Is it possible to give strawberries to a one-year-old child? At what age can you give your child strawberries: tips and recommendations

It is simply impossible to imagine summer without fresh vegetables, fruits and berries; at this time of year, parents take advantage of the situation and give their child a variety of fresh foods in order to enrich his body with useful substances. But is everything so simple and are such actions solely beneficial?

This question is especially relevant in relation to strawberries, which are so loved by children and adults, because their consumption can cause an allergic reaction. This berry first came to Europe in the 16th century thanks to a French officer who brought strawberries to the royal cook from Chile. His description of this fruit is completely true - a unique taste that brings pleasure to the mind, and an aroma that excites the soul. Undoubtedly, the berry contains a lot of useful substances that a child needs, but the most the main problem which every parent needs to decide - at what age can you give your baby fragrant strawberries?

The benefits and dangers of strawberries

Every person knows what strawberries look like - they are relatively small red berries with pink flesh and a sweet and sour taste. The plant is a perennial and can grow almost everywhere. In winter, it is brought from Chile or Israel, but during the season (May-June) you can buy berries from local fields. Greatest benefit small berries are hidden precisely during the season, which usually lasts no more than four weeks, but the rest of the time one can already doubt the high value of the product.

Strawberries affect the human body in several ways:

• beneficial effect on the digestive system;
• improves appetite;
• normalizes blood composition;
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• improves the body's immune defense;
• diaphoretic and diuretic effects;
• quenches thirst well;
• has an antimicrobial effect (fresh berries and jam from them are used as folk remedy in the treatment of colds);
• anti-inflammatory effect.

Photo gallery: systems that are favorably affected by strawberry consumption

Such a wide range useful action becomes possible due to the content in the berries of a mass of substances essential for the body, namely vitamins C, A, B, calcium, magnesium, selenium, iron, folic acid, phosphorus, etc.

Despite such an impressive list of beneficial properties, strawberries are considered a strong allergen, so it is advised to give them to children very carefully.

Parents who themselves are allergic should be especially attentive to expanding their child’s diet.

Considering the high probability of soil and animal excrement getting on the berries, strawberry fibers can carry a huge number of dangerous microorganisms, which necessitates the need for special careful processing before eating.

At what age can you give your child strawberries?

Strawberries should be introduced into the diet gradually

It is recommended to give strawberries to a child only after reaching the age of two. In addition, there are restrictions in the mother’s diet during breastfeeding - you should not eat this berry for the first two months. In the future, you can gradually introduce it into your diet, but in limited quantities and gradually. After the first use of the product, experts recommend waiting a few days, and if no negative reaction follows, then you can continue to consume the berry a little at a time.

When the baby has reached the required age, it is also not worth giving him a basket of berries right away; this product must be introduced gradually. So, to begin with, you should give only half of one berry. Careful observation is required during the day - if there are no rashes or abnormal bowel movements, then you can give a whole berry. Gradually, with constant monitoring, you can increase the daily portion to 7-8 berries.

There is another approach to introducing the product into the diet, it is considered more delicate - you need to start not with berries, but with strawberry water. It is very simple to prepare - pour boiling water over the strawberries, leave to brew for several hours and after this date the baby should drink it. Next, the recipe is modified by adding a little crushed pulp to the water. This method can also be used to introduce the product into the diet of a nursing mother.

Another very important aspect– no need to feed your child fresh berries. Pursuing the goal of introducing as many vitamins as possible into the baby’s body, you can only make things worse - a large number of Such products in the intestines cause fermentation processes, which provokes bloating, pain, and stool disorders.

In addition, an overdose of each vitamin has its own health consequences. So, if too much vitamin C enters the body, this will negatively affect the functioning of the kidneys and the urinary system as a whole.

How to choose the right strawberries for a child

In addition to observing age restrictions, before giving your child berries, you need to make sure of their quality. Strawberries are considered fresh for the first two days after picking, taking into account the fact that they have not been stored in the refrigerator. A truly high-quality berry should smell appropriate - the aroma is rich, sweet, without any foreign impurities. Smells of rot and fermentation are a sign of an expired product.

In the summer, parents have the opportunity to pamper their little ones with fresh vegetables and fruits. Such a delicacy is appropriate for older children, because their stomach has already adapted to “adult” food and can easily digest such foods, which cannot be said about the digestive tract of a one-year-old child.

