks to you for social referencing. So if you stay calm, he will remain calm.

Remember, it’s only if the coughing lasts for hours and is accompanied by labored breathing that you would have reason to be concerned. so How Do I Know If My Child Is Dry Drowning?

You may have read some stories about children who didn’t show any signs of “dry or secondary drowning” (other than a brief coughing fit) after an incident at the pool and then went to bed that night and never woke up.

Wernicki says, “A child doesn’t (act fine) for eight hours and then die (from drowning).”  

There’s been no documented case of an asymptomatic child dying from drowning days after leaving the pool.

How Do I Know If My Child Is Dry Drowning?

To Prevent Hyponatremia, Aspiration Pneumonia or Actual Drowning Do the Following:

• When you swim with your child, stay within arms reach.
• Fence in your pool, spa, and landscape water features.
• Always swim in a lifeguarded area.
• Learn swimming and water safety survival skills.
• Provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising in or near water. so
• Children, inexperienced swimmers, and boaters should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
• Also, know what to do in an emergency. If a child is missing, check the water first.
• And know when to call 911 and have easy access to reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets, and a first aid kit.

How Do I Know If My Child Is Dry Drowning?

I hope that I have helped to relieve your concerns. Have you ever known a single person who has succumbed to hyponatremia, or aspiration pneumonia? I don’t know anyone or anyone who knows anyone.

We’ve all inhaled or swallowed pool water when we’ve been swimming, and if you’re reading this, then you survived.

Swallowing disorder

Violation of swallowing – the causes of occurrence, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

Violation of the act of swallowing, or dysphagia, is due to the impossibility of passing the food bolus formed in the oral cavity through the oropharyngeal or pharyngeal-esophageal part into the stomach.

It is necessary to distinguish between true dysphagia and pseudodysphagia, which is manifested by a sensation of a lump in the throat, but is not accompanied by a violation of the act of swallowing.

The process of swallowing is regulated by the nerve center, which is located in the medulla oblongata, so damage to the brain structures leads to a violation of the swallowing reflex. The act of swallowing involves the muscles of the oropharynx and esophagus, the pathology of which also leads to dysphagia.

Varieties of swallowing disorders

Swallowing disorders are usually a symptom of gastrointestinal, oncological or neurological diseases.

The act of swallowing consists of three phases: oral (carried out voluntarily), pharyngeal (carried out reflexively) and esophageal (also carried out reflexively). Depending on the stage at which the difficulty in swallowing occurs, we can talk about the cause of this phenomenon. In some cases, difficulty in swallowing is caused by a violation of the act of swallowing in combination with soreness (odynophagia) . Sometimes there is a feeling that when swallowed, a lump gets stuck in the throat, at other times there is no such complaint. In some diseases, fear of swallowing develops ( phagophobia ) , the person is afraid of choking, feels that he cannot swallow food. This condition can occur with anxiety disorders, hysteria, previous negative cases. Some people can feel the process of food passing through the esophagus. However, this sensitivity is not associated with food retention in the esophagus or with its blockage. Sometimes patients complain of difficulty swallowing, when in fact they have a full stomach after a meal, especially when the hasty meal is accompanied by swallowing air.

Depending on the reason that does not allow food to enter the stomach, there are functional and organic dysphagia. Functional violation of the act of swallowing is caused by a disorder of contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the upper esophageal sphincter or the oropharynx and esophagus due to a violation of the nervous regulation. It is also possible the organic cause of the disorder of the act of swallowing due to a mechanical obstruction or narrowing in the oropharynx or esophagus.

Possible causes of swallowing problems

One of the leading causes of swallowing disorders are the consequences of a stroke .

Clinical manifestations of swallowing disorders in this case include choking or coughing when eating; salivation; accumulation of food behind the cheek or its loss from the mouth, difficulty in taking tablet medicines.

Dysphagia is also a symptom Parkinson’s disease and is detected in almost half of the patients.

Degenerative processes in the central nervous system eventually lead to damage to the muscles of the oropharynx, which is accompanied by a violation of swallowing and speech. The symptom often manifests itself in the later stages of the disease.

Dyskinesia of the esophagus leads to a violation of the act of swallowing, which may be accompanied by atony and paralysis or spasm of the esophagus (esophagus spasm).

By atony of the esophagus can lead to brain damage in head injuries, hemorrhages or brain tumors and disruption of the autonomic nervous system in systemic diseases (systemic scleroderma, myasthenia gravis, etc.).

As a rule, the leading clinical signs are the symptoms of the underlying disease. With systemic scleroderma , connective tissues are affected with involvement of the skin, musculoskeletal system and internal organs in the pathological process. The esophagus in this pathology is affected more often than other organs, which is manifested by difficulty in swallowing. Dysphagia at myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness) is often the only symptom of the disease and is manifested by difficulty swallowing dry and poorly chewed food, especially when lying down.

Another cause of esophageal dyskinesia is spastic dysphagia (esophagospasm) , which occurs as a result of psycho-emotional stress in patients with esophagitis, gastric ulcer, etc. In addition, esophagospasm develops in diseases that are accompanied by a general convulsive syndrome (epilepsy).

Clinically, spasm of the esophagus is manifested by retrosternal pain and impaired swallowing.

Among the rather rare causes of swallowing disorders is achalasia of the cardia . With this disease, the intermuscular nerve plexuses are affected, which leads to the impossibility of relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter and esophageal peristalsis. Violation of the tone of the esophagus is accompanied by dysphagia, vomiting and pain at the time of swallowing food.

The contractile function of the esophagus is impaired at dysfunction of the upper esophageal sphincter, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (a hereditary disease that affects the muscles of the face and head). In these cases, dysphagia is caused by damage to the neuromuscular tissue of the esophagus, which is accompanied by muscle weakness.

Organic causes of swallowing disorders include primarily neoplasms of the head, neck, esophagus and mediastinum . Since the anatomical space of the mediastinum is limited, growing tumors can compress the venous trunks, which is accompanied by the development of the syndrome of the superior vena cava (impaired outflow of venous blood from the upper body). Compression of the trachea and esophagus by a crowded venous trunk may be accompanied by symptoms of suffocation and dysphagia.

One of the frequent causes of violation of the act of swallowing is the appearance of diverticula of the esophagus – sac-like protrusions of the walls of the esophagus towards the mediastinum. This causes perspiration, increased salivation and a sensation of a lump in the throat.

Esophageal obstruction that causes dysphagia can develop in infectious processes in the esophagus or oropharynx (for example, with tonsillitis, abscesses and phlegmon), as well as in tuberculosis due to cicatricial narrowing of the esophagus.

Thyromegaly (enlargement of the thyroid gland) can also lead to a violation of the act of swallowing due to compression of the esophagus, but this process is observed only at a late stage of the development of the disease.

Against the background of psychosomatic disorders, hysteria, psychogenic dysphagia may occur, which is accompanied by other neurological symptoms (pseudo-stuttering, “lump in the throat”, etc.).

Which doctors should I contact?

It is important to remember that the initial symptoms of spasm and dysmotility of the esophagus can occur in children of the first year of life.

The appearance of the first symptoms of indigestion – regurgitation, sudden vomiting of unchanged food immediately after eating, pain when swallowing – requires immediate treatment
pediatrician.

If such symptoms are detected in an adult for a long time (more than a month), it is imperative to visit
therapist. Based on the results of the examination, the therapist can give a referral to
gastroenterologist or oncologist to examine the gastrointestinal tract. For neurological disorders associated with dysphagia, it is necessary to refer to
neurologist or psychotherapist.

Diagnostics and examinations

A preliminary diagnosis can be made after a thorough examination of the patient. At the same time, attention is paid to the duration of dysphagia and the nature of its course. For example, esophagitis is usually accompanied by short-term dysphagia. Rapid and steadily progressive symptoms of difficulty swallowing are characteristic of esophageal cancer. With benign narrowing of the esophagus (strictures, tumors), dysphagia is characterized by periodicity and occurs more often when swallowing solid food. With functional dysphagia due to diseases such as achalasia of the cardia or esophagus spasm, it is difficult to swallow both solid and liquid food.

In patients with systemic scleroderma, the characteristic feature is a skin lesion. The neurological nature of dysphagia is evidenced by such symptoms as speech impairment, hoarseness, tongue atrophy, as well as signs of neuromuscular lesions. To identify diseases that can disrupt the flow of food into the esophagus, examine the oral cavity and pharynx.

To detect dysfunction of the muscles of the mouth and pharynx, as well as organic changes, fluoroscopy with barium sulfate and esophageal manometry are performed; computed tomography of the larynx.

Treatment

Given the different causes of dysphagia, the doctor prescribes treatment only after the diagnosis is made. With a progressive form of dysphagia, which may indicate an oncological disease, a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed.

What should be done in case of violation of the act of swallowing?

With post-stroke dysphagia, while maintaining the swallowing reflex, soft, semi-liquid dishes are consumed.

