Elisabeth Schafer
Professor
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Iowa State University Extension
Nicholas K. Fradgley
Extension Associate
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Iowa State University
Copyright/Access Information
The first year of life is a time of more rapid growth and development
than any other time of life. A baby usually doubles its birth
weight within the first four months and triples birth weight by
the first birthday. A 70-pound 10-year-old who did this would
weigh 210 pounds at age 11.
For this amazing growth, the infant requires an adequate intake
of calories and essential nutrients. Good nutrition alone will
not guarantee normal development, but a loving environment is
incomplete without proper feeding.
Your baby needs the same nutrients you do: protein, carbohydrate,
fat, water, vitamins, and minerals. Over 40 different nutrients
are needed by your baby for healthy growth and development.
Full-term babies are usually born with enough reserves of nutrients,
especially water, to last the first few days. By the second or
third day, your baby needs calories, water, and nutrients.
Although breastfeeding is best for most babies, this may not
be possible for all families. Your baby's nutritional needs will
be safely and adequately supplied whether you choose to breastfeed
or use commercial infant formula. The choice is yours. Each has
its advantages and disadvantages, as shown in the chart below.
New mothers who want to return to work have often been able to
combine breastfeeding with formula-feeding, especially after the
first few weeks, when the milk supply has been well established.
The nursing mother usually needs an extra 500 kilocalories per
day, along with 20 more grams of protein and 400 more milligrams
of calcium. This can be supplied by adding a glass of milk, a
slightly larger serving of meat, and an egg or a slice of bread.
Drinking plenty of water will help provide the needed liquid.
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- Breast milk contains an optimum combination of nutrients
for your baby.
- In the first few weeks your baby has little resistance to disease.
Breast milk contains factors that help protect your baby from
viruses and bacteria. (Even if you only breastfeed for two or
three weeks, you may be helping your baby.)
- Breastfed infants have been shown to be protected from many
gastrointestinal upsets and diarrhea.
- Babies can receive harmful substances from a mother's milk.
Medications, alcohol, caffeine, pesticides, and lead can appear
in breast milk. (However, mothers can easily limit their use of
caffeine and alcohol and only use medication on the advice of
their doctor.)
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-Commercial formulas are sterile and safe when prepared properly.
- Feeding your baby using commercial formula can cost 1/3 to
1/2 more than breastfeeding.
- It is easy to prop the bottle in the baby's mouth while doing
something else rather than give the baby the love and attention
it needs.
- "Bottle-mouth" is a serious problem that can result
when babies are routinely put to bed with a bottle. Baby may fall
asleep with the bottle still in the mouth. Extensive tooth decay
can result because there are natural sugars in the milk that dribble
onto the baby's teeth as she sleeps.
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The stomach of a newborn infant has a capacity of less than
1/4 cup. At 12 months the baby's stomach will be able to hold
about 1 cup or 8 ounces. Because babies can eat very little at
one time, they eat every two or three hours. Babies get hungry
at irregular times during the first few weeks. As they grow, they
will become more regular and will be able to go longer between
feedings.
Feeding-on-demand has become more popular although some parents
still prefer to set up regular schedules that are convenient for
them and their babies. Each family must choose what's best for
them.
Just like older children and adults, babies need water as well
as milk. These daily fluids are necessary for the formation of
urine to help remove wastes from the body.
Babies need about 1/3 cup of fluid per pound of body weight up
to 18 pounds. At heavier weights, fluid needs are smaller. A 12
pound baby, for example, needs about 4 cups (1 quart) of fluid
a day. Most of this should come from breast milk or formula.
Many babies may want additional water, especially in hot weather.
If your baby cries soon after eating and you can discover no reason,
try feeding a little water in a clean bottle (but make sure you
boil then cool the water first). Be careful not to give so much
water that the baby fails to get
enough milk.
Breast milk and commercial formulas contain adequate amounts
of vitamins and minerals for normal infants. Although breast milk
and formula contain very small amounts of vitamin C, it is enough
to meet a baby's needs. Giving the baby extra vitamins and minerals
is probably unnecessary under normal conditions and can be dangerous
if excessive amounts are given.
Generally the vitamins and minerals in breast milk are in forms
that are especially well absorbed and used by an infant. For example,
there is little iron in breast milk, but it is present in a very
usable form. In addition, a full-term baby from a well-nourished
mother is born with iron stores large enough to last nearly six
months.
Fluoride is known to be important for development of healthy teeth,
but little research has been done to show how important fluoride
is in the first six months of life. Formula-fed babies will get
adequate fluoride from the water (if it's fluoride-treated) that
is mixed with the formula. In areas where the water is not fluoride-treated,
the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a fluoride supplement
of 0.25 mg per day for both breastfed and bottle-fed babies. Supplementation
should begin two weeks after birth.
