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Proper nutrition from the first months of life is crucial for a child's future. It supports the harmonious development of a young body, growth, proper organ function, and also influences well-being. A toddler's readiness to expand their diet presents parents with a significant challenge. How can you ensure a baby's diet is balanced, tasty, and composed of safe products? Learn some useful tips!

The right time for new foods

According to the recommendations of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), an infant should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life [1]. During this time, there is no need to give the infant any other foods or fluids – unless a pediatrician recommends specific supplements or medications. After this period, it's time to gradually introduce complementary foods into the diet (while continuing breastfeeding or formula feeding). Expanding the diet should occur no earlier than the 17th week of life (the beginning of the 5th month) and no later than the 26th week (the beginning of the 7th month) [2]. This is necessary due to the increasing needs of a young body for energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Adding variety to the diet also prepares the baby for a variety of tastes in the future.

First the carrot, then the apple

Before parents begin diversifying their toddler's diet, they should remember the proper order in which to introduce new foods. Because infants have a harder time accepting the savory taste of vegetables, especially bitter greens, these are the first foods to introduce new foods. Once the toddler gets used to the taste of broccoli, and later carrots, you can continue diversifying the diet with other foods—fruit, and later grains, meat, eggs, fish, and dairy products. When introducing a toddler to a wider diet, a good guideline for what, when, and how to serve a child in the first year of life is the infant feeding schedule.

It's important
The most important principle of infant feeding is that the parent decides what, when, and in what form the child will be fed, while the child decides whether and how much to eat. This means that caregivers, guided by the guidelines in the infant feeding schedule, should offer the toddler specific foods at the appropriate times, and the child will decide whether and how much to eat.

Portion sizes and consistencies

Introducing new foods should be gradual, starting with small amounts (a few teaspoons), while observing the child closely. Because there's a risk of intolerance, it's best to avoid introducing several new foods at the same time. It's also important to ensure the right consistency of food. The transition period is a time when infants' chewing skills are still developing. Toddlers reject foods they can't eat. Initial new foods should be presented in pureed or mashed form, and then gradually replaced with foods containing lumps or larger pieces, as well as those hand-fed. Dietary diversity should be maintained so that by the end of the 12th month, the child can eat foods of any consistency.

Gluten – do you have to wait with it?

There's no need for this. Gluten is a common allergen, but according to expert recommendations, small amounts of it should be introduced to infants at the same time as other complementary foods – from the age of 4 to 12 months, while observing the child's reaction to the new product [3]. A good way to start introducing gluten-containing foods to your little one is to choose semolina, which is made from wheat grains.

Selecting products with your baby's safety in mind

A young infant's body is developing rapidly and is sensitive to the influence of the food it consumes. Therefore, choosing complementary foods for a toddler shouldn't be left to chance. It's undoubtedly easy to spot a multitude of products in stores that look similar to those suitable for children. However, it's not worth relying solely on the senses or attractive packaging. A clue that a product is suitable for young children is the age indication on the packaging. This designation symbolizes food intended for infants and young children. With information, for example, after 6 or 10 months of age, parents can choose a product tailored to the child's developmental stage and abilities. Such products must meet strict quality standards set by national and European Union law [4], and their recipes are developed by nutrition experts. Food for children can most often be found in stores on a dedicated shelf.

Support in feeding the youngest – naturally, without unnecessary additives
For a toddler to develop properly and have the energy to learn and play daily, they need meals that provide energy. Porridges designed specifically for toddlers, meaning those with an age indication on the packaging, meet the unique nutritional needs of young bodies. Their nutritional value complies with legal requirements, and the grains they contain undergo hundreds of quality and safety tests. An example of such products is the BoboVita PORTION OF GRAIN porridge. Why should they be included in a toddler's daily diet?
-They contain up to 7 types of various cereals, such as oats, barley, rye, wheat, corn, rice and millet,
- Quality and safety standards for the cereals they contain are up to 800 times stricter than for cereals for adults*, - these are proposals without added sugar (they contain naturally occurring sugars),
- In accordance with legal regulations, they do not contain preservatives or colorants. Because they are nutritious and safe for a developing child's body, they provide a valuable addition to a toddler's diet as they begin to expand their diet.

* Applies to standards for pesticides in cereals.

Important information: It is recommended to continue breastfeeding while introducing complementary foods. Breastfeeding should continue for as long as desired by both mother and baby. Breastfeeding is best for the baby.

[1] World Health Organization, Infant and young child feeding, 2009.
[2] Szajewska H. et al., Principles of feeding healthy infants. Position of the Polish Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical Standards/Pediatrics 2021, Vol. 18.
[3] Szajewska H. et al., Principles of feeding healthy infants. Position of the Polish Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical Standards/Pediatrics 2021, Vol. 18.
[4] "Report: Food Safety and the Nutritional Needs of Infants and Young Children". Edited by: Prof. Piotr Socha, MD, PhD and Anna Harton, 2022 REPORT Food Safety and the Nutritional Needs of Infants and Young Children (1000dni.pl) This document is a compendium of knowledge on the impact of food safety on children's health now and in the future.