The patient should take all medications in the presence of medical staff, drinking medicines with small sips of water in a half-sitting position.

If the swallowing function is not restored within three days, nutrition is carried out through a nasogastric tube.

If the cause of the violation of the act of swallowing is esophagitis or gastroesophageal disease, it is necessary to shorten the intervals between meals and reduce the portion size. It is not recommended to eat hot and cold dishes, food should be chewed thoroughly. It is advisable to limit the consumption of foods that cause irritation of the esophageal mucosa (fats, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, citrus fruits, etc. ).

After eating, you should avoid bending forward and not lying down for 1.5 hours. In addition, it is worth refusing to wear tight clothing, tight belts.

Sources:

1. Clinical guidelines “Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in adults”. Developed by: National Scientific Society of Infectionists, Russian Scientific Medical Society of Therapists. – 2021.
2. Clinical guidelines “Paratonsillar abscess”. Developed by: National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists. – 2021.

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.

When my husband began to choke on plain water, we didn’t know what to do

Six years ago, a Service to help people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was established in Moscow. This is one of the most severe incurable diseases of the nervous system, in which signals from the brain stop coming to the muscles and they stop working. The causes of the disease are still unknown. In a short time, a person becomes deeply disabled. According to the latest data, there are from one to three ALS patients per 100,000 people.

Together with my husband – 50 years old, and our screamers are 49 each

When they met, she was 18, and he was 22. Both studied at the Moscow Institute of Chemical Engineering, at the same faculty, in the same group. She just finished school. He managed to serve in the army.

At first they talked in common companies, went on a hike in the Carpathians together. And then he began to accompany her home, and they sat for hours on the windowsill in the entrance – talking and kissing.

One day she returned from a trip and he met her at the train station with a huge bouquet of gladioli that could barely fit in his hands.

In the fourth year they signed. A year and a half later, they had twins – Sergey and Andrey.

“I came from the hospital, my husband has a session. He has to study for exams, and our children are screaming. It turned out that while one was sleeping, the other screamed, as soon as the second fell silent and, it would seem, it was possible to work out, the first one began to scream. There was a continuous cry at home … Now our “screamers” are already 49years,” says Galina Gennadievna.

With her husband – Mikhail Mikhailovich, whom she calls “Mikhalych” at home, they lived together for 50 years. We celebrated our golden wedding last year.

Both are already retired. Galina Gennadievna worked for many years at the Research Institute of Chemical Reagents and Highly Pure Chemical Substances. And her husband for more than 40 years – at the Research Institute of Long-Range Radio Communications (NIIDAR) – a designer and chief mechanic.

“Our family is friendly. I know that there are brothers and sisters who do not care about each other, and sometimes even quarrel. I was very afraid of this. And now I see that the sons are together, helping each other. My father and I are supported, and we support them. We gave birth to two grandchildren. And then they presented the long-awaited granddaughter, ”says Galina Gennadievna.

Galina and Mikhail Abramov

When my husband began to choke on plain water, we didn’t know what to do

In March 2016, Mikhail Mikhailovich developed the first signs of a disease that he and his wife had not even heard of then. Problems with speech began, he began to slur words, and then his mouth twisted. We went to the clinic. The doctor suggested a stroke. He said that the acute period has passed. He prescribed injections. They were not admitted to the hospital.

“My husband was doing exercises for the language, together we learned tongue twisters, sang songs… But speech became worse and worse. We spent the summer at the dacha, and in the autumn they again came to the doctor. Went to a neurologist. He quickly took her husband to the hospital. There they told me: “Read about ALS on the Internet.”

Mikhail Mikhailovich was sent to the Institute of Neurology. Myography was done – a diagnostic method in which the electrical activity of muscles is recorded at rest and during contractions. The professor suggested that her husband not say anything about the disease yet. And I didn’t speak for six months. My husband thought that he had a stroke, ”says Galina Gennadievna.

Six months later, when swallowing problems began and doctors started talking about installing a gastrostomy – a special tube through which food in a mushy or liquid state enters the stomach, Mikhail Mikhailovich finally found out about his disease.

“My husband’s swallowing and speech were getting worse. Honestly, it was very scary, because the doctors did not say anything, did not give any advice. Neither in the clinic, nor in neurology – nowhere. The disease is incurable – that’s all, – says Galina Gennadievna.

– We are adults and already old people. We understand that sometimes you can’t help. But absolutely nothing can be done! At least suspend, slow down the process… When you know what can be done, how you can stabilize or alleviate the condition, this gives at least some hope.”

When Mikhail Mikhailovich began to choke on ordinary water, the couple did not know what to do. Galina Gennadievna began to look for any information about this on the Internet and accidentally stumbled upon a free service for people with ALS.

“I applied there, they sent us a bunch of questionnaires. We even got scared at first. Thought they were scammers. Nobody needed us at all. .. And then I read that the Service was created on the basis of the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent of Mercy. It calmed me down,” says Galina Gennadievna.

I say what problems – and immediately organize a meeting with a specialist

Mikhail Mikhailovich was registered in December last year. Since then, it has been under the constant control of the Service’s specialists. Gastrostomy – according to the results of the analyzes – they did not install. Both platelets and VC (vital capacity of the lungs) were below normal.

“A curator is assigned to each ward,” says Galina Gennadievna. Our curator’s name is Tanya. If I need something, I call her and tell her that we have food problems, for example. The next day, they arrange a meeting with a specialist who tells me what is better to eat, in what form. A husband, for example, does not choke on soup, but choke on water. The experts of the Service recommended a certain thickener to us and told us a lot of other subtleties.

The Service is very helpful with care. If a person, for example, is lying down, relatives are given recommendations on how best to turn him so that there are no bedsores. My Mikhalych is still moving independently. True, he walks badly, stumbles, his legs do not rise, they do not obey. And my hands are getting weak.

We were also assigned a visiting nurse, Dasha. She calls regularly and comes when needed. It even helped me somehow. She came to Misha, but my right hand does not rise. Dasha gave me a massage. If you need to leave home somewhere, she can replace me.

And they helped us re-register the disability group from the third to the second in the Service. We were given recommendations on what exactly to issue, where to apply, how to communicate with social services in general.

Father Valery came to us, spoke to us, supported us. Then I had a separate conversation with my husband.

We are very grateful to the Service. All of their tips and tricks are incredibly helpful. And most importantly, there is nowhere else to learn.”

Let’s wallow

Despite the fact that Mikhail Mikhailovich’s hands are getting weaker, he continues to carve wood. He does amazing work.

He learned carving many years ago when he took his sons to art school. According to his wife, he mainly carves portraits – either Niccolo Paganini, then Andrei Rublev, or a Russian beauty in a kokoshnik. And recently he carved a temple in Feodosia. He handed over three of his works to the BAS Service.

“This hobby is a great thing. If a person has been constantly busy with something all his life, and this is more than 70 years, and suddenly one time – and is not busy with anything, it is very difficult, you can go crazy.

My husband hasn’t been talking at all lately. At first they tried to communicate with notes – it was not convenient. Then the grandson brought us a tablet and installed some kind of program.

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Babysitter Needed For 1 Child – We need a babysitter for 1 child…

Part Time
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$17 – 19/hr
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Starts
01/05
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New York, NY

We need a babysitter for 1 child in New York, starting January 5. And we’re looking now, sitter is leaving for college full-time. Need someone to bring her to school and pick up afterschool from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. She likes unicorns, needs help with homework afterschool, and heating up dinner. She is a sweet and energetic first grader, who loves her toys and art projects. Looking for long term sitter, until at least July 2023.

Babysitter Needed For 1 Child In New York. – My name is Julie an…

Part Time
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$20 – 26/hr
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Starts
01/02
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New York, NY

My name is Julie and I am mom to a 9-year-old son. We are looking for help roughly 20-30 hrs/week with a schedule that would generally be around 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. M-F (ideally with a later evening once a week). We are willing to go to more or less hours for the right person. Start time is ideally the first week of January.
Some things that are important to us:
– Managing pick up and after-school schedules and homework assignments as well as reaching out to arrange for play dates.
– Having some help around the house, including: kid snacks and dinners, and keeping the kitchen and play areas neat.
– We are also looking for someone who doesn’t smoke and is not allergic to cats. An interest being outside would also be a bonus!
Thanks!
Julie

Afternoon Babysitter Needed In Tribeca For 20hr/wk Position – Bu…

Part Time
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$22 – 27/hr
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Starts
01/09
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New York, NY

Busy family in Tribeca seeks afternoon babysitter starting January 3.
Hours: M-F (2:30-6:30 p.m. with some flexibility).
Responsibilities: School pickup, take children to after-school activities, homework help, feed/give children their snack and dinner. Light housekeeping and meal prep expected and appreciated.
Experience: We would like to find someone who has experience with multiple school-age children, not just babies.
Looking for someone who can commit from January through end of June.

