Apple compote for babies is a healthy drink. Especially if you grow your own fruit in the garden in the summer. This drink will provide the baby’s body with vitamins and microelements. The compote will also help to adjust the chair. In this article we will figure out at what age apple compote is allowed for babies. You will find the recipes in this article and you will understand that there is nothing complicated in this process.
View gallery
Age and proper feeding
It is believed that up to six months a baby can survive entirely on breast milk. This applies to children who have enough breast milk and are breastfed. It is also important that the mother gives the baby breasts on demand. If a child is fed by the hour or supplemented with formula, then the baby simply needs clean water.
Previously, pediatricians advised giving children compotes and juices starting from three months. Today, the norms of pediatrics have changed. Now any complementary foods should be introduced no earlier than 6 months. Apple compote can be introduced into a baby's diet at the age of 6 months to a year.
conclusions
Whatever drink you want to prepare for your baby, you still need to start with one fruit. It's better if it's a green apple. Then you can add other fruits or berries, choosing those that do not contain allergens.
Every time you give your baby compote, be sure to monitor his reaction for several hours. Add new fruits to the compote only after a couple of days, if the baby’s body reacts normally.
Before cooking, dried fruits must be carefully prepared by washing and removing debris.
Before introducing new fruits and berries, it is advisable to consult your local pediatrician.
Recipes for making compotes for children aged 1 to 1.5 years
Currants - 0.5 cups, sugar - 1 tablespoon, water - 1.5 cups. Strawberries - 0.5 cups, water - 2 cups, sugar - 1 tablespoon. 1 orange, sugar - 1 tablespoon, water - 0.5 cups. Prunes - 5 pieces, sugar - 1 tablespoon, water - 1 glass, a quarter of lemon. Apricots - 5 pieces, sugar - 1 tablespoon, water - 1 glass. Cherries - 0.5 cups, sugar - 2 tablespoons, water - 1.5 cups. 2 apples, sugar - 1 tablespoon, jam - 1 tablespoon, water - 1 glass. Quince - 4-5 pieces, sugar - 1 tablespoon, water - 1 glass, a quarter of lemon. 2 pears, sugar - 1 tablespoon, water - 2 glasses, a quarter of lemon. 2 apples, 1 tablespoon of sugar, water - 2 glasses, a quarter of lemon.
The benefits of apples
An apple is a fruit that is 80% water, or more precisely, a liquid rich in vitamins and minerals. The pulp of the fruit contains pectins, which have a good effect on the baby's stool. Apple increases appetite and promotes proper digestion. It has a choleretic and mild laxative effect.
The fruit is included in the menu for problems with the kidneys, liver, and obesity. It heals the microflora in the intestines. Increases iron levels in the blood. For colds such as laryngitis, tracheitis, when hoarseness appears in the voice, warm apple compote is indicated. It relieves spasm of the vocal cords.
View gallery
Apple compote for a baby who has trouble sleeping can become a mild sleeping pill. The fact is that these fruits are high in vitamin B6. They are also rich in potassium and magnesium. All these substances have a positive effect on the nervous system and promote healthy, sound sleep.
Apple lowers blood sugar levels, eases breathing and promotes general relaxation. In addition, scientists have found that people who consume this fruit daily are less likely to suffer from heart disease.
Most pediatricians advise giving children freshly squeezed diluted fruit juices until they are one year old. Apple compote for babies is no worse if the fruit is not subjected to intense heat treatment. This drink contains no less vitamins, but the liquid is more tolerant to children's stomachs. Compote does not contain fruit acids, which can cause trouble. You will learn below how to properly brew a healthy drink for your baby.
What is the benefit of apple compote for babies and when to introduce it into a child’s diet?
Hello, dear readers! Together with you, I continue to monitor the growth and development of your little ones, treat their illnesses, solve their small (and not so small) problems, give you advice, support you and reassure you in your fears and worries. I’ve already told you so many useful things! Today I have equally useful information: we will discuss apple compote for babies. What will he give to the baby, when can he be introduced to this type of drinking, etc.
