NUTRITION IN INFANTS AND TODDLERS

Good nutrition is essential for growth and development that occurs during an infant’s first year of life. When the developing infants are fed with appropriate nutritional foods, their health is promoted.

Infants and toddlers grow and develop rapidly during the first few years of life. So they need the right combination of calories and nutrients to help keep them healthy.

Breastfeeding supplies everything a baby needs to grow and develop for the first six-12 months of life. It also helps protect the baby against infection and reduces the risk of allergy. It is recommended that babies are breastfed exclusively to around six months and continued until at least twelve months of age. Introducing infant formula feeding is to complement with breastfeeding when required.

At 6 months

Nutritional needs at this age are increasing rapidly and solid foods should be introduced to complement their milk requirement.  

Foods include: iron-fortified baby rice, iron-fortified infant cereal, cooked and pureed vegetables and fruit, such as pumpkin, potato, apple and pear, mashed ripe banana, pureed meats, such as beef, lamb or chicken. Introduce foods one at a time, starting with thin purees and changing texture when baby becomes more adapted to eating solids.

At 7-8 months

When baby starts picking up small objects and putting them to their mouth, try giving finger foods, such as toast fingers, cooked baby carrots or cooked pasta, encouraging them to feed themselves. Offer a mixture of pureed and finger foods to suit their needs.

At 8-12 months

Baby is starts to crawl. Introduce Meat, fish, chicken and vegetables finely chopped to provide texture. Offer other foods like: soft fresh fruit, white bread, plain crackers, yogurt and custard.

At  12 months

Baby still needs about 2 feeds of breast milk or infant formula each day with other foods. Offer them small meals and snacks regularly throughout the day, as well as eating smaller amounts of family meals if appropriate.

Breast milk or infant formula and water are the only drinks baby needs for the first 12 months. After 12 months, full-fat cow’s milk can be introduced with other nutrients.

Toddlers

A toddler is a child between the age of one and three. The toddler years are the time of great cognitive, emotional and social development.

Toddlers grow in spurts and their appetite fluctuates as they eat a whole meal one day and then hardly anything the next. It is normal and as long as you offer them healthy nutritional foods to fulfill their requirements.

NUTRIENTS REQUIRED

These are the nutrients that every child should have in their diet:

PROTEIN

Protein helps to build cells, break down food into energy, fight infections, and carry oxygen. 

Protein foods include:

Meat

Poultry

Fish

Eggs

Nuts, Beans

Dairy products

CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates are the most important source of energy helping the body in building and repairing tissue. Carbohydrate foods include:

Breads

Cereals

Rice

Crackers

Pasta

Potatoes

FATS

Fats are a high source of energy and are easily stored in body. Fat containing foods are:

Dairy products

Cooking oils

Meat

Fish

Nuts

CALCIUM

Calcium is essential in building healthy bones, teeth, muscle heart and brain.     Foods containing calcium are:

Milk

Cheese

Yogurt

Ice cream

Egg yolks

Broccoli

Spinach

IRON

Iron is necessary for a child to build healthy blood that carries oxygen to cells all over the body. Foods containing iron include:

Red meats

Liver

Poultry

Shellfish

Whole grains

Beans

Nuts

Iron-fortified cereals

FOLATE 

Folate (B vitamin) is important for healthy growth and development of cells. Folate containing foods include:

Whole-grain cereals

Lentils

Chickpeas

Asparagus

Spinach

Black or kidney beans

Brussels sprouts

FIBER

Fiber helps in reducing GI problems. Fiber foods include:

Whole-grain cereals

Chickpeas

Lentils

Kidney beans

Seeds

Nuts

Raw vegetables and fruits

VITAMIN-A

It helps in growth, eyes sight, and healthy skin.

Foods containing Vitamin-A includes:

Carrots

Sweet potatoes

Apricot

Spinach

Broccoli

Cabbage

Fish oil

Egg yolk

VITAMIN-C

It helps forming and repairing RBC, bones, and tissues. It helps gums stay healthy and strengthens blood vessels minimizing bruising from falls and scrapes. In addition helps in wound healing, boosts immune system and helps the body absorb iron from foods. Foods containing Vitamin-C include:

Citrus fruits

Papaya

Strawberries

Tomatoes

Potatoes

Melon

Cabbage

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Spinach