Compote appears in the diet of an infant after the introduction of fruit complementary foods. This drink is good for kids and is quite easy to prepare. Compote made from dried fruits is especially valuable for babies. Let's look at when you can introduce this drink to your baby, in what cases you shouldn't give it, and what recipe you can use to prepare it.
Benefit
- The drink, which is made from dried fruits, contains a large dose of vitamins. In particular, it contains B vitamins, as well as vitamin A.
- There are a lot of minerals in this compote. Dried fruit compote can serve as a source of sodium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.
- Eating dried fruit compote helps strengthen the immune system.
- If such a compote contains prunes, the drink will help with constipation.
- Compotes are a source of additional liquid for a small child in hot weather.
- Thanks to the fructose content, the compote will be sweet and will be a source of energy for the baby.
- The use of dried fruit compote is recommended for diarrhea and vomiting, as one of the sources of replenishing lost fluid and minerals.
Compote, for the preparation of which was used purchased dried fruits, treated with preservatives and other chemical additives, can harm the baby. They can cause the baby to develop allergies, diseases of the digestive tract and respiratory tract.
But even to high-quality dried fruits prepared with your own hands, an allergic reaction of a baby is possible, so their introduction into the children's menu should be gradual. You should be especially careful when giving your baby dried apricot compote.
At what age can it be given?
It is recommended to introduce compote into the baby’s diet after 6-7 months, when a breastfed baby begins to try new foods. Formula-fed babies can be given a taste of homemade compote one to two months earlier.
The first product among dried fruits from which you can make compote is dried apples. Having cooked them for the first time, the resulting liquid is diluted with boiled water. Next, the baby is gradually introduced to other types of dried fruits, not forgetting that the pear has the property of strengthening the stool, and the plum has the property of loosening it.
Like any other product previously unfamiliar to the baby, dried fruit compote is introduced carefully, observing the baby’s reaction. On the first day, the baby can be given only a teaspoon of this drink in the morning. If by the end of the day no negative symptoms are identified, the next day the portion of the drink can be doubled.
Introduction to the diet
The first sample of compote should be no more than one teaspoon of the drink. If the baby tolerated the new product well, the daily amount is gradually increased to the age recommendations. At 7 months, they recommend 100 ml of compote per day, dividing this amount of drink into two or three times. Children over one year old do not need to be restricted, especially with high activity.
Kompotik is best given warm or at room temperature. Note that it can be given to the child both before meals, during meals or immediately after it. The opinion that drinking liquid along with solid food interferes with its digestion is erroneous.
How to choose suitable dried fruits?
For dried fruit compote that a baby will drink, it is important to choose natural and high-quality ingredients. It is unacceptable for a small child to cook compote from a product containing flavorings, preservatives or dyes. So you need to buy dried fruits from a trusted seller, or it is better to prepare dried fruits yourself.
Dried fruits that will go into your baby’s compote should not have any defects or mold damage. When choosing dried apples or pears, make sure that such raw materials for children's compote are not overdried. You should dry apples and pears for compote yourself, not in the oven, but in the air.
When buying dried apricots for your little ones, choose dried apricots that are firm to the touch and dull in color and have no spots. Do not buy soft and bright fruits for your child, as they are treated with chemicals to make them look more presentable.
Remember that dried fruits should not be stored in plastic or glass containers. It is best to put such fruits in linen bags that will lie in a dark and dry place.
How to cook correctly?
- Dried fruits must be washed and soaked before cooking. This treatment allows you to get rid of debris and contaminants. It is recommended to keep the washed raw materials in warm water for 15 minutes.
- Bring the required volume of water to a boil and only then add dried fruits to the pan.
- Remember that dried fruits expand in volume when cooked. For 50 g of dried fruits, take at least 500 ml of water.
- Compote should not be cooked for a long time so that the beneficial substances are preserved in the drink to the maximum. Reducing the heat, let the compote of dried apples or pears simmer for up to 30 minutes, and the drink made from other dried fruits for up to 20 minutes. The least amount of time is required to cook raisin compote.
- After turning off the stove, the drink should be allowed to brew under a closed lid for 30-60 minutes.
- The finished compote is given to the baby after cooling (the drinking temperature should be comfortable) and straining.
