Baby’s First Year Nutrition
For the child to grow up healthy and develop properly, it is essential that the mother has good control of nutrition in the baby’s first year of life. The food a mother consumes during this period will provide what is needed to stay healthy, although we often don’t know exactly what it is.
Nutrition in the first year of life
As we know, the baby needs a very controlled diet and breast milk will be his first food until he is ready to receive others.
Therefore, it is important that parents take into account what nutrition should be in the baby’s first year at each stage.
From 0 to 6 months
During this phase of the baby, breastfeeding will play a very important role. That’s because breast milk is the only source of nutrients for the little one.
At this stage, it is recommended that the mother take at least 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day.
From 4 to 6 months
When the baby enters 4 months of age, experts recommend starting to incorporate the first solid foods. Of course, this must be done under the pediatrician’s guidance.
At this stage, the most recommended thing to start diversifying your baby’s diet is to include fruits and vegetables.
From 6 to 8 months
When the baby is 6 months old, breastfeeding with breast milk or formula should continue. However, it is important that he also receive solid foods such as fruits and vegetables.
If he accepts these new foods without any problem, you can also include chicken, pasta, fish and others. However, it is important that foods that may be difficult for the baby to eat, such as fish, are chopped or crushed.
From 8 to 12 months
At this stage the baby can receive a more varied diet and can eat three times a day. In your diet can be included chicken, rice, vegetables, eggs and other sources of protein.
It is essential that, during this time, the baby does not consume cow’s milk. It is necessary to wait for the baby to be at least one year old to be able to include cow’s milk in the diet.
Tips for feeding your baby in the first year of life
Some habits or foods that the mother consumes can affect the baby during breastfeeding. However, many women don’t know this. For example, coffee can cause insomnia and great difficulty falling asleep. Therefore, it is important to know what foods and habits can affect your child’s health:
- During the breastfeeding period, in which the baby will receive everything the mother consumes, it is advisable not to consume alcohol, coffee, wine, artichokes, cucumbers, peppers, cauliflower and medicines that have not been prescribed by the doctor.
- It is advisable for the baby to get plenty of water, especially on days with very high temperatures.
- The mother must have adequate rest during lactation periods. Stress and tiredness can have a big influence on milk production.
- It is important that the baby is fed in a calm environment that does not cause stress. This will allow him to have better digestion.
Advantages of breastfeeding
It is very important that the baby receives breast milk for at least the first 6 months of life. In addition to helping to strengthen the immune system and prevent babies from getting sick more easily, breast milk has many benefits. These are some of them:
- It helps to establish proper regulation of the baby’s appetite.
- Breastfeeding reduces bleeding after childbirth. It also helps the uterus return to its normal size.
- Breastfeeding helps the mother regain her weight more quickly. This is because the fat stored during pregnancy is turned into energy to produce milk.
- Strengthens the bond between mother and baby.
Good nutrition in your baby’s first year of life will allow your baby to grow healthy and develop properly. It is important that parents are informed about foods that the baby cannot receive until a certain age. That way, they can establish a diet that doesn’t harm their health.
