IN summer period I want to pamper my child with delicious and, undoubtedly, very healthy berries, for example, fresh currants. However, you need to introduce your baby to this berry complementary food correctly, then the baby will not have any problems with digestion or allergic reactions.

Benefit

Both black, white and red currants contain a large number of vitamin C, which is well preserved in any preparations made from such berries.
All types of currants are rich in B vitamins, pectins, carotene, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium.
Blackcurrant due to its content essential oils and tannins have a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Red currant has a diaphoretic effect and the ability to normalize appetite.
Eating currant berries improves the condition of gastritis or colds.

To find out which currants are healthier – red or black – see the program “Live Healthy”.

Minuses

Although very rare, red or black currants can cause food allergies.
Black currants should not be consumed by children whose urine contains high levels of oxalates.
Due to their high vitamin K content, excess consumption of blackcurrants can lead to problems with blood clotting.

From what month can complementary foods be introduced?

Children can try currants for the first time at 7-8 months, depending on the type of feeding.

For kids receiving breast milk, such berries are given a month or two later (at 9-10 months) than for babies at artificial feeding(7-8 months). Children who are prone to allergies should not rush to get acquainted with currants.

The first portion should be represented by 1-2 berries. They are given in the morning, and then the baby’s reaction is observed. With normal tolerance, the amount of currants consumed per day is gradually increased to 40-50 g, and from a year onwards - up to 100 g.

Calculate your complementary feeding table

In what form should it be given?

The best option Eating currants of any color will be a fresh berry, just picked from a bush or brought from the market. Do not add sugar to currants; let the baby first get acquainted with the natural taste of this berry.

Jelly, jelly, compote, fruit drink or juice are often prepared from currants. This berry is also added to baked goods, cottage cheese or yogurt.

Buy dry berries for your child bright color correct round shape. It is best to purchase currants on branches, then they will retain their freshness longer. Store berries at room temperature for a maximum of 5 days, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

When is a child ready to try fragrant berries? Find out what berries you can give your child and pamper him not only with the natural taste of fresh raspberries or currants, but also with vitamin-rich berry-based dishes. Of course, in the process of even the most careful preparation, some vitamins are lost (especially ascorbic acid), but mineral salts, organic acids and B-carotene are preserved. And food with reduced after culinary processing dietary fiber content is even useful for children with unstable stools and certain gastrointestinal diseases.

Let's get acquainted

To make your acquaintance with berries go smoothly, conduct it competently. Do not forget that early fruits and berries are brightly colored, which means they contain a large amount of pigment. Unfortunately, lycopene and carotene can cause allergic reactions not only in children with food allergies, but also in healthy children (if consumed in excess).

For the first time, infants can be enriched with some types of berries after 7 months. At this age, you can introduce blueberries, raspberries, all types of currants, and sea buckthorn. Offer garden and wild strawberries to your child a few months later, but it is better not to experiment with strawberries until a year.

Taste of summer

When you introduce your little one to berries, you shouldn’t flavor them with sugar - it’s much healthier if the little one gets used to their natural taste. Prepare any berry dishes immediately before consumption. Of course, it is best to use children's diet berries collected from your own or grandmother’s garden: this way you will be absolutely sure that they do not contain harmful substances. When buying berries at the market, ask the seller for a certificate of radiological control.

Raspberries

Contains organic acids (especially a lot of salicylic acid), as well as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and fiber. Powerful diaphoretic, antipyretic. Helps with hematopoietic disorders and thyroid problems.

Black currant

Record holder for vitamin C content. Also includes vitamin B, carotene, pectins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus. Tones cardiovascular system. Useful for colds and gastritis. You can make juices, fruit drinks, compotes, jelly, jelly, and marmalade from the berries. Vitamin C is well preserved in any preparation.

Red Ribes

Significantly superior to black currants in the amount of vitamin A. The beneficial properties of red currants are similar to the beneficial properties of black currants. There are no contraindications for using these berries for children. A very tasty jelly made by mixing currant juice with sugar. It is recommended to make fruit drinks and compotes.

Strawberry

Organic acids (salicylic and oxalic), vitamins B, C, potassium, calcium. A mild diaphoretic, thins the blood, normalizes intestinal microflora, removes toxins. Strawberries are strictly contraindicated for children with food allergies.

Strawberries

Contains potassium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, pectin, folic acid, vitamins. Improves digestion. An infusion of berry leaves has a diuretic effect. Not recommended for children with diathesis prone to food allergies.

