Baby Nutrition Care

Toddlers should have 500 milligrams of calcium a day. This requirement is easily met if your child gets the recommended two servings of dairy foods every day. An important part of a toddler’s diet, milk provides calcium and vitamin D to help build strong bones. In addition, milk also contains carbohydrates, protein, fat, and zinc, as well as vitamins A, B2 and B12. Kids under age 2 should have whole milk to provide the dietary fats they need for normal growth and brain development. Offer cow’s milk in a cup after the child has begun the meal. If you are breastfeeding, only offer milk in a cup and avoid the bottle habit.

Most experts agree that kids can switch from infant formula or breast milk to whole cow’s milk when they reach 1 year of age. Before this age, cow’s milk is more likely to cause an allergic reaction and is tough for babies to digest. In addition, it is not the best source of iron.

Once you switch to cow’s milk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and other health experts advise parents to buy only pasteurized milk, which has been heated and processed to kill bacteria. Raw milk, they warn, may harbor contaminants and micro-organisms that can cause food-borne illness.

Some kids initially reject cow’s milk because it doesn’t taste like the familiar breast milk or formula. If your child is around 12 months and having this difficulty, mix whole milk with some formula or breast milk. Gradually adjust the mixture over time so it becomes 100% cow’s milk.

Some parents are anxious to wean their babies to cow’s milk, especially those who have been feeding formula since it can be a bit costly, but there are several good reasons to wait. Cow’s milk isn’t as rich in several nutrients, especially iron, as breast milk or formula, which is important for healthy first year development. Until the baby is eating a variety of iron-rich foods, feeding breast milk or commercially prepared formula ensures that the baby will get a sufficient amount of iron. Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that the early introduction of cow’s milk increases the chances of developing diabetes later in life. This is especially important in families with a history of the disease. Finally, children who switch to cow’s milk before their first birthday have higher incidences of allergies and eczema than those who wait.

Vegetables should be introduced after cereal and before fruit. Vegetables should be introduced as your baby can get the important nutrients he needs during his first year.

A typical daily serving of vegetables for a 6-8 month old baby is 3-4 tablespoons twice a day. You should start with strained pureed green vegetables and move on to strained yellow and other brightly colored varieties. Two great first choices are green peas or green beans. After the green vegetables you can introduce a more colorful choice such as carrots, yellow squash, or sweet potatoes. On top of that, you should introduce one vegetable at a time and wait 2-3 days before offering another variety. This gives your baby a chance to adapt to one flavor and gives you a chance to watch for allergic reactions. It is important that all vegetables you serve to your 6-8 month old baby need to be finely strained and pureed.

A typical daily serving of vegetables for an 8-10 month old baby can vary from 3-4 tablespoons four times a day to over a cup of vegetables daily. Your baby is an individual and servings will depend on the size of your baby and how your baby likes and tolerates vegetables. As your baby nears his first birthday continue to increase his serving size of vegetables to accommodate his appetite. If your baby is not having any trouble eating strained vegetables you can advance to junior strained (less pureed more mashed) and very tender vegetables from the family table.

Babies need great nutrient rich choices (made by you) to accommodate their metabolism and growth rate. For instance a baby requires more Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Calcium per pound of body weight than an adult male.

Luckily there are many power packed vegetables to choose from for your baby :

1. Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, and carrots are full of vitamin A (beta-carotene) which is vital to healthy eyesight, normal cell development, immune defenses and more.
2. Nerve and muscle processes both rely heavily on thiamin and green peas are a good source.
3. Red sweet peppers, green peepers, and broccoli contain high amounts of vitamin C, an antioxidant which also assists in iron absorption.
4. Calcium is an integral part of bone structure and plays a major role in blood clotting, maintaining blood pressure and much more. Broccoli, lima beans, soybeans, and squash are healthy choices if you’re aiming for calcium.