Pumpkin for a baby: when to give, how much to cook, how to cook

The first complementary food for a little person is stressful for the digestive system. Not every product is suitable for a delicate stomach. Pumpkin is a vegetable recommended by pediatricians for administration to babies under 1 year of age. It contains many nutrients and microelements that help normalize intestinal function and cope with fecal obstruction. Therefore, it is recommended to know how to cook pumpkin.

Useful properties of pumpkin

Pumpkin is specially introduced into complementary foods for babies. This is due to the fact that the nutrients contained have a beneficial effect on a rapidly growing organism.

The following useful properties are distinguished:

It has a choleretic effect, which is necessary as a preventive measure to prevent liver pathologies;
The vegetable contains a large list of vitamins, among which beta-carotene stands out. It is required for the organs of vision and the skeletal system. At the same time, it affects the increase in the child’s overall immunity;
After eating the dishes, a diuretic effect is felt. This has a positive effect on kidney function;
Contains a large amount of dietary fiber, which, once in the stomach, regulates the digestion process;
Vitamin T helps strengthen the muscle corset and mass;
Prepared decoction or freshly squeezed juice, adding 1 liter. honey has a beneficial effect on the baby’s nervous system, calming him. The substance affects the child’s attention, memory, improves sleep;
A significant list of vitamins (D, C, iron, silicon, calcium, B vitamins) has a beneficial effect on the growth and mental development of the baby.

If the child has a good appetite and quickly gains weight, then the orange beauty is perfect for consumption. It does not contain many calories and is considered dietary.

The vegetable has practically no contraindications, but before using it, young mothers should find out whether there is a prohibition on taking it.

Benefit

This fruit helps strengthen vision and has antioxidant and anthelmintic properties. Thanks to the vitamins it contains, it strengthens the immune system, improves skin condition, protects against irritation and, in addition, affects sleep - it is an excellent natural sleeping pill.

Experts recommend using pumpkin for feeding babies. Since the plant contains many nutrients and beneficial substances, baby food prepared from the pulp of this fruit is especially valued during the period of growth and development of a child under 1 year.

When is it better to avoid pumpkin - allergies?

The only contraindication to taking this tasty product is individual intolerance by the child. The child develops an allergic reaction and exhibits symptoms of intestinal upset.

Allergies are identified in each child individually. One baby develops a slight rash on the cheeks or other places, called diathesis. Another child has yellowing of the skin of the palms and the whites of the organs of vision.

Therefore, to determine whether a child has an allergic reaction, it is worth initially conducting a small test. Give the minimum dosage – ½ or ¼ tsp. If after 15 minutes - half an hour no redness appears, the dish can be safely introduced. If redness appears, the child should not give it.

Rules for introducing pumpkin into complementary foods

The first feeding is an important event and a stressful state. It is unknown how the digestive organs will react to new food. Therefore, it is recommended to feed with green or whitish vegetables. Red-haired beauty is allowed as a second vegetable, along with beets and carrots.

If you introduce the orange beauty earlier, there is a possibility of dermatitis caused by an allergic nature. Stomach upset occurs: loose stools, vomiting or colic.

Therefore, initially, to check the reaction, add no more than 0.5 tsp to the dish, and then increase the mass to 0.04 kg.

At what age can you start giving

Giving an artificial pumpkin to a baby is allowed from 5-6 months. For breastfed babies, it is advisable to wait a while with complementary feeding and start introducing it after six months.

It is recommended to introduce your baby to pumpkin after introducing zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower. When a child tries a red vegetable, he is unlikely to want to be content with tasteless dishes.

How often can you give

After a test has been carried out for the presence of contraindications, you can alternate the available vegetables. If you often give your baby pumpkin, you can provoke negative consequences: yellow palms will appear not from an allergic reaction, but from oversaturation of the body.

Pumpkin for babies is recommended 2 times in 7 days. The vegetable is given as an independent dish, and 1 tsp is added. in the form of a dessert.

