Best Foods For Infant

New parents probably worry more about feeding their baby than any other aspect of early child care. How do I know if the baby is getting enough? Too much? Should I give the baby vitamins? When do I start solid food?

Parents quickly learn that almost everyone is eager to answer such questions—grandparents, neighbors, even strangers in the supermarket. As might be expected, however, much of the advice is conflicting and adds to a parent’s feelings of confusion and uncertainty. So take a deep breath and calm down. Rest assured in the knowledge that if your baby is growing and developing at a normal pace, he’s getting enough to eat. Then, just follow along through these three stages:

0 TO 3 MONTHS: BREASTFEEDING AND FORMULA

On average, most babies double their birth weight in 4 to 5 months, and triple it by the time of their first birthday. Although it varies, breastfed babies generally nurse every 2 to 4 hours for the first month or so. Experts promote “on demand” feeding—in other words, babies should be fed whenever they are hungry for the first 4 or 5 months. Some babies may be sleepy or disinterested in food; a baby who is not feeding at least six to eight times a day may need to be stimulated to consume more. A baby who has regular stools and produces six or more wet diapers a day is most likely getting plenty of food. Here’s how to ensure proper nutrition the first few months of life:

Breastfeed for better health. Breast milk provides the best and most complete food to achieve optimal health, growth, and development for full-term infants. In fact, the World Health Organization recommends that a full-term, healthy infant should be exclusively breastfed up to 6 months of age (premature and low-birth-weight babies may need specialized formula in addition to breast milk). Even if you can only breastfeed for a few days, it’s worth doing. Colostrum, the breast fluid that is secreted in the first few days after birth, is rich in antibodies, which increase the baby’s resistance to infection. Supplement vitamin D and iron. However, a daily supplement of vitamin D (400 IU) is recommended in the United States and Canada for breastfed babies and should be continued until an adequate amount of vitamin D is consumed through diet.

Bottle-feed as an alternative. Although more than half of all North American women breastfeed for at least the first few weeks, many mothers elect to bottle-feed. Commercial infant formulas provide all the essential nutrients, and, when used according to the manufacturers’ instructions, babies thrive on them. Choose an iron-fortified formula. Babies under one year of age should not be given regular cow’s milk because it is difficult for them to digest and may provoke an allergic reaction. The cow’s milk in most infant formulas is modified to make it easier to digest. Despite this precaution, some babies may require a soy or rice formula.

Sterilize bottles, discard old formula. Bottle-feeding requires more work than nursing. Bottles, nipples, and other equipment must be sterilized. Some formulas are premixed; others are concentrated or powdered, and must be mixed with sterile water. Formula mixed in advance should be refrigerated but not longer than 24 hours; after that, it should be discarded. Any formula that is left in the baby’s bottle after a feeding should be discarded; if not, there is a possibility it could be contaminated by microorganisms entering through the nipple opening.

4 TO 6 MONTHS: SOLID FOODS

There is no specific age at which to start solid foods, but for most babies, 4 to 6 months is about right. Starting too early can be harmful because the digestive system may not be able to handle solid foods yet. Also, the early introduction of solid foods may increase the risk of developing food allergies. An infant who is thriving solely on breast milk can generally wait until he is 5 or 6 months old; after that, nursing alone may not provide adequate calories and the nutrients that a baby needs for normal growth. Here’s how to start:

Expect messy first feedings. The first solid food must be easy to digest and unlikely to provoke an allergic reaction. Infant rice cereal is a good choice. For the first few feedings, put a very small amount on the spoon, gently touch the baby’s lips to encourage him to open his mouth, and place the cereal at the back of the tongue. Don’t expect these feedings to go smoothly. A baby usually does a lot of spitting, sputtering, and protesting.

QUICK TIP:

-Practice dental health early Don’t let a baby fall asleep while nursing or sucking a bottle; this allows milk to pool in the mouth, and the sugar (lactose) in it can cause extensive tooth decay. Offering a little water at the end of a feeding rinses any remaining milk from the baby’s mouth. The gums and emerging teeth can be wiped gently with a gauze-wrapped finger.

-Add iron and other supplements. Beginning at 4 to 6 months of age, babies usually require additional iron, which is typically provided by an iron-fortified cereal. Fluoride supplementation may be required for some infants after 6 months. Babies of vegan mothers may require a B12 supplement. Check with your pediatrician to see if supplements are needed.

-Start with milk. The baby should be hungry but not ravenous. Some experts suggest starting the feeding with a few minutes of nursing or bottle-feeding, then offering a small amount of the moistened cereal—no more than a tsp or two—and finishing with the milk. After a few sessions, you can start with the cereal, then gradually increase the amount of solid foods as you reduce the amount of milk.

-Begin slowly. Introduce one new food at a time, and wait at least 3 days between each new food. If you use home-cooked foods, make sure that they’re thoroughly pureed. In addition to rice cereal, try some single-ingredient cereals like oatmeal and barley, strained vegetables and fruits. Potentially allergenic foods, such as eggs, citrus, and peanut products, should be delayed until the baby is a year older, or even later if there is a family history of allergies. Withdraw any food that provokes a rash, runny nose, unusual fussiness, diarrhea, or any other sign of a possible allergic reaction or food intolerance.

Old School
Vegetables should be introduced to baby’s diet before fruits in order to increase the acceptance of vegetables.
New Wisdom
 It doesn’t matter in what order you introduce fruits and vegetables.

7 TO 12 MONTHS: SELF-FEEDING

When they are about 7 or 8 months old, most babies have developed enough eye-hand coordination to pick up finger food and maneuver it into their mouths. The teeth are also beginning to come in at this age. Giving a baby a teething biscuit or cracker to chew on can ease gum soreness as well as provide practice in self-feeding. To help your baby start to feed himself, follow these suggestions:

Think bite-size. Good first solid foods could include dry cereals, ripe bananas or peaches, cooked carrots and peas, cubed cheese, cooked pasta, and cooked boiled or roasted chicken. All foods should be cut into pieces large enough to hold but small enough so that they don’t lodge in the throat and cause choking. Never leave your baby unsupervised while feeding.

Pull up a chair. As soon as the baby can sit in a high chair, he should be included at family meals and start eating many of the same foods, even though they may need mashing or cutting into small pieces. Give the child a spoon, but don’t be disappointed if he prefers using his hands. At this stage, it’s more important for the baby to become integrated into family activities and master self-feeding than to learn proper table manners. These will come eventually, especially if the parents and older siblings set a good example.

THE BOTTOM LINE
• Breastfeeding provides all the essential nutrients a child needs for about the first 6 months of life.
• Breastfed babies may need a vitamin D supplement.
• Growing babies that have regular bowel movements are eating enough.
• Use iron-fortified formula for bottle-fed babies.
• Carefully sanitize bottle and nipples, and discard formula after 24 hours.
• At about 4 to 6 months old, introduce one or two new foods per week.
• When a child is old enough to sit and eat more solid foods, set him or her at the table with the rest of the family.