Many mothers doubt whether they should give their baby such a drink if he already drinks mother’s milk, juices (water, tea...)? For me, there is no need to doubt it, it’s worth giving such a drink to a baby! Here are a few reasons why:
- Compote contains many vitamins necessary for a small organism;
- It helps strengthen the immune system;
- It has a beneficial effect on digestion in those children who experience problems with bowel movements (especially if prunes, raisins or dried apricots are added to apples);
- If you prepare a compote with pulp, it will become an additional source of fiber for the toddler’s digestion;
- In case of fever, diarrhea or extreme heat, compote can be an excellent alternative to plain water to replenish moisture lost by a small organism. After all, not all children like to drink plain water. The compote here serves as such an unobtrusive “yummy”. Especially if you lightly “season” it with a pinch of fructose (such “fruit sugar” in powder, which can be bought at any pharmacy, we will return to it later).
So when can you give your toddler such a drink? In general, pediatricians recommend introducing compotes into a baby’s diet only after he has tried juices and purees from fresh apples and other fruits. That is, not earlier than the baby turns 6 months old.
It is better to start with apples because this is the least allergenic fruit that grows in our area (doctors are against starting complementary feeding with mangoes and other exotics that are alien to the baby’s digestive system). They begin to introduce new food as usual, little by little - from half a teaspoon, gradually increasing the volume if the baby likes the drink.
What kind of apples and how to cook compote for a baby? It's better to adapt to the season. That is, if you turn six months old in the summer or autumn, give preference to fresh apples, preferably “local” ones, which did not endure a long journey and were not treated for long-term storage with any chemical filth. I think you can tell the difference between normal fruit and one loaded with preservatives.
Well, if you start with compote in winter or early spring, when fresh apples have already lost most of their nutrients, stop at dried fruits. Then pay attention that they also do not look too “appetizing” - polished, selected, shiny. Such dried fruits are also treated with all sorts of compounds to improve their appearance so that they can be bought faster. It is better to buy “dried” apples at the grandmother’s market, choosing those that have been dried in the sun, not in the oven, and those that are not too dry - they will taste bitter.
There is nothing complicated in preparing a healthy drink for babies:
- Take one medium-sized green apple (greens are less allergenic if your pet is prone to such reactions) and wash it thoroughly, rinsing it several times.
- Cut the fruit into small pieces, after cutting out the core with seeds (there is no need to peel the peel, it contains a lot of useful substances).
- Dip the pieces into clean (preferably filtered) water - you'll need a glass - and put it on the fire.
- After boiling, the apple should boil for no more than half a minute. After this, the compote needs to be turned off and covered with a lid for about an hour so that the apple slices give all the benefits to the water. With this method of preparation, the maximum amount of vitamins will be preserved in the broth.
- Let the drink cool and you can treat your little one.
- If you decide to make compote with pulp, then after it has steeped, first chop the slices of boiled apples in a blender, then add the remaining liquid. This drink is also filling.
You will have to tinker a little with dried fruits, because all the moisture has been removed from them, they are quite hard, and in order to get to all the useful things, the dry pulp needs to be thoroughly softened. But there is nothing tricky about this either:
- Take a handful of dried apple fruits (about 20 grams), rinse thoroughly (you can use a special brush). Make sure that the slices are not too stale, wormy or blackened. Rinse several times to make sure everything is clean.
- Then soak the dried apple pieces in warm water for 20-30 minutes so that they swell properly.
- Pour a glass of water (250 ml) into an enamel saucepan, put the drying agent in it and bring it to a boil.
- You will have to boil dried apple fruits for 15-20 minutes so that all the benefits from them are transferred into the decoction.
- Next, let the broth brew in the same way for about 40 minutes. Bon appetit to your baby!
By the way, I want to return to the issue of sweetening baby food, which we have already touched upon. It is extremely undesirable to add sugar, and even more so honey, to food for infants. The first product is completely refined, the second is considered natural and healthy. But at the same time, both of them are terribly allergenic.
So if your baby has a pronounced sweet tooth, sweeten his porridge and compotes with a small amount of fructose. It can be taken even by children who are allergic to regular sugar.