Basic recommendations for introducing the product into a child’s diet

When offering a new product, you must adhere to the following rules:

The product that the child tries should not be administered at night; it is recommended to be given in the morning, before the second feeding. The time is chosen so that the child is hungry and eats the offered portion. A morning test will make it clear whether there is an allergy.
First input – 0.5 tsp. If the baby likes it, the norm is gradually increased.
At the first signs of an allergic reaction, stop feeding. It is recommended to try again in a month.
Give food using a spoon.
Pumpkin puree for babies is not served chilled. It is heated in a water bath to a temperature not higher than +37..+400C.
There is no need to rush with new ingredients. It is necessary to maintain a gap of 14 days between new dishes.

Feed when the baby is healthy. It is not recommended to give vegetables or fruits before vaccination and after vaccination. It will be difficult to determine what caused the allergy.

Is it possible to give raw pumpkin?

The red fruit has a large list of useful substances. Raw pumpkin, in contrast to the finished dish, differs in the composition of vitamins and minerals. This is due to the fact that when exposed to temperatures, beneficial substances evaporate.

You should not give the raw ingredient to your child. Fibers stimulate indigestion: pumpkin weakens, severe pain, bloating, increased flatulence, and profuse vomiting are detected.

You should not experiment and give food that is difficult to chew when raw. Without heat treatment, the fruit is allowed for children reaching 3 years of age.

Pumpkin puree for babies, how to prepare it correctly

The best pumpkin dish for children under one year old is puree. It turns out tender, uniform in consistency, aromatic, rich in bright shade and specific taste. You can purchase the finished mass in specialized stores or at a pharmacy kiosk.

The dish can be prepared at home using various methods. The cooking process is not labor-intensive, the main thing is to choose the right quality raw materials.

To prepare aromatic complementary foods, you will need to purchase a fruit not exceeding 3-5 kg. In this case, it is worth taking not bright, saturated fruits, but preferably a yellow tint, with a slight green tint.

For the first input, this color shade will be the best option. This is due to the fact that the brighter the shade, the greater the likelihood of developing an allergic reaction. The younger the fruit, the less fibrous its internal structure. The pulp is richer, juicier, and has a pleasant sweetish aftertaste.

When choosing a fruit, it is imperative to inspect it completely so that the peel is smooth, without damage or rot.

Although the orange beauty is large and bulky, it is simple and easy to prepare. The process does not require much time or significant effort.

The vegetable can be boiled, stewed, baked or cooked in a steam bath.

When preparing pumpkin for children, it can be used as a single component or combined into original flavor bouquets. But all experiments depend not only on the availability of fruits and other vegetables at home, which can be used as an addition to a pumpkin dish, but also on the characteristics of the baby and his body.

How long does it take to cook a vegetable?

To properly prepare a delicate dish without overcooking it, you need to know exactly the cooking time. Each specific method has its own time period:

Cooks for an average of 30 minutes - 1 hour. The cooking time depends on the volume of chopped pieces;
Steam method – up to 25 minutes;
In the oven – maximum 30 minutes;
In the microwave (the fastest option) – no more than 5-7 minutes;
In a multicooker, you must select the “stew” mode. The procedure takes place within 30-40 minutes;
Frying will take a maximum of 9-10 minutes.

Initially, you should prepare boiled puree for your child to try, and then if the reaction is positive, you can try other cooking methods.

Mashed potatoes for first feeding, basic recipe

To prepare pumpkin when your child is 6 months old as complementary food, you will need to take the following ingredients: 0.5 kg of orange vegetable, at least 150 ml of water.

The raw vegetable is peeled from the outer peel and inner seeds, it is advisable to remove all the fibers. The purified product is cut into arbitrary cubes or pieces. The preferred size for making purees is 2 by 2 cm.

The prepared pieces are laid out in 1 layer at the bottom of the pan. From above they are filled with hot or boiling water. It is necessary to pour in such a volume of water that it completely covers the cubes. The cooking process is carried out under a closed lid.

It is impossible to determine the cooking duration in advance. It depends on the consistency of the fruit. You should try the vegetable for readiness for the first time after 15-20 minutes. To do this, the product is pierced with a knife or fork. If the vegetable sits tightly on the tip, you need to cook it more, it rolls off easily - the dish is ready.

Every kitchen has modern chopping equipment. A blender is suitable for grinding. The boiled pieces are loaded into a container and crushed to a thick mass, but so that there are no separate dense inclusions in it. If there is no such device, then a simple grater will do.

The resulting mass is given to the child from a spoon. Prepared puree for children can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. But to do this, it needs to be placed in small, hermetically sealed containers. The finished product is frozen. In this form, it completely retains its color, taste and nutrients.