Blueberry

Enriched with iron in easily digestible compounds. Strengthens visual acuity, has anti-inflammatory and strengthening properties (recommended for diarrhea). If you have a food allergy, consumption should be limited. Good fresh, you can also make jelly (from both fresh and dried berries).

Note to mom

During the harvest season, don’t forget about winter supplies. To preserve all vitamins and microelements as much as possible, it is better to freeze the berries in small portions (at a time) or grind them with sugar. Then you can pamper your baby with a delicious and healthy dessert all year round!

Add some vitamins

In combination with yogurt and cottage cheese, vitamins and minerals from berries and fruits are absorbed more effectively. Also dairy products soften the acids contained in the berries, and they do not irritate the baby’s stomach lining. Beat berries or fruits in a blender, add a glass of yogurt. A little honey and mint or lemon juice for freshness - and can be served.

It is better to prepare yoghurts yourself. After all, during industrial production, preservatives, thickeners, and artificial colors are often added to this product, so it will be safer if you prepare yogurt and cottage cheese yourself.

To speed up the process, purchase a yogurt maker at the store. Boil milk (1 l), let it cool. Dilute the starter and mix with the main mass. Immediately pour the mixture into jars and place them in the yogurt maker. After 8-10 hours, cover the containers with lids and place in the refrigerator. Add fresh fruits or berries to the finished product. You can add whole ones or beat them in a blender.

Black currant is a delicious summer berry packed with antioxidants that protect and strengthen your baby's immune system.

Black currant

Small and juicy black currant berries, which have an extremely pleasant sour taste, have gained worldwide popularity due to their taste and beneficial qualities. They come from the Ribes fruit family, which includes three varieties of currants: white, black and red. Gooseberry (Ribes gоssularia) is also related to this family. These berries were grown in northern Europe before the seventeenth century and were subsequently introduced to North America. After the discovery of vitamin C in Great Britain in the 1930s, the production of concentrated juices and fruit drinks from black currants was increased to high level with maximum use of the regional characteristics of the country. Subsequently, blackcurrant syrups and lozenges became popular remedy to eliminate inflammation in the throat.

The benefits of black currant

Black currant is rich in antioxidant vitamins and microelements, which in combination provide excellent protection against free radicals that cause cell modification in the child’s body and lead to disease. Currant berries are a rich source of vitamin C. Six blackcurrants contain more vitamin C than a whole lemon. In fact, guava contains as much vitamin C as black currants. As an important antioxidant, vitamin C fights free radicals, helps prevent colds and viral infections, and protects white blood cells from pathogens. Vitamin C is also necessary for the production of antibodies. It plays a key role in the production of interferon. Interferons are proteins that act like antiviral agents, preventing the retention of viruses in the child’s body. They are produced and released by cells as a result of a viral infection and transmit information to neighboring cells about an impending viral attack and possible death. In this case, the cell and the virus contained in it are destroyed simultaneously. Black currant Also rich in antioxidant phytoproducts called flavonoids. They help protect cells immune system, slowing down the production of free radicals, which are by-product metabolism and can damage healthy cells. The effects of free radicals are usually contained by antioxidants in foods, but their production may increase during infection or due to external factors such as smoking and pollution. environment. If the body produces too many free radicals, it can lead to serious diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Flavonoids, along with other antioxidants (such as vitamins A, C and E, zinc and selenium) help fight increased free radical production. Black currants contain vitamins, which are represented by a group of flavonoids called proanthocyanidins, which have an antioxidant power twenty times greater than that of vitamin C and 50 times that of vitamin E. They also eliminate inflammation by lowering histamine levels and can be used in the fight against inflammatory diseases. processes such as arthritis and allergies. Proanthocyanidins also have antibacterial effects. Black currant is also a source of lutein, one of the group of phytofoods known as carotenoids, which are believed to have strong antioxidant properties. Like other carotenoids, lutein works together with other antioxidants to provide a high level of protection. Therefore, the combination of antioxidants contained in blackcurrant makes it a real super protector of the child’s immune system.

Blackcurrant for children

Include black currants in your child's diet. Black currant goes very well with other summer berries. Due to its sour taste, it is often used as a filling for sweet fruit puddings, pies or as one of the components of sauces. Blackcurrant for children can be served in the form of jam and jelly, it is also a great addition for berry puree. There are many blackcurrant dishes that children like. And you shouldn’t try to improve the sour taste of blackcurrants with sugar. If there is a need to use sugar, it is better to replace it with fructose. Fructose, a low-calorie fruit sugar, is similar to granulated sugar and is the best sugar substitute. It tastes sweeter than sugar, and therefore it should be used in small quantities and it is healthier. IMMEDIATE PROPERTIES Important Nutrients:

Vitamin C, potassium.