Recipes for cooking at home
It is recommended to choose apple compote as the first compote you can prepare for your baby. Over time, you can add pears, prunes, rose hips, various berries, and dried fruits to its recipe.
From apples
After washing and peeling a small green apple, cut it into small cubes, pour a glass of water and place on low heat. When the liquid boils, turn off the heat, close the container and leave for 1 hour. The infused drink is filtered and given to the baby.
From fruits
For kids who are accustomed to apple compote, you can prepare a drink from a mixture of fruits. First, a fresh pear is added to the apple recipe, and then other fruits, as well as a variety of berries (both fresh and from the freezer). You can experiment with the amount of water added to the fruit. Its volume will depend on the taste of the raw materials and the infusion time of the drink.
From dried fruits
Dried fruits (you should start getting acquainted with just one, and later you can prepare a compote from their mixture) need to be rinsed well. It is also recommended to steam them with boiling water for several minutes and rinse again. Then 50 grams of dried fruits are poured into 500 ml of warm water, covered with a lid and left for 8 hours. Without draining the water, bring the liquid to a boil over low heat, and then leave for another hour.
Best Recipes
- From dried apples: Take 100 g of dried apples per liter of water. Rinse the raw materials well and soak in warm water so that the apples swell slightly. Cook the compote over low heat for 25-30 minutes and cool. There is no need to add sugar to this drink.
- From dried apricots: Take about 100 g of dried apricots for compote from one liter of water. Rinse the dried fruits and let them soak in water for 5 minutes, then cut into quarters, place in boiling water and boil for 15 minutes.
- From raisins: Take 2 tablespoons of raisins, rinse and pour a liter of boiling water. Leave overnight or boil for ten minutes and strain after cooling.
- From prunes: Wash several prunes and cut into halves. When the water boils, add the prunes to the pan and let them simmer for about 10 minutes. This drink needs to be steeped for 30 minutes, after which it will be strained and can be given to the baby.
- From a mixture of dried fruits: After washing a few pieces of dried apricots and prunes, as well as some raisins, soak the fruit in water for a more thorough cleaning. Place the raw materials in a pan of boiling water. You need to cook this compote for about 15 minutes.
- From dried and fresh fruits: Take dried apricots, several prunes, as well as sliced fresh pear and apple. After peeling and washing the fruits, place them in boiling water, then cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Leaving the drink for 1 hour, then you need to strain it and give it to the baby.
How to properly prepare dried fruit compote, see the “Eating at Home” program at the culinary school.
Option 5: Healthy compote for a child from dried apricots with raisins
Dried grapes are useful for adults and children.
Raisins not only eliminate swelling and stabilize the intestines, they also contain many useful substances that increase the immunity of children. Raisins are not recommended for children under one and a half years old, but offer compote from them to little eaters from six months. The recipe calls for the use of sugar for sweetening, but it is quite acceptable to replace it with fructose. Ingredients :
- raisins and dried apricots - 200 grams each;
- three liters of water;
- half a glass of refined sugar.
How to cook
Step 1:
We wash the raisins and dried apricots. Having placed it in a pan, pour boiling water over the dried fruits for a quarter of an hour, then wash them again and put them in the pan. Add three liters of cool water.
Step 2:
Set the pan to high heat, remove the foam, and wait for it to boil. Dissolve the sugar in the boiling broth, then reduce the heat to low and cook the compote with the lid closed for half an hour.
It is advisable to set the pan with the finished compote aside for a while. Keeping the drink covered for at least half an hour will not only taste better, but also be more aromatic.
Compote for a child - general principles of preparation
Compotes for children are an integral part of healthy baby food. The drink contains vitamins, microelements and other beneficial substances that are important for the child’s body. Compote for a child can be made from apples, pears and other fruits. Babies under one year old begin to be pampered with a one-ingredient compote of fresh apples without added sugar. Older children can cook sweetened compotes. From seven months, compotes made from dried fruits are introduced into the baby’s nutritional system. If you prepare fruits and berries in the summer, you can cook delicious, healthy compotes from frozen berries in the winter. Older children can cook compotes from apricots, strawberries, cherries (provided they are not allergic to the fruit). You need to sweeten compote for a child minimally; it is better to use raisins instead of sugar. The technique for preparing children's compotes involves minimal boiling. This is necessary to ensure that all useful substances are preserved. Drinks for little ones are best removed from the heat immediately after boiling. The drink should be given depending on activity, diet and other factors.
