Basic Nutrition Guide for Babies & Infants

Every mother wants her child to be healthy and strong. For this, he would need a variety of diets at different stages of his growth process. If you are wondering when and how to introduce that varied diet, then some of the following points may help you solve the problem. The major recommended food groups suitable for babies and infants are as followed:

• Formula and breastmilk
• Cow’s Milk
• Grains and Cereals
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Protein/Meat
• Water
• Helpers that can be added to a Child’s Diet

It is Very easy for an Adult:

Some years back, the USDA had introduced My Pyramid Food Guidelines, before which we had cut-and-dried type of food groups. But the recommendations for toddlers and babies can be very hard to follow. Here are some tips that you can start with your child to feed him when he is through his second birthday.

Below given is the month-by-month nutrition according to the changing needs of your baby which you can download for your convenience. Check this regularly and you can also use our nutrition calendar to find out if your baby is growing accordingly or not.

Formula and Breast Milk:

Formula and breast milk is the cornerstone for the nutrition of your baby in his first year, since it contains calcium, protein, vitamins, fat, and minerals which are extremely essential for the growth of your baby in the first year of his life. In the year two, breast milk is very essential to provide a nutritive safety net to your growing toddler, since it includes bonus calcium, protein, and vitamins A and D.

How much Formula or Breastmilk your Child Needs Everyday:

• 0-4 months: 595g to 680g (6 to 12 feedings, about 56g to 113g each)
• 4-6 months: 680g to 907g (4 to 6 feedings, about 113g to 226g each)
• 6-8 months: 680g to 907g (4 to 5 feedings, about 141g to 226g each)
• 8-10 months: 680g to 907g (3 to 4 feedings, about 170g to 226g each)
• 10-12 months: 567g to 907g (3 to 4 feedings, about 141g to 226g each)
• 12-24 months: 453g to 680g breastmilk if you are still nursing, though there is no need of Formula (1 to 4 breast feedings every day and sometimes the baby may probably need more).

If the mother can breastfeed her child even after his first birthday, then it would be really great. Formula is recommended only in exceptional cases. Always keep in mind that after one year, whole milk is the only liquid source of nutrition for your child.

Cow Milk:

After the child crosses the one year mark, he needs calcium in bulk amounts to fulfill his growing needs and for the foundation of strong bones which are also formed at this stage. This need can be fulfilled by replacing breastfeed with cow milk, since it contains all the required ingredients including vitamins, calcium, and vitamins A and D.

The quantity of cow milk your child may need every day:

• 0-10 months: Nothing
• 10-12 months: 1 serving per day (equal to ¾ gm of cheese or half cup of whole milk-yogurt)
• 12-24 months: 2 to 3 servings (each serving equals to half cup of whole milk, ¾ gm of cheese or half cup of yogurt)

Grains and Cereals:

It is very important to keep your baby’s energy levels intact. Grains and cereals maintain that energy level by providing carbohydrates, minerals like magnesium and zinc, vitamin B complex, and the required fiber for his day-to-day activities like rolling, crawling, and walking.

The quantity of grain your child may need every day:

• 0-4 months: nothing
• 4-6 months: 3 to 4 tbsp (Start with rice which is very rich in iron)
• 6-8 months: 4 or more tbsp (Try giving only iron-rich cereals)
• 8-10 months: 4 or more tbsp (Along with iron-rich food, try finger foods like pasta, crackers, teething biscuits, and puffs)
• 10-12 months: 4 or more tbsp (Along with the food that you have been giving since the last month, try 1or 2 bread slices or pizza crusts)
• 12-24 months: 6 servings or more (each serving equals to half bread slice, 1/3 cup of cooked cereal, quarter cup of dried cereal, half muffin or bagel, 1/3 cup of cooked pasta or rice. You can also start with two servings of infant cereal per day for extra iron.

Vegetables:

As your mother would keep insisting, babies do need vegetables as a source for fiber, protein, vitamins A, B and C, trace minerals etc. which are extremely necessary for their growth. These vitamins and minerals help them grow faster, stronger, taller, and even smarter.

The quantity of vegetables your child needs every day:

• No vegetables for the first six months.
• 6-8 months: Just give 1tsbp per serving, 4 to 5 servings per day (start with stage-one vegetables or choose from strained vegetables)
• 8 to 10 months: 4 tbsp or more (Offer cooked veggie pieces, none bigger than your child’s thumbnail. Shoot for the consistency of canned carrots)
• 10 to 12 months: 4 to 8 tbsp (Split each day’s veggie allotment into one to two types of veggies)
• 12 to 24 months: 3 servings (One serving equals 1/4 -1/2 cup cooked or raw veggies)

Fruits:

Since fruits are nutritious, sweet, and contain lots of fiber and vitamins, they are essential for the overall growth of your child and will also help in keeping his digestive system child healthy.

The quantity of food your child needs per day:

• No fruits needed for the first six months.
• 6-8 months: Just give 1tsbp per serving (4 to 5 servings per day and start with stage-one fruits or strained fruits)
• 8-10 months: 4tsbp per serving (you can give cooked fruit tit-bits, should be very small like the thumbnail of your child. Try serving baked apple regularly)
• 10-12 months: 8-12tsbp per serving (you can give two types of fruits alternately every day)
• 12-24 months: 2 to 4 servings (1/4 cup of canned fruit, 100 ml of fruit juice or half cup of fresh fruit)

Meat/Protein:

Diets rich in proteins help your child in growing bigger and stronger. Along with vitamin B, zinc, and iron, protein helps in building strong muscles.

The quantity of protein your child needs every day:

• No protein required for the first eight months.
• 8-10 months: Start with 1tbsp (serve cheese cubes, egg yolk, pureed meats or tofu)
• 10-12 months: 2 to 4 tbsp (serve pureed, cooked meats, egg yolk, tofu or cheese cubes)
• 12-24 months: 2 to 3 servings (each serving equals 2 tbsp of cooked meat, fish, egg, poultry, ¼ cup of cooked beans, don’t give big quantities and serve 2 to 3 times a day)

Water:

About 70% of your baby’s body is made up of water, so water is the most essential part of your child’s diet. A child takes time to develop the taste of water and hence, it is better to start as early as possible. Water stops the dehydration of the body.

Quantity of water your child requires per day:

• There is no need of water up to four months after which, the quantity can be slowly increased and when your baby reaches two years of age, then 4gm or more water can be offered to him.

Basic Nutrition Guide for Babies & Infants

Every mother wants her child to be healthy and strong. For this, he would need...