The HCSP has just updated its food benchmarks for children from 0 to 36 months old. Breastfeeding, diversification, new textures and foods to avoid … Here are the recommendations on baby food, age by age.
(Update from November 6 at 12:47 p.m.). The High Public Health Council (HCSP) has just made a new opinion updated in June 2020, concerning Baby food From birth up to 36 months. He recalls in the preamble that from birth, “Food covers several functions: nutritional, pleasure, socialization, identity“.
Until the age of 4 to 6 months, experts agree on an exclusively milky diet, without food diversification. If breastfeeding within exclusive is the privileged way, the HCSP still specifies that mixed breastfeeding (between the mother’s breast and special infant milk) is also suitable. The report recalls the recommendations of the WHO which advocates breastfeeding in all cases, but which advises to make it at least during the first 4 months of the child for a health benefit, and ideally up to his 6 months.
Breast milk combines several factors What are the cover of nutritional needs, but also benefits in terms of immunity, obesity prevention or better future acceptance of food and textures. Encourage mothers to breastfeed is important. But the HCSP stresses that it is important to respect their choice not to do so, and to avoid guilt.
Regarding Infant infant preparationsthe HCSP recalls that it should only be products labeled “1st age preparations” or “1st age milk”, because their composition is close to breast milk. But he notes that bottle feed has flaws : “It could thus alter its ability to self -regulate short -term food intakes and does not so easily identify its hunger and satisfaction signals“. To help parents detect these signals, the report specifies that Hunger can express themselves in infants By: tears, excited movements of arms and legs, the mouth that opens when the bottle approaches. Regarding the satisfaction, he specifies: falling asleep from the baby to the bottle, slowed feeding pace, arrest of the feeding or even if the baby spit the pacifier.
Diversification of food does not mean breast milk (or its substitute if the mother is not going). Milk must remain the basis of the child’s diet up to at least 1 yearspecifies the HCSP. The minimum daily quantity to give to the baby until this age is 50 centilitres (500 ml./J). But food diversification is important because it allows a transition from infantile food to the family table.
- Up to 4 months, breast milk is enough to cover the nutritional needs of the baby.
- Moreover, parents are advised to wait for the age of 4 months to start this second food phase.
- After 6 months over, milk is no longer enough.
- The preferred option is therefore to start diversification between 4 months over and 6 months over.
It is essential to vary food, and to change it every day. No particular order is recommended, and they can be homemade or bought commercially, even if the first option is favorable. Having him discover as many foods as possible helps prevent food neophobia. The HCSP report specifies that food allergens should be introduced early to detect the children’s sensitivities as quickly as possible. Before one year, vegetable drinks (even enriched in calcium) should not replace preparations for infants and following preparations.
Variety of essential foods:
- Dairy products (food allergen) without added sugars and cheeses with low salt content
- Fruits, vegetables and pulses, potatoes and grain products (including peanuts, allergen)
- Meats and fish
- Cooked eggs (food allergen)
- Fats, essential (although often forgotten before 3 years old)
Children before three years old need lipids more than adults. They play an essential role in their development. They are found in breast milk and in “2nd age” preparations. But as these two sources decrease in proportion in the childhood balance of the child, Lipids must be compensated in a solid way. In house preparations, it is important to add fat, they can also be added to small trade jars.
Before 12 months, no animal milk (cow, sheep, goat or mare) can replace breast milk or its 1st or 2nd age substitute. The HCSP insists on the composition of these milks, which does not respond for all nutrients to minimum and maximum values recommended in this specific age group. They contain for example two to three times too much protein compared to the recommendations, and two to three times less iron than the minimum recommended.
“”It is important to accompany the child to a diet with various textures by adapting the size and hardness of the pieces to the child’s capacities “,, introduces the report. Texture food must be introduced between 8 and 10 months, to prepare the child for chewing. It is advisable to opt for solid foods but soft at 8 months, and if everything is going well to go towards harder foods at 10 months. But before having her child consume hard foods, check:
- That he keeps his head and back straight in the chair
- That it swallows the smooth and thick purees without difficulty
- That he makes jaw movements when he carries an object to his mouth
- That he naturally carries food to his mouth in autonomy (this means that he is trying to eat alone)
- That he is interested in the meal (trying for example to use the neighboring plate)
If baby refuses a food at the start of diversification, he must be offered to him at least 8 times Subsequently to be finally accepted by the child.
Before 3 years old, the child discovers a wide variety of foods but does not eat like adults. Some products are not recommended such as sweet foods (candy, dessert creams, ice cream, sugary drinks etc.) or savory (aperitif cookies). Ditto for charcuterie and fries.
Beyond 1 year, babies can continue to drink breast milk, or failing the “growth milks”. This last type of milk would be preferred up to 3 years, because it is a source of iron. But given its cost, the HCSP offers to alternate with whole cow’s milk (not half skimmed or raw), paying attention to the iron deficiencies of your child. Iron can also be provided by a diet rich in legumes, meat, or foods rich in vitamin C to promote the absorption of iron. Little by little, the amount of milk must decrease in favor of solid foods so as not to expose your child to too full of protein. It should in no case exceed 800ml/day. Beyond 1 year, the child begins to take the snack. It is important to avoid too sweet products. Instead, promote a cereal product, and/or a compote or a dairy product.
In order to give young parents clear indications on food that is not recommended, ANSES had established two lists in a 2017 report, confirmed by the recent HCSP report.
Regarding the contribution of sugars, a real public health problem, ANSES is based on a recent study by the European Commission on food for babies available on the European market, and denounces several categories of food, in particular Biscuits and cookiewho can “contribute to bringing excessive quantities of total sugars to children“. Beyond the need for public power to establish”sugar content criteria so that these products are adapted to the consumption of young children“, Parents can on a daily basis reduce the consumption of their children by observing labels well, by making homemade snacks and promoting healthy snacks.
The pace of meals for children from 12 to 36 months old is similar to that of adults: breakfast, lunch, taste and dinner. It is not enough to know which foods to give and how to introduce them into baby’s diet. The context of the meal is also of fundamental importance. It is therefore very important that the meal is A moment of conviviality, shared if possible with the family and without a lit television ! ANSES specifies that it is important to avoid all sources of distraction that can “Turn off the child’s attention from his plate, his sensations and satisfaction signals and can also limit the possibility for the child to observe other guests and their eating behavior“. A large part of this learning of” eating well “is done thanks to the observation, the baby must therefore be in a warm and calm context favorable to exchanges. The other guests present are also there to encourage him to taste without forcing him to eat!
