You can have mashed potatoes for babies. How to properly prepare mashed potatoes for babies

Even eminent doctors disagree on the question of at what age a child can be given potatoes. For example, Dr. Komarovsky claims that a baby should be introduced to vegetable dishes no earlier than 8 months. WHO documents recommend including potatoes and other vegetables in complementary foods from 6 months of age. Let's consider both points of view.

The body of a newborn baby is well adapted to only one type of food: mother's milk (in as a last resort it can be replaced with a mixture). The liver has not yet properly formed in the body (this will happen by the age of 8), the pancreas (“will mature” by the age of 12). Only by 4 months will the mucous membrane of the stomach walls become stronger, the ability to produce enzymes will appear, and they will begin to function. salivary glands(before that, the baby’s mouth is always a little dry). Therefore, up to 4 months any solid food, even pureed puree or cottage cheese, can cause irreparable harm to the baby’s health.

Formation internal organs– the process is long. It is impossible to say with confidence that a child’s body at 4.5 months will be able to cope with potatoes - previously unfamiliar, rich in starch and coarse fiber product. Up to 6 months, most babies who are breastfeeding, do not require additional feeding.

Children who are fed formula formulas breast milk, complementary feeding can be introduced a little earlier - from 4.5–5 months. But the decision about this should be made by parents together with the doctor.

In any case, the first “real food” should be the most easily digestible: from 6 months - cottage cheese and other dairy products, from 7 months - milk porridge. And only from 8 months, when the baby is already accustomed to a varied diet, is he offered vegetables.

If a child chews a tuber, this does not mean that he can have potatoes

But the above recommendation is suitable for children whose mothers eat normally, and therefore milk contains all the vitamins and microelements that a growing body needs. In front of babies from poor families who consume mother's milk, where there is little useful substances, there is a choice: vitamin starvation or complementary feeding, despite the inability to properly digest food. Hence the WHO recommendation for early complementary feeding with vegetables.

How to determine when to start feeding potatoes

Children develop differently. For some, it’s really time to try vegetables at 6–6.5 months. For others, it’s too early to start eating rough food at 8.

It is believed that you can introduce potatoes into a child’s diet if:

the baby has cut at least one tooth;
the baby is already accustomed to dairy products, cereals with milk, preferably pureed zucchini and cauliflower;
the child learned to eat from a spoon (pulling out his lower lip to do this);
The baby knows how to show that he doesn’t like the food.
You should not offer your child potatoes New Product, If:
the baby is sick, is teething or has been bitten by mosquitoes;
Vaccinations are scheduled in 2–3 days;
within 2–3 days after vaccinations;
while traveling.

How to teach a child to eat potatoes

It is better not to try to teach your baby to eat potatoes if he has not eaten zucchini, cauliflower or broccoli for at least 5 days. Potatoes, unlike other vegetables, are not first given to young children as a main product, but are mixed with other, familiar vegetables.

To determine whether children can have potatoes, you need to cook lean vegetable broth from 50 g of vegetables:

potatoes;
cauliflower or broccoli;
carrots.

Pour 100 g of boiling water over the vegetables and cook until they are softened. The resulting thick liquid is strained through cheesecloth and boiled again. When the vegetable broth has cooled, 30–50 g is poured into a bottle and offered to the baby after breastfeeding.

If he drinks the broth with pleasure, then the next day he is allowed to add a piece of onion to the dish. If the child does not have an allergic reaction to vegetables, colic or stomach upset, you should try feeding him mashed potatoes. Potatoes for the dish are selected younger (they have less starch), grown without the use of nitrates and pesticides. There should be no green spots or damage on the peel.

The tuber is peeled and soaked for at least an hour. Of course, the amount of vitamins in it will decrease, but at the first stage the main thing is to remove all harmful chemicals. Boil the potatoes until tender in unsalted water, then rub through a sieve.

