Healthy infants develop rapidly in the womb and during the first few years of life, making good nutrition imperative. A baby's brain and body needs essential nutrients in order to reach its full potential. By breastfeeding babies younger than six months and intruding solid foods gradually, most babies will grow and develop at a healthy rate.
Before Birth
The foods a pregnant mother eats may affect her baby's physical health and brain development. The Pregnancy Food Guide, compiled by obstetricians, nutritionists and other doctors from Brigham and Women's Hospital, advocates eating a balanced diet including eggs, which are a good source of choline. This nutrient promotes healthy brain development in the fetus. Other sources of choline include chicken and beef liver.
A daily prenatal vitamin that includes folic acid will ensure that a mother-to-be gets enough of this vital nutrient to reduce neural tube defects in her baby. In addition, pregnant mothers should consume orange juice, green leafy vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals and fresh fruits, which all contain folic acid.
Newborns
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that newborns receive breast milk for at least the first six months for optimal infant development. However, women who follow a strict vegan diet may not supply adequate vitamin B12 in their breast milk to ensure healthy brain and neurological development. According to a Danish study of infants breastfed by vegan mothers, delayed development and other reduced motor skills are possible if the mother does not take vitamin B12 supplements.
Infants
Children under the age of two should drink whole milk as part of a healthy diet to provide the necessary dietary fats for brain development and overall growth.
In addition to whole milk, babies may begin eating a variety of solid foods when breast milk or formula does not satisfy their hunger for more than two or three hours, which typically occurs around the age of six months. At this time, commercially prepared baby foods, such as pureed, unsweetened fruits and vegetables, may be started by offering one food at a time to see how baby will react. Baby food meat may be introduced a couple of months later.
A baby's body and brain will develop normally if a variety of foods are offered, but avoid giving infants sweetened foods and those that contain honey for the first year of life.