Seeking Energetic, Organized Afternoon Sitter In Tribeca For Bus…

Part Time
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$20 – 28/hr
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Starts
01/06
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New York, NY

Seeking afternoon sitter for busy household in which both parents work. Primary responsibility would generally be either: 2 elementary-aged children (picking them up from school and bringing them home via subway, getting them to/from playing outside or activities, doing homework OR similar with a 4-year-old. Assistance with meal prep and light housekeeping/groceries when schedule permits is also valuable.
Must be reliable, organized and engaged with the children. Flexibility and willing to help out however needed are critical. Ideally Monday through Friday 2:30-6:30 (but could eliminate Thursday if needed). Looking for minimum commitment of January through end of June.

Seeking Ongoing Babysitter For Tues, Weds, Thurs Afternoon/eveni…

Part Time
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$23 – 28/hr
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Starts
01/23
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Brooklyn, NY

Hello! We’re looking for a part time sitter/nanny to start at the end of January and work through at least the end of June. Regular hours would be Tues and Thurs 3 p.m. – 8pm, Weds 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Additional availability on school days off and occasional evenings/weekends would be a big plus. We have 2 girls ages 5 and 13. Most of the work is with our 5-year-old, picking her up from school and playing with her, making dinner for both girls, and bath time and books for the little one. I work from home as a therapist. Kids are fun and creative, we are fair and kind. We look forward to hearing from you if this might be of interest!
Laura

Recurring Tues/Wed/Thurs Babysitter Needed For 2 Children – 2 lo…

Part Time
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$25 – 25/hr
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Starts
01/03
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Brooklyn, NY

2 loving children (8y & 5y) need a care-taker from Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays.
Recurring babysitter for 22 hours / week for 2 school-aged children helping them attend extra-curriculars, play dates and navigate New York City.
Responsibilities include : picking children up from school, taking children to appointments in Brooklyn and Manhattan via subway and bus.
Ideally, role will recur weekly throughout school year (until end of June 2023).

Afternoon Part-time Babysitter Needed – Perfect position for a s…

Part Time
•
$20 – 22/hr
•
Starts
01/01
•
Long Island City, NY

Perfect position for a student!
I need a Mother’s Helper from January-June about 17 hours/week. You’ll most likely help me with my toddler while I bring my son to activities. My daughter has speech therapy in the afternoon a few blocks away. Main requirements: genuinely liking children and being able to stay present (no phone/social media use.)
Schedule:
Mondays: 12pm-6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 12pm-6 p.m.
Thursdays: 2:00pm-7 p.m.
Might need Tuesday afternoons as well for few weeks

Looking FAR Ahead For Babysitters And A Future Nanny – In mid-De.

..

Full Time
•
$18 – 26/hr
•
Starts
02/27
•
Teaneck, NJ

In mid-December, we’ll be bringing a little girl into our household (which already has a very friendly, gregarious beagle-doodle mix and a snuggly cat). We’ll only need the occasional babysitter (as my mother-in-law will be nannying for us until mid-June) but we will be on the lookout for a full-time nanny with a start date sometime in mid-August!

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Previously Posted Jobs

See some jobs that were posted or filled recently.

Part Time Babysitter Needed

Part Time

Hi! Looking for a part time sitter for a temporary position (February to August/September of 2020). Mostly being with my 8-month-old son (playing, enrichment, going to the library/classes etc). My almost 5-year-old daughter goes to school every day and gets home around 245. I have 2 cats in my apartment so pet lovers are a must 🙂 really looking for someone who can help keep my life organized. Light housework, meal prep etc is required. Extra points if you are creative and can come up with fun things to keep my daughter busy. Extra extra points if you are familiar with working with kids with special needs. Located in forest hills, queens. Looking forward to working with you !

Summer Sitter For 2 Children In Park Slope

Part Time

We have two kids 5 & 6. 5 and we are looking for summer care mid July through the start of school. Playing, reading, swimming, art, crafting, baking etc. We need care Tuesday-Friday 8-3 in Park Slope. We have a small poodle mix dog who needs no care, in case of allergies.

Babysitter Job Description Sample | Monster.com

Babysitter

[Intro Paragraph] Begin your babysitter job description with a concise paragraph or list of bulleted items designed to sell your workplace, in this case your home and family, to applicants. Specify how many children the babysitter will be caring for and their ages—taking care of a newborn is nothing like shuttling a teenager to and from school. Include hours and expectations.

Describe the children’s interests and needs. Be honest about special needs, health concerns, and behavioral issues. Describe your family’s lifestyle and values. Are you a fun, low-key family, or are you highly structured and intricately scheduled? Consider using the job responsibilities listed in this babysitter job description example that best match your needs:

Babysitter Job Responsibilities:

• Provides care to children inside and outside the home.
• Prepares healthy meals.
• Maintains daily schedule.
• Performs light housework.
• Leads children in fun activities.
• Keeps children’s living and play areas tidy.
• Helps with homework and tutoring as needed.
• Cares for infants, including feeding, diapering, and dressing.
• Meets the physical, social, and emotional needs of children in their care.
• Provides structure and communicates consistent behavioral expectations.
• Encourages healthy habits and hygiene, and helps with toilet training.
• Transports children, including school pickup and drop-off, play dates, and activities.

[Work Hours & Benefits] In this section you’ll want to sell the position to potential babysitters in a similar way as your first paragraph marketed your home and family to candidates. To ensure that the wage range you mention is in line with similar salaries in your region, you can use a salary tool that allows you to input job title and location. In addition, mention any benefits, such as paid holidays or bonuses, as well as any special requirement, such as whether you are seeking a babysitter who can accompany you on vacations.

Babysitter Qualifications/Skills:

• Excellent listener.
• Fun and engaging.
• Caring, compassionate, and patient.
• Skilled at developing and leading children in fun learning activities.
• Ability to help with homework.
• Second language a plus.

Education, Experience, & Licensing Requirements:

• Experience as a babysitter, nanny, teacher, or camp counselor.
• Driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Certification in first aid and child and infant CPR.
• Experience with special needs children, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) certification a plus.
• High school diploma or GED, associate’s degree in child development a plus.
• State certification in early childhood education a plus.

[Call to Action] Your job description should finish strong with a call to action that urges applicants to send you a resume along with at least three reference letters that include contact information.

Post Your Babysitter Job Description for Free to Find the Perfect Fit for Your Family

Make sure your newly crafted job description is seen by a loving and trustworthy caregiver who will provide exactly the care you want your children to have. Start the process today with a free job listing from Monster.

Babysitting for the summer in Nizhny Novgorod, vacancies from direct employers

I am looking for a nanny for my son, he is 5 years old , smart and kind boy.

Partial • No residence

There are 2 more children in the family, 7 and 10 years old . Work from 10 am to 8 pm 2-3 times a week in shifts with another nanny.

Partial • No accommodation

From 250 ₽/hour

Education in pedagogy or psychology. You need to look after and deal with the child 3, 5 years

Full • No residence

Pick up from kindergarten for a couple of hours. Take to the sections a couple of times a week. It is possible to stay at our house on Fri and put the child to bed

Partial • Without accommodation

tutors in Russian, literature, mathematics, biology, geography and history
Was old from 40-60 years old

Full • No residence

Babysitter required for 3-year-old son years old . Territorially Prioksky district, st. 40 years October.

Partial • No residence

We are looking for a nanny and housekeeper for a child 1 year old and sometimes with an older one, he is 9 years old .

Full, Partial • No residence

Looking for a car nanny to accompany girls aged 10 and 12 years old . Nizhny Novgorod district, Nizhny Novgorod.

Partial • No residence

We are looking for a childcare assistant. It is necessary to pick up the child from school No. 151 at about 14:30 and take it to the house (Vysokovsky passage). Distance 750 meters.
Help with homework is also needed.
Work until 17:30 – 18:00
Starting from December, due to the increase in the number of lessons, it will be necessary to pick up from school at 15:30
We can discuss salary

Partial • Without accommodation

From 150 ₽/hour

We are looking for a nanny in our family for a child 1, 5 years old on our territory. On weekdays, several times a week during the daytime
Not younger than 25 years and not older than 45

Partial • No residence

for boy 1, 1 year, 2-3 times a week (two weeks 2 times, 2 weeks 3 times) from 10 to 18, to 50 years

Partial • No residence

From 250 ₽/hour

Age from 19up to 25 years .

Partial • No residence

From 200 ₽/hour

+35 years

Responsibilities:
– Development by age (learning games, drawing, modeling, logic games

Full • Without accommodation

Looking for a nanny for a boy of 4 years old . and development by age

Full • No residence

questions to employers

A nanny’s salary for the summer depends on her qualifications, range of duties, work schedule. In addition, it is influenced by the employer himself. Beneficial to get a job allows our service. Choose ads according to your abilities and salary expectations. Negotiate with families directly, without intermediaries.