When and what compotes are introduced into a child’s diet?
At the age of 6-7 months, the child’s digestive system is already sufficiently developed to absorb fruit compote, and mommy can introduce her baby to this drink. The first compotes are made from fruits that are least likely to cause allergies in infants.
A green apple is ideal for these purposes. No need to add sugar. In summer and autumn, during the harvest season, it is, of course, better to take fresh apples. In the winter-spring period - dried fruits. They also have a lot of benefits.
How to cook compote for little ones
First, the fruit, fresh or dried, needs to be prepared.
A) Fresh apples - rinse thoroughly and peel them. Seeds and stalks cut out. Quantity: 1 medium-sized fruit per 2 glasses of water.
B) Wash dried fruits thoroughly under the tap. Then scald with boiling water. If the dried apples are too hard, it is recommended to put them in boiling water for a few minutes to soften them. Dosage: 50 grams of dried fruits per 1 liter of water.
Then put the fruits in water, bring to a boil, turn off. Let it brew for an hour or an hour and a half.
Some children absolutely refuse to drink sour compote. To sweeten the drink a little, you can add a little fructose to it.
Other compotes for children under one year old
At 8-9 months, when the baby gets used to apple compote, you can introduce pear and prune compote into his diet. Both of them help improve digestion, especially prunes, and relieve constipation.
At first, the compote is made from only one fruit. When it becomes clear that there is no allergy to the new product, you can mix it with already familiar fruits.
To diversify the taste of the drink, raisins are added to it, but not earlier than the child turns 11-12 months old. You need to be careful with this dried fruit. It can cause tummy problems: constipation, bloating, gas formation
It is better not to cook compotes from strawberries, wild strawberries and other red berries yet, due to the fact that children are often allergic to them.
How and in what quantities
Compote, although not a complementary food, is introduced into the baby’s diet gradually. The initial dose is a teaspoon. If, after taking a spoonful of the drink, the child’s stool becomes liquid or redness appears on the body, then you need to wait with compotes and try again no earlier than in a couple of weeks.
If after the first acquaintance with the compote, everything is fine, then within 2-3 weeks the portion is brought to the norm according to age:
| Child's age | Daily norm (divided into 2-3 doses) |
| 7 months | 100 ml |
| from 9 to 10 months | 150-200 ml |
| by 12 months | 250 ml |
The first compotes for the baby are cooked without pulp. When he gets used to the new taste, you can make him thicker drinks with the addition of carefully pureed fruit.
Compote is given to the child immediately after meals, instead of tea. One serving is 50-70 grams.
Beverage temperature
Kompotik can be given to your baby during or after meals. If the drink is warm, it should not disturb digestion. Under no circumstances should you treat your child to cold drinks. With them, the digestion process worsens, and food quickly tends to leave the stomach.
The drinking temperature should be about 37 degrees, the same as body temperature.
Recipe 1: Compote for a child
This compote for a child is made from apples. Perhaps this is one of the most harmless drinks for baby food. Apple decoction is given even to infants, starting from 7 months. There is no need to use any sweeteners in the drink.
We thoroughly wash the apple, wipe it dry and peel it. Cut in half and remove seeds. Cut the apple into small pieces. Place the apple in a saucepan and fill it with clean filtered water. For children over 1 year old, you can add a little sugar. Cover the pan with a transparent glass lid and put on fire. After boiling, immediately remove the pan from the heat without removing the lid. Leave the apple compote for the child to infuse for 1 hour. If your child likes thicker drinks, you can beat everything with a blender and prepare a compote with pulp. The fiber contained in apples is very beneficial for digestion.
Recipe 2: Compote for a child with pear
This version of compote for a child differs from the first recipe in that it contains pears. The drink turns out even richer, more aromatic, tastier and, of course, healthier.