An approximate scheme for introducing potatoes into the diet of a baby at the age of 8.5 months, already accustomed to pureed zucchini and cauliflower (volume measured in teaspoons).

	Zucchini	Cauliflower	Potato
1st day	—	6	1
2nd day	5	—	2
3rd day	—	4	3
4th day	3	—	4
5th day	—	2	5
6th day	1	—	6
7th day	—	—	7

Portions of pureed vegetables are increased gradually, carefully observing the child’s reaction. Particular care should be taken to diversify the diet of children prone to diathesis and other allergic reactions. If your baby refuses potatoes for two days in a row, there is no need to force him. Next time you can offer puree in a week. To make the taste seem more familiar, add a few drops of breast milk to the puree.

When does the child get used to pureed food? boiled potatoes, you can start making this dish from baked tubers: they retain B vitamins. Add grated boiled carrots to the potatoes, then pumpkin.

Mashed potatoes cooked on cow's milk, diluted with water. From 9 months, add a teaspoon of rabbit or turkey meat to mashed potatoes, bringing the volume of meat to 7 teaspoons within a week. After 1–2 weeks it is the turn of veal and beef, from 10 months - fish. From 10 months, puree is prepared with a small amount of vegetable oil.

From 10 months you can give soup 1-2 times a week:

Finely chop 1/3 of a leek and sauté in olive oil;
pour a glass of water and boil;
add 2 potatoes cut into strips and cook until tender;
rub through a sieve (without straining);
pour 100 g of hot milk.

After a year, you can add a little salt to the soup. Now babies are allowed to feed not only boiled and baked, but also stewed potatoes (low-fat). Fried potatoes are not recommended for children under 2–2.5 years of age.

Negative reactions to potatoes

The fiber contained in potatoes can cause diarrhea even in children prone to constipation. At first, when the baby is just getting used to starchy foods, mucus may be noticeable in the stool. Cabbage and mashed potatoes sometimes make children swell. Usually the symptoms go away quickly, but it is better to consult a doctor.

It's hard to imagine a more popular vegetable than potatoes. It is tasty in any form, fried, boiled and even in uniforms. Most children perceive it well, especially purees. Today we will talk about the benefits of this vegetable, the optimal period for introducing it into the baby’s diet and precautions.

Compound

You are mistaken if you think that potatoes consist only of starch. In fact, it also contains useful elements:

carbohydrates are a source of energy;
vitamin C - however, almost all of it is concentrated in the peel;
iron - although it is not as much as in apples, it is still present;
B vitamins - they are not only beneficial for nervous system, but also play important role V metabolic processes, and are also needed for the prevention of anemia;
magnesium – good for the heart;
phosphorus – “nutrition” for the brain, important for the development of the skeletal system;
Potassium – has a positive effect on muscle cells, promotes their growth, and reduces irritability.

Potatoes also contain chromium, molybdenum, copper, cobalt, and other useful elements. This humble vegetable will help replenish your supply of vitamins and minerals; you should not neglect it.

Are there any benefits from potatoes?

Many diets include limiting the consumption of potatoes, but children, fortunately, do not adhere to them, so we will discuss how this is beneficial for them wonderful vegetable. Main advantages:

Prevention of anemia. Thanks to the vitamin B6 present in potatoes, iron is absorbed better and accelerated. lipid metabolism, it is also important for the processing of amino acids and the production of homocysteine.
Strengthens capillary vessels, improves immunity - this effect is ensured by vitamin C.
Normalizes electrolyte and acid balance, as well as blood pressure.
Increases digestibility folic acid, proteins and carbohydrates, helps saturate the body's cells with oxygen.
Serves to strengthen connective tissues, important for correct formation skeletal system.
Thanks to molybdenum, the body produces enzymes that are necessary for the processing of purines and pyrimidines, as well as for the absorption of amino acids containing sulfur.

Potato proteins contain all amino acids plant origin, including irreplaceable ones. 300 g of vegetable is enough to get daily norm potassium and phosphorus.