Getting a job as a nanny for the summer in Nizhny Novgorod is easy and simple thanks to our service. View private ads from direct employers. Here you will find up-to-date recent vacancies from families who need a nanny to look after a child during the holidays, organize summer holidays, accompany them on a trip abroad, and prepare for the new school year at school. You can become a nanny, governess, babysitter for a boy or girl with accommodation, full-time or part-time.
Working as a nanny for the summer is a great option if you have a long vacation, you want to spend it usefully and earn money. Suitable for both professionals with experience and students who are ready to provide babysitting services. You can find a job for one month or all summer. Negotiate hourly, daily or monthly pay. nine0005

summer job for a nanny in the country and in the city.

The family needs a nanny for the summer – work in a country house. The family has three children: 6 years, 4.5 years and 4 months. Mom needs second hands, that is, help according to circumstances: sometimes it will be necessary …

Vacancy from a private person

Alina Nikolaevna

Read more

We are looking for a nanny to live in a dacha in Dmitrov m.o. for the month of July and August. With a young grandmother) 3 children. A girl is 7 years old, a girl is 5.5 years old and a boy is 4 years old. from you responsibility, attentiveness to …

Vacancy from a private person

Ekaterina Fedorovna

More details

Nanny for the summer Work schedule: 5/2 from 9.00 to 19.00 Work area: Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station Responsibilities: There are 2 children in the family, a boy is 7 years old, a girl is 4 years old. Complete care, age development, games,…

Agency vacancy

Leader-Prestige

Read more

Looking for a nanny for the period of stay in the country. Children of twins of different sexes 4 years old. Stay at the dacha July-August, together with my mother. Schedule 5/2, weekends Tuesday and Wednesday. If you wish, you can stay forever…

Vacancy from a private person

Anna Yurievna

Read more

Looking for a nanny for the summer, with the possibility of staying for further long-term cooperation. Summer is planned traveling, basically all summer at sea. Help is needed more with the baby. Very welcome…

Vacancy from a private person

Irina Alexandrovna

Read more

We need a nanny FOR THE SUMMER for a girl 5 years old 👗 with knowledge of the Dutch language. … nine0005

Job from a recruiter

Irina Pavlovna

Read more

Need a nanny for a girl (2 years old) in France for the summer (from mid-June to August). Responsibilities include full child care: sleep control, feeding, development by age, games, walks. Required…

Agency vacancy

Adam and Eve and K

Read more

Looking for an active nanny for my daughters for the summer. Children: almost 3 years, 1.5 and a newborn. My daughter, who is 3, goes to kindergarten until June 20th. The other two are at home. I’m at home, fully engaged in children. After 20…

Vacancy from a private person

Elena Sergeevna

Read more

Need a nanny for a girl (2 years old) in France for the summer (from mid-June to August). Responsibilities include full child care: sleep control, feeding, development by age, games, walks. Required…

Agency vacancy

Adam and Eve and K

Read more

Need a nanny for a girl (2 years old) in France for the summer (from mid-June to August). Responsibilities include full child care: sleep control, feeding, development by age, games, walks. Required…

Agency vacancy

Adam and Eve and K

Read more

Need a nanny for a girl (2 years old) in France for the summer (from mid-June to August). Responsibilities include full child care: sleep control, feeding, development by age, games, walks. Required…

Agency vacancy

Adam and Eve and K

Read more

Need a nanny for a girl (2 years old) in France for the summer (from mid-June to August). Responsibilities include full child care: sleep control, feeding, development by age, games, walks. Required…

Agency vacancy

Adam and Eve and K

Read more

Need a nanny for a girl (2 years old) in France for the summer (from mid-June to August). Responsibilities include full child care: sleep control, feeding, development by age, games, walks. Required…

Agency vacancy

Adam and Eve and K

Read more

Need a nanny for a girl (2 years old) in France for the summer (from mid-June to August). Responsibilities include full child care: sleep control, feeding, development by age, games, walks. Required…

Agency vacancy

Adam and Eve and K

Read more

!!! Place of employment: Ivanovskoye, Istra district, Moscow region. From Moscow 35 minutes along New Riga. We are looking for an active, proactive and positive nanny for 2 boys aged 5 and 8 for June-July in…

Vacancy from a private person

Maria

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Looking for a nanny with a pedagogical education for the summer, for a dacha, a shift with accommodation (own separate room), the number of days in agreement with another nanny, about 20, maybe more. Children 10 and 8…

Vacancy from a private person

Olga Vladimirovna

Read more

Nanny-housekeeper! To the cottage for the summer with accommodation for boys 9 and 14 years old. Kind, careful, responsible, able to cook. Able to find a common language with children. Light,…

Vacancy from a private person

Ekaterina Sergeevna

Read more

We are looking for a nanny for the summer for 2 children (a 9-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl). From duties: walks in the park, games at home, sections within walking distance in the area. We are considering candidates with recommendations and.

The 3 baby food stages: What foods and when

Making the leap from breast milk or formula to solids and then eventually to table food is an exciting time. But it’s also a little confusing because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to baby food stages. While one child may happily take to pureed carrots at 6 months, another may purse their lips at anything but a breast or bottle until 8 months. 

To simplify the whole process, here’s a general rule of thumb to keep in mind: Most foods are OK to give to babies in the first year, as long as they’re properly prepared. And if you’re concerned about food storage, read more from our experts on how long baby food lasts.

Here’s the quick lowdown on what to feed baby and when:

• Stage 1: Purees (4 to 6 months).
• Stage 2: Thicker consistency (6 to 9 months).
• Stage 3: Soft, chewable chunks (10 to 12 months).

“With the exception of raw or cooked honey, which shouldn’t be consumed until 12 months because of the risk of infantile botulism, babies can have any food that is texturally appropriate for their developmental feeding stage,” says Dr. Kristen Treegoob, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

In other words, it’s perfectly fine to give both a 6- and 12-month-old peas, but for the 6-month-old, they need to be pureed. 

In the past, parents have been advised to start their baby with single-grain cereals, such as rice cereal, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now says there’s “no medical evidence that introducing solid foods in any particular order has an advantage for your baby” — nutritionally or when it comes to long-term food preferences. (So, when your Aunt Joanne tells you that your baby will be a vegetable-hater for life if you start off with applesauce, she’s wrong.)

All of this said, there is a method to the messy madness that is the three stages of baby food. In order to make things less complicated — and more delicious — we tapped top experts and veteran parents to find out everything you need to know about feeding little ones at every stage (plus, we included a handy baby food stages chart). All you have to do now is serve the food and clean the high chair!

Stage 1 (4 to 6 months): What you need to know

The fun begins! Stage 1 baby food is typically for babies who are between the ages of 4 months and 6 months. But as with all things parenting-related, it’s important to keep in mind that each baby is different, and there’s no hard and fast rule for starting solids. 

“While the AAP recommends exclusively breastfeeding from birth to age 6 months, it’s important to remember that not every baby is exclusively breastfed,” says Dr. Zulma Laracuente, a pediatrician in Alexandria, Louisiana. “Also, some babies show signs of readiness to start food earlier than others. You know your baby best.”

Solids that fall under the Stage 1 category are thin and smooth in texture — not much thicker than breast milk or formula — and contain a single ingredient. If you’re making your baby’s food at home, make sure it’s blended to an almost-watery puree.

“Stage 1 baby foods should have no chunks whatsoever,” says Jenifer Thompson, registered dietician and advanced practice dietician at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. “Formula or breast milk can be added to the purees to make them thinner.”

While there’s no specific food parents need to start with, many pediatricians recommend beginning with iron-rich foods, such as iron-fortified cereals or pureed meats.

“The reason we advise introducing solids at 6 months and starting with iron-containing foods is because iron stores that were built up during pregnancy are depleting, and iron is important for infants’ brain development,” says Dr. Melanie Custer, a pediatrician at Deaconess Clinic in Evansville, Indiana. 

Custer also says that babies should “absolutely not” decrease their breast milk or formula when they first start off with solids. 

“Infants still should receive 24 to 32 ounces of formula or breast milk each day,” she says. “Solids at this point are more of a snack, with baby eating about 3 to 4 tablespoons once or twice a day.”

How to tell your baby is ready for Stage 1

According to Treegoob, here are the signs your baby is prepared to start Stage 1 foods:

• They’re showing an interest in what family members are eating.  
• They’re learning to open their mouths for a spoon.
• They’ve outgrown the involuntary habit of pushing food and spoons out of their mouth with their tongue. 
• They have steady head control.
• They have the ability to move food from a spoon to their throat and swallow without choking.

Stage 2 (6 to 9 months): What you need to know 

Time to mix it up! While Stage 2 solids are still basically mush, food has a little more texture at this point, as well as a few soft chunks. 

“Stage 2 baby foods are thicker in consistency than Stage 1 purees, and many of the jars you find in stores have some small mashable bits in them,” says Treegoob. “These are great for infants who have done well with Stage 1 but who are not quite ready to chew. The typical age for Stage 2 is between 6 to 9 months.”