But a growing body at any age needs useful material, which would help him develop, increase his immunity and give him energy for active games. This cannot be achieved without eating vegetables and fruits.

Strawberries for children

Strawberries contain glucose, sucrose, fructose, ascorbic and citric acid. It contains a substance such as fisetin, which is an antioxidant. It has a beneficial effect on memory and improves the thinking process.

Children who eat berries have increased stamina and performance. Strawberries improve hematopoietic processes, strengthen blood vessels and stimulate cell growth in the body.

True, there is also “the other side of the coin”. Strawberries can cause a severe allergic reaction. This is explained by the high pigment content in the berries, which are brightly colored. Also, raw strawberries are not recommended for children who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract and unstable stool.

At what age can a child eat strawberries?

Children on breastfeeding Berries can be introduced into complementary foods from 7 months. It is recommended to give blueberries and currants first. It is better to introduce raspberries, blackberries, and sea buckthorn into the diet at 10-12 months. But strawberries and wild strawberries are allowed to be given to children no earlier than one and a half years.

Berries can be administered either alone or together with other products (porridge, cottage cheese). Sometimes it’s worth starting with mousse, jelly, jam, or giving 10 ml to drink. strawberry compote. After all, a stomach that is not yet strong will accept cooked foods more softly. After a few days, you can give your babies raw berries.

Compliance with the rules

Strawberry – sweet berry, therefore, when preparing food with its addition, you should not sprinkle the dish with sugar. Let children learn to perceive the natural taste of the product.

Children are often allergic to new berries, so in order to be able to determine what exactly the reaction occurred to, there is no need to give them several varieties at the same time. That is, strawberries, raspberries and wild strawberries on the same day, if the kids have not eaten them before.

With the arrival of summer, we can enjoy delicious berries. Strawberries and strawberries are the most popular types. They have a sweet-sour taste and pleasant aroma, and contain a large amount of important vitamins and minerals.

But, despite the benefits, these are strong allergens that can provoke a negative reaction and stomach upsets. Therefore, doctors advise not to rush to introduce such berries into the diet of young children. Let's find out at what age you can give strawberries to your child.

Useful properties of strawberries and strawberries

Interestingly, strawberry is a large-fruited strawberry variety. Therefore, the beneficial properties of these berries are similar. These include fiber and pectin, tannins and essential oils, organic acids and B vitamins, vitamins A and C. In addition, the fruit contains iodine and iron, potassium and calcium, manganese and copper, zinc.

The benefits of strawberries and strawberries include the following properties:

• Improves the functioning of the intestines and digestion;
• Increases the body's immunity and defenses, eliminates germs;
• Cleanses the body, removes toxins, excess salts and harmful substances;
• Improves heart function and strengthens the walls of blood vessels, normalizes blood pressure;
• Has a beneficial effect on the condition of joints and thyroid gland, improves blood composition;
• Relieves fatigue and stress, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of nerve cells, gives strength and energy;
• Preserves vision and optical nerves, prevents destruction of the retina;
• Reduces weight and regulates material metabolism;
• Stimulates brain function, improves alertness and memory;
• Increases appetite and quenches thirst;
• A decoction of plant leaves will relieve bad breath. In addition, this tincture is useful for washing your face. It improves skin condition;
• Prevention of rickets in young children;
• Helps in the treatment of gout, arthritis and rheumatism, kidney diseases and liver failure, bleeding and inflammation, intestinal disorders.

In Russia, delicious berries appear in May–July. These are the most useful and safe fruits. At other times, strawberries and strawberries are imported from other countries. Such products should be treated with caution, as they often contain nitrates, toxins, preservatives and other dangerous substances.

Possible harm to berries

Strawberries, wild strawberries and garden strawberries are strong allergens. Saturated bright colors can cause negative consequences, including rashes and rashes, redness and itching of the skin, runny nose and tearing, swelling and hives. These signs indicate the presence of an allergic reaction in the baby. More detailed symptoms of food allergies are presented.

You should not eat strawberries if you have colic in the kidneys and liver, with appendicitis and diseases of the biliary tract, with gastritis and pancreatitis, with ulcers and increased acidity stomach. Due to the high sugar content, berries are not recommended for people with diabetes. They are prohibited for food allergies in children.