Important! Vitamin C is destroyed during storage, by spring its amount is minimal, its content also depends on the cooking method, it is best to steam it, this way more vitamins are retained in the potatoes.

Unlike many other vegetables, potatoes can be consumed even with an exacerbation of some gastrointestinal diseases, for example, ulcers or gastritis. Its juice is recommended for increased acidity stomach. The potassium present in potatoes helps eliminate excess fluid, so it is recommended to include it in the diet of patients suffering from certain kidney diseases.

Potatoes are high in calories, they are the best vegetable if you need to replenish energy reserves, and their protein in its structure and composition is as close as possible to proteins of plant origin. The amino acids contained in potatoes are absorbed almost completely. There is one more advantage: due to the significant concentration minerals Potatoes help normalize the acid-base balance of the body.

Potatoes should definitely be included in the menu for diseases caused by increased acidity - gout and some others. The vegetable neutralizes acids. Besides healing effect anti-aging is provided - the complex of substances contained in potatoes accelerates cell restoration and slows down their destruction.

Introducing potatoes into the diet of children

Previously, potatoes were one of the first vegetables to be included in the menu. Today, the nutrition strategy for children under one year old has changed. Doctors recommend first introducing your child to zucchini, cauliflower, and pumpkin, and only then adding potatoes to his menu. The optimal period for adding it to the diet is 7-8 months, and if the baby is on artificial feeding, maybe a few weeks earlier - at 6-6.5 months.

Which puree is better: homemade or industrial production? Of course, fresh homemade, because it contains more vitamins. Never prepare a meal for two days, it is best to do this immediately before feeding. Other tips:

After peeling, purchased potatoes should be soaked in water for 30-40 minutes to remove nitrates;
wash the fruits before cleaning - this way you will avoid soil particles getting into the dish, which eat into the pulp;
when getting used to potatoes, offer your child semi-liquid puree; later, when he gets used to it, a thicker consistency will be suitable;
mashed potatoes should be thinned warm milk, if the baby cannot tolerate it - vegetable broth, add liquid gradually to avoid the formation of lumps.

A common mistake young mothers make is to give potatoes and dishes made from them daily. This should not be done, because the baby’s diet should be varied. Later, when your daughter or son gets used to potatoes, offer a combined vegetable puree, for example, add zucchini, cauliflower or broccoli, carrots to it, try adding onions to the dish - if the child does not like it, do not insist, because of the specific smell it is far from All the kids are loyal to him.

For the first time, half a teaspoon of mashed potatoes is enough for the baby. Increase the portion gradually and bring it to 80-100 g. Do not offer your baby potatoes more than 2-3 times a week. To preserve nutrients, follow our recommendations:

after boiling, reduce the heat to a minimum, it is best to pour boiling water over the potatoes - this will reduce the time of thermal exposure and preserve more vitamins;
It is unacceptable to leave cooked vegetables in water; it must be drained immediately after cooking;
already on the second day, almost 2 times less nutrients remain in boiled potatoes, cook them immediately before serving;
Potatoes must be added to the soup no earlier than 15 minutes before the end of cooking.
Children are not allowed to eat fried potatoes, even as an exception. Only baked (after one and a half years) or boiled.

Recipes

Mashed potatoes with yolk

Products: 200 g potatoes, 3-5 g butter, 30-40 ml milk, 1 yolk, salt to taste.

Boil the potatoes until tender, drain, rub through a sieve, gradually add milk, achieving the desired consistency. Add egg white beaten with 10 ml of boiled milk to the finished dish.

Potato and cabbage casserole

Products: 250 g potatoes, 150 g white cabbage, a couple of tablespoons of flour, 1 small onion, 1 egg.