To prevent your baby from getting bored with the compote, you can add other seasonal fruits or berries to it. But at the same time, take into account, for example, the following nuances:
- - strawberries or raspberries can cause allergies;
- - dried apricots, raisins and prunes, as well as fresh plums and apricots, have a laxative effect, so it is useful to add them to compotes for children suffering from constipation. This is especially true for artificial babies - their food is in any case more coarse and difficult to digest than mother’s milk;
- - after eating compote, for example, with prunes or black currants, the baby’s stool may turn dark, this is normal;
- - You can give pears to babies, but this should be done very limitedly, since it happens that this fruit has a strengthening effect on the small, still fragile intestines. Therefore, compote with pears can be introduced into a toddler’s diet no earlier than 7 months: carefully and gradually, monitoring the baby’s condition.
By
Which apples to choose?
Preferably, of course, homemade. These fruits can be used whole for cooking compote or making baby puree. Do not remove the peel or throw away the seeds. They contain the maximum amount of vitamins and microelements.
However, if there is no opportunity to eat homemade fruits, then store-bought or purchased at the market will do. When cooking, the peel of such apples is cut off, since it is usually treated with special compounds to ensure that the product is stored longer.
View gallery
If you are choosing apples for your baby in winter, then pay attention to Antonovka. This variety retains its beneficial properties better than others. Many may be confused by the fact that the fruit is quite sour. This indicates a high content of vitamin C. If necessary, you can sweeten the Antonovka compote quite a bit.
When and how to give compote?
Before preparing compote for your baby, first consult with your pediatrician: children are all different, and many are concerned about allergies to certain foods during this period.
To begin with, you can offer your baby a minimum portion (1 tsp) of diluted compote from green apples or pears. If the baby digests the food without problems, you can gradually increase the portion to 100 ml and try giving decoctions of other fruits.
Do not offer your baby compote below room temperature - this may adversely affect his digestion: cause bloating, constipation or flatulence. The best option is when the child is given a warm drink in several doses throughout the day. It doesn’t matter - before or after feeding, you can even do it while eating.
It is advisable to give compotes from fresh fruits during the hot period, in summer and autumn, when they are in juice and have maximum beneficial properties. And in winter or spring they will be of no use due to long-term storage and treatment of imported specimens with drugs to improve their appearance. At this time, it is preferable to replace them with dried fruits from the same apples, pears, dried apricots or prunes, because they are champions in vitamin content.
When choosing dried fruits, pay attention to the nuance that soft dried fruits with an unnatural shape and shine are not suitable for use. The technology for their preparation includes sweetening the product and treating it with drugs that can be harmful.
For compote, you should use only natural dried fruits; it is ideal if you give your baby what you prepared yourself.
Features of using compote
Apple compote, like any other complementary food, should be introduced gradually. At first, dilute the drink with boiled water. When the child’s body gets used to it, it will be possible not to add excess liquid.
The baby should be given compote between meals to quench thirst. But doctors do not recommend drinking any liquid while eating. Drinks reduce the concentration of gastric juice and digestive problems begin. If the child is not used to the bottle and does not suck the pacifier, then the compote can be given from a spoon or small cup.
At what age can you give it to a child?
Not all mothers know at what age you can give your baby extra liquid. If the child is completely dependent on mother's milk, then it is not advisable to supplement the milk until six months. But this does not apply to the hot season. In extreme heat, additional drinking water can be given. From the age of six months, the baby begins to be fed additionally. At the same age it is worth trying compote. You need to start with half a teaspoon, gradually increasing the volume of liquid.
If the baby was initially on formula, then you can give various foods and drinks from 5 months. But the main rule remains unchanged - the introduction occurs gradually.
Cooking fresh apple compote for babies
This drink is prepared in minutes. If you buy apples at a market or in a supermarket, then choose the most inconspicuous fruits. If you see slight damage or wormholes on them, then this is very good. Such flaws indicate that the fruit was not treated with chemicals. Glossy large apples, just like in the picture, are also smooth to the touch, as if smeared with wax, most likely, they were treated with special means for their storage and transportation.
To prepare one small portion you will need: a glass of water and 1 apple. The fruit must be washed well. Peel the skin (if purchased from the market). Remove the core. Place the cut apple in a saucepan and add 250 g of cold, clean water. The liquid should boil.
