Infants are a joy to everyone around them. From watching them laugh for the first time, seeing them recognize their parents, and feeding them solid food for the first time, every day provides something new with a baby. Many of an infant's milestones involve feeding, whether it is breast milk, formula or solid foods, because infants have specific needs when it comes to healthy eating.
Breast Milk
Dr. Bill Sears, pediatrician and professor at the University of California at Irvine, states that breast-feeding is by far the healthiest way to feed an infant. Breast milk provides growth hormones, antibodies and digestive enzymes that formula lacks. Additionally, breast-feeding protects a baby from sickness and infection and saves parents, on average, $600 to $2,000 a year, according to AskDrSears.com
Formula
While breast-feeding is healthiest for infants, not every mother wants to breastfeed. Some woman want to breastfeed but cannot because of medical conditions. Those who cannot or choose not to breast-feed must use formula. According to AskDrSears.com, most formulas are based on cow's milk protein and are fortified with vitamins and minerals. Some formulas have ingredients added, such as probiotics or essential fatty acids, to make them more similar to breast milk.
Delaying Solids
The debate about when to introduce solid foods is heated among parents of infants. Oftentimes, parents want to introduce solid foods early because the baby seems hungrier or they think he is ready. On kellymom.com, Kelly Bonyata, an international board-certified lactation consultant, recommends waiting until an infant is 6 months old to introduce solid foods. She explains that delaying foods until a baby is 6 months old reduces the infant's risk of food allergies and gives the baby's system time to mature.
Baby Foods
Once an infant is 6 months old and ready to begin eating solid foods, she can start eating baby cereal with a spoon. KidsHealth states that after she has mastered the art of eating cereal, she can eat baby fruits and vegetables. It's a good idea to wait a few days in between each new food introduced to the baby so that if a baby shows any signs of allergic reactions, such as a rash, you will know what food caused the reaction.
Allergic Foods
Never give an infant eggs or honey until the baby is at least 1 year old, due to possible allergic reactions. According to KidsHealth, cow's milk and citrus fruits should also be avoided until the baby is at least 1 year old to prevent food allergies. Fish and peanut butter should be avoided until age 2 or 3 for the same reasons.
