Baby Nutrition 101: What Moms Should Know About
Posted in Nutrition For Baby on 12. Feb, 2011
Posted by EightNine on Feb 12th 2011
It is just logical for one’s beginnings to have a huge impact on what and how one grows up to be. Baby nutrition, more specifically, is one of the most influential factors in determining how smart and well-adjusted one’s kid becomes.
There are a number of other factors though that plays a significant role in one’s growth and development. These include genetics as well as the trainings and effort of the parents to assist in their kid’s overall development. However, it is the food and nutrients taken in by the baby at such a young age that takes up a large percent of the blame when assessing his level of intelligence and other capacities later on in life.
Basically, there are four aspects of baby nutrition every parent should know about. They are the following.
1. Food for newborns – The main requirement for newborn babies is milk. This is what they need for the first six months of life. The best solution is breast milk, but some parents opt to feed their young ones with milk formulas especially when the former is unavailable.
2. Solid foods – At the beginning of the sixth month, it is possible to start introducing solid foods to the baby’s diet. However, it is best to stick with softer grain foods and gradually moving on to more solid foods such as pureed vegetables and fruits then pureed meats. When introducing solid foods, it should be one food at a time. The best interval is from three to five days.
Stepping up from pureed foods to mashed food is most recommended during the seventh to eight months. Finger foods such as toast strips and cooked vegetables can then be introduced during the ninth month while yogurt and cheese are for the tenth month. It is only when the baby reaches 12 months or one year old that whole milk or water can be served for the baby’s consumption.
3. Amount of food – Since babies have smaller stomachs than older children, they do not need as much food as them. Basically, a baby eats when and if it is hungry. Food should never be forced on it. Parents should have small meals available all throughout the day.
4. Food allergies – By introducing solid foods one by one, and taking some time before introducing the second one, parents get to determine if a specific food item can cause allergies. Introducing solid foods after the baby’s sixth month makes sure that its digestive system is mature enough to lessen the possibilities of allergic reactions.
Parents should be highly observant when introducing foods to the baby. Any signs of irregularity such as vomiting, rashes or diarrhea should be taken note of and reported to the doctor, who can then do a scratch test to see if there is indeed an allergy to the food.
With all these information pertaining to baby nutrition, it is easy for parents to make sure that their little ones get the nutrients that their young bodies need. This is important considering how the first few months of one’s life impact the rest of it.