View gallery
After boiling, boil the fruit for another 30 seconds. We do not put sugar in drinks for young children. If there is a need to sweeten very sour fruits, it is better to add fructose. Do you know for sure that your child is not allergic to honey? Then you can replace it with a natural beekeeping product. Honey also needs to be chosen carefully, because it may contain chemical impurities. It is advisable to purchase honey from familiar beekeepers.
View gallery
Leave the drink to cool. Let the pieces of fruit infuse and release all their beneficial substances. If your child suffers from constipation, then you can help him with this beneficial liquid. Remove the slices and puree them using a blender.
If you don’t have such a unit in your kitchen, then a regular sieve will do. Place fruit slices in it and rub with a spoon. Mix the resulting pulp with liquid. This drink is rich in pectins, which will help the child empty his intestines easily. In addition, eating fruit pulp is a prevention of dysbacteriosis.
Simple recipes for compote for babies
In the summer, fruit compote will be very useful for your baby. However, there is no need to make a drink from several types of fruits at once. It is necessary to gradually introduce new foods so that the baby gets used to unfamiliar tastes. We offer several simple compote recipes for children.
Traditional
It will require one large apple. Wash it well, peel the skin, remove the seeds and membranes inside. Cut the apple into small pieces and cook over low heat for approximately 18-20 minutes in 500 ml of clean water. Or just put the apples in a thermos and pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave to steep for 8-10 hours. Can be sweetened with fructose. Sugar and honey are not added to compote for babies, because they can cause intestinal upset and allergies.
Before serving, the compote must be strained and cooled to room temperature.
From dried apples
Prepared from dried, not fresh apples. Dried apples retain the same vitamins as fresh summer fruits. Therefore, such a drink will be very useful in the winter and spring seasons. There is no need to add sweeteners to this compote; it itself is already sweet and tasty enough for the baby.
Like fresh apple compote, a dried fruit drink for a child can be prepared in the traditional way, or it can be brewed in a thermos. Before cooking, dried fruits must be soaked for 25-30 minutes in boiled water to allow them to swell. Then rinse thoroughly to remove debris and lint. For 100 grams of dried fruits, take 300 ml of water. Cook for 25-30 minutes over low heat. Strain before serving. When infused in a thermos, the drink can become very rich. This is not a problem - just dilute it with a little boiled water before serving.
Do not mix several types of dried fruits at once. Also, do not make a mixture of different compotes. Let's give them separately. Let your baby get used to the new tastes first. The next ingredient after apples could be prunes.
From prunes
This compote will help children who have problems with the digestive system. It has a positive effect on the intestines. A drink with prunes can be given to babies as early as five months of age. But first you need to consult a pediatrician.
To prepare compote, take half a glass of pitted prunes in 0.5 liters of water. Can be sweetened with fructose - 1/2 tablespoon. Prunes must first be soaked for 30-35 minutes in boiling water. Cook the compote for 20-25 minutes over low heat. When serving, strain the compote.
Over time, you can cook compote by mixing prunes with apples. There will be no harm from such a drink. You can also prepare this compote in a thermos; it will be richer.
From raisins
This drink is also very beneficial for the child. It can be introduced as complementary foods from 8 months of age. You can make your own compote from raisins or add the fruits to a drink already familiar to your baby. Light raisins are better suited for cooking. Before cooking kopmotik, raisins must be carefully sorted to remove debris and lint and soaked for 30-35 minutes in warm water to swell. For the compote, take 50 grams of raisins per 1 cup of boiling water. Cook for 25 minutes over low heat. There is no need to add sugar or fructose. Raisins are sweet, so the compote will be delicious without it.
This compote will also be good for a baby’s mother to drink. This will help make breast milk healthier and relieve your baby from constipation and bloating.
Compote of their dried apples for babies
When the baby is one year old, you can start making compote from dried apples. Your baby should love this fragrant drink. There is no need to add sugar during cooking. These fruits contain quite a bit of natural sweetness. In addition, the child’s body is not yet accustomed to eating sweets. The later such addiction occurs, the better for the child’s health.