Boil the potatoes and prepare mashed potatoes with the addition of 1 egg, flour and salt. Chop the cabbage, cut the onion into cubes, simmer until done, add salt at the very end - if you do this earlier, the cabbage will darken. Grease the bottom of the baking dish vegetable oil and sprinkle with breadcrumbs, then add half of the puree, then the cabbage. Upper layer- mashed potatoes. Bake for 45-50 minutes.

Potato stew

Products: 4-5 potatoes average size, 1 carrot, 50-100 g beets or other vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini), 1-2 onions, herbs, salt.

Cut the pre-peeled potatoes and carrots into small cubes, and do the same with the onions. Place the vegetables in a saucepan, add water, and simmer until tender over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Add herbs and salt at the very end.

Precautionary measures

It is strictly forbidden to cook green tubers - this color is due to the formation of solanine in them. Potatoes are also harmful for children suffering from certain gastrointestinal diseases. IN in rare cases the vegetable can cause allergies, so be careful in the first days after introducing it into the baby’s diet.

Potatoes are the second bread! Who would argue with this statement? Rare man doesn't like potatoes. The starchy root vegetable is ideal for preparing a side dish and a variety of independent dishes. An indispensable vegetable in children's diets. But at what age can you give your child potatoes, caring mothers and fathers will ask. After all, any food should be on time and in place. This is important for maintaining the baby’s health and developing correct gastronomic habits.

The question is relevant and interesting. Let's look at the rules for introducing potatoes into children's diets and figure out at what age this product is recommended in children. children's menu.

At what age can a child have potatoes?

It is better to address any questions related to feeding children to specialists. The main question, at what age can you give your child potatoes, should be asked to your pediatrician.

Modern standards have changed a little, and yet pediatricians believe that potatoes can appear on the children's menu no earlier than 6 months.

You need to introduce root vegetables into your baby’s diet in accordance with the recommendations. Those. The baby should already be familiar with some elements of “adult” food. For example, his diet should include foods such as zucchini and cauliflower. It is important to be sure that the child is not suffering food allergies and has no problems with the gastrointestinal tract. And then, upon reaching the age of six months, you can carefully give the baby potatoes a try, carefully observing the child’s body’s reaction to the introduction of a new product to the menu.

In what form should I give my child potatoes?

So, at what age can you give your child potatoes? This is 5-6 months. Experts recommend no earlier than 6 months.

But in what form should we offer this new product for the baby?

As a standard, you should offer your child puree from this root vegetable or you can prepare soup. However, for the first time it is best to introduce an unfamiliar product in the form of a single-component dish. This will make it easier to monitor your baby's reaction to the menu update.

Mashed potatoes recipe for little ones

It's easy to prepare potatoes for a 6-month old baby!

You need to take 1 medium potato, clean water and a convenient container for cooking. Peel and wash the potatoes. Place in a saucepan and pour clean water so that the fruit is completely covered. Place on low heat and cook until full readiness. After cooking, drain excess water(not all of it!), and prepare a soft, tender puree from the remaining water and potatoes.

A good substitute for water would be baby formula or breast milk. For this option, after cooking the potatoes, the water is completely drained, and the mashed potatoes are kneaded with the addition of a warm mixture or milk. Salt, oil and other additives should not be added to children's dish. The baby does not yet know the taste of these products and will not be offended by the lack of oil and salt in mashed potatoes. Additionally, these supplements are not yet recommended for 6 months of age. Therefore, it is better to introduce the baby to a product prepared without additives that enhance the taste.

What to give potatoes to an older child?

Having found out for ourselves at what age you can give your child potatoes, and in what form the product should be offered, let’s consider the combinations that the baby will like.

When the baby is already accustomed to some elements of complementary feeding, you can offer him a multi-component menu.

Potatoes go well with the following products:

Carrot;
White cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli;
Zucchini;
Meat fish;
Milk.

To please an older baby (8–10 months), you can prepare a light puree soup from potatoes, carrots and zucchini. All vegetables need to be well boiled and ground into a soft, tender semi-liquid puree. Children also love meat and fish puree with the addition of potatoes. You can add egg (chicken, quail egg) yolk.