How to make puree in a slow cooker

To prepare baby pumpkin puree at home using a multicooker, you should take a slightly smaller volume of the main component: 0.35 kg. The fruit is peeled from the upper dense peel and inner seeds.

The ingredient is placed on the bottom of the multicooker container and boiled hot liquid (0.2 l) is poured on top. You can immediately add a few tablespoons of sugar to immediately sweeten the dish or add granulated sugar after complete cooking.

When all manipulations are completed, the multicooker closes. To obtain a flavorful dish, you must turn on the “stew” mode. The program automatically turns on the time for 30-40 minutes (depending on the model of equipment).

After the period has expired, the ingredients are removed from the multicooker and ground. The resulting puree can be sweetened on top if sugar has not been added before.

In a steamer

Preparation is carried out in the same way as when cooking or using a multicooker: the peel and inner seeds with lint are peeled. The cut cubes are placed in the steamer device, at the bottom of the basket. The duration of evaporation is 20 minutes.

Subsequently, the finished fruit is crushed in a blender. If the child already knows how to chew, he has his first teeth, you can mash the finished dish with a fork and let the child “moisten” the fleecy structure.

Before eating, the prepared dish must be cooled. Only then offer it to the baby.

In the oven

For cooking in the oven, the same preparation procedures are followed. The cut cubes are then placed in a container with high rims. Next, water is poured onto the baking sheet.

It is recommended to take ½ cup, but this norm is not clear. This is due to the fact that housewives have different baking trays or other containers, so it is necessary to pour in so much hot water so that it completely covers the product.

The duration of baking in the oven should not exceed 15 minutes. But to check readiness, you need to check the pieces. If, after time, the pieces are poorly pierced and hang on the knife, you need to continue baking until the fruit is completely ready.

Reviews of pumpkin supplements

When my baby turned 6 months old, I began to look for information on how to prepare the first complementary foods, how to cook vegetables and how often you should give your baby food in addition to breast milk. Got information about pumpkin. As it turned out, this is the best basis for complementary feeding; it contains many useful substances. I pureed it and gave it to my little son to try. He like it very much. Now sweet pumpkin is on our table every day.

Marianne

I knew about the benefits of the fruit and gave it to my first child as complementary food. When my daughter was born, I tried to repeat the experience and began to introduce pumpkin into the baby’s diet. However, this time nothing worked out. My daughter has been on artificial nutrition since she was 3 months old. I don't know what caused her negative reaction to pumpkin puree. Could it be that the formula is sweeter than breast milk? In general, she completely refused complementary feeding.

Nina

Properly prepared complementary foods will always be pleasant and healthy for the child. I myself have been working as a nurse in a children's clinic for several years. I know firsthand that nothing can be better than pumpkin supplements. It is enough for the baby to receive a tablespoon of additional nutrition so that everything is normal. And pumpkin contains many vitamins that are simply necessary for infants.

Evgeniya

Recipes for children 1 year old

Babies who have reached the age of 1 year already eat many dishes, so regular pumpkin puree is not suitable for babies. Mothers have to look for new dishes to prepare to please their growing children. Recommended recipes:

Dill puree - the product is boiled or stewed in the oven. Then finely chopped dill is added to the prepared mass. But the greens should be without dense stems.
Apple puree – the apple is peeled and cut into pieces. Both ingredients are placed on the bottom of the pan and filled with liquid. Boil over low heat for no more than 2 minutes. Let cool, grind in a blender, combining the ingredients, sweetening a little with sugar.
Puree with meat – 150 gr. pumpkins are prepared as for regular puree. 50 grams are cooked in advance. chicken or turkey, crushed in a blender and combined with pumpkin puree. To soften the dish and preserve all nutrients, additional vegetable oil is added.

Having tried these dishes, the baby will be satisfied, at the same time he will be satisfied with sweet pumpkin and refresh himself with an apple or meat. The main thing is to follow the cooking technology and adhere to the recommended time so as not to overcook the product.

How to make soup

If your child is tired of puree, it can be easily replaced with a tasty and original soup. To do this, you will need cow's or goat's milk along with the red fruit. But it is worth considering that the latter is not always suitable for small children, although it has a larger list of useful substances in its composition. If the baby is not allergic to goat's milk, then it is recommended to dilute it 1 to 1 with water.