View gallery
Recipe
Don’t know how to cook dried apple compote for babies? It's easy to do. Below is a step-by-step recipe for apple compote for babies. Before cooking, you should prepare the ingredients. Pour clean cold water over the fruit mixture and let it brew for at least half an hour (more is possible). During this time, all debris and dust will sink to the bottom, and the fruits will swell. Boil a glass of clean water in a small container. At the point of boiling, pour the fruit into the liquid. Dried apple compote takes 20 minutes to prepare.
Compote in a thermos
There is another option for preparing apple compote for babies. Try both recipes and eventually decide which one is more convenient for you.
Pour a handful of drying powder into a thermos. Pour boiling water over the dried fruit and close the container. Leave the liquid to infuse overnight. In the morning, dried apple compote for babies will be completely ready for consumption. This heat treatment option is more preferable, since more vitamins are retained in dried fruits. But you should prepare this recipe only from clean drying, preferably at home. After all, the boiling process is omitted here, which means that pathogenic microflora may remain.
We have already figured out how to cook apple compote for babies. In addition to drinks made from fresh and dried apples, it is useful for children to give uzvars made from prunes and raisins. Such compotes can be offered to babies closer to one year.
View gallery
Recipes for compotes for babies
Dried fruit compote for babies
Rinse prunes, dried apricots and raisins thoroughly. Then soak them in water for a few minutes to remove small grains of sand and particles. Place two liters of water on the stove. After the water boils, add dried fruits and cook for fifteen minutes. Strain the cooked compote.
Place pear, apple, prunes and dried apricots in three hundred milliliters of boiling water. After boiling, cook for ten minutes and add a teaspoon of fructose. Then leave for an hour and you can give it to your baby.
Rinse dried fruits well and soak in water for thirty minutes. Then drain the water and cook in two liters for thirty minutes after boiling. Cool and leave for twelve hours. Before use, dilute one part compote and two parts water.
Prune compote for babies
This compote will be very useful for a baby prone to constipation, especially if he is bottle-fed. To prepare, take five berries, rinse and cut in half. After a liter of water boils, add the prunes and cook for ten minutes. Leave the brewed drink for thirty minutes and strain.
Compote of dried apricots for babies
For cooking, a liter of water will require a quarter of the fruit. Pre-soak them in water for five minutes. During this time, they will get rid of excess debris and swell. Then put them in boiling water for ten minutes.
You can brew the compote overnight by pouring boiling water over it and closing the lid. This will retain more nutrients.
Dried apricots contain fiber, potassium, and magnesium. They are responsible for the functioning of the brain and muscles. Dried apricots remove sodium from the body, an excess of which can cause serious problems.
Raisin compote for babies
Wash two tablespoons of raisins and dry slightly. Pour a liter of boiling water overnight. Offer it to your baby in the morning. This compote, as recommended by pediatricians, will be a good replacement for dill water.
Sort three hundred grams of raisins and rinse well. Repeat several times. If the raisins are light, pre-soak them for a while. Place one and a half liters of water on the stove. After boiling, add raisins, seven hundred grams of sugar and cook, stirring over low heat for an hour.
Rosehip compote for babies
Rose hips contain a large number of substances that are beneficial for children. It is especially rich in carotene and vitamin C. It also contains phosphorus, potassium, and iron.
To prepare compote, take a teaspoon of washed and chopped fruits. Pour a glass of boiling water and let it brew in a thermos for two hours. If you use fresh rose hips, fill it with cold water in the evening, and in the morning put it on the fire and bring to a boil. Then cool and treat your baby.
Step-by-step recommendations
Pour a handful of raisins, dried apricots and prunes (200 g) with cold water. Let the fruits brew for half an hour. Drain the water. Now wash the softened dried fruits thoroughly. Dust may still remain on their surface, since the fruits are very sweet and attract it like a magnet.
Pour dried apricots and prunes into a saucepan and fill with hot water. If you give your child sugar, then at this stage you need to pour it into the container where the compote will be cooked. Raisins should be added last, when the water boils. Boil the fruits for 20 minutes. This drink should be diluted in a 2:1 ratio before giving to the child. If you see sediment in the drink, then the liquid needs to be strained.
Now you know how to cook apple compote for babies. Kids will definitely love this tasty and aromatic drink. This liquid is also useful for nursing mothers. All vitamins and microelements will enter the baby’s body along with breast milk.