Treegoob also notes that the 7 to 9 month time frame is also when many babies begin modifying their breast milk or formula intake. 

“As long as an infant’s weight remains on track and they’re drinking enough to stay hydrated, there isn’t a reason to worry if baby is showing interest in smaller or less frequent bottle or breastfeeds,” she says. “Infants typically take in somewhere between 24 to 32 ounces a day when they’re between 6 to 9 months.”

Whether you’re making your little one’s food on your own or getting it pre-made at the store, you have a little more room to play once you hit Stage 2. 

“In addition to being thicker in consistency, Stage 2 foods usually have multiple ingredients, including some spices,” says Custer. “At this point, baby is usually taking in more food than they were in Stage 1, so it’s important to make sure they’re being introduced to a wide variety of foods from different food groups.” 

According to the AAP, babies should be eating about 4 ounces of solids — about one small jar of baby food — at each of their meals.

How to tell your baby is ready for Stage 2

Once your baby has consistently been eating Stage 1 foods, they’re likely ready for the next step. Here are other signs to look for, according to Thompson:

• Their oral skills are continuing to develop.
• They’re consistently taking food in and swallowing when you offer it (and not spitting it out).

Stage 3 (9 to 12 months): What you need to know 

Now, the true culinary adventure begins — Stage 3 foods! While some babies will still happily have mom and dad spoon-feed them mashed food at this age, many babies will have what you’re having at this point — and they’ll do it themselves, thank you very much.

“As soon as we thought he was ready — at about 9 months — we started giving my son softer, cut-up versions of whatever we were having for dinner,” says mom of two Jennifer Reilly, of New York City. “There was more cleanup, but I actually got to sit down and eat my meal!” 

Once babies hit the age range for Stage 3 foods, most have the oral and fine motor skills to self-feed. 

“Between 8 to 12 months, babies develop the pincer grasp ability and should be able to pick up small pieces of finger foods with their finger and thumb and bring it to their mouth,” says Thompson. 

Technically speaking, Stage 3 solids are thicker, more sophisticated versions of the baby food your little one has already been eating (think vegetable and beef pilaf or tender chicken and stars), but also, they’re not necessary for everyone.  

“Stage 3 food is starting to have chunks mixed in, in order to prepare baby for table foods,” says Custer. “But some babies wind up skipping this stage altogether and go straight to soft table foods.”

While it’s perfectly fine to continue with Stage 3 foods up to your child’s first birthday, Treegoob advises letting your baby try their hand at “real food.” “Well-cooked veggies, ripe fruits, shredded meat, scrambled eggs, soft cheese and cooked pasta are all great options for babies this age,” she notes. 

Between 9 months and 12 months is also when you’re likely to see a significant drop in how much breast milk or formula your baby is drinking. 

“As babies continue to eat table foods, I’ve seen their breast milk or formula intake drop to as low as 16 to 20 ounces per day,” Treegoob says. “That said, some infants continue to show a heavy preference for breast milk or formula despite months of solid introduction. If you feel like your baby may be drinking excessive amounts of breast milk or formula, and they have no interest in food, I would recommend speaking with your pediatrician. ”

How to tell your baby is ready for table food

Your child’s readiness to start table food will likely be more discernible than any other baby food stage. As long as they’re continuing to hone their oral skills, as well as their ability to pick food up and bring it to their mouth, you can count on them to let you know they’re ready for “big kid” food. 

“My daughter looked like she was ready for pasta, eggs and basically anything we were eating shortly after she started solids,” says mom of two Julie Cortez of Brooklyn, New York. “We waited until about 8 months, when we knew she knew how to properly eat, and sure enough, she ate her whole plate on the first go! We completely skipped the Stage 3 jars of food.”

Follow these safe feeding must-knows

Even though your baby’s eating skills will continue to progress as they gain more experience, it’s important baby is always sitting upright, strapped in a high chair and never left unattended while eating. Also, make sure table food is always soft and cut into small pieces to avoid choking hazards. When first starting out with solids, be sure to wait a few days before giving them something new. 

“This allows for observation for any adverse reaction or intolerance to the new food,” Thompson says. 

And finally, be sure to give your baby a wide range of healthy food in order to expose them to a variety of tastes and textures — and don’t be discouraged if they don’t take to a specific food at first. 

“If baby refuses a food or makes a strange face when eating, this may simply mean that it is a new food and unfamiliar to them,” Thompson says. “Try again. It may take 10 to 20 exposures of a new food before they accept it.” 

Here’s more on every baby food stage:

• Stage 1 baby food.
• Stage 2 baby food.
• Stage 3 baby food.

Baby formula feeding chart: How much formula by weight and age

Is your baby getting too much or too little formula? It’s an important question that worries many new parents, especially those with newborns. When deciding how much formula to give your baby, it’s important to watch their hunger cues as well as looking at guidelines based on age and weight. In general, before they’re eating solids, babies need 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day.

These guidelines are for babies who are exclusively formula-fed for the first 4 to 6 months, and then fed a combination of formula and solids up to age 1. If your baby is getting a combination of breast milk and formula, talk to their doctor for separate advice.

Your pediatrician can tell you where your baby falls on the growth charts, make sure they’re growing steadily on their own growth curve, and help you ensure that they’re getting a healthy amount of formula. If you’re ever worried about your baby’s growth, behavior, or development, talk with their doctor.

How much formula for a newborn

For the first few days, offer your newborn 1 to 2 ounces of formula every 2 or 3 hours. (At first, newborns may only take a half ounce of formula at a time. )

After the first few days, give your newborn 2 to 3 ounces of formula every 3 to 4 hours.

Initially it’s best to feed your formula-fed newborn on demand, whenever they show signs that they’re hungry. Because your little one can’t tell you when they want a bottle, you’ll need to learn to read their hunger cues. Crying is often a late sign of hunger, so if you can, try to catch the earlier signs that it’s time for a feeding.

Here are some hunger cues to watch for:

• Smacking or licking their lips
• Rooting (moving their jaw, mouth, or head in search of food)
• Putting their hands to their mouth
• Opening their mouth
• Fussiness
• Sucking on things
• Becoming more alert
• Crying

As time passes, your newborn will begin to develop a fairly regular feeding schedule. You’ll become familiar with their cues and needs, and knowing when and how much to feed them will be much easier.

Formula feeding chart by weight

During the first 4 to 6 months, when your baby isn’t eating solid foods, here’s a simple rule of thumb: Offer 2. 5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight every 24 hours, with a maximum of about 32 ounces.

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These numbers aren’t rigid rules. They offer a rough estimate for what your baby may need. Some babies will grow well while taking less than the recommended amount, while others consistently need more. Your baby’s daily feedings will also vary according to their individual needs – in other words, they may want a bit more on some days and a bit less on others.

Formula feeding chart by age

Here are typical amounts per day based on age:

From 8 months old until their first birthday, you can expect your baby to have 7 to 8 ounces per bottle, 3 to 4 times a day.

As your baby gets older – and their tummy gets bigger – they’ll drink fewer bottles a day with more formula in each. It’s important not to overfeed your baby so they’ll stay at a healthy weight. Your baby shouldn’t have more than 32 ounces of formula in 24 hours.

When they reach their first birthday, they can stop drinking formula and transition to cow’s milk in a bottle, sippy cup, straw cup, or open cup. Limit your toddler to 16 to 24 ounces (2 to 2.5 cups) a day of whole milk, so they have room for other healthy foods.

Here are signs that your baby’s getting all the formula they need:

• Steady weight gain. They continue to gain weight after their first 10 days and follow a healthy growth curve during their first year. (Most babies lose up to 7 to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days and then regain it by the time they’re about 2 weeks old.)
• Happy baby. They seem relaxed and satisfied after a feeding.
• Wet diapers. They wet two to three diapers a day in the first few days after birth. Over the next few days, the amount should increase to at least five to six wet diapers a day.

Babies are usually good at eating the amount they need, but bottle-fed babies can drink too much at times. Here are the signs that they’re getting too much formula:

• Vomiting after a feeding may be a sign that your baby had too much. (Spitting up is normal, vomiting isn’t.)
• Tummy pain after a feeding can also be a sign of overfeeding. If your baby draws up their legs or their tummy seems tense, they may be in pain. (See other possible reasons for stomach pain in babies.)

If your baby seems to want to eat all the time, even after finishing a bottle, talk to your pediatrician. Using a pacifier may help soothe their need to suck.

Formula-feeding tips

• In general, babies eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full, so resist the temptation to encourage your baby to finish each bottle. Overfeeding during infancy can contribute to obesity later in life.
• Don’t respond to your baby’s every cry with a bottle. They may be crying because their diaper is wet, they’re cold or hot, they need to be burped, or they want to be close to you. (Learn more about why babies cry, and how to soothe them.)
• Your baby may be hungrier than usual during growth spurts. These typically occur 10 to 14 days after birth and around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age.