We thoroughly wash the fruits, wipe them and peel them. Then remove the seeds and cut the pulp into small pieces. Place the fruit in a saucepan and fill with water. Cover the pan with a transparent lid so that you can see when the water boils. It is not advisable to open the pan again. Put the pan on the fire. After boiling, immediately remove the pan with compote from the heat and leave to cool and infuse. You can add a tablespoon of sugar to the fruit if the child is over 1 year old.
What are the benefits of compotes?
Despite the fact that the compote is cooked over a fire, it retains enough nutrients to speak of its enormous benefits. However, vitamin C is destroyed during cooking. But they are preserved:
- B vitamins;
- minerals;
- pectins;
- antioxidants;
- cellulose.
Kompotiki are useful as a means of improving digestion and relieving constipation. In hot weather, this drink perfectly quenches thirst. In the spring, during the period of vitamin deficiencies, the beneficial substances contained in dried fruits give the baby’s body strength to fight colds and viruses. In case of illness, drinking plenty of sour drinks is often recommended. Compotes are perfect for this role. They help remove toxins from the body faster.
Compote from a pack
We have long been accustomed to packaged juices for baby food. Several years ago, a new product appeared on the market - children's compotes in packs, intended for babies from 6-8 months. Can you trust such products or give your baby only homemade drinks?
Of course, a compote brewed by a caring mother is 100 times healthier than a drink from a pack that has been reconstituted. But there are situations when it is not possible to prepare homemade compote, for example, while traveling. Then you can buy your baby a packaged compote. If you buy products from a reputable manufacturer in a reliable store, you can be sure of the quality. The product is guaranteed to have undergone the necessary processing and is safe for the health of the child. But, of course, provided that the shelf life has not expired and the storage conditions have been met.
In general, homemade compote is much tastier and healthier than any store-bought drink from a pack. After all, it is prepared by mom from carefully selected fruits with love and care.
Recipe 3: Compote for a child from dried fruits
This dried fruit compote for a child is an excellent solution for baby food. The drink strengthens the children's body, improves digestion and improves immunity.
- Dried fruits (apples and pears) - 50 g;
- Water - 0.5 liters.
Wash dried fruits thoroughly and scald with hot water. Place dried fruits in a small saucepan and fill with warm boiled water. Cover the pan with a glass lid. Let it swell overnight. There is no need to drain the water in the morning - this is compote. Mix everything and add a little sugar (for children over 1 year old). Instead of sugar, you can add a little fructose.
Gooseberry compote recipe for children
During the period when there is a variety of ripened fruits, mothers have the opportunity to prepare fruit drinks from fresh berries. An example is gooseberry compote for children, the recipe for which will be given below. Actually, there are no difficulties, and the following ingredients will be required:
- 200 gr. gooseberries;
- 2 tbsp. l. granulated sugar;
- water – 0.7 l.
Gooseberries have a stalk, which also needs to be cut off during washing, for example with scissors. After preparing the gooseberries, add them to boiling water, add sugar and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. After the drink is ready, it is allowed not only to cool, but also to infuse. The color of the drink depends on the variety of gooseberry and its color. If you come across green gooseberries, you can add a handful of cherries or raspberries to give the drink a pleasant color and at the same time improve its taste. In this case, the amount of water can be increased to 1 liter.
Recipe 4: Compote for a child with prunes
Compote for a child with prunes is an excellent way to overcome a common childhood problem - constipation. The drink is brewed very simply and quickly.
- Prunes - 100 g;
- Water - 2-2.5 glasses;
- Sugar - 100-120 g.
Rinse prunes thoroughly in running water. Pour filtered water into the pan and add sugar. Place a pan of water on the fire. As soon as the water boils, add prunes. Cook compote for a child for about 15-20 minutes until the dried fruits become soft. It is advisable that the drink is properly infused and cooled naturally.
Recipe 5: Compote for a child with hawthorn
Compote for a child with hawthorn is given in small quantities and only in freshly brewed form. The drink should not be consumed in excessive quantities. It is better to give the compote little by little, but regularly. Fruits, herbs and berries do not give an effect immediately, but after some time. The drink can be given from three years of age.
- A glass of ripe berries;
- Sugar - 100 g;
- Water - 2 glasses.
Wash the berries thoroughly, cut them and remove small seeds. Rinse again under running water. Pour water into a saucepan and add sugar. After boiling, add the berries. Cook for 5 minutes, then let sit.
