Yogurt as a Nutritional Source:
Yogurt has an important place in Turkish Culture. This tradition, which has been going on for hundreds of years, includes many foods. Calcium and minerals in it are an important nutritional source for babies and children.
When Should Yogurt Be Given?
Experts always emphasize the importance of breast milk for the first six months. For this reason, experts state that it is the right thing to feed the baby without any additional nutrients for the first six months, unless there is an abnormal situation. Yogurt can also be given 6 months after the baby is born.
What Shape Should Yogurt Be Given?
Generally, it is not considered appropriate to give cow or goat milk before babies reach one year old. However, this can be ignored in yogurt making. The fact that children generally do not use cow and goat milk before they reach the age of 1-1.5 does not mean that yogurt cannot be made. But here, too, a different situation comes into play.
Allergy is different for every baby. And without the use of this food, it cannot be known which food causes allergy to the baby. That's why it's important to test babies for allergies to cow's and goat's milk. It will be the right decision not to get into different situations and to keep the baby for an allergic test. After the test, if it is seen that the baby does not show a certain allergic reaction, yogurt can be made from cow's and goat's milk. However, where these milks are purchased from is important. The milk sold on the street, which is generally referred to as open, should not be used.
Because those milks can cause problems in terms of source of infection. It doesn't matter where it's taken from or where it's milk from.
Pasteurized milk should always be preferred. These milks may be the milks of well-known brands available in markets and grocery stores, or they may be made from follow-on milk. These milks do not have to be only cow and goat milk. Mothers can also use their own milk to make yogurt. However, it is up to the person to make such a choice, since there is not much breast milk and the possibility of yoghurt not holding. Another point is that it is recommended to leaven in small portions to make the yoghurt fresher.
In addition, it is also important to eat yoghurt alone as yoghurt. However, eating yogurt alone may not be pleasing to the baby. Small dried fruits can be put inside, but sugar and honey should never be added.
The use of sugar and honey is not recommended for babies until they reach the age of one. Yogurt can be given to the baby in the evening hours. It can be fed up to half a teaspoon. As the child grows, it can be placed in addition to vegetables.