Kefir for children: at what age can I give?

Sour-milk products are needed by the growing body due to their usefulness and ability to normalize the digestive system. However, not everyone is aware of when it is necessary to conduct the first acquaintance of the baby with kefir. Serious problems can appear with an incorrect introduction to basic nutrition, which parents will have to deal with. In order not to harm your baby, learn all about the use of kefir by children.

The positive effect of kefir on the body of a child

1. This product refers to a fermented milk drink, which is obtained by fermenting milk and using kefir fungi. The final product goes snow-white, homogeneous, with a small inclusion of carbon dioxide.
2. If you translate the name of the drink from the Caucasian language, literally it means "health". Everyone uses kefir instead of milk, because it is easier to digest and has fewer contraindications. Therefore, mothers try to include the product in the baby’s menu as soon as possible.
3. The main value lies in the ability to strengthen the immune system. With proper intake, the body is formed in accordance with age. Beneficial bacteria provide protection during colds and the spread of influenza during the off-season.
4. Kefir is responsible for the best absorption of food by the human body. Everyone knows that the digestive tract of a child is not able to independently process some food. Kefir improves the activity of the intestines and stomach, carries out the prevention of colic, constipation, diarrhea, and other disorders.
5. In parallel with this, the intestinal microflora is being established. Doctors advise parents to treat the child with this drink during treatment with hard medicines. Dairy product improves the effect of drugs, but reduces their toxicity.
6. Antiseptic properties prevent dysbiosis, this quality is very important for small gourmets. The drink prevents the rotting of food in the intestines, thereby maintaining the microflora at the proper level.
7. Thanks to the antioxidants present in the composition, all the important systems and organs of the baby are cleaned. Dairy products should be present in the diet during illness and rehabilitation after it.
8. Kefir is based on calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus and other substances that form bone tissue. The product makes the musculoskeletal system strong, fights against rickets, and fills voids in bones and cartilage.

Rules for introducing into the diet by age

1. Features of the inclusion of this product in the menu of the child depends on the constant nutrition of the baby. If he is breastfeeding, then he should introduce the baby with kefir after he reaches 8 months of age. With artificial nutrition mixtures, the introduction of kefir from six months of age is permissible.
2. Babies who have not reached 1 year old are allowed to give a drink once daily (not more often). In this case, the maximum daily rate is established - 0.2 liters. At the first feeding, treat the baby 10 ml., Watching the reaction. If all is well, then increase the servings. After a month, you need to reach 50 ml. per day. A child of 9-10 months is given 0.1 l each. per day, one year old children - 0.2 liters.
3. Not always the baby perceives kefir as something tasty due to the inherent sourness of the product. This problem is easily solved by mixing dairy products with berries or fruits, depending on how old the baby is. Also, fermented baked milk is given as an alternative, it coincides with kefir in composition, but children like it better in taste.
4. The above recommendations are applicable when it comes to treating a child with kefir in cow's milk. As for the goat, he will not be able to fully absorb the body of the crumbs, which has not reached 10 months of age.
5. In order not to harm your child, do not exceed the daily rate. Otherwise, the excretory system simply can not cope with the load. It will be possible to increase the allowed amount when the baby reaches 3 years of age.
6. An important role is played by the time of day when kefir is taken. If you plan to give it crumbs before preparing for bed, visit your doctor in advance to determine the acidity of the stomach. If it is low, then reception in the evening hours is allowed.
7. With increased rates, this can not be done so as not to provoke the development of gastritis and other gastrointestinal pathologies. To get only benefit from a sour-milk drug, you should teach your baby to kefir in the period before lunch. So you can control the reaction and, if necessary, exclude a new product from the diet.

The consequences of the early introduction of kefir in the diet

1. If you are going to introduce a fermented milk product into the diet of a baby who is under 8 months old, this can lead to problems in the functioning of the unformed digestive system.
2. As a result, a child may even begin to have stomach bleeding. In addition, the early entry of kefir in the baby's menu provokes the development of renal failure and other equally serious pathologies that pose a particular danger.
3. The product in question contains a high concentration of casein. As a result, such food becomes heavy enough to be digested. Along with this, the weak digestive system of the child can not fully absorb carbohydrates. The product is poorly absorbed.
4. In addition, the child’s excretory system is highly stressed. In no case do not give kefir to the baby if he has regular diarrhea, gastritis, epilepsy.
5. In some cases, an allergic reaction develops in a dairy product in children. Such an ailment can occur instantly or after a few hours. Therefore, always monitor the health status of the child.
6. Most often, an allergic reaction manifests itself in the form of nausea, sudden jumps in body temperature, regular vomiting, painful cramps. In cases where the allergy manifests itself gradually, you can observe a rash on the body, redness on the skin, cough, runny nose, irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes.
7. If suddenly you begin to notice something like this, immediately call an ambulance. In some cases, kefir even causes constipation. This is due to the inability of the child's body to absorb lactose.

What kind of kefir is allowed to give to children

1. If you decide to introduce the product in question into the diet, it is worth knowing which drink is best suited for this. Immediately worth mentioning is the two two types of drink. Kefir can be cooked on your own or purchased in a store already ready.
2. As you already understood, it is a home-made product that will have maximum benefit. In addition to this, the unique advantage of the product is also its unique taste. Shop products cannot boast of such.
3. However, not every newly made mother has time to prepare such drinks. For this reason, many prefer the purchased products. So that the baby does not experience any problems, you must know some subtleties when choosing a store kefir.
4. On such a product must necessarily be marked "Children's" or "For children." In this case, manufacturers try to adapt the composition to the weak digestive system of the kids as much as possible. Regular kefir is allowed to be given to children no younger than 3 years old.
5. Carefully study the composition of the fermented milk product. In such a drink should not be present additives marked "E". Also avoid the presence of colorants and flavors. With such components, the drink will not have any benefit.
6. Be especially careful when choosing to produce Agusha and Tema. Such drinks are not suitable for all children. Often, newly-made mothers complain about the manifestation of an allergic reaction in babies.

If possible, try to prepare a fermented milk product yourself. In this way, it will be possible to avoid most of the common problems that a baby may experience when meeting a new drink. If you decide to purchase the product in the store, carefully read the composition. Look at the expiration date.

Video: dairy products for children