The introduction of complementary foods in children. Practical questions

The article presents data characterizing the features and timing of the introduction of complementary foods to children of the first year of life living in the Belgorod region. The purpose of the study was to study the features of feeding children in the first year of life living in the Belgorod region, and to evaluate the success of the implementation of the “National Program for Optimizing the Feeding of Children in the First Year of Life” in pediatric practice. Methods. Subject to the principles of voluntariness and confidentiality, interviews were conducted with 348 women with young children (the first two years of life) born at 38-41 weeks of gestation with an Apgar score of at least 8 points. To conduct the study, a questionnaire was developed that allows retrospectively assessing the duration of breastfeeding and the timing of the introduction of complementary foods. Results. When assessing the nutrition of children in the first year of life, the following problems were identified: early termination of breastfeeding (before the child reaches the age of 3 months) - in 29.8% of cases, violation of the timing of the introduction of complementary foods (earlier than 4 months and later than 6 months - 22% children), the rules for the introduction of complementary foods (52.7%) and the range of selected products. The main source of information for young parents about complementary foods, the timing and methods of its introduction were: in 60.1% - medical workers, in 12.9% - the opinion and advice of relatives, friends and acquaintances, in 3.2% - the exchange of information with other parents with children of the same age, in 18.1% - information contained on the Internet. Research results. The results of the study show the need for further work on the active implementation of the existing recommendations in the practice of pediatricians, aimed at implementing the principles of breastfeeding support to increase the duration of lactation, on the timeliness of the introduction of complementary foods, the implementation of the rules for the introduction and selection of the range of introduced food products.

children, breastfeeding and artificial feeding, introduction of complementary foods

1. Matalygina O. Diet at early stages of child’s development and opportunities of its practical realization. Voprosy` sovremennoj pediatrii. 2010;9(4):124-131. (In Russ.) @@Маталыгина О. Диетология на ранних этапах развития ребенка и возможности ее практической реализации // Вопросы современной педиатрии. - 2010. - Т. 9. - № 4 - С. 124-131.

2. National program for optimizing the feeding of children in the first year of life in the Russian Federation. Moscow; 2019. (in Russ) @@Национальная программа оптимизации вскармливания детей первого года жизни в Российской Федерации. - Москва; 2019.

3. Lukoyanova O.L., Borovik T. E. [Nutritional epigenetics and epigenetic effects of breast milk]. Voprosy Pitania. 2015; 84(5): 4-15. (in Russ.) @@Лукоянова О. Л., Боровик Т. Э. Нутритивная эпигенетика и эпигенетические эффекты грудного молока // Вопросы питания. - 2015. - Т. 84, - № 5. - С. 4-15.

4. Voronczov I.M., Fateeva E. M. [Natural feeding of children. Its meaning and support]. SPb. IKF «Foliant»; 1998. (in Russ.) @@Воронцов И. М., Фатеева Е. М. Естественное вскармливание детей. Его значение и поддержка. СПб: ИКФ «Фолиант»; 1998.

5. Gurova M.M. [Modern approaches to nutrition in children]. Moscow. «MedE`kspertPress»; 2007. (in Russ.) @@Гурова М. М. Современные подходы к питанию у детей. М.: «МедЭкспертПресс»; 2007.

6. Gmoshinskaya M. V., Aleshina I. V. The system of preparing pregnant women for full and long lactation. farmateka. 2020; 1:55-58. (in Russ.) doi: 10.18565/pharmateca.2020.1.55-58. @@Гмошинская М. В., Алешина И. В. Система подготовки беременных женщин к полноценной и длительной лактации // Фарматека. - 2020. - № 1. - С. 55-58. doi: 10.18565/pharmateca.2020.1.55-58.

7. Kon’ I. Ya., Pyr’yeva E.A., Gmoshinskaya M. V. Main approaches to support of breastfeeding at different stages of prenatal care and care of breastfeeding women. farmateka. 2016; (12):37-39. (in Russ.) @@Конь И. Я., Пырьева Е. А., Гмошинская М. В. Основные подходы к поддержке грудного вскармливания на различных этапах наблюдения за беременными и кормящими женщинами // Фарматека. - 2016. - № 12. - С. 37-39.

8. Bel`mer S.V., Khavkin A. I., Novikova V. P. [Eating behavior and food programming in children]. Moscow. ID «Medpraktika-M». 2015. (in Russ.) @@Пищевое поведение и пищевое программирование у детей. / Под ред. Бельмера С. В., Хавкина А. И., Новиковой В. П. - М.: ИД «Медпрактика-М»; 2015.

9. Kil`diyarova R.R. [Nutrition for a healthy child]. Moscow. GE`OTAR-Media. 2011. (in Russ.) @@Кильдиярова Р. Р. Питание здорового ребенка. М.: ГЭОТАР-Медиа; 2011.

10. Agostoni C., Decsi T., Fewtrell M., et al.Complementary feeding: a commentary by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008;46:99-110. doi: 10.1097/01. mpg.0000304464.60788.bd.

11. Fewtrell M., Bronsky J., Campoy C.Complementary Feeding: A Position Paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2017; 64 (1): 119-132. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001454.

12. Kamalova A. A. Updated european recommendations on the introduction of complementary food in children - subject for thought. Rossiyskiy Vestnik Perinatologii i Pediatrii (Russian Bulletin of Perinatology and Pediatrics). 2017;62(6):92-98. (In Russ.) doi: 10.21508/1027-4065-2017-62-6-92-98. @@Камалова А. А. Обновленные европейские рекомендации по введению прикорма у детей - тема для размышлений // Рос вестн перинатол и педиатр - 2017. - Т. 62, - № 6. - С. 92-98. doi: 10.21508/1027-4065-2017-62-6-92-98.