How much complementary food does your baby eat?
With the introduction of complementary foods, you may be wondering if your child is eating enough to fill themselves up and develop healthily? The Research Department for Child Nutrition (FKE) recommends the ideal amount of complementary food and explains why it is quite normal for babies to eat very little complementary food at the beginning.
From the 5th month of life, the pure milk diet can be slowly supplemented by the introduction of supplementary meals. However, the point in time is extremely individual. For example, if you want to continue breastfeeding, that’s perfectly fine. This is especially true if you’re just getting the hang of how much milk baby needs to feel full. However, if you would like to offer your baby complementary food, the information from the Research Department for Child Nutrition (FKE) will help you. Here you will find a summary of the amounts of complementary food that your baby needs.
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ToggleHow much complementary food at the beginning?
When you first try to feed your baby complementary food, it will probably push the offered porridge out of its mouth with its tongue. This shouldn’t worry you too much, however, as it usually doesn’t indicate that your baby doesn’t like it. Rather, it first has to learn the motor processes that are necessary to swallow the food with the new consistency and to reorient itself from sucking to eating from a spoon. Initial difficulties when feeding complementary food are therefore quite normal and you should be patient with your baby and not force anything on him.
If you are just introducing the porridge, the primary goal is not for your baby to get full from the complementary food, but for it to slowly get used to the new food. Every child has their own pace and you should make the transition from pure milk feeding to supplementing complementary food as gently as possible so that your baby can get used to the new situation and gain security. Therefore, initially only feed your baby a few spoonfuls of pure vegetable puree before you give it the usual milk meal. Once the first difficulties have been overcome, your little one will eat a little more porridge from time to time and you can increase the amount a little every day. If your baby eats a full portion of mashed vegetables of around 90 grams, you can add another ingredient,Vegetable-potato-meat-porridge is described.
To save time, homemade complementary foods can be prepared very well in advance and frozen. It is important that you pack them in airtight containers, such as the KIDDO FEEDO freezer containers made of high-quality, food-safe silicone.advertisementWith minimal effort, the frozen food is thawed again and you get a perfectly portioned porridge.
Baby food storage container
With the practical freezer containers, you can easily prepare healthy baby food and defrost it in portions as needed. This saves a lot of time and you are always well prepared. The Kiddo Feedo freezer containeradvertisementis made from high-quality, food-grade silicone and is free from plasticizers, BPA and toxins.
Storage system Philips Avent
Also the Philips Avent storage systemadvertisementis ideal for storing baby food. You can store the mugs in the fridge or freezer. The leak-proof lids ensure that the cups are securely closed both when stowed away and when traveling.
Tip: If you don’t cook the complementary food yourself, small jars are particularly suitable at the beginning , since your baby only eats very small amounts.
Is your baby ready for solid food?
If your baby is having a hard time starting solid food, it may be too early to get used to the new form of food. You can find out how you can tell if your baby is ready in our article “Introduce complementary food – is your baby ready?” .
Vegetable-potato-meat porridge: Amount of porridge for the first porridge meal
Gradually increase the amount of porridge in the vegetable-potato-meat porridge, the first porridge of the complementary food, to around 200 grams. Only then is it no longer necessary to feed it with milk, as your baby gets enough energy from the porridge meal. The FKE recommends the following values for the first year of life:
- Between the 5th and 7th month , your baby should eat about 190 grams with their lunchtime meal . The manufacturers of baby jars are also based on this value and offer baby menus in this size.
- Between the 8th and 9th month , the recommended amount of porridge then slowly increases to around 220 grams . The baby food manufacturers are also reacting to this recommendation by offering so-called junior menus.
- Between the 10th and 12th month , the amount of porridge that you should offer your baby with the vegetable-potato-meat porridge can then increase a little again.
Milk-cereal porridge: Amount of porridge for the second porridge meal
From about the sixth month of life, the second porridge of the complementary food is introduced with the milk-cereal porridge . It replaces another milk meal, for example in the afternoon. The FKE recommends the following composition:
Grain-fruit porridge: Porridge amount of the third porridge meal
The third porridge of complementary foods, which can be introduced around the 7th month, is the cereal-fruit porridge .
At the latest with the introduction of the cereal-fruit porridge, the milk meals no longer represent the “pillars” of your baby’s diet, but only supplement the three main meals of the supplementary food. However, if your baby asks for milk, you can continue to offer it without any problems.
At the beginning of the second year of life, you can then slowly get used to your child getting used to the family diet until his daily diet consists of five solid meals. You can find out more about implementing a healthy diet for your child under “Child nutrition” .
What if the baby eats less solid food?
If your baby does not eat the recommended amount of porridge from time to time or even misses a meal completely, for example because your child is tired or distracted, this is not immediately a cause for concern. Babies’ feelings of hunger and satiety are usually very reliable. Since every baby is different and your little one, just like you, is not as hungry every day, you should definitely keep calm if there are any deviations.
The amounts given are only guidelines to give parents an indication of how much a baby should eat on average. Therefore, never try to force your baby to eat, but let it decide for itself what and how much of what you offer it wants to eat. If your baby refuses to eat for a long time, you should consult your pediatrician if necessary. He will be able to tell you whether your child is still developing healthily.
You can find out what reasons there may be for your baby not wanting to eat solid food in our article “8 tips if your baby doesn’t want to eat” .
How much should a baby of complementary feeding age drink?
If your baby gets complementary food, it needs additional drinks. The more complementary foods that are introduced, the more fluids are required. So don’t be surprised if it doesn’t drink much in the beginning. It is best to offer your baby a drink before and after meals. Still water is best for this. For example, you can easily have the water from the tap checked . Alternatively, you can also use unsweetened teas, such as the sugar-free “Hipp’s first feel-good tea”, which is specially designed for babies.advertisement with organic fennel, organic anise and organic caraway.
How much variety in complementary food is necessary?
According to scientific findings, it is advantageous if babies get to know different types of vegetables at an early age. This encourages them to be more open to new tastes later on. However, babies do not need spices or flavor enhancers. If you would like to know more about the perfect preparation, extensive recipe ideas and everything to do with complementary foods, we recommend the guide ” Baby porridge: A safe introduction to complementary foods” by expert Natalie Stadelmann.