Around their first birthday, there are quite a few changes in babies' lives. Each at their own pace, they start scribbling, chatting, and walking. In other words, your baby is growing, and you'll need to adjust the menu!
Diet changes after 12 months!
Even if they are not yet ready to eat like the big ones, little ones, from 12 months, see their meals evolve. No more smooth purees , make way for small, melting and tender pieces. Armed with his spoon, your child is even ready to eat alone and diversify his diet even more! We will save raw foods for later (including raw milk cheese, even if we love Camembert and we can't wait to make him try it), fried foods and cold cuts. You must also pay particular attention to the shape of the food: if it is too small, very round, or a little too sticky, your baby may have a little trouble swallowing it properly. Even if your baby is already grown, you must always stay by his side when he eats his meal, sitting comfortably in his high chair!
So you finally have the opportunity to introduce him to a whole bunch of new tastes, and to familiarize him with lots of different recipes. Remember that between 1 and 2 years old, children are particularly open to discovering new foods, so it's more than ever the right time to try new things (because in principle, it won't be too much of a hassle!): so go for it!
Composition of meals for babies from 12 months
From 12 months, the nutritional needs of young children change: they need 1000 to 1100 calories per day to be in good health. The ideal is to distribute these calories as follows: 25% at breakfast, 35% at lunch, 15% at snack time, and 25% at dinner. Concretely, in terms of menu and quantity, between 12 and 24 months, it looks like this:
- Early in the morning: a breastfeed or a bottle of 3rd age milk (between 250 and 300 ml) (1) with 2 tablespoons of cereal adapted to the child's age + 1 biscuit or a small slice of toast.
- At lunchtime: organic vegetable puree with 2 teaspoons of uncooked vegetable oil (rapeseed, walnut or olive) + 20 grams of well-cooked meat (red, white or even offal, which can be given to your baby from 12 months) OR 20 grams of unbreaded fish (ideally, you should alternate lean and oily fish during the week) OR 20 grams of cooked seafood (yes, yes, your little ones are entitled to it!) OR half a hard-cooked or soft-boiled egg. You can finish lunch with 20 grams of cooked pressed cheese (Emmental, Abondance, Beaufort… depending on your preferences and regional specificities!) and a crushed organic fruit, in small pieces or as a compote (without added sugar of course: your baby doesn't need it!).
- For a snack: a breastfeed or a bottle of 3rd age milk (between 250 and 300 ml) (1) and/or a yogurt or a stirred milk + 1 biscuit + raw or cooked fruit .
- In the evening: a breastfeed or a bottle of 3rd age milk (between 250 and 300 ml) (1) + cereals with possibly a fruit-based dessert or a real complete and balanced meal ( vegetables + dessert) if your child has already said goodbye to the bottle.
To summarize: between 12 and 24 months, your baby needs every day:
- 500 to 800ml of breast milk or growth milk (dairy products, such as stirred milk, yogurts and cheese, are a plus)
- Organic vegetables , according to your child's appetite (no added salt)
- Organic fruits , according to your child's appetite (no added sugar)
- 20 grams of meat, fish or egg
- 3 to 4 tablespoons of starchy foods per day
- 2 teaspoons of uncooked fat with vegetables
As for drinks, we stick to water (preferably with low mineral content)
(1) Pssst... Important notice: breast milk is the ideal and natural food for infants.
Sources: mpedia.fr and ameli.fr