Unwashed fruits and berries grown with the addition of nitrates and various chemicals cause severe poisoning and the development of intestinal infections. Therefore, it is advisable for a child to use only fresh crops grown in his region. And before eating, carefully sort and wash the fruits!

Overeating leads to digestive disorders, causing bloating, cramps and fermentation processes in the abdomen. Therefore, it is important to strictly adhere to the dosage. Let's take a closer look at how many months you can give strawberries to your child.

At what age can you give

Many pediatricians do not recommend giving such berries to children under one and a half to two years of age, and if they are allergic to other foods - before three years of age. Some parents are interested in whether it is possible to give one year old child strawberries This can only be done if the baby does not have chronic or allergic diseases. In some cases, it is permissible to give berries to children up to one year old, but not earlier than ten months.

For the first time, let your baby try half a strawberry or a quarter of a strawberry. Observe the baby to see what reaction it has. If you notice a rash, red spots, other symptoms and similar manifestations, it means that your child is allergic to strawberries. Eliminate the product from your diet and consult a doctor. In addition, the baby may experience other stool disorders. In this case, the introduction should also be postponed.

If a negative reaction to strawberries and wild strawberries is not noticed, the baby can sometimes be given berries. Be sure to make sure your baby doesn't overeat! Up to one year you can give 50-80 grams, at the age of one or two years the permissible norm is 100-120 grams. Strawberries for children under four are allowed in a volume of up to 150 grams per day, after four years - up to 300 grams.

In what form and what kind of berries should I give my child?

Be sure to feed your baby fresh fruits. Alternatively, you can puree strawberries or wild strawberries. To do this, mash several berries and mix with water until you obtain a mushy consistency. Don't add sugar, the fruit is already sweet! Puree is easier to swallow and is absorbed in the baby’s body.

After 1 year, you can make compote, juice or fruit drink from strawberries. At first, dilute the drink with water, gradually reducing its concentration. Add fruits to cereals, make yoghurts and desserts. Such recipes are suitable for children over 1.5-2 years old.

Use only seasonal berries. Wash and sort the fruits thoroughly before eating, as they grew close to the ground and may contain many harmful bacteria. Of course, fresh berries are not always available. Therefore, for the winter you can make jam or compote from strawberries and wild strawberries, or freeze the product.

High-quality fruits should be bright red with shiny skin and slightly protruding grains, with a rich and pleasant aroma. Do not use berries with rot or spots, a rotten odor, or wilted or dried stems. Wash the berries and leave them on a plate for several hours. If it leaks juice and leaves specks of juice on the container, you have natural berries without chemicals.

How to properly store strawberries and wild strawberries

Fresh berries should be stored in the refrigerator at temperatures up to +6 degrees for up to four days and no longer than a week at temperatures from zero to +2 degrees. Before storing, do not wash the fruits so that they do not release juice, flow or soften. For the same reason, do not store strawberries and strawberries at room temperature!

If you decide to freeze strawberries or strawberries, sort out the dry, unwashed berries, place them on a flat plate and leave them in the freezer for five hours. After this, package the product in trays, containers or bags and send it for long-term storage. Thus, berries can be stored for about a year at a temperature of -20 degrees, and up to six months if the temperature is above -18 degrees.

To freeze the berries, you can also first puree them. Rinse and sort the product, put it through a blender and put it into containers, and then put it in the freezer. Thaw strawberries and strawberries on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. After defrosting, the fruits will become soft and slightly watery, but will retain most of the beneficial properties and vitamins of fresh produce.

Thawed berries are convenient to use for preparing various drinks, toppings, smoothies and yoghurts. We offer several recipes with strawberries and strawberries that can be prepared for children.

Strawberry and wild strawberry recipes for children

Dumplings with strawberries

• Strawberries – 0.4 kg;
• Flour – 2 cups;
• Water – 2 liters;
• Milk – 50 ml;
• Vegetable oil – 20 grams;
• Egg – 1 piece;
• Sugar – 2 tables. spoons;
• Corn starch – 30 grams.

Half a glass warm water mix with milk, slowly pour into flour. Then add vegetable oil and egg, knead the dough until smooth for six to seven minutes. Wrap the resulting mass in cling film and leave in a warm place for forty minutes.