Summer and autumn provide the opportunity to get a lot of “live” vitamins, which vegetables and fruits are rich in. One of the most popular vegetables consumed by adults and children is potatoes. Very often, nutritionists and pediatricians recommend that it be one of the first to be introduced into the diet - after cauliflower. Like all complementary foods, this vegetable also needs to be prepared for the baby in the form of mashed potatoes. The method of preparing mashed potatoes is not much different from preparing mashed potatoes from other vegetables, but it has its own characteristics that will help a mother feed her child deliciously.

To get tasty and nutritious mashed potatoes for babies, you first need to choose the right vegetables. The root crop must be free of greenery under the skin, signs of rotting, not affected by phytoflora and without sprouts. Parents should also avoid buying potatoes with nitrates; to do this, either use vegetables from their own garden, or buy them from trusted places.

How to properly prepare mashed potatoes for a baby?

Soak in water for a day, after removing the peel in a thick layer (to remove excess starch).
Cut and place in an enamel pan with boiling water. Cook covered and bring to a boil over low heat. Do not salt the water.
Remove the cooked potatoes and chop them in an accessible way while they are hot.
To form a semi-liquid puree, add a decoction of potatoes and milk.

Mashed potatoes for babies should be lump-free, fluffy, very tender and not thick. Served warm.

Mashed potato recipe for babies

Mashed potatoes with herbs:

Ingredients:

Preparation

Cut the prepared potatoes into cubes. Place them in a saucepan with boiling water and cover with a lid, cook for 10 minutes over low heat. Then add chopped greens or cabbage and cook until all the vegetables are soft, another 5-10 minutes. Then drain the water and grind the vegetables with a blender or rub through a sieve, while adding milk, until a puree of the desired consistency is formed.

It is imperative to remember that they begin to introduce the child to potatoes with a teaspoon, to check if the baby is allergic to it. If it does not manifest itself, you can increase the portion. And every time for the baby, the mother should prepare fresh mashed potatoes so as not to harm his health.

Many people love potato dishes, and even a child can cook potatoes. But can a baby have mashed potatoes? Many mothers ask this question and try to start feeding their children correctly and in the most healthy way. Let's figure out when, how and at how many months you can start feeding your baby mashed potatoes.

Benefits and harms

Potatoes are a root vegetable that contains almost greatest number carbohydrates and starch than any other. Because of this, it is quite difficult for a child to digest, and can also cause.
In addition, if you often feed your baby mashed potatoes, he may develop. Potatoes do not contain as many important and microelements as other vegetables, such as broccoli or.

And, nevertheless, you should not think that mashed potatoes are completely unhealthful. On the contrary, it is the best option for the first ones. Kids really love soft, neutral-tasting “puree”, they eat it willingly, and sometimes even ask for more.

Also to beneficial properties potatoes or mashed potatoes, it is worth mentioning that this product has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular and digestive system. This root vegetable also contains essential amino acids, organic acids and antioxidants for the body.

Important! Potatoes for mashing should in no case have green spots or any defects. There is a risk of solanine poisoning the baby.

Among microelements, the vegetable is rich in potassium, iron, phosphorus, and iodine. Core Value of this product is that the protein content in it is very high and at the same time it is not inferior to its animal counterpart.

At what age can it be introduced into a baby’s diet and how?

Pediatricians are unanimous in their opinion as to how many months mashed potatoes will be beneficial for a baby.

The optimal age for starting complementary feeding is mashed potatoes, which were fed only mother's milk, is six months. Otherwise, namely, if special mixtures were added to the diet or the baby was completely on artificial food, then potatoes can be introduced as early as five months.

Typically, mashed potatoes are introduced along with cauliflower, zucchini and broccoli. These vegetables are the most healthy and hypoallergenic, and are also the easiest to digest in the child’s body.