Herbal products:

Lutein, proanthocyanidins.

Way to strengthen the immune system:

Antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, antihistamine and antioxidant effects.

Blackcurrant recipes for children

Apple and blackcurrant jelly

Soft jelly will appeal to all children. You can buy concentrated juice in stores to prepare it, since it does not contain additional components in the form of sugar or artificial substitutes.

1/2 cup (115 ml) concentrated apple and blackcurrant juice
2 cups (450 ml) water.
2 packets of gelatin (or a substitute for vegetarians)

Preparation:

In a saucepan, mix the concentrated juice with water and heat the mixture until almost boiling.
Add the gelatin and continue stirring until it dissolves.
Pour the liquid into a jelly mold and leave it to cool.
Once it has cooled, place it in the refrigerator until ready.

This dish gets a special taste when you add ice cream to it. homemade or natural yogurt.

Preparation:

Place the blackcurrants in a food processor and sprinkle the fructose sugar over the top. Leave for half an hour, then turn on the food processor.
Pass the liquid through a sieve to obtain a soft puree and cool in the refrigerator before using.

Pay attention to each other too healthy foods, For example

Of course, the baby should be given berry and fruit puree or compote as complementary foods. These are the main sources of vitamins. But this does not mean that you need to give your baby as many berries as possible. A child’s body simply cannot absorb excess vitamins. At best, the excess will come out in the urine, at worst, it will cause diarrhea and allergies will begin to develop.

When should berries be limited?

Many berries contain vitamin C; it perfectly improves immunity and helps avoid colds, but is not recommended for kidney diseases. If you consume too much vitamin C during such diseases, it will lead to the formation of kidney stones.

If there are problems with the child’s digestive system, berries can only be given in the form of jelly, compote, mousse or jelly, that is, after heat treatment. If your baby has a food allergy, then under no circumstances should you give strawberries, raspberries, wild strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or blackcurrants as complementary foods. For babies with allergies, it is better to give complementary foods in the form of gooseberries and red currants.

The main rules of berry feeding

The main rules for feeding a baby with berries are as follows:

Know when to stop and don’t overfeed your child with vitamins;
At what age should a doctor tell you to introduce berries into your diet?
If your baby has any problems with the digestive system, be sure to consult with your pediatrician before introducing berries into complementary foods;
Feeding foods made from berries can cause intestinal infections. And even in a completely healthy baby. To avoid such troubles, the berries must be washed with clean water and then doused with boiling water.

Where is the best place to start?

Pediatricians recommend starting complementary foods with red or white currants, blueberries, and raspberries. But berries such as strawberries and wild strawberries can be given a little later, and it is better to make sure that the baby is not allergic to them. Berries can be given to children at least 6 months old.

You need to start introducing berries into complementary foods, like any other product, with very small portions - at the tip of a teaspoon. Gradually, the amount of berries in the diet can be increased, provided that the baby does not have problems with the digestive system and does not develop allergies.

When can you give berries?

Young parents often ask the question: at what age is it better to introduce berry complementary foods, and in what volume? From the age of six months, a portion of berry fruits can be 50 grams. By the age of one year, the portion is usually increased to 100 grams. They are given as a puree until the child learns to chew.

Don’t experiment, don’t give your baby several berries at once. Teach him to one type first. Moreover, when diathesis or allergies occur, otherwise It will be impossible to determine which product the body does not absorb.

Under no circumstances should children be given berries under five months. During the first months of life, the baby's stomach accepts exclusively mother's milk or a specialized formula well. If your baby is given berries early, the following unpleasant consequences may occur:

disturbance of intestinal microflora;
development of pathologies of the digestive system, the occurrence of inflammatory processes;
disruption of the gallbladder;
development of allergies, manifestation of diathesis.

Typically, six-month-old children enjoy eating dairy products with the addition of berries. For example, cottage cheese or yogurt. Add berry puree or juice. Do not add under any circumstances. The baby should try and love the natural taste.

How to cook?

If you decide to feed your child berries, then you should not prepare the berry dish in advance. Do it immediately before feeding your baby. The fact is that the vitamin C contained in them is oxidized under the influence of oxygen and loses its beneficial properties.

In addition to fresh berries or juices, a baby’s diet must contain fruits that have undergone heat treatment. Children usually like various compotes, mousses, jellies, and jelly. During cooking, a significant part of dietary fiber is lost, which benefits children with unstable stools.

