An infant diet is making sure your baby is getting the nutrients he or she needs in the first year. Babies need healthy doses of protein, fats, calories, vitamins and minerals. Ensuring your baby has a healthy daily allowance of nutrients will prevent him or her from getting sick.
Take a look at the guidelines below that new moms can follow to ensure their newborn babies are getting the healthy diets they need. The guide will show you when to start feeding your baby solids and what organic follow on formula is.
An Infant’s Diet from 1 to 4 Months
The only nourishment infants need from one to four months is either breast milk or baby formula. It should be noted that infants have sensitive stomachs. An Infant’s immune system is still developing so it’s important to eat well when you’re breastfeeding so your baby is getting nothing but healthy nutrients when he or she is feeding.
If you can’t breastfeed and you have to use baby formula, you must always read the labels to see what the product contains. It’s always best to buy organic baby formula because these products are made using non-toxic ingredients.
You should also avoid feeding your infant cow milk or other dairy products, because their kidneys can’t handle the high protein content. You can start giving your baby cow milk when they’re 12 months of age.
So how much formula does an infant need? Follow this infant formula servings guide below:
- 532ml to 946ml for infants aged between zero and three months
- 828ml to 1182ml for infants aged between four and six months
- 709ml to 1064ml for infants aged between seven and nine months
- 532ml to 887ml for infant aged 10 to 12 months
What is Follow on Milk and When is it Needed?
Follow on milk is a type of formula that mothers start feeding their babies during weaning when a baby is six months old. It’s a thicker type of formula packed with more vitamins, minerals, proteins and essential fatty acids. It’s important to opt for organic follow on milk as it’s healthier for your baby.
When your baby reaches six months of age, he or she will be trying a variety of new foods such as mashed fruit, vegetables and all the healthy snacks babies need in order to grow strong. But formula still needs to be a part of your baby’s diet because after six months he or she will need more iron and vitamin D.
Follow on milk, or stage two formula, is rich in iron and vitamin D to help support normal immune system functioning and cognitive development.
Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby
As mentioned before, the weaning process (introducing your baby to solid foods) starts at six months. You can start feeding your baby soft foods such as baby cereal. Wheat, oats and barley are the best choices for the weaning process. Here are serving suggestions when feeding your baby soft cereals or starchy foods:
- Half a cup of cereal for infants six months of age
- One cup serving of soft foods such as pasta cut into small pieces, mashed potato and rice
- Babies aged 12 months can start eating soft rolls, toast and muffins
Type of Fruits You can Give your Baby
It’s best not to give your baby fruits that are too acidic, as these can give him or her stomach cramps. The first fruit most babies are given during weaning is mashed bananas, because they are soft and easy to chew. Bananas are packed with vitamin C, B6 and potassium which makes it perfect for babies.
Avocado is another fruit that’s creamy, soft and easy for babies to chew. This fruit is filled with vitamin C, K and folate. Avocados are also high in healthy fat content which is excellent for brain growth and cognitive function. You can give your baby a half a cup of avocado at six months of age.
Another fruit you can give your baby is apples because it helps infants absorb iron. As babies grow they need more iron-enriched foods. Apples can help your baby’s immune system retain all the iron he or she has ingested. A half a cup of grated apple is ideal for babies six months of age and one cup for babies that are between seven & 12 months of age.
It’s also a good idea to give your baby fruit juice. Babies between the ages of six and 12 months should get a half a cup of organic fruit juice with their meals.
Meat Dairy and Poultry Servings for Babies
Babies need high protein and iron, so small pieces of red meat can be given to infants between the ages of six & 12 months. Some moms give their babies hard pieces of dried meat to chew on to help with teething. Give your baby one piece of dried out sausage as a snack.
A half a cup of chicken cut into small pieces can be given to babies during weaning. Other sources of protein such as scrambled eggs, cheese and yoghurt can be given to babies in moderation. Keep quantities as low as half a cup to one cup of meat, poultry and dairy for babies aged between six & 12 months.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to also give your baby water on a daily basis. Infants get the water they need from breast milk, but babies between six and 12 months will need half a cup of water regularly.
If you’re a new mom, follow this guide to help you feed your baby the correct servings of food at the ideal times. Remember that all the food you give to your baby must be rich in nutrients, so your child can develop strong bones and muscles as well as a healthy immune system.
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