Read more:

• Formula Feeding Problem Solver
• How to safely store and use formula

WHO recommendations for the introduction of complementary foods

08.08.2019

Readiness of the child to complementary foods According to the WHO recommendation, existing for 2018, it is optimal to introduce complementary foods to an infant at 6-8 months. Until six months, the baby’s gastrointestinal tract is still not sufficiently formed, all the necessary enzymes are not produced for the assimilation of food other than mother’s milk or formula. And by 9-10 months, the child can already form stable stereotypes of eating only liquid food, and overcoming them will be painful and difficult for the baby.
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Thus, WHO defines the following signs of a child’s readiness for the introduction of complementary foods: the maturity of the digestive system; extinction of the solid food ejection reflex; the appearance of the first teeth, making it possible to chew; the readiness of the baby to be stable in an upright position; emotional readiness for new tastes and sensations.

Complementary feeding system WHO has developed recommendations for three complementary feeding options: cereals, vegetables, and meat.

Fruit complementary foods are not recommended for cereals and vegetables. This is due to the fact that up to 8-9 months the gastrointestinal tract of the baby is not ready for the absorption of raw fruits and fruit juices. It is vegetables and cereals that will populate the intestines with the necessary bacteria for the absorption of fruits.

Kefir, according to the WHO, is not considered complementary foods because it is not a solid food. The WHO complementary feeding scheme includes kefir only as an additional food from 8 months. The introduction of cow’s milk is recommended by WHO only from 12 months.
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Any complementary feeding scheme assumes that portions of complementary foods will systematically increase from half a teaspoon to 100-200 g. The first dishes for complementary foods are prepared exclusively with one-component. Each next component is introduced only after complete addiction to the previous one (6-7 days).

Product sequence

The following sequence of introduction of complementary foods is proposed.

• Vegetables at 6 months. nine0022
• Porridges on the water (oatmeal, buckwheat, corn) at 6.5 – 7 months.
• Fruit puree, yolk at 8 months.
• Milk porridge at 8-9 months.
• Meat puree at 9 months.
• Meat by-products at 9-10 months.
• Kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt at 9-10 months.
• Fish at 10 months.
• Juice at 10-12 months.
• Berry puree at 12 months. nine0022
• Meat broths at 12 months.

The introduction of vegetable oil (olive, sunflower) in puree and porridge is allowed from 6 months: a scheme with 1 drop with a gradual increase to a volume of 1 teaspoon. The introduction of butter begins at 7 months: the scheme is from 1 g to 10 g in porridge.

For formula-fed babies, the first feeding schedule is similar, with a few exceptions. For these babies, it is better to introduce complementary foods from 5 months, because the milk mixture does not give the small body all the “building material”. The introduction of complementary foods differs only in terms: vegetable purees and cereals are introduced a month earlier.
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First cereals

If the child’s weight is significantly less than normal, WHO recommends starting complementary foods with non-dairy cereals. For babies, cereals are prepared only with non-dairy, unsalted, semi-liquid, absolutely homogeneous in consistency. The first cereals are prepared from cereal flour (the sorted and washed cereals are carefully ground and crushed).

The following sequence of introduction of cereals is proposed: buckwheat, rice, corn, oatmeal, semolina. It is recommended to cook semolina porridge only once a week, because it contains practically no nutrients, but it is rich in gluten, which can cause problems in the intestines. Proportion for the preparation of the first porridge: 5 g of cereal flour per 100 ml of water. After slightly cooling the finished porridge, chop again. In the finished porridge, you can add 1-2 drops of vegetable oil or a little expressed breast milk.
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From 9 months, the baby’s nutrition system involves multicomponent cereals, from products already well known to the child. You can already add vegetables and fruits familiar to the baby to cereals. At 9 months, it is allowed to cook barley and millet porridge for babies. And by 10-11 months, cereals on the water will be a great addition to meat and fish meatballs and steam cutlets.

Vegetable food

The first purees are made from one vegetable.

The sequence of introducing vegetables into complementary foods for babies suggests the following order: zucchini, cauliflower, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, green peas, beets. These vegetables are introduced within 6-9baby months. After 1 year, you can give your child cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, sweet peppers, white cabbage. After preparing the puree, make sure that the mass is completely homogeneous, there are no fibers and small particles, the consistency is semi-liquid. Don’t salt. Add 1-2 drops of vegetable oil or expressed milk.

If the child refuses vegetable complementary foods, cancel this product for 1-2 weeks. Try to temporarily replace it with another and return to it after a while.

Meat supplements

From 9 months old, the first meat purees are recommended for babies. The first courses are recommended to be prepared from lean meats: rabbit; quail; turkey; chicken.

Complementary foods for a 6-month-old baby are recommended to be introduced in the morning. This will allow you to track the child’s reaction to an unfamiliar product before a night’s sleep: is there a rash, intestinal disorders, anxiety in the baby, profuse regurgitation. It is better to give vegetables or porridge first, and then saturate with breast milk or formula. Gradually, porridge and a vegetable dish will replace one full meal. The dish must be warm and freshly cooked. Gradually, by the age of 1, your baby will develop taste preferences. You will know what dishes he eats with pleasure. In the meantime, try to fully expand the child’s diet with products necessary for growth and development. nine0069

Be healthy!!!

WHO Complementary Feeding Charts and Charts

This article is a summary of two approaches to introducing complementary foods and feeding infants under one year of age: the Russian Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the World Health Organization (WHO). Also, the analysis took into account the opinions of some respected pediatricians of our country (Y. Yakovlev and others). nine0073

This page has a link to a PDF file with a table (calendar) for introducing complementary foods for the first 6 weeks

Two main principles for introducing complementary foods

The main thing to keep in mind before rolling up your sleeves is introduced to prepare for the common table (that is, the baby must learn to eat on his own)

This is the most important of all the variety of reasons to start introducing complementary foods. Of course, there are exceptions in terms of health, but we are talking about a standard situation. nine0003

Since the first stage of introducing complementary foods is precisely preparation, no breastfeeding during this period (according to WHO up to 1 year) should be removed or replaced with complementary foods.

And the second conclusion must always be put at the forefront of eating behavior. No cartoons, running after a child with a spoon, and even more so violence and blackmail.

Yes, at the first stage you will stuff the spoon, it is not difficult. It will be much more difficult to retrain a 1.5-year-old child to eat on his own or, even worse, form a food interest from scratch if the child does not start eating properly or refuses to eat (this is an extreme case). nine0003

I will say with the doctor’s words “A hungry child eats, but a tired child sleeps.” This reflects the essence of a well-formed eating behavior: I want to eat – I eat. Of course, this is more typical for an older child, when all stages of complementary feeding have been completed. And the right tactics at the very beginning is the key to the successful implementation of this rule in the future.

So, we remove all the garbage from the head (including those imposed by pediatricians working according to Soviet manuals) and move on to the tactics of the first complementary foods. nine0003

When to start introducing complementary foods

When to introduce complementary foods? I have already written about this in part in a general article. Here I will be guided by the WHO methodology stated above. It’s written in black and white.

“The start of introducing complementary foods should be considered the age of 6 months, and not the beginning, but the end of 6 months or 26 weeks

It is important to know the main indicators of readiness for complementary foods other than age.

Not the beginning of 6 months, but the child reaching the age of 6 completed months. Therefore, if your pediatrician once again prescribes complementary foods for you from 4 months without serious medical reasons, you can smile and keep a printout from this manual in your pocket. Non-critical weight loss does not apply here. This is a very complex topic, it should be discussed separately. At least 125 grams per week, babies should gain on GW, and not 700-800-800 . .. per month as in their Soviet-era tables. nine0003

Dear mothers, breathe out. You have a whole month from 6 to 7 to start introducing complementary foods. It is absolutely not necessary to do this at the 21-22nd week (page 220 of the WHO recommendations, chapter 8).

It is better not to delay 8 months later, as this will already concern the development of certain chewing skills, the development of taste perception, and not just the inability of milk to provide all the needs of a rapidly growing organism in micro and macro elements.

In addition to 7 months, in general, the development of the nervous system allows the child to master the following skills:

• biting and chewing
• cleansing the spoon with the lips
• lateral movements of the tongue
• moving food towards the teeth

All this indicates the ability of a child by the age of 7 months to taste food only in pieces, and not in pure form. You need to start with microdoses.

For some reason, nutritional consultants, at least those who met me, do not focus on this for a period of weeks. It seems to me that this is very in vain, since such a backlash will allow mom to calmly determine the degree of readiness of the baby to introduce complementary foods. And this is also very important for the formation of proper eating behavior. nine0003

Feeding food too early can have a negative effect on the formation of the correct nutritional interest . The unpreparedness of the child, in turn, can lead to nervousness of the mother, as the child will refuse complementary foods, or the gastrointestinal tract will fail, then persuasion, dancing with tambourines, and so on. All this alone will not solve the problem. This is already a consequence.

