At what age can you give strawberries to a child and how to enter it into the diet?
At the end of May, fresh strawberry fruits can be found on many store shelves.They are known for their taste and the mass of useful qualities that are necessary for the stable functioning of a child’s body. Many parents are interested: "From what age can you give strawberries to a small child?" Before answering this question you need to know how this berry affects the fragile organism.
Useful properties and contraindications
All people know perfectly well what a strawberry looks like and how it grows. Not all consumers can say for sure how many vitamins and microelements this tasty berry contains. The benefits of this product are evident only fresh, and therefore eat strawberries better in season.
Strawberries also contain ascorbic acid, B vitamins, retinol and nicotinic acid. In addition, the fruits are rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and iodine, which is vital for the development of a small organism.
This berry is considered a dietary product, as per 100 g of weight there are only 37 calories. Despite the low calorie content in the fruit is fiber, which has a beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract. They are composed of antioxidants that can stimulate brain activity and burn body fat.
With the help of strawberries, you can clear the body of toxins and toxins. It allows you to strengthen children's bones and positively affect the musculoskeletal system. The minerals that make up the berries, activate the nervous system and allow you to improve the mood of the child.
This product helps to increase children's immunity. Often, on the basis of strawberries produce antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs that are designed to treat colds.
Despite its many beneficial properties, strawberries can be dangerous for a child’s body. It should not be used by children who are prone to allergic reactions. If one of the parents is allergic to this berry, the risk of a positive reaction in the baby increases.
This product is contraindicated in children suffering from diseases of the liver or stomach. Even if the baby tolerates strawberries well, you should not give too many fruits at one meal. Their excess may cause bloating and a violation of the chair.
Features of the introduction to lure
Any product is important to introduce in the children's diet gradually. As for strawberries, it is best to do it. to achieve a baby 2-3 years. Experts do not recommend offering strawberries to babies under 24 months, as this berry is a threat even for a one-year-old child. A fragile organism can react badly to one of its components.
It is very important to adhere to the restrictions in nutrition and nursing woman. You can not eat strawberries until the baby is at least three months old. After the mother can add this product to the diet, but in small quantities.
For the first time after giving birth to a baby, it is important to wait for 2-3 days to check the reaction of a small, fragile organism.
Starting lure is necessary gradually. For a start, it is enough to give the child a half-berry. If an allergic reaction does not follow after that, and the baby will feel good, then within a day it is possible to give him a whole berry. For a month, you can increase the number of fruits up to 8 pieces.
A more gentle way is to introduce strawberry water into the food first. To prepare it, you need to fill the berries with hot water and let it brew for 3-4 hours. If the child responds well to strawberry decoction, then the next time you can make a cocktail with the addition of diluted pulp. In the same way allowed to add strawberries in the diet and nursing women.
Pediatricians do not recommend giving too many berries to a small child. The desire to saturate the children's body with vitamins can lead to negative consequences.In addition to abdominal pain and diarrhea, the baby may have a glut of vitamin C, which will seriously affect urinary and kidney activity.
Signs of an allergic reaction
Not every parent is able to immediately recognize allergies in their child. After the baby begins to introduce strawberries into the feed, the family should carefully monitor the condition of the baby. Most often, the first sign of an allergy is the occurrence of a minor rash all over the body.
There are a number of other signs that need attention:
- When the child has a strong tearing, the eyes become red, then we can safely say that it is an allergy.
- If the baby sneezes often, his throat is sore and his tongue is swollen, then an ambulance must be called immediately.
- An allergic reaction can manifest itself in a strong nose run.
- Often, young children complain of pain in the abdomen after eating strawberries.
- Children's body can react to strawberry lure peeling skin.
If a baby has an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, tearing, or rhinitis, you must immediately give it an antihistamine medication. If the child has mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue, then this is a reason to immediately seek medical help.
Selection rules
Parents who decide to start strawberry complementary foods should rely not only on the baby’s age, but also on the freshness and quality of the berries. Strawberries have beneficial properties only in freshly harvested form and can be stored in open space for no more than two days. Fresh fruit must radiate a strong flavor and have a coherent structure. If there is a rotten place on a strawberry or a berry is crumpled, then it is better to refuse such a purchase.
Another sign of a good strawberry is a tailless tail. The berries themselves have a bright red color and moderate elasticity. If the fruits are too dense, then they were torn off immature and treated with special preparations so that they ripen in an artificial way.
Before you give a strawberry baby must carefully process it. When the berries were picked from their garden, it is enough to wash them under running water.
If parents doubt the quality of the fruit, then you should use an ozonizer, which is designed for home disinfection products.
Despite all the benefits of strawberries, You should not experiment and give it to babies under two years old.
It is important to monitor the reaction of the child’s body for the first few days and to avoid overeating.
About cooking summer strawberry dessert for children, see the following video.