The orange beauty is boiled until half cooked. Boiled milk product is poured into it. You can use breast milk. The thickness of the soup depends on the proportions of the ingredients taken. The duration of boiling depends on the volume of the dish being prepared and the readiness of the vegetable.

After the orange beauty is completely cooked, it is cooled and crushed using a blender to obtain a homogeneous mass. Be sure to add a small amount of vegetable oil.

Porridge with pumpkin

It is better to use semolina as porridge. To prepare a dish, take no more than 150 grams. fetus It is boiled in 100 ml. boiling water 0.1 liter is added to the resulting mass. milk.

As soon as the consistency boils, add 1 tbsp. decoys. In this case, it is necessary to stir it. This process is necessary to avoid the formation of dense lumps.

Cooking time for porridge is 5 minutes. If the pieces of the vegetable were not mashed before the semolina was introduced, then the porridge after cooking is crushed in a blender.

Simple recipes with pumpkin for a healthy diet

Bright color, pleasant taste and a large number of useful macro- and microcomponents make pumpkin a valuable component of a child’s healthy diet. Most dishes made from it are easy to prepare, rich in flavor and easy to digest. Below are several simple recipes that will help diversify the children's menu.

Baked pumpkin

Cut the pumpkin into small pieces. The thinner the slice, the more the finished product will resemble candied fruit. Place the vegetables in the pan, brush them with fresh floral honey and add a little water. Place the container in the oven and bake at 180˚C until a golden crust appears on the pumpkin.

All the indicated pumpkin-based recipes are simple - preparation does not take much time. With these dishes, the baby receives a whole range of essential vitamins and microelements necessary for normal growth and development.

Pumpkin porridge

After one year of age, you can offer your child millet porridge with pumpkin. To prepare this dish, beloved by many, you should put 0.4 kg of peeled and cut into pieces pumpkin into a pan, add a small amount of water and simmer for about 20 minutes (until ready). After which the pulp is crushed and 2 cups of washed millet, 1 liter of milk and 0.5 liter of water are added to it, as well as salt and sugar to taste. After boiling, the porridge should be cooked for about half an hour. Serve warm with a knob of butter.

Millet porridge with pumpkin

This is a timeless classic that even adults love. And we adapt it for kids!

We take the pumpkin puree out of the freezer and bring it to a boil in a saucepan or cook the fresh pumpkin as indicated in the puree recipe for 20-25 minutes.
We prepare millet porridge according to the instructions on the box (if it is purchased), but not a full portion, but two-thirds of the portion that is allotted to you by age.
If you prepare the porridge yourself, you need to grind millet cereal in a coffee grinder, pour 100 ml of water into a saucepan, bring to a boil, add 1 teaspoon of millet flour, cook for 3 minutes.
Combine the resulting porridge and pumpkin puree (fresh or frozen) in a proportion of approximately 2/3 porridge and 1/3 pumpkin, mix thoroughly, add a couple of spoons of baby formula to the finished dish.
We treat the little one with a hearty and healthy treat.

Semolina porridge with pumpkin

This dish is suitable for kids who are already familiar with cow's milk.
Cut the washed and seeded pumpkin into pieces.
Place 3 tablespoons of chopped pumpkin in a saucepan.
Boil lightly in a small amount of water.
Pour in 1/3 cup of milk and bring to a boil.
Without stopping stirring, add a spoonful of semolina in a thin stream.
Cook for 5 minutes, also stirring constantly to prevent the formation of semolina lumps.
Beat the finished porridge.
Cool to 37-40 degrees.

Milk pumpkin soup

An alternative to homogeneous puree for a child can be pumpkin soup.

Boil the pumpkin raw material until half cooked.
Pour in boiling breast or cow's milk. By changing the ratio of ingredients, you can adjust the consistency of the future soup.
Cook until the pumpkin is completely cooked.
Cool and blend with a blender until creamy.
Add a drop of vegetable oil.

“Zucchini and pumpkin puree for babies”

This recipe is not suitable for the first pumpkin feeding. This dish can be offered to children as young as 8 months.

What do you need:

100 grams of pumpkin fruit;
100 grams of zucchini;
100 grams of water or milk;
half a spoon of butter.

