Baby Diet Breast milk is an essential part of baby diet. This begins right after birth till the infant is four months old. It continues along with other supplements, which are ideal in baby diets. An infant enjoys three kinds of feeding patterns before he is a year old. The primary phase is the nursing period.
This is the period of sucking the mother’s milk and other liquids. Transitional period is the second phase, which a transition by itself, is wherein the child is ready for certain solid foods, also referred to as weaning foods. The modified adult period is the third phase.
The child is ready for many foods from the table.
Majority of babies’ diet need careful planning. Breast milk is the best source of nutrients, as it is a wholesome storehouse of vitamins, minerals, protein, calories, carbohydrate and fats.
An array of enzymes that aid in digestion and assimilation are present. Antibodies are substances that aid in enhancing the immunity levels of the child. Risk of allergy is also reduced.
Supplements of vitamins are recommended by physicians, if the child is on breast milk alone. Iron supplementation is not necessary in breast fed infants, as their supply from mother’s milk and pregnancy input suffice. As the child ages, the frequency of intake of breast milk by the infant gradually decreases. This is due to the increased intake in the quantity of milk. A number of formula feeds are available in the market. For infants on artificial feeds, the transit time in the system is slow. This is because; the milk is broken down in a slow manner. Hence children on formula feeds consume milk, less frequently.
Cow’s milk, skimmed milk, soy milk and goat’s milk are not an essential part of infant diet. These increase the burden on kidneys, resulting in dehydration. Solid foods are commenced when the child is around four to six months. Commencement prior to this results in allergy, obesity, and diarrhea and growth impairment. The child is ready to digest protein, fats and complex carbohydrates. A teaspoon of cereal, in a liquid form is administered. The quantity of solids is gradually increased and replaced by multi grains. Avoid fruits in cereals. Introduce one food at a time. This helps in checking out the presence of allergies or intolerance, if any. Pureed vegetables, mashed pulses, cooked and mashed carrots, peas and beans are good to begin with.
Infants diet is supplemented with animal foods, when the baby is around seven to nine months old. Lamb and chicken provide good amount of protein. Certain foods like soy, fish, milk, egg, peanut, chocolates, cow’s milk, beef, wheat and orange juice require more care, as they cause food allergies. Water is an essential part of a baby’s diet, as it prevents constipation. Big pieces of candy, meat and nuts choke them. Sweets, carbonated beverages, tea and candies affect the appetite of the infant. Seasonings and salt are not recommended. Foods from the family table with less spice are preferred. A health and nutrition schedule for infants can never begin too early. Every parent wants to give their child nothing but the best, which includes the right foods and the perfect newborn diet. With so many options that are available for infants and toddlers, it could be a bit difficult to you to decide which one is the best infant diet that you can choose for your baby. According to new studies and reports published by several health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), for the first six months of a person’s life, the infant’s diet should consist of nothing but breast milk. Studies indicate that parents can help their children develop higher immunity towards ear infections and respirator diseases, by making sure that baby diets contain only breast milk. However, in case a child is suffering from any medical conditions, then a different baby diet will need to be followed. Most mothers tend to feed their infants formula milk or breast milk and as the baby grows, they include a few meals that comprise baby cereals. However a baby diet at 7 months needs to undergo an alteration, to meet the growing baby’s needs. First of all, the formula milk that the baby has been drinking till the age of 6 months will need to change. An infant diet at 6 months can be slightly modified so that it can be used as an infant diet plan at 8 months or 9 months. Most leading brands of formula milk have different varieties of baby formula for different age groups. Hence a baby’s diet at 7 months to 9 months should include formula milk that is appropriate for this age group. There are several other food types that can also be included baby diet 7 months are mashed vegetables, like carrots, potatoes, beetroot, squash, peas and sweet potato. In addition to pureed vegetables, rice cereals can also be included in the baby’s diet. This is a good baby diet for 8 months too. A baby diet at 9 months should incorporate fruits, as they are high in vitamins, minerals and all the other nutrients that are essential for the baby’s growth and development. However, since fruits are sweeter, babies may loose their taste for milk or vegetables, if fruits are fed in excess. Some of the fruits that are perfect for meeting baby 7 months include pear, apple, banana, cantaloupe, strawberry and peach, to name a few. However, the fruit needs to be mashed and the seeds should be removed to prevent the risk of the baby choking. If the baby has teeth and can chew, then the baby’s diet at 7 months should also include finger foods and this can continue for his/her diet at 8 months, 10 months and even up to 15 months. As your child approaches his or her first birthday, a wider variety of foods can be offered. A baby diet at baby diet 12 months can include meat, eggs, turkey, chicken whole grains and even fish. The baby’s diet at 1 year should be totally free of mashed foods, even though the foods should be cooked a little longer, so that they are soft and tender and can be easily chewed by the baby. Apart from the foods that you add to your baby’s diet as well as the schedule for meals that you set up, there are certain other points that you need to bear in mind, when introducing any new foods to your baby’s diet after one year or at any time for that matter. • Never add any new food item, without consulting a pediatrician. Mothers should always let the doctor know about the different homemade foods that are given to the baby. Alternately, there are several varieties of a baby diet chart easily available through online resources, with information on what food types should be given to the baby, in what quantities and regularity, at different phases in a baby’s life.
• Follow the “4 day rule” when you are trying out new foods with your baby. This rule claims that you should feed your baby the same food item for 4 days continuously, so that you will know if your baby is allergic to that food. Allergies can arise from homemade food too, so this rule should be applied whenever any new foods are added your baby’s diet plan.
• Make sure that you never introduce more than one new food item at one go, to the baby diet. First of all, the baby may not be able to handle too much change at one time. The second point is that if you notice any allergic reaction, you will not be sure about which food item the reaction is to.
• Always ensure that all those who cook for the child, serve the food and feed the baby, follow strict hygienic measures at all times. Infants and toddlers are very sensitive and can show severe adverse reactions, if the things are not cleaned properly. There have been instances, where babies become sick after eating, only because the plate or the vegetable was not washed properly. However, the mother may believe that the baby is allergic to that particular food and may eliminate it from the diet of the baby. Of course lack of hygiene can also have serious effects on the baby’s health, which could lead to life threatening situations too.
• Some toddlers are picky eaters and may refuse to eat foods, just because they do not like its taste or texture. Do not fret or despair in this case and be open to a little bit of experimentation in the baby’s diet. Try to prepare the same food in a different style and perhaps give it an appearance that will attract the toddler’s interest and attention. Avoid frying food excessively, just to get your baby to try new things. If the baby gets too used to fried foods, he or she may not be willing to try out or eat foods that are cooked in other ways. Incorporating the right eating habits right from the beginning can help you make sure that your child continues eating the right foods, even as you gradually switch the child over to a toddler diet. Hence the infant diet plays a very important role in the child’s upbringing. Fortunately, there are several resources that can help you with information and tips on infant diet guidelines and infant diet schedule. There are several health and dietary concerns that are seen even in children nowadays. Obesity and upset stomachs are very common in infants and toddlers. Parents should consult a doctor and get information on a baby diet for fat control or a baby diet for diarrhea in such instances.
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