Let's look at some tips proper preparation berry dishes for babies:

Berries are placed only in boiling water, this way more beneficial minerals are preserved. The lid should always be closed during cooking. It is better not to use aluminum cookware for cooking;
Do not overcook the fruits;
You cannot store the prepared dish for a long time. It's better to eat it right away;
It is better not to cook the berries, which are delicate in their structure, but to pour them with syrup or boiling water;
The jelly should not be very thick. Use potato starch, not semi-finished jelly;
Edible gelatin should be used for the jelly base. Berry juices are added to it.

Mousse is a jelly mass whipped into foam.

Useful berry properties

The variety of berries is great. It is always difficult to decide at how many months which fruits are best to give to a child. To choose, you need to understand useful properties oh berries.

Raspberries

Raspberries have healing properties, contain a large amount of vitamin C needed by a growing body, as well as calcium and carotene. It can be introduced into a child’s diet from six months. Raspberries are often used to prevent or treat colds. Experts recommend consuming it fresh or as berry puree in case of intestinal dysfunction. For the winter you can make jam or compote. Many people add raspberry leaves to herbal teas. There are contraindications only when the child has only individual fetal intolerance or allergies.

Black currant

Like raspberries, currants are very common and have a wide range of beneficial properties. It contains vitamins A, B, C. Moreover, they are perfectly preserved even in preparations for the winter, such as compote, preserves, jam. It can be dried for the winter, and the dried leaves of the plant can be added to. Berries are prohibited for infants who have food allergies.

Red Ribes

Red currants contain slightly less vitamins than black currants, but they do not cause allergic reactions and has no contraindications for use at all. Therefore, pediatricians allow it to be introduced into the baby’s menu from the age of five months. Currant juice has unique property– it makes excellent jelly without adding edible gelatin.

Strawberry

You can make compote, puree, jelly, and fruit juice from currants.

Strawberries most often cause allergies in infants; you need to be careful with complementary foods made from these berries. The fruits contain a large number of different vitamins and acids. Strawberries can be given to children fresh in small pieces or as a puree. The berry has a beneficial effect on the baby’s digestive system and increases appetite. Strawberries are recommended as a diuretic, as well as for children with diabetes mellitus

from six months of age. Strawberries perfectly fight various intestinal infections and restore microflora.

Gooseberry

Gooseberries are rich in fiber, pectin, acids and minerals. The fruits are used to make compote or preserve juice, jelly and jam. Gooseberries usually do not cause allergies in children.

Cranberry

Blueberry

Blueberries have anti-inflammatory properties and are recommended for children to normalize the functioning of the digestive system. You can make complementary foods in the form of puree or cook compote from the berries. But doctors do not recommend giving blueberries to a child if he has food allergies.

Strawberries

Fragrant strawberries, like strawberries, are rich in beneficial minerals and acids. Children are recommended to give berries fresh, as puree or to cook compote. Strawberry leaves are added to herbal infusions. These leaves have diuretic properties. Like other berries rich in vitamin C, strawberries should be introduced into complementary foods carefully; they are not recommended for babies with allergies.

Cherry

Among the non-allergenic and healthy berries is also cherry. Children can be given fresh berries after removing the seeds. The only limitation: if the child suffers from constipation, then feeding cherries will have to be postponed a little.

Berry preparations

The most useful thing, of course, is to eat fresh berries. But when winter comes, babies also need vitamins and beneficial microelements. The question arises, what type of berries is better to choose for the winter season. Most effective method- This is fruit freezing. Strawberries, currants and raspberries are best suited for freezing. Berries for the winter need to be prepared correctly so that they do not lose all their beneficial properties.

For high-quality freezing there are several simple rules:

Select juicy but not overripe berries;
Remove leaves and stalks;
Rinse the fruits thoroughly and dry;
Store in a plastic container.

In winter, you can cook compote or make puree from frozen berries. Strawberries can simply be thawed and given to children as complementary foods, provided that there are no allergies. For comparison: berries prepared as compote or ground with sugar retain only 30% of their beneficial properties, while frozen berries retain up to 70%.

When choosing the first complementary food, it is worth remembering that children's digestive system It is still in its infancy and its health depends on the food you give your baby.

Of course, all mothers make sure that the baby always receives a sufficient amount of vitamins in his diet. Therefore, many are looking forward to summer, when there is an opportunity to eat a lot of fresh fruits and berries.

But do not forget about the timeliness of introducing new “delicacies”, their quantity in the baby’s diet and possible allergenicity.

To begin with, it is important to carefully study the information about what berries a child can eat in his first year of life and in the future, so as not to turn something useful into something that “creates problems.”

