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Practicing proper infant nutrition will have life-long effects
for your baby and is the very best way to give your child a good
start in life. It is more likely your child will be healthy,
happy and continue with good habits if they are begun early in
life.
The very first step towards proper nutrition for your
infant is to decide whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed. It
is important to consider that mother's milk is the best milk for
your baby. Breast milk is designed to be perfectly in tune with
your baby's nutritional needs at every stage, from birth through
toddlerhood. Your milk will contain healthy proportions of fats,
proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, antibodies, and
countless other beneficial substances that are probably not yet
identified by research. There is no better, healthier, more
natural nutrition for your baby than the milk made by you.
If you decide to breastfeed, look into books and support groups
to help you along the way. Many mothers have questions arise and
it is good to know where to turn if you should need the support.
There are many myths that abound about breastfeeding and you owe
it to yourself and your baby to know the truths. La Leche League
and books by this organization are good resources.
It is optimal for your baby to nurse from the moment of birth
until at least a year if not more. It is optimal to nurse your
baby exclusively on demand, night and day. It is possible,
however, to supplement with formula while nursing as well as
pump and save milk to feed in bottles as well. Nursing can fit
into almost any lifestyle if proper adjustments are made and
prepared for. Breastfed infants are generally less likely to
become ill, have more robust immune systems, and less likely to
experience a myriad of health complications later in life than
their formula fed counterparts.
If you decide to bottle-feed, there are many iron-fortified
formulas available that can provide adequate nutrition. Infant
formulas contain nutrients for proper growth and nutrition. You
should consider formulas supplemented with healthy fats called
DHA. These fats are essential for optimal eye and brain health
and are not yet found in every formula. It may be important to
try different formulas if your infant experiences gas, pain, or
rashes. There are many formulas available on the market from
cow's milk to soy to goat's milk. Try to get the most natural
formula possible and avoid hydrogenated fats, large amounts of
simple sugars, and lots of additives, dyes, etc. If possible,
ask a reliable doctor, naturopath, or someone you trust about
the best formula for your baby.
When your infant is about six months old, solid foods may be
introduced. Be mindful not to start solid foods unless your
infant has shown signs of readiness. Signs of readiness include
demonstrating good head control, the ability to sit, and the
loss of the tongue thrust reflex. You may also notice your baby
becoming very interested in your food with the desire to try it.
It is normal for a baby of four months to begin to show
readiness and yet some other babies don't have genuine interest
until over a year. In general, the longer you wait to introduce
solids, the better. This delays any allergen response and allows
your baby's intestines to mature enough to be able to handle
food. You may begin with pureed fruits and vegetables. Raw,
ripe, and soft is best. Bananas, grapes, avocado, papaya, mango,
applesauce, pears, and the like are good places to start. You
may add a bit of breast milk or formula to the mix for an
identifying flavor to make new foods more acceptable to your
baby.
Offer one new food every couple days and wait. If you notice any
unusual reactions delay the offending food for a couple more
months. Foods to wait on are egg whites, regular milk, citrus,
strawberries, all nuts and seeds, wheat and all wheat products,
and any food that your infant cannot chew well or may choke on.
All sugary foods, food with dyes, artificial additives, sodas,
etc should not have a place in a baby's diet.
After your infant has started solids, your may also add water to
your infant's diet. Physicians prefer water, as juice contains
sugar and calories that infants do not need. The water is needed
especially if any of the given foods are cooked.
By creating good habits with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and
eventually solids, your infant will receive proper nutrition
during their formative first years. These habits of proper
infant nutrition will create healthy lifelong nutritional habits
and contribute to a healthy adulthood.
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