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Introduction
Infancy is a period of rapid growth. From the safe protected world in the mother’s womb, where it was nourished, the baby now comes into an environment which places a lot of stress on it. The baby has to make an effort to get the food it needs and has to cope up with the infections. Breast feeding is unique because it nourishes the baby and protects it from many infectious diseases. As your baby grows, mother’s milk alone is not sufficient and you will need to give the baby other foods. Sometimes, if breast feeding is not possible, you have to use a substitute for it.
In this post we will discuss about the growth of babies in their first year, i.e., infancy, their nutritional needs and what they should eat in this period.
Birth Weight, Normal Growth And Development
In the Nutrition Through The Life Cycle – Pregnancy And Foetal Growth, we have seen how vital it is for a mother to consume an adequate, well balanced diet during pregnancy. You know that if a mother is malnourished, her baby may be born with a low birth weight. The birth weight of an infant is important because it determines its ability to face life, to grow and develop normally.
Birth Weight: Under optimal conditions, you will see that the normal birth weight of infants of either sex will be about 2.5 kg. or more, and the length will be about 50 cm. If the birth weight of a baby is less than 2.5 kg., such an infant is said to have low birth weight. There are two main reasons for low birth weight: [1] Premature or early delivery, and [2] When growth of the baby in the womb has been less than is expected or desirable.
Low birth weight infants may by small and wrinkled at birth. They may have some immediate difficulties, for example with breathing, in adapting to life outside the womb. However, if you provide optimal conditions after birth, low birth weight infants can put on the weight and catch up with other infants.
Normal Growth And Development Of Infants: All-round growth and development of a baby is very rapid during the first year of life.
Age [Month] : Weight [Kg]
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- At Birth : 2.5-3.5 Kg.
- One : 3.3-4.3 Kg.
- Two : 4.0-5.0 Kg.
- Three : 4.5-5.7 Kg.
- Four : 5.1-6.3 Kg.
- Five : 5.5-6.9 Kg.
- Six : 5.9-7.5 Kg.
- Seven : 6.3-8.0 Kg.
- Eight : 6.7-8.0 Kg.
- Nine : 7.1-8.9 Kg.
- Ten : 7.4-8.3 Kg.
- Eleven : 7.7-9.6 Kg.
- Twelve [One Year] : 7.9-9.0 Kg.
Nutritional Requirements Of An Infant
The first year of life is a period of rapid growth and forms the foundation of future health of the child. The need for energy is highest at this age and the infant’s energy requirement is three times that of an adult.
Most babies in our country are breast-fed. As you are acquainted with the needs of infants. Since the mother has to nourish her infant, it is very important that a nursing mother should eat an adequate amount of food. If you do not feed the mother well, how would you have a beautiful and healthy baby? Let us discuss, therefore, what the diet of a nursing mother should be and then discuss about feeding of the infant.
Nutrition For Nursing Mothers
If the mother has to successfully breastfeed and nourish her baby, it is important that she herself consumes an adequate diet. Generally mothers produce at least 600 to 800 ml. of milk per day. In this milk are present all the nutrients that the baby needs. Thus during the period of nursing or breastfeeding you can see that a mother needs to consume one-and-a-half times her normal food intake.
How would you supply this extra food? You may be familiar with traditions of feeding special preparations to a nursing mother. Many communities give a nursing mother Kheer or Laddus such as those made from Methi, Lahia, Leafy Vegetable Soups, etc. All these foods provide Energy, Proteins, Minerals and Vitamins that the mother needs.
It is not always necessary to specially prepare such foods. You can meet the additional requirements of the mother by increasing some common food items in the normal diet such as Chapati, Dal, etc., as are listed in the below details.
Additional Food For A Nursing Mother
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- Chapati – One
- Rice – One Bowl
- Dal – One Bowl
- Egg – One
- Milk/Curd – One Cup
- Fish – One Piece
- Nuts – 25 Gm
- Any Dark Green Leafy Vegetables – One Serving
- Ghee/Butter/Oil/Fat – Four To Five Teaspoons
- Sugar/Jaggery – Four To Five Teaspoons
Breast Feeding
All babies thrive on mother’s milk since it is nature’s ideal way of nourishing the baby. In India, breastfeeding is customary and hence most women do not need to be told to breastfeed their babies. However, you need to advise many women to feed their babies colostrum, which is the thick yellowish milk that is secreted in the first three to four days after delivery. Colostrum is a rich source of nutrients and also protects the infant against many diseases. Breast milk is the best choice of food for infants because breast milk is:
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- Adequate to meet the nutritional needs of the infant.
- Easily digested and the nutrients from it are more easily absorbed.
- Rich in substances which protect the baby from many infectious diseases.
- The milk supply automatically adjusts to the baby’s needs.
- It protects the infant against allergy during its most vulnerable period.
- It is economical, convenient and very clean
Here Are Some Guidelines For Management Of Breastfeeding For Mothers:
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- Put the baby to the breast soon after delivery.
- Let the baby be fed on demand. i.e., whenever it wants.
- Encourage cleanliness.
- Until the baby is 3 to 4 months old, you need to give the baby only boiled and cooled water in addition to breast milk.
- Breast feed as long as possible.
- If the infant is too weak, expel milk from the breast and feed it with a cup/bowl and spoon.
- Calm and quiet atmosphere favors maximal milk secretion.
