At what age can you give strawberries to a child and how to introduce it into the diet?

At the end of May, fresh strawberry fruits can be found on many store shelves. They are known for their taste and a lot of useful qualities that are necessary for the stable functioning of the child's body. Many parents are interested in: “At what age can you give strawberries to a small child”? Before answering this question, you need to find out how this berry affects a fragile body.

All people know perfectly well what strawberries look like and how they grow. Not all consumers can say exactly how many vitamins and minerals this delicious berry contains. The benefits of this product are obvious only when fresh, and therefore Strawberries are best consumed when they are in season.

Strawberries also contain ascorbic acid, B vitamins, retinol and nicotinic acid. In addition, the fruits are rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and iodine, which is vital for the development of a small organism.

This berry is considered a dietary product, since there are only 37 calories per 100 g of weight. Despite the low calorie content, the fruits contain fiber, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. They contain antioxidants that can stimulate brain activity and burn body fat.

With the help of strawberries, you can cleanse the body of toxins and toxins.It allows you to strengthen children's bones and positively affect the musculoskeletal system. The minerals that make up the berries activate the nervous system and improve the mood of the child.

This product helps boost children's immunity. Often, strawberries are used to produce antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs that are designed to treat colds.

Despite many useful properties, strawberries can be dangerous for a child's body. It should not be used by children prone to allergic reactions. If one of the parents is allergic to this berry, then the risk of a positive reaction in the baby increases.

It is important to introduce any product into the children's diet gradually. As for strawberries, the best thing to do is when the child is 2-3 years old. Experts do not recommend offering strawberries to babies under 24 months old, since this berry is a threat even for a one-year-old child. A fragile organism may react poorly to one of its components.

It is very important to adhere to dietary restrictions and a nursing woman. You can not eat strawberries until the baby is at least three months old. After the mother can add this product to the diet, but in small quantities.

Feeding should be started gradually.To begin with, it is enough to give the child half a berry. If after this an allergic reaction does not follow, and the baby feels good, then in a day it is permissible to give him a whole berry. For a month, you can increase the number of fruits up to 8 pieces.

A more gentle way is to introduce strawberry water into complementary foods first. To prepare it, you need to pour the berries with hot water and let it brew for 3-4 hours. If the child responds well to strawberry broth, then next time you can make a cocktail with the addition of diluted pulp. In the same way, it is allowed to add strawberries to the diet of a nursing woman.

Not every parent is able to immediately recognize allergies in their child. After the baby begins to introduce strawberries into complementary foods, relatives should carefully monitor the condition of the baby. Most often, the first sign of an allergy is the appearance of a small rash all over the body.

There are a number of other signs to look out for:

• When a child has severe lacrimation, his eyes turn red, it is safe to say that this is an allergy.
• If the baby often sneezes, his throat is tickled and his tongue is swollen, then you should immediately call an ambulance.
• An allergic reaction can be manifested by a strong flow from the nose.
• It is not uncommon for young children to complain of stomach pain after eating strawberries.
• A child's body can respond to strawberry complementary foods by peeling the skin.

Parents who decide to start strawberry complementary foods should rely not only on the age of the baby, but also on the freshness and quality of the berries. Strawberries have useful properties only when freshly picked and can be stored in open space for no more than two days. Fresh fruits should emit a strong aroma and have a coherent structure. If there is a rotten place on the strawberry or the berry is dented, then it is better to refuse such a purchase.

Another sign of a good strawberry is a limp tail. The berries themselves have a bright red color and moderate elasticity. If the fruits are too dense, then they were plucked unripe and treated with special preparations so that they ripened artificially.

Before giving strawberries to a baby, it is necessary to carefully process it. When the berries were plucked from their garden, it is enough just to wash them under running water.

Despite all the benefits of strawberries, you should not experiment and give it to babies under two years old.

For cooking summer strawberry dessert for children, see the following video.