It is important to determine how ready your child is for complementary foods . Not ready – move the start to 6.5 – 6.7 months. It’s not critical. nine0003

2 clear signs of readiness for the introduction of complementary foods

• Readiness of the gastrointestinal tract
• Readiness of the nervous system (food interest)

An example of the manifestation of food interest. The child did not just take a spoon – but “stretches” for food.

Serving size of the first solid food

Your pediatrician will very likely tell you to increase the serving size to 200 grams. At the preparatory stage, this is completely optional! You remember, not a single breastfeeding (mixture) is replaced. This statement also takes its roots from pediatric tables, where a child at 6 months should consume 1 liter of food per day. We divide this into 5 doses – we get 200 milliliters

But we are talking about breast milk (formula). You breastfeed your baby on demand (if formula, then by grams, but also without changing the schedule before complementary foods). Accordingly, this recommendation has no weight until you start replacing one feeding with complementary foods, and this is definitely not the first stage. Unless, of course, you decide to quit breastfeeding early. I am talking about those mothers who plan to breastfeed for at least a year (not even up to 2, as WHO consultants now recommend, although the manual is not so strict and according to the mutual desire of mother and baby). nine0003

Myth – Start with canned puree

This myth is actively instilled by the same pediatricians (not all, we have met), scaring mothers with pesticides in purchased zucchini.

WHO guidelines clearly state :

“Ideally, infants should eat the same diet as the whole family” not french fries and burgers. Therefore, if the mother prepares a common table, all seasonings are introduced after the portion of the baby is postponed. Next, a portion of the baby is brought to the desired consistency. nine0003

From WHO recommendations:

“Carers should select appropriate foods and prepare them in such a way as to maximize their nutritional value”

steam” is preferable to boiling. Therefore, if you have the time and desire, and even more so if you have access to subsistence farming, a blender and a double boiler are in your hands.

Most importantly, read the basic cooking tips if you cook yourself. And if you decide to stop at canned food, analyze the product lines in your stores, choose the best quality without starch, flour and other surprisingly unnecessary components, and buy according to the complementary food scheme. nine0003

However, the same WHO recommendations say that if you choose industrial cans, you still need to give food from the common table, “to accustom the child to a greater variety of taste sensations and textures.” Again, food in pieces should be introduced from 7 months, and in one-component vegetable puree, food will be in the form of puree without pieces. Therefore, you still have to cook at least vegetables for microdoses.

Basic rules for the first phase of introducing complementary foods for the first six weeks

Complementary foods of a new product are introduced in the morning , usually for breakfast

Gradually! Serving size increases from 1/2 tsp. up to 150 – 200 gr. maximum within 7 days. Some modern pediatricians recommend extending this period at the first stage to 10-14 days. There are no strict requirements, so watch the child’s well-being after introducing new food, his mood and appetite in general.

If you need more than 7 days to adapt to a new food, simply extend the proposed complementary feeding schedule over a longer period, adjusting the amount of food introduced. nine0003

At the stage of introduction of complementary foods, the maximum is how much the child wants to eat (even 2-3 tablespoons), but not more than 150 – 200 grams

Remember! At the input stage, the maximum is how much the child wants to eat (even 2-3 tablespoons), but not more than 150 – 200 gr.

And here it should be noted that a child should consume 200 grams of porridge or vegetables at 9-12 months. according to the methodological recommendations of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (namely, the “Scientific Center for Children’s Health of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences” of the State Institution “Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 2010)

In 6 months. Serving size – 150 gr. nine0003

At 7 months — 170 gr.

Therefore, your maximum is the one from which month you introduce complementary foods, and not 200 grams

New food is introduced only after complete assimilation of the old

In case some product was rejected, we remove it completely and introduce a new one also according to the scheme. We return to the rejected product no earlier than 14 days. It may take several approaches to try. This is absolutely normal. The child grows, there are more enzymes, tastes change. It is also possible to completely refuse to eat, for example, broccoli. Don’t worry, there are many more flavors. Remove the broccoli completely before moving to the common table. Then you will use the method of interest and curiosity to attract the attention of an already grown up baby, with rapture eating the same broccoli from your plate and smacking your lips. It will be much later. And now it doesn’t matter. nine0003

Digested products are gradually shifted to lunch, then to dinner.

The time of meals in the scheme is taken conditionally ! You can shift the total time by 1-2 hours to fit your sleep and wake schedule. It is desirable that the meal regimen be maintained at the time you have chosen. If breakfast is at 10:00, then it is always at 10:00 +/-10 min. From the very beginning, the regimen will help you form an understanding of the time of meals. And in the future, it will be easier for the child to control his appetite. That is, the appetite will come around for lunch, dinner, and not “when I want.” nine0003

Remember! Biting during the day is a bad habit and your path to the term “little one”.

Do not chase volumes at the first stage of introducing complementary foods! Literally from the WHO manual:

“The goal at the initial stage is to teach the child to eat from a spoon. Learn eating habits and enjoy new tastes”

“After a FEW WEEKS, the infant should take a small amount (not 200 grams!) of foods selected from a wide variety of foods, 1-2 times a day”

This means that there is no need to frantically increase the volume of new food to a full serving of 150-200 grams!! Provided that you continue to feed on demand, and breast milk remains a priority for up to a year (that is, the completion of all stages of the introduction of complementary foods and the transition to a regular common table). If you are formula feeding, you are also feeding normally at this stage. Not replacing any feeding with complementary food.

Traditionally weaning starts with cereals or vegetables

Verbatim from WHO recommendations:

“Positive examples include cereals other than wheat, such as home-cooked and mashed rice, soft, thick porridge made from traditional cereal products, and mashed vegetables and fruits”

Note that the WHO does not ban the introduction of fruits outright, as recommended by today’s complementary food consultants. It is enough to open any chat, where “fruit after meat” will flash here and there. This opinion exists in view of the fact that a child can get used to sweet apples and refuse to eat broccoli. It is not devoid of common sense. nine0003

Therefore, in order to minimize the possible risk of refusing vegetables, I will be guided by their recommendation in the scheme. Moreover, fruits are not the main meal, but serve for a variety of tastes and as a treat.

If you want to introduce fruits earlier, such as moderately sweet seasonal apples. Below is the serving size in grams also by month from RAMS. However, remember that apples and pears also need to be baked the first time, because. in their raw form, they carry a fairly large load on the digestive tract. Also, we introduce seasonal fruits, no mangoes, bananas or passion fruit, etc., and cooked correctly. nine0003

6 months — 60 g / 7 months — 70 gr.

All products are introduced without the addition of salt, sugar and spices. Note that in the WHO recommendations for the first complementary foods, both cereals and vegetables are good.

In Russian pediatric practice, there is such an experience: The child is “low weight” – start with cereals; problems with stool – with vegetables.

On the one hand, this statement is not without meaning, since the calorie content of cereals is indeed higher than breast milk and vegetables. However, we have already found out that there is no approved serving size at the first stage of the introduction of complementary foods

If the child eats his 150 grams of porridge, then yes. And if he eats 30-50 grams for 3-5 weeks and no more, these recommendations make no logical sense.

However, like the concept of “lightweight” is now so vague. A perfectly normal developing child of small-sized mothers and fathers will never enter the norms of pediatrician tables, which were written back in Soviet times for children on mixtures, and are completely outdated. But even there, and what can we say about the outback, these terrible 600-800-800 grams of the set are in front of mothers’ eyes. nine0003

By the way, our child is also the first 4 months. I was gaining about 550-600 grams per month along the lower border, and at 4 and 5 I fulfilled the double norm and only on breast milk. Our pediatrician, although she works in a private clinic and is in good standing in the reviews, also insisted on complementary foods from 4 months. I refused. And, on the contrary, she moved complementary foods by 6.5 months, when the baby began to actively show food interest.

Why it is recommended to introduce complementary foods with cereals or vegetables

The recommendation to introduce complementary foods with cereals or vegetables, although it belongs to the principles of pediatric complementary foods, has a whole and very strong justification. On the course “Complementary foods with a mustache” a whole block is devoted to this. Namely, the physiological readiness of the gastrointestinal tract to assimilate certain macronutrients. These include proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It may seem that since the maturation of enzymes for proteins occurs earlier, then complementary foods could be introduced, for example, from meat, as it was around the beginning 90’s, when meat was recommended as a prevention of iron deficiency.

