Babies and young children have special nutritional needs, because this is a period of intense growth and development. Babies triple in size from birth to 12 months, making it the biggest period of growth in their lives. From 12 to 36 months, children gain an average of 8 ounces per month and grow almost half an inch.
Baby Nutrition From Birth to 6 Months
The first year of life is an intense period of physical, mental and emotional growth, and proper nutrition plays a critical role. Breast milk is the perfect food for infants and supplies all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals for proper development. If breastfeeding is not possible, a variety of soy- and milk-based infant formulas are available. The only supplementation recommended by American Academy of Pediatrics is 400IU of Vitamin D.
Baby Nutrition From Six to 12 Months
Although solid foods are introduced to an infant at around 6 months, breast milk or formula still supplies most of the needed nutrients. Feeding is more about losing the tongue thrust reflex and becoming accustomed to the taste and texture of food. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting with iron-fortified rice cereal and adding a single food every three to four days. Pureed sweet potato, carrots, squash, avocado and sweet peas are all acceptable first foods. Yellow and orange vegetables are often sweeter than leafy or dark green vegetables and therefore more appealing to a young child's palate. Adding foods one at a time allows you to see if there is any type of allergic reaction.
Nutrition From 12 to 24 Months
Toddlers are learning to feed themselves and should be eating a variety of foods. Experiment with taste, texture and color. Aim to have your toddler eat six servings from the grain group. Serving sizes are much smaller than adult portions; a single slice of bread is two to three servings for a young child. For fruits and vegetables, a portion is the size of the child's fist, and he should eat five servings a day. He should have two servings of protein, three to four servings of fat and three servings of dairy products. Don't use low-fat dairy; fat is critical for growth and brain development.
Avoid foods that could cause choking, such as marshmallows, grapes, seeds and raisins.
Nutrition From 24 to 36 Months
Growth at 24 months is slowing down. Expect your toddler to be a picky eater. This is normal behavior, and it's important that you don't try to force feed your child.
Make sure your child is getting enough calcium by offering beans, broccoli, tofu and fortified juices. Limit the amount of milk your toddler drinks to no more than 16 ounces a day, as milk can hinder iron absorption. Heme iron, which comes from meat and other animal sources, is important, because it carries oxygen in the blood. As your child grows, his blood volume increases, so he runs the risk of becoming anemic. Iron-rich foods include beans, eggs, meats, dried fruit and cooked whole grains.
If you are concerned that your child isn't getting all the nutrients she needs, add a food-based daily vitamin made specifically for toddlers.
Tips for Picky Eaters
Children are mimics, so if you are a healthy eater, your child will learn good habits from you. Offer healthy foods multiple times. Your toddler may reject it the first five times it's offered, but don't be discouraged. You can make a "nibble tray" of healthy snacks that your child can graze from throughout the day.
The more involved your child is with food preparation, the more likely he is to eat what he made, so encourage your toddler to be in the kitchen with you during cooking. At meal times have child-sized utensils and plates for your toddler. Make meal times as relaxed and stress-free as possible.
Considerations
You'll know that your child is eating well if she is active, alert and happy. If your child is often sleepy, that can be a sign that she is getting inadequate nutrition. Work with your pediatrician to make sure your child is meeting developmental milestones. Every child is different, so do not compare your child to other children. Your doctor will help you chart your child's physical growth and mental development.
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