Many babies go through stages of inconsolable crying after feeding. Some may even vomit. Colic may be a result of something baby has eaten or something mother has eaten that appears in her milk. Although most babies get fussy or appear colicky at times, it may be worth seeing if some type of food is causing it. Also, practice some comforting techniques, such as rocking your baby or talking or singing softly to her.
Babies grow well in a variety of situations. It is most important
for parents to make decisions that are right for the family. Whichever
feeding method is chosen, the baby needs to be fed in an atmosphere
of love. The baby should be nestled close, touched, rocked, and
talked to during feeding times. Without this tender physical contact,
babies often fail to grow and develop. Although friends and relatives
will share their experiences, the decision of how and when to
feed your baby will depend on your baby's and your own needs.
Even small babies can sense when a parent is tense rather than
relaxed.
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Breast milk
Formula
Cow's milk
Solid food
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Baby's main food will continue to be breast milk or formula.
Early experiences with food may have an impact on later eating
habits. Learning to accept a variety of flavors and textures is
important. Research shows that flavors from the food mother has
eaten appear in her milk. A baby exposed early to a flavor that
appears in it's mother's milk will probably continue to enjoy
that flavor when it appears in food. One study suggests that breastfed
infants are more likely to try new flavors later in life. However,
parents should be careful not to impose their taste preferences
on the baby.
For several decades parents were told to introduce solid foods
early. In some cases babies were started on cereals as early as
three weeks after birth. The current recommendation is to wait
until the baby is 4 to 6 months old. Here are some reasons why
waiting is advised:
Well-intentioned grandparents may be placing pressure on you to introduce solid foods early. It can help them to know the reasons for waiting and that pediatricians and nutritionists agree.
1. Go slowly. One or two spoonfuls will be enough.
2. Introduce only one new food at a time. Give the baby a few
days to get used to it before adding another. This approach will
make it easier to identify problem foods if allergies are present.
3. Start with rice cereals. Some pediatricians recommend iron-fortified
infant rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula as a first
solid food. This gives your baby a good source of iron, as well
as a good distribution of calories between carbohydrates, protein,
and fat. Rice is less likely to cause allergic reactions than
other grains.
4. Touch is still important. Your baby may need reassuring when
you first introduce solid foods. Hold your baby to let him know
that this new experience is all right.
Care must be taken when using a microwave oven to heat baby
food. Microwaves can heat a food unevenly, forming hot-spots.
One spoonful of the food may be cold, yet the next spoonful could
burn the baby's mouth. Babies accept room temperature and cold
food, so warming is not really necessary. Most health and child
care professionals recommend against using a microwave oven to
warm baby food. If you do warm in a microwave oven, use extreme
caution, and stir the food well before feeding baby to ensure
the food is at an even temperature.
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Breast milk
Formula
Water
Iron-fortified cereals
Cow's milk
Honey or sugar
Eggs
Meat
Powdered soft drink mix
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Here is a general guide for adding solid foods:
Cereals: 4-6 months
Vegetables: 7 months
Fruits: 8 months
Meats: 10 months
Cheese and Yogurt: 10-12 months
Egg yolks: 10 months
Vegetables and fruits follow cereals at around 7 months. These
provide vitamins A and C. If your baby starts to show some signs
of chewing, you may want to give her some mashed vegetables or
thick cereal to work on to improve chewing skills.
An 8- to 9-month baby will have one or two teeth and can probably
handle lumpy foods. If you have not begun to do so, begin now
to offer the baby foods prepared for the family. Go easy. Start
with easy-to-mash foods such as cooked potato or carrot, banana,
or canned fruits.
If any nutrient is going to be in short supply, it is iron. Many
pediatricians recognize this problem and recommend iron supplements.
Iron-fortified cereals are especially good sources of iron.
Infants do not need added sugar or salt. Babies have a strong
sense of taste and do not need the flavor enhancers favored by
adults.
Once your baby begins to be able to take hold of things, you may offer finger foods that will help develop coordination. (At this stage, a finger food is anything soft that holds together long enough for baby to get it from plate to mouth.) This may be very messy at first, but as baby's skills develop, the mess decreases.
Rusks make a good finger food when baby starts teething. You can make a hard teething bread by baking any bread in a very low (150-200 degrees F) oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Also, cold fruit mixtures (pureed canned or soft fruit) are very refreshing to baby's gums during teething.
Honey is not recommended for infants under the age of 12 months.
Honey may carry botulism spores. The digestive system of children
and adults can destroy these harmful spores but a baby cannot.