When are berries introduced into the diet?

When thinking about how many months a child can start eating berries, you should remember the sequence and quantity of introducing different foods into the diet, as well as their possible allergenic nature.

Before offering berries to children under one year old, it is worth considering a number of important factors:

Even if you want to, it will not be possible to provide your baby with vitamins for a long time, feeding him berries “in reserve”, since the body will not be able to absorb more than it needs and the excess nutrients will come out in the urine;
A very large amount of berries in a child’s diet can cause fermentation in the intestines and dilute the stool. So it is necessary to observe moderation in everything (read the article on the topic: Stool after the introduction of complementary foods >>>);
Highly allergenic berries are considered: strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, black currants, cherries;

If the child previously showed a negative reaction to new foods (rash, redness of the skin, sudden change in stool, etc.), then the introduction of these berries should be delayed.

If kidney disease is detected, then it is harmful to consume large amounts of vitamin C, so berries containing it should be given in very limited quantities. These include: black currant, sea buckthorn, rose hips;
For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to give berries after heat treatment: in the form of compotes, jelly, jelly;
Berries with high acidity, such as cranberries, lingonberries, dogwoods, raspberries, cherries, sea buckthorn, are not recommended for gastritis.

So, at what age can a child have berries?

Complementary feeding with berries is best introduced at 8-10 months. They usually appear in the baby’s diet, along with fruits, after being introduced to vegetables, cereals, and meat.

In the question of how many berries a child can have at first, one should be guided by: general rules complementary foods, starting with small doses.

The berries need to be mashed with a spoon or blender, or a decoction can be prepared from them and offered to the baby on the tip of a teaspoon;
If there is no negative reaction, then they can continue to be given, gradually increasing the volume;

Watch the online course, from which you will learn about the sequence of introducing foods + a lot of educational moments so that the child has a good appetite and grows and develops well.

If a child develops an allergy to berries, they must be excluded from the diet for two weeks, then try again, carefully observing the reaction;
It is important to remember that on the day you feed your baby berries (berry puree), fruits are no longer given. They are considered foods in the same category;
When the child gets used to at least one type of berries, you can alternate them with fruits (berries are given on one day, fruits on another, etc.) or combined in a total amount (up to 50 g per day).

Which berries are introduced first?

Like any other complementary food, one type of berry is first introduced into the diet. When you are sure that the child is not allergic to them, you can start giving others. After getting acquainted with several types of berries, you can combine them in puree or compote.

What berries can be given to children first?

These are white, red and black currants, blueberries, plums, blueberries, cherries. They can be offered to a child at 8-10 months;
Closer to 1 year, you can offer your child raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, lingonberries, rosehip decoction, cherries, grapes;
But the baby should be introduced to strawberries, sea buckthorn, gooseberries, dogwood, watermelon, and figs after 1 year.

Useful properties of berries

Before introducing berries into your child’s diet, it is important to familiarize yourself with their beneficial properties:

Currants contain a large amount of vitamin C (especially black), A, PP, therefore, it is useful for strengthening the immune system and heart function. It is also good to use it for iron deficiency, for colds;

Blueberries strengthen eyesight, they contain a lot of fiber, water, iron, manganese, vitamins, C, E, P, PP. It also has a fixing effect, so it can be used for diarrhea (read the article Diarrhea in Infants >>>);
Blueberries are rich in folic acid, vitamins A, C;
Cranberries contain a lot of vitamin C, organic acids, and potassium. It is effective in fighting infections, pathogenic bacteria, and inflammatory processes in the kidneys and bladder;
Raspberries are known for their anti-cold properties and antipyretic effect. It contains a lot of fiber, salicylic acid, iron, calcium, potassium, vitamins: A, C;

Raspberries are useful for stress and disorders nervous system, deterioration of memory and vision, with high cholesterol.

Blackberries help improve immunity, relieve coughs, and are good for gums. It contains a lot of vitamins A, C, glucose, fructose and organic acids;
Strawberries are characterized by a high content of organic acids, pectin, potassium, copper, manganese, folic acid, vitamin C, etc.;
Strawberries contain a lot of fiber, phenols, iodine, magnesium, calcium, manganese, copper, vitamins B, C, etc. It improves the functioning of the heart, brain and nervous system, has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects;
Cherries help improve metabolism, the functioning of the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys;
Cherries prevent the formation of blood clots;
Sea buckthorn is a source of many vitamins (especially A, E, K);
Rosehip contains a lot of iron and vitamin C. A decoction of it is effective means for colds.