Good nutrition during infancy and the toddler years can give your child the nutrients she needs for healthy growth and development. Children grow and change rapidly during the first few years of their life, as do their diets. By providing your child with the right foods, she can get the nutrition she needs while establishing habits for a lifetime of healthy eating.
Nutrition from Birth to Six Months
Breast milk or infant formula is the only thing your baby needs to eat from birth to six months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that breast milk is the ideal nutrition for all babies. Breast milk contains all of the nutrients your baby needs for healthy growth and brain development. If you choose not to breast feed your baby, give your baby an infant formula that is fortified with iron. Mix infant formula according to the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that your baby is receiving proper nutrition.
Nutrition from Six to Twelve Months
When your baby is six months old, you can begin introducing solid foods. Start with an iron-fortified rice cereal, and feed this to your baby using a spoon. Eating from a spoon will be a learning process for your baby, and in the beginning, a lot of the food may end up on your baby's bib. Next, you can introduce pureed fruits and vegetables to your baby. Wait several days in between new foods so any food allergies or sensitivities can be easily identified. Most babies are ready to start trying table foods between the ages of eight and twelve months. Cut soft foods into very small pieces, and let your baby explore the foods that the rest of the family is eating, avoiding any small hard foods that could be a choking hazard. Continue feeding your baby breast milk or infant formula to provide nutrients needed for healthy growth. During your baby's first year, also avoid honey, which could contain botulism spores that are toxic to babies. Also avoid egg whites, fish or nuts, which can be highly allergenic.
Nutrition from One to Two Years
After your child's first birthday, breast milk or infant formula can be replaced with cow's milk. It is important to give your toddler whole milk, which provides the fat required for proper brain development. Egg whites can now also be introduced, but discuss with your pediatrician the right age to introduce fish and nuts, which may differ based on family history of food allergies. Because your toddler's stomach is still much smaller than an adult's stomach, provide small, frequent meals and snacks containing a variety of healthy foods.
Nutrition from Two to Three Years
At the age of two, most children are ready to switch from whole milk to skim or 1 percent milk. Additional fat is no longer needed for brain development, and reduced-fat milk will help keep your child's heart healthy. Continue to provide your child with small, frequent meals and snacks. Avoid foods that could be a choking hazard, including hot dogs, popcorn, hard candy, nuts and seeds.