How to cook:

Vegetables should be peeled and cut into cubes.
Their pulp must be boiled in milky liquid or water.
Vegetables need to be ground in a blender until they reach a homogeneous consistency.

It only takes 20 minutes to make this puree for your baby. This recipe is very simple. Parents can be sure that the baby will not develop allergies.

Apple puree with pumpkin

Cut the washed, peeled and seeded apples and pumpkin into arbitrary pieces and place in a saucepan, adding a minimum of water.
Cook over low heat, covered, for at least 20 minutes.
Drain off excess liquid.
Cool the pumpkin-apple mixture.
Grind with a blender or rub through a sieve.
Instead of an apple, you can use zucchini, carrots or pears.

Pumpkin puree with meat

150 g of washed and peeled pumpkin without seeds, cut into pieces and simmer in a small amount of water, covering with a lid.
Separately, boil 50 g of chicken or turkey meat.
Grind the ingredients with a blender.
Season with a small amount of vegetable oil, which will soften the puree and help preserve vitamin A.

Baked pumpkin

Place the peeled and seeded pumpkin on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until cooked.
Grind with a blender or mash with a fork.
Add a drop of vegetable or cow oil. Can be diluted with warmed milk.

Pumpkin puree with dill

Cut the pumpkin pulp into pieces and boil in water, a slow cooker, steam or bake in the oven.
Add a pinch of finely chopped dill to the soft mass (the stems should not be used).
Puree in a blender.
Too thick puree can be diluted with breast milk or the baby's usual formula. You can add a little vegetable broth or a drop of boiled water.

pumpkin juice

It is recommended to give the juice as complementary food to the child along with the crushed mass. Initially, it is administered in 2-3 drops, increasing as necessary.

The juice is prepared from the raw product. The pumpkin is cut into small pieces, pre-washed. The ingredient passed through the juicer is diluted with boiled warm water at the outlet in a 1:1 ratio.

It is recommended to give juice to your baby no more than 2 times every 7 days. It is important that the product is prepared immediately before use. You can’t let the finished liquid sit, it loses not only its color, but also its beneficial qualities.

Some advice for new mothers

Do not give your child raw vegetables. This dish is too heavy for a child's stomach and is likely to cause indigestion and diarrhea.
The rules for introducing pumpkin dishes into your baby’s diet are the same as with other products. First, give your child half a teaspoon of puree. If there is no allergy, you can increase the amount of product at the next feeding.
Older children can make multi-component purees by combining pumpkin with other vegetables, fruits, cereals and meat.
The water in which the vegetable was boiled can be used to prepare baby purees and soups.
You should not give pumpkin to your child too often - 2-3 times a week is enough.

How to make preparations and methods for storing pumpkin

The whole product is stored in a dark place for a long period of time, but the cut product quickly deteriorates. Therefore, it is recommended to either use it immediately or place it in the freezer for storage. Freezing weaning pumpkin is a great storage option. The product can remain in this form for several months without losing its original properties and qualities.

The vegetable is thoroughly washed and peeled, cut into pieces. For better freezing, it is recommended to place the cubes on a cutting board and freeze. After complete freezing, pour the pieces into a plastic bag. This makes it convenient to take them out in the right quantity and cook frozen pumpkin.

In addition to freezing, you can prepare it for the winter by rolling it into jars along with cranberry juice.

Recommendations for selection

To choose the optimal fruit to give to your child, it is worth understanding the criteria. The ideal option would be your own product, which is grown on your own plot. But in most cases, conditions for growing are not provided; you have to purchase the fruit in a store or market. Therefore, when choosing, you should pay attention to the following points:

Coloring – the color of the peel should be a natural tone;
Weight – do not exceed 5 kg;
Integrity - the peel should not have cracks, dents, signs of mold or rot;
The tail is best when it is dry. this indicates full ripening of the fetus.

In addition, when you press on the skin, it should not be soft. The normal state for a vegetable is a dense structure. You can feel the specific wax, which is a natural film.

Thus, pumpkin is an excellent option for first feeding. It is subjected to various cooking methods to obtain an excellent dish for the baby. Usually the vegetable cannot be purchased in small quantities, so it is recommended to know how to freeze pumpkin for the winter without loss. The main thing is to follow the recipe technology during cooking and maintain the required time.