Breast Milk Substitute
Sometimes it is not possible to provide breast milk to an infant as for example when the mother has some illness. In such cases you have to substitute the breast milk with other milk and have to copy nature as closely as possible. Usually you feed cow’s or buffalo’s milk as a substitute. However, cow’s and buffalo’s milk differ from human milk and have no anti-infective properties. Usually milk is diluted with water to make it easily digestible. However, this decreases the amount of energy available from the milk; consequently you must add sugar to ensure that the baby will get enough energy. In below details, you will see the amount of water and sugar that you need to add to make a feed for babies of different ages. Whenever you use cow’s or buffalo’s milk, boil it first to kill all harmful bacteria. Dilute the milk with boiled and cooled water when necessary.
Preparation Of Food For Infants Using Cow’s Or Buffalo’s Milk
Cow’s Milk Or Toned Milk
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- Birth To 2 Weeks – 1/2 Cups Milk – 1/2 Cup Water – 2 [Teaspoons] Sugar
- 2 Weeks To 2 Months – 2/3 Cups Milk – 1/3 Cup Water – 2 [Teaspoons] Sugar
- 2 Months To 4 Months – 3/4 Cup Milk – 1/4 Cup Water – 2 [Teaspoons] Sugar
- Beyond 4 Months – Undiluted Milk – 2 [Teaspoons] Sugar
Whole Milk Or Buffalo’s Milk
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- Birth To 1 Month – 1/2 Cups Milk – 1/2 Cup Water – 2 [Teaspoons] Sugar
- 1 Month To 4 Months – 2/3 Cups Milk – 1/3 Cup Water – 2 [Teaspoons] Sugar
- 4 Months To 6 Months – 3/4 Cups Milk – 1/4 Cup Water – 2 [Teaspoons] Sugar
- Beyond 6 Months – Undiluted Milk – 2 [Teaspoons] Sugar
Cleanliness is extremely essential while preparing the milk. The following precautions should help to ensure protection of the infant from infection:
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- If any milk is leftover in the bottle after a feed, do not leave it as it is. Use it in some family food preparation.
- Wash all bottles, nipples, spoons, cups, etc. with soap and water
- Sterilize all the bottles, nipples, etc. by immersing them in boiling water for 10 minutes.
Weaning And Supplementary Foods
The term, “To Wean” means “To Accustom“ and it describes the process by which the infant gradually becomes accustomed to the full adult diet. When would you begin weaning a child? You already know that breast milk alone is quite sufficient until the baby is four to six months old. Generally the first solid foods are introduced around the fifth to sixth month and this occasion may be celebrated in your home.
How To Introduce Weaning Foods?: It is important that the weaning period be an enjoyable period of transition. When you first offer an infant food, you may find that he spits it out. This is because the baby develops the ability to swallow very slowly. The child should not be forced to eat. You will find that the baby accepts the food better if it is not distracted.
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- When you start a food give only one teaspoon or two at a time, possibly after the breastfeed. If the infant does not take it, try again when he is hungry.
- Wait a few days so that the baby is used to one food before you introduce another.
- Gradually increase the amounts of food offered so that by the end of the year, the infant will be eating normal family meals.
- Once the baby accepts a new food, give it quite frequently so that it becomes familiar.
Kinds Of Foods Given: Normally cereals are the first foods to be fed. You can give cereals prepared for the family meals such as Rice, Chapati or Phulka or Bread Soaked in milk. Rice can be mixed with Dal or Curds or Milk and Mashed. By the 7th or 8th month the child should be taking about 4 to 5 teaspoons of the foods. Soft cooked dal or steamed pulse preparations can be given by 7 to 8 months of age. You may be preparing dishes like Khichadi, Pongal, Idli, Dhoklas, etc. in your home. These can be fed to the older infant.
Fruits like Banana, Mango, Papaya can be started at 5 months of age. Cooked Apple after removing the fibrous parts can be given. By the time the baby is 6 to 8 months of age, you can begin giving him vegetables also. Initially you need to mash the cooked vegetable, and if necessary, strain it. By the end of the first year, you can change the consistency to coarsely mashed and then chopped vegetables. Vegetables and fruits supply the baby with minerals and vitamins and also make it get used to different textures and flavors.
Egg yolk can be given between 4 and 6 months of age. Egg white, however, should be given only by the end of the first year, since some babies are allergic to it. Fish and meat can be cooked and mashed. Meat may be ground and started in the fifth month. You can feed the baby alternately with fish/meat or egg yolk or dal.
The time of feeding and how frequently you feed the baby can be flexible, depending on when the child feels hungry. After the first few weeks, the child will regulate itself and develop some sort of a schedule. By the time a baby is 6 months old, the number of feeds may be reduced to 6 or 7, and at one year of age, the child will take four or five feeds.
Here Is An Example Of What You Can Give To A 9-Month Old Baby:
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- Morning: Cereals or Boiled and Mashed Egg Yolk with Milk, e.g. Dalia/Porridge/Chapati/Bread with Milk to drink.
- Mid-Morning: Mashed Fruit or Fruit Juice.
- Afternoon: Khichdi/Rice and Dal [Mashed], Curd, Mashed Vegetables, Milk.
- Late Evening: Vegetable Soup, Khichdi, Mashed Fruit, e.g. Banana.
- Night: Milk.
Precautions In Infant Feeding
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- The leftover milk in the bottle should not be fed to the baby.
- Frequent small feeds are to be encouraged.
- Avoid seasoned foods and strong flavored foods as supplements.
- Keep all utensils clean and sterile.
- Keep hands and fingers clean.
Related Posts
Nutrition Through The Life Cycle – Preschool Age
Nutrition Through Life Cycle – The School Age
Nutrition Through Life Cycle – Adolescence
Nutrition Through Life Cycle – Adulthood
Nutrition Through Life Cycle – Old Age
