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Is your baby getting all the essential nutrition to grow normally? You will get to see maximum growth and development of your baby in the first 2-3 yrs of their life. This is the time when your baby should get highly nutritious food. During these crucial years, if your child fails to get sufficient nutrients, then your baby may show signs of :

  • Inadequate brain development
  • Social and emotional problems
  • Inadequate motor and cognitive skills
  • Poor performance at school

This is why it is every parent’s duty to see that his or her baby gets sufficient nutrition. You may have got plenty of advice from your mom, relatives, friends, etc.but remember, each kid is different and so are his or her nutritional requirements. If you know which food to introduce at what age, you can use it according to your baby’s needs. This makes their acceptance easy.


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Nutrition during the first 6 months             

Breast milk is ideal for your baby in the first 4-6 months. Breast milk has all the nutrients along with antibodies, antimicrobial factors, etc. that keeps the baby safe and helps him or her to grow normally.  The amount of breast milk a baby needs can be based on the age of the infant.                          

Age Requirements
   
0-3 months 18-32 ounces
4-6 months 28-40 ounces
7-9 months 24-36 ounces
10-12 months 18-30 ounces
   

As a lactating mom, you need to eat nutritious food so that your baby get all those nutrients transferred through the breast milk.

You can consider giving supplements for vitamin D or add infant formula that is fortified with iron to their diet. If you are a lactating vegan mother, then you need to add vitamin B12 supplements to the diet. Probiotic supplements for infants are gaining importance because of its proven effects in boosting the immunity.

If your baby passes dark yellow colored urine, it indicates that your baby is dehydrated. Give them water to get back their water content.

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By now, your 6-month-old baby can keep her/his head upright, sit down and can control tongue reflex. She/he is ready to taste different food and textures.

The nutritional demand of your baby suddenly changes, and breast milk or infant formula are not sufficient to meet these demands. You can give them different types of cereals, cooked vegetables and fruits that are made into a puree. But make sure that you give them one new food at a time. Wait for a gap of 3-4 days before giving another food. This helps in identifying any allergic reactions.

Tip : If you want to try new food give it when the baby is hungry, she/he will accept the food more easily.

Age Fruit servings
   
4-6 months ¼ to ½ cup
7-12 months 1-2 servings of ½ cups
   

This is the suitable time to introduce your baby to sipping and reduce on sucking. Buy a nice sipper with a suitable spout and feed them water as and when they want a drink.

Age Cereal servings
   
4-6 months ¼- ½ cup
7-9 months 1-2 servings of ½ cup
10-12 months 3-4 servings of ½ cup
   

Once your baby gets used to this food, you can introduce small amounts of real food. By this time, your baby will start teething and will be able to chew and enjoy the food. You can give your baby finely chopped meat and poultry products also.

Age Meat, poultry, dairy, etc.
   
6-8 months 1-2 tbsp
9-12 months ¼ - ½ cup
   
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Growth in toddlers slows down when compared to the infant stage. Now is a good time to train your babies to eat independently. They require roughly 1000-1400 calories per day. You can give them small portions of food to meet the balanced nutrition.

Food 2-year-old 2-year-old
     
Milk 2 cups 2 cups
Cereals 3 ounces of whole grains 4-5 ounces of whole grains
Vegetables 1 cup 1 ½ cup
Meat and beans 2 ounces 3-4 ounces
Fruits 1 cup 1-1 ½ cup
     

Foods to avoid in toddlers

  • Do not encourage your little one to eat any fatty food
  • Do not give your little one sweets and chocolates
  • Do not let your little one eat salty food

A complete nutritional guide for your toddler (6 months-2 yrs)

In addition to the basic nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, etc.; your baby needs additional nutrients such as:

  • Fat: Babies need a lot of mono-saturated fats and omega -3 fatty acids. You can give natural food that is rich in fat content such as coconut, dairy products, eggs, meat, etc.
  • Iron: Iron is essential for your baby’s brain to develop to the maximum cognitive level. Include iron rich food such as green leafy vegetables, potatoes, peas, meat, etc.
  • Zinc: Zinc can be given to your baby by introducing meat, nuts, fish, cheese, etc.
  • Iodine: Give your baby seafood, strawberries, yogurt, eggs, etc.
  • Fluorides: If the water does not have enough fluoride content, give them fluoride supplements.

Normal height and weight chart for infants and toddlers

We present you with the opportunity to know the ideal weight and height for your baby. This also guides you to modify the nutritional needs of your baby accordingly.

boys
BOYS
Age Weight Height (in cms)
     
Birth 2.6 47.1
3 mts 5.3 59.1
6 mts 6.7 64.7
9 mts 7.4 68.2
1 yr 8.4 73.9
2 yrs 10.1 81.6
3 yrs 11.8 88.9
4 yrs 13.5 96.0
5 yrs 14.8 102.1
6 yrs 16.3 108.5
7 yrs 18.0 113.9
8 yrs 19.7 119.3
9 yrs 21.5 123.7
10 yrs 23.5 124.4
     
Girls
Girls
Age Weight Height (in cms)
     
Birth 2.6 46.7
3 mts 5.3 58.4
6 mts 6.7 63.7
9 mts 7.4 67.0
1 yr 8.4 72.5
2 yrs 10.1 80.1
3 yrs 11.8 87.2
4 yrs 13.5 94.5
5 yrs 14.8 101.4
6 yrs 16.3 107.4
7 yrs 18.0 112.8
8 yrs 19.7 118.2
9 yrs 21.5 122.9
10 yrs 23.5 123.4
     
Source: www.superbabyonline.com

Summary

If your baby does not accept new food, it is alright. You can leave it for the time being and try using it differently later on.

 
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