Wash and sort the strawberries, cut into large pieces and sprinkle with starch, mix. Roll out the dough into a layer and cut out circles. We place berries in the center of each piece and secure the edges so that the fruit is completely hidden. Add sugar to boiling water and add, cook for five minutes. Serve the dish with sour cream.

Children's oatmeal

• Oatmeal – 1 cup;
• Fresh strawberries -100 grams;
• Milk – 3 glasses;
• Jam, honey or ground walnuts- 1 tablespoon;
• Vanillin and cinnamon to taste.

Dairy oatmeal– the best solution for breakfast for a child. This recipe will diversify the diet of children over two to three years old and will make a familiar dish original and tasty.

To prepare, add boiling milk cereals, mix. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon and vanilla, stir and cook for one minute over medium heat, stirring the mixture continuously. Wash the strawberries, place them on top and add jam, nuts or honey.

Quick strawberry pie

• Fresh strawberries – 0.4 kg;
• Chicken eggs – 2 pieces;
• Lightly melted butter – 100 grams;
• Flour – 80 grams;
• Sugar – 80 grams;
• Baking powder – 1 tsp. spoon;
• A pinch of salt.

Prepare the berries; if the fruits are large, cut them into two to four pieces. Lightly grease a baking dish with oil and place strawberries evenly on top. Sprinkle three teaspoons of sugar on top. Separately, beat the eggs with salt, butter and remaining sugar. Sift the flour and mix with baking powder, add to the eggs and mix thoroughly. Pour the resulting dough onto the strawberries and bake for half an hour at 180 degrees.

Raspberry and strawberry compote

• Frozen strawberries – 2 cups;
• Frozen raspberries – 2 cups;
• Water – 5 liters;
• Sugar to taste

Carefully place the thawed berries into boiling water and immediately close the container with a lid. When the liquid boils again, turn off the stove and leave the mixture to brew for 20-30 minutes. Then add sugar to taste. If desired, you can remove the berries with a slotted spoon. The drink turns out to be very tasty, healthy and full of vitamins, with a beautiful rich color.

Strawberry and gooseberry compote

• Gooseberries – 0.4 kg;
• Figs – 2 pieces;
• Lemon – 1 piece;
• Strawberries – 100 grams;
• Water – 3 l.

Rinse strawberries, figs, gooseberries and lemon. Cut the latter into slices. Add the prepared ingredients to boiling water, add sugar and boil for five minutes. After preparation, cool the drink, and it will become a real salvation in the heat. In addition, gooseberry compote effectively relieves swelling.

Strawberry jam without cooking

• Strawberries – 1 kg;
• Sugar – 1 kg.

Wash and crush the berries, add sugar and mix in a deep bowl. Leave for two to three hours until the sugar dissolves. Place the strawberry mixture into clean, dry, sterilized jars and close the lids tightly. Place the jam in the refrigerator for storage. Even more interesting recipes for children you will find the link /.

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

Useful properties and contraindications

All people know perfectly well what strawberries look like and how they grow. Not all consumers can say exactly how many vitamins and microelements this product contains. delicious berry. The benefits of this product are obvious only in fresh form, and therefore It is better to eat strawberries when they are in season.

Strawberries also contain ascorbic acid, B vitamins, retinol and niacin. 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 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 fat deposits.

With the help of strawberries you can cleanse the body of toxins and impurities. It allows you to strengthen children's bones and have a positive effect on the musculoskeletal system. The minerals that make up the berries activate nervous system and help improve the child’s mood.

This product helps boost children's immunity. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are often produced based on strawberries, which are designed to treat colds.

Despite many beneficial properties, strawberries can be dangerous for children's bodies. 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.

This product is contraindicated for children suffering from liver or stomach diseases. Even if the baby tolerates strawberries well, you should not give too many fruits at one meal. Their excess can cause bloating and bowel dysfunction.

Features of introduction to complementary foods

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 reaches 2-3 years of age. Experts do not recommend offering strawberries to babies under 24 months, since even for one year old child this berry is a threat. A fragile body may react poorly to one of its components.

It is very important to adhere to dietary restrictions for breastfeeding women. Strawberries should not be eaten until the baby is at least three months old. Afterwards, mother can add this product to the diet, but in small quantities.

After eating a berry for the first time after the baby is born, it is important to wait 2-3 days to check the reaction of the small, fragile organism.

