Proper Nutrition During The First Year Of Life
In order for a child to grow up healthy, proper nutrition is necessary, especially in the first year of life.
The nutrition children receive during this phase is extremely important to their overall health and development. The problem is, we often don’t know what they really need.
For example, drinking coffee while breastfeeding can harm a baby’s sleep. It is important to use these types of substances moderately.
There are many other important aspects to keep in mind about proper nutrition during the first few months of your baby’s life.
Proper nutrition in a baby’s first year of life
As we all know, the little ones need a fairly well-supervised diet, consisting primarily of breast milk at first, until they are developed enough to ingest food.
It is important for parents to be well informed about what their baby’s diet should look like for the first year of life.
0 to 6 months
During this growth phase, breastfeeding plays a very important role as it provides all the nutrients the child needs.
At this stage, doctors recommend that mothers take at least 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day.
4 to 6 months
When the baby reaches 4 months of age, experts recommend introducing some solid foods. This should be done in a way that your pediatrician recommends. The most important thing you can do at this stage is diversify your diet by adding fruits and vegetables.
6 to 8 months
When the baby reaches 6 months of age, he or she can continue feeding in the form of breast milk or formula. However, she should also be given solid foods such as fruits and vegetables.
If the baby accepts these foods without any problems, you can also incorporate chicken, pasta, and fish. Food that is too heavy for the baby to be shredded.
From 8 to 12 months
This is when the baby can start eating a more varied diet. It is also starting to get into the habit of eating three times a day.
You can include chicken, rice, vegetables, eggs, and other sources of protein in your diet.
It is important to note that the child is still not allowed to consume cow’s milk during this phase. You can start introducing these after his first birthday.
Tips for feeding your baby for the first year
Many mothers do not know that certain habits or foods can affect the baby while breastfeeding. Coffee, for example, can cause insomnia and difficulty falling asleep.
This is why it is important that mothers know what foods and habits can affect their baby’s health.
- During breastfeeding, the baby receives everything we consume. Hence, mothers should avoid alcohol, coffee, wine, artichokes, cucumbers, peppers, cauliflower, and medications not prescribed by their doctor.
- The baby should be given plenty of water, especially on hot days.
- Mothers should get adequate rest while breastfeeding. Stress and fatigue can affect milk production.
- The baby should be fed in a quiet, non-stressful environment. This will improve your digestive process.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
It is very important that the baby has breast milk for at least the first 6 months of life.
Breast milk strengthens the immune system, prevents the baby from getting sick easily, and has many other benefits. Here are a few of them:
- Breast milk helps regulate the baby’s appetite.
- Breastfeeding reduces bleeding after delivery. It also helps the uterus grow back to its pre-pregnancy size.
- Breastfeeding helps mothers get back to their pre-pregnancy weight faster. This happens because the fat that was stored during pregnancy is converted into energy, which is then used to produce milk.
- It strengthens the bond between mother and child.
Proper nutrition in the baby’s first year of life allows him to become healthy and strong. It also favors its development.
It is important that parents are well informed about the foods their babies cannot eat before a certain age. In this way, they will help them develop a diet that will not harm them.