The spores may remain active in the stomach and produce their
deadly toxin. Even baking may not destroy the spores that occur
in honey. Not all honey contains botulism spores, but because
babies do not need honey, there is no reason to take the risk.
Beets and spinach have high concentrations of naturally-occurring
nitrates that can reduce the ability of the baby's hemoglobin
to transport oxygen. These foods should be used in moderation
or not at all until the baby reaches his first birthday.
Until the age of six months, babies need either breast milk
or commercial formula as their main source of nutrients even though
babies will begin to eat other foods. Babies and parents who are
satisfied with breast milk or commercial formula may continue
to use either one until 12 months. The use of breast milk or commercial
formula until 12 months is recommended by the American Academy
of Pediatrics. Cow's milk should not be used until after 12 months.
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Breast milk, formula, water
Cereal
Unsalted mashed vegetables
Unsweetened fruits & juices
Finger foods
Unsalted crackers
Rusks
Cow's milk
Honey or sugar
Eggs
Meat
Powdered soft drink mix
Soft drinks
Salt
Sweets
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By 10 months your baby is probably eating and enjoying a variety
of cereals, vegetables, and fruits. Now it is time to introduce
meats. Although meat is a good source of protein, most babies
get plenty of protein from milk. The most important contribution
meat can make to a baby's diet is iron.
Around 10 to 12 months, eggs can be added to the diet. Although
egg yolks can be added to the diet around 10 months, egg whites
or whole eggs should not be given to your baby until the end of
the first year. This is because egg whites often cause allergic
reactions if introduced too early.
Cheese and yogurt in small amounts may be added to the diet now.
Babies are now ready for more finger foods. Good choices are
banana slices, dry toast, ready-to-eat unsweetened cereals, crackers,
meatballs, and small cubes of cheese.
To protect your baby from the danger of choking, offer only foods
that are soft or will soften in the mouth. Avoid raw carrots (unless
they are grated), nuts, popcorn, unpeeled apples, and other hard
foods.
By this age, a baby's eating behavior will have settled down into a fairly predictable routine. The baby will still need to eat more frequently than other family members, with mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and evening snacks as well as regular meals.
At around 10 months the baby may begin to drink from a cup
with an adult helping to hold the cup. Around 12 months of age
most babies can handle a cup alone. Milk, water, and juice may
all be given in a cup instead of a bottle. Do not expect the baby
to take much liquid from the cup at first. Offer just 1 or 2 ounces
(1/8 cup), and gradually increase the amount.
Some babies are ready to give up nursing or the bottle around
this age. Many will want to continue to nurse or have a bottle
for a few more months.
Babies are generally weaned by the end of the first year. As
a baby learns to drink more milk from the cup, bottles or breast
feedings can be discontinued gradually.
A baby who continues to drink large amounts of milk may not be
eating enough solid foods to meet his or her increasing nutritional
needs. By the age of 1 year a baby should be eating a variety
of foods and drinking only about 2 cups of milk a day.
RAW EGGS AND RAW MILK are not appropriate for babies.
These foods may be
sources of infections that can be dangerous to infants.
NO-NO FOODS for babies include desserts, carbonated beverages,
caffeine-containing beverages, and candy. They provide calories
with few nutrients. If they take the place of nutritious foods
and beverages, they can be harmful. Powered soft drink mixes sweetened
with sugar or NutraSweet(TM) are not good for babies. NutraSweet(TM)
is considered safe in moderate amounts for children and adults,
but safety for babies is not yet fully established. Besides, babies
need calories for growth and development.
One reason many physicians and parents give for feeding lowfat
milk to infants is to protect them from the problems of overweight.
There is no convincing evidence that overweight babies become
overweight adults. Remember, babies under the age of 12 months
should not even be drinking
cow's milk.
Babies need whole milk. Lowfat milk does not have enough calories
to permit babies to grow and develop to their best potential.
Also, skim milk contains proportions of minerals and protein that
will put extra strain on the baby's kidneys. This also means that
the baby may be at risk of
dehydration. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends whole
milk until the age of 2.
Studies at the University of Iowa Hospitals showed that babies
on skim milk did not gain weight as well as those on whole milk.
The babies on skim milk drank a larger volume of milk (trying
to get enough calories), but apparently their small stomachs just
didn't permit them to get enough. The investigators speculated
that the babies on skim milk might have been learning to overeat,
too.
Most pediatricians and nutritionists believe that body fat is
important to the health of an infant. It is not unusual for a
baby to become ill and refuse to eat for a couple of days; fat
stores provide calories for body maintenance and infection-fighting.
Babies can lose a lot of weight rapidly
DOCUMENT REVIEW::
Level 2 - Iowa State University Extension
DOCUMENT SIZE:: 41K or 13 pages
ENTRY DATE:: October 1995