It is necessary to start complementary feeding gradually. To begin with, it is enough to give your child half a berry. If after this there is no allergic reaction and the baby feels well, then after a day it is permissible to give him a whole berry. In a month you can increase the number of fruits to 8 pieces.

A more gentle way is to first introduce strawberry water into complementary foods. To prepare it, you need to pour in the berries hot water and let it brew for 3-4 hours. If the child responds well to the strawberry infusion, then next time you can prepare 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.

Pediatricians do not recommend giving too many berries to a small child. The desire to saturate the child’s body with vitamins can lead to negative consequences. In addition to abdominal pain and diarrhea, the baby may become oversaturated with vitamin C, which will seriously affect urinary and renal function.

Signs of an allergic reaction

Not every parent is able to immediately recognize allergies in their child. After the baby begins to introduce strawberries into complementary foods, the family should carefully monitor the baby’s condition. 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 that you need to pay attention to:

• When a child has severe lacrimation and his eyes turn red, we can say with confidence that this is an allergy.
• If your baby sneezes frequently, has a sore throat and a swollen tongue, you should immediately call an ambulance.
• An allergic reaction may result in a strong nasal discharge.
• It is not uncommon for young children to complain of stomach pain after eating strawberries.
• A child’s body may react to strawberry complementary foods by peeling the skin.

If your baby experiences an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, watery eyes or rhinitis, you should immediately give him an antihistamine. If the child’s mucous membranes and tongue are swollen, then this is a reason to urgently seek medical help.

Selection rules

Parents who decide to start strawberry complementary feeding should rely not only on the age of the baby, but also on the freshness and quality of the berries. Strawberries have beneficial properties only when freshly picked and can be stored in an 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 picked unripe and treated with special preparations so that they ripen artificially.

Before giving strawberries to your baby, you need to carefully process them. When the berries have been picked from your garden, all you need to do is wash them under running water.

If parents doubt the quality of the fruit, then it is worth using an ozonizer, which is designed for home disinfection of products.

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

At the same time, it is important to monitor the reaction of the child’s body for the first few days and prevent overeating.

Watch the following video to learn how to prepare summer strawberry dessert for children.

The benefits of strawberries.

Strawberries are not only very tasty and healthy berry, it is also a natural remedy.
This berry has beneficial effect on digestion, thereby improving appetite. It has diaphoretic and diuretic effects, quenches thirst, and improves blood composition.
Strawberries are good to eat for children suffering from anemia and diabetes mellitus. Strawberries can reduce the risk of getting the flu. It has strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

In addition, this berry destroys pathogens of intestinal infections, pneumococci, staphylococci, streptococci. With daily consumption of strawberries (in season), blood vessels are strengthened and the properties of immune system body.

It is recommended to eat it for diseases of the kidneys and urinary system. Strawberries contain a huge amount of vitamins and minerals: Vitamins B, C, A, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, folic acid.

Polysaccharides in combination with organic acids normalize the properties of intestinal microflora and remove waste and toxins from the body. Beneficial features The list of this miracle berry can be endless...

But still, despite all the benefits of strawberries, they should be introduced into a child’s diet with great caution.

When (from what age) can you give your child strawberries?

Pediatricians advise not to rush to give your child this berry, as it is one of the strongest food allergens. You can introduce your baby to it after 1 year, first give the child half a berry, the next day, if no unwanted reactions appear (rash, diarrhea), you can double the portion.

Many mothers start giving strawberries too early - at 6-7 or 8 months. You shouldn’t do this, because the baby is still very small for such a product. If you give your baby this dessert, be sure to monitor the reaction of the child’s body.

There is no need to give your child too many strawberries, as the substances contained in them can accumulate in the body and can cause severe diathesis in the child. If your baby is not allergic to berries, you can give him several berries a day.

Can pregnant or breastfeeding mothers eat strawberries?

If you have not previously observed allergic reactions If you do not like it, you can eat this berry during pregnancy, but with caution (several berries a day).

A nursing woman should carefully monitor her diet. You can eat a couple of berries, if the baby doesn’t have anything unpleasant, then eat more (several pieces a day).

I would also like to say that you should not buy strawberries too early or out of season. It’s better to wait for your garden berry and enjoy its taste without fear for the health of the baby.