It is worth paying attention that any additives, namely herbs or other vegetables, can be added to purees no earlier than ten months of age.

Potatoes should be introduced into the diet gradually, in small portions. One teaspoon for the first acquaintance with the product will be the optimal dose.
If the baby reacts positively to the new dish, then the portion is increased with each subsequent feeding. Otherwise, you should hold off on the potatoes and try again later.

Important!When any allergic reactions If you take this product, you should stop taking it and consult your pediatrician.

How to make your own mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a fairly simple dish to prepare and you don’t need special efforts or unusual kitchen utensils. To know how to make mashed potatoes for babies, you only need to have basic culinary skills in boiling the root vegetable.

Before starting the process, you should pay attention Special attention on the quality of potatoes and their freshness. When choosing a root vegetable, it is better to give preference to medium-sized tubers.

If possible, it is preferable to use potatoes grown in your own garden or within the borders of your region of residence.
It is better to prepare potatoes for crumbs immediately during their ripening, because the chance of stumbling upon a vegetable treated with chemicals is reduced.

Did you know? In order for the baby to get used to the new taste, the dish must be offered at least eight times.

Inventory and kitchen appliances

To prepare mashed potatoes, no special equipment is required. In the kitchen you will need:

blender;
saucepan;
a bowl for soaking potatoes;
plate;
tea spoon.

A blender will be needed to grind the product that will be cooked in a saucepan. You will need a bowl to soak the fruit to get rid of excess starch.

A knife is needed for cutting root vegetables, and a plate and a teaspoon are needed directly for feeding the baby.

Did you know? One potato contains half daily value vitamin C.

Ingredients

There are no special or unusual ingredients in the baby mashed potato recipe. For cooking perfect dish have to take:

potatoes - 1-2 pieces;
water - a glass or a little more;
milk - 2-4 tsp. (You can use breast milk if you wish).

Step by step recipe

Peel the potatoes. In this case, it is optimal to cut off the skin in a thick layer in order to remove harmful components as much as possible.
Place the peeled root vegetable in water, preferably for several hours. Thanks to this, you can get rid of excess starch and harmful substances.

Cut the root vegetable into small cubes.

Place in water, bring to a boil and cook over low heat until fully cooked. The vegetable is ready when it can be easily pierced with a knife, like melted butter.
When the potatoes are ready, drain the water completely and let them cool slightly.
Place the potatoes in a blender and add a little broth or milk. This is necessary to ensure that the puree is watery and tender. Grind until all lumps disappear.

Cool the dish and serve it to your child.

Important! Doctors categorically do not recommend salting mashed potatoes and any other dishes for babies.

Introduction is an interesting and, at the same time, difficult process. A few wouldn't be superfluous useful tips regarding feeding the baby “puree”.

To prepare a dish, you must use only the highest quality ingredients.
For cooking, it is better to use enamel or ceramic dishes.
Before giving the dish to your child, you need to taste it. Even a good-looking root vegetable can be bitter.

During the first feedings, it is better to dilute boiled potatoes with broth. It is recommended to add milk several times and it should contain as little fat as possible.
Little ones really like the taste of potatoes. Its use should be alternated with others healthy vegetables. If you don't do this, that is Great chance that the baby will refuse the latter.
Some babies, especially those who are breastfed, are reluctant to eat complementary foods. In such cases, you should not rush and insist. You need to remember that everything has its time, and discuss the situation with your pediatrician.

For any baby, sooner or later the time comes for the transition to plant and animal foods.

This process requires some time and patience.

Each child is unique in terms of reaction to a particular product.
Therefore, you should pay attention to the baby’s reaction to any complementary foods and be sure to consult with your doctor about when you can give mashed potatoes to your baby.

It is a budget-friendly, optimal and high-quality complementary food that can be introduced with very early age, taking into account dietary habits and pediatrician recommendations.