However, later it became clear that the ability of such babies to DIGEST complex meat protein is so small that it can hardly cover the daily requirement. Then it was due to the mother’s need to go to work from 4-6 months, maternity leave was so small, and, accordingly, the preservation of breastfeeding was called into question. And the child needed to be fed. So, back to protein, hydrochloric acid in young children is still produced in negligible amounts, bile to break down complex meat fat (and there are also fats in meat) is also produced negligible, but there is lactic acid. It is she who is needed to curdle milk protein, or mother’s milk. nine0003

What else do we cover in the course “Complementary foods wisely”

In the course, of course, we consider this topic in more detail, but in general, I hope you understand why we start introducing complementary foods with lighter foods. The main sign that meat food at this stage is not suitable for the baby is a change in the nature of the stool, it does not just thicken, but becomes fetid. Communicating with mothers for more than 5 years, I often hear: “And they told me that this is the norm.” No, the stench, as you understand, cannot be attributed to the norm even in an adult. It tells us that the environment in the intestine is shifting to the alkaline side, this is the result of putrefactive dyspepsia (when undigested protein particles remain in the intestine for a long time, which feeds pathogenic bacteria). And the next step in this process is constipation. nine0003

We analyze in detail the dangers of constipation in early childhood in the 3rd module of the Gastrointestinal Health school.

The main stages of introducing products, taking into account the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, are shown in the table. After the first stage of introducing products, when the “Diet Expansion” stage comes, there will no longer be a need to comply with this rule. As foods other than breast milk or BMS are introduced, both stomach and pancreas enzymatic activity will begin to increase, but this takes time. Even an adult vegetarian, to start eating meat, needs about a month under the “cover” of enzymes, and here is a baby who did not give out this very meat. This is the basis of the main principle of complementary foods: GRADUAL. Now, while in the baby’s body everything is set up for digesting breast milk, even the activity of gastric lipase now matters, while in adults it does not play any role in the process of digesting fats. nine0003

When should an infant not be introduced to complementary foods?

• The child is unwell, teething
• A vaccination is due
• A stressful situation is coming for the child that you know about (a trip, a large number of people at home or going to visit, going to a clinic, etc.)

Better in these cases maintain the most familiar conditions for the child and minimize stress. Since we remember that the main food at the stage of introducing complementary foods is breast milk, it is more important to maintain interest in it. nine0003

Scheme and table of the first stage of introducing complementary foods to a child for 6 weeks – based on the recommendations of WHO and RAMS

• The most hypoallergenic vegetables are introduced first: zucchini – cauliflower – broccoli
• Gluten-free cereals: buckwheat, rice, corn
• Grams cost conditionally, in proportion to the days of entry and the maximum serving size (the first day is always 0.5 teaspoon)

First week

We introduce the most hypoallergenic vegetable – zucchini

Second week

Since porridge is traditionally served for breakfast, vegetables are gradually transferred to lunch. At the first stage of entering vegetables, see how it is more convenient for you. Or give two kinds of vegetables for breakfast. Or immediately share for breakfast – lunch. I would divide it up to better control the gastrointestinal reaction and allergies

Third week

Similar to the second week, for breakfast instead of cauliflower – broccoli, for lunch zucchini or cauliflower (alternate if both were digested, if not, the product that mastered)

Fourth week

We introduce cereals in the sequence buckwheat – rice – corn grits for breakfast. For lunch, we eat any vegetables already entered in the amount of your maximum (zucchini, cabbage or their mixes). After assimilation of cereals, we add vegetable oil to them. By the end of this period, the child is offered complementary foods 2 times a day in its maximum volume (150 grams per 1 serving)

Fifth week

Taking into account the fact that in the recommendations of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, cereals are always offered in the morning, we cook 2 types of cereals in the morning. Vegetables are left for lunch in the amount of your “full portion” (150 – 170 grams)

Sixth week

Further, by analogy, corn porridge is introduced for breakfast. And for breakfast, rice and buckwheat are left in turn. Also decreasing in volume as the corn porridge increases. Lunch no change – vegetables in the amount of your “full serving” (150 – 170 grams per serving)

Not sure? I also decided that everything is somehow complicated, and therefore I brought everything into one table. Below is a link to download it.

Complementary feeding table for the first 6 weeks

Here is an image with a table below, if you click on it, you can download a PDF file with a complementary feeding table for the first 6 weeks. It also contains grammar and more and more clearly Ska download PDF file – Scheme and table for introducing complementary foods to a child for the first 6 weeks – based on WHO recommendations.
This table can be your sample plan for introducing complementary foods . It also has free cells in which you can put dates and get complementary feeding calendar .

After you have completed these 6 weeks, the first stage of complementary feeding can be considered complete. You can either replace the remaining vegetables at the first stage, for example, if something from the first three does not work, or introduce gradually at the second stage already with meat and fruits. This will be even better since they are more allergenic. nine0003

A little breast milk (or formula) can be added to ready-made porridge and puree for taste, as I wrote earlier. ☝️ Do not cook! Don’t forget to add vegetable oil. By the end of the first stage, the volume of vegetable oil will be about 3 grams. More detailed information on the steps for entering products and quantities in the table below. It will also come in handy for 2-4 stages.

Next comes the second stage of the introduction of complementary foods. I will talk about its features in a separate article, also based on the recommendations of WHO and RAMS. nine0003

Complementary feeding scheme with cereals

Gluten-free and milk-free cereals are introduced first. This is important in order to minimize the risk of developing an allergy to gluten and cow’s milk protein. There is a detailed article about gluten and “what it is eaten with” on the website. Gluten-free is buckwheat, rice, corn (like cereals). At the first stage, these tastes are enough for the child.

To get a scheme for introducing complementary foods from cereals, you just need to swap all cereals with vegetables in the “scheme for introducing complementary foods from vegetables” (above in this material). That is, first we put buckwheat instead of zucchini, then rice instead of cauliflower – corn porridge instead of broccoli. Then come vegetables zucchini – cauliflower – broccoli. Grams remain unchanged. nine0003

Important points during the introduction of complementary foods

• Be sure to monitor the child’s condition and his reactions to the introduction of new products. A food diary can help you with this. So you can understand what and when you gave, if you see an allergy or problems with the stool, or a change in the general condition. When most of the products have already been introduced, you can refuse it.
• When weaning begins, start offering water if the baby is breastfed without supplementation. At this stage, there is no mandatory rule. How much he drinks, how much he drinks. Water is better to offer raw purified or baby water, not boiled. As Dr. Komarovsky says: “boiled water does not exist in nature.” nine0022

What to breastfeed or complementary foods first?

On page 229 of chapter 8 of the WHO recommendations it is clearly stated:

“Food should be offered after breastfeeding to avoid replacing breast milk with complementary foods”

At the same time, counselors say, on the contrary, “drink complementary foods with breast milk”. Again a mismatch.

It is logical that it would be more convenient for the baby to drink complementary foods that are not very tasty. Pediatrician Yakov Yakovlev writes about the same thing and believes that not everyone wants some kind of complementary foods after milk, and this issue needs to be approached individually. After 6 months the risk of reduced lactation is not great. nine0003

Breastfeeding remains the main source of nutrition for a baby up to a year. Unless, of course, you decide for some reason to complete it earlier. Then you switch not to complementary foods, but to a mixture and give it according to the schedule and in volumes already according to age.

It will be possible to replace feeding after all stages of introduction of products are completed, namely after a year. The child goes to the common table, and breast milk remains a pleasant bonus as long as it brings mutual pleasure to mother and child. In general, the WHO recommends that breastfeeding be stopped until 2 years of age. Russian science is not so categorical. nine0003

The main and most important rule for introducing complementary foods!

• Complementary foods are not forced! If you see, the child categorically does not eat what is offered, spits, hysteria (not just pushes out with his tongue, but does not even try to taste it), no matter how the grandmothers, the pediatrician, the husband and even the neighbor who has a child at 6 months old insist. already ate a baked apple, ☝️ leave this venture for at least a week – or even two. No violence, no shoving, worse than being held at the table. This is an indicator that the time has not yet come for your baby. nine0069
• Create your first food interest! Sit on your knees when you eat, show food, spoons, plates. Let everything touch. Just remove anything dangerous, sharp, hot or valuable and expensive from the access area. Babies learn so quickly that you won’t even notice how the baby himself or herself takes a spoon. Even if you do not remember anything written above, this point is the most important. Understanding that everything has its time will save your nerves. And for a baby, a calm and affectionate mother is more important than a belly stuffed according to outdated rules. nine0022

Conclusion

If your child eats with appetite, learns new tastes well, is ready to eat more, you will pass the first stage in 6 to 8 weeks. Or it may happen that the child does not want to eat first one, then the other. Then the preparatory stage of the introduction of complementary foods may be delayed and this is not critical.

The main thing is to keep calm and composure, look with the child for tastes that he will like in order to form the basis of dishes for the second stage, with which you will experiment further. The second stage begins with the introduction of meat and fruits (I indicated why above). And by the end of it, you will already get mixes: meat – vegetables, porridge – fruits. We will look at this in another article. nine0003

Love children! Feed confidently!

This material was created based on the recommendations of the WHO “Feeding and Nutrition of Infants and Young Children”

If you have read the article in full and watched all the videos on this page – this is a real reason to be proud of yourself! Below is my set of tutorials!

My name is Alena Ponedelko. I am a pediatric nutritionist with a preventive approach, a consultant on complementary foods, nutrition for babies and mothers.