Nutrition of a newborn and a small child seems to be a simple issue. Breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is best for your newborn. However, not every woman can breastfeed. Conflicting information comes from various sources. Does it make sense to give a child glucose? Does a child need to drink sweet juices? How will our child’s diet in the first months of life affect his later physical and mental condition, and even his IQ?
For the first 5-6 months of life, the baby should receive meals with a liquid consistency – breast milk or modified milk. The number of servings is from 110 and increases to 140 ml, eat about 6-7 times a day. Of course, while breastfeeding, the baby adjusts itself how many times a day he reaches for the breast and it may differ from the norm, it is an individual matter. When it comes to creating the child’s taste preferences, breast milk will work better, because it changes the taste depending on what the mother eats. Because formula always tastes the same, your baby may be pickier when expanding meals.
Feeding a baby after 6 months
At 6 months of age, it is worth expanding the child’s diet with smooth and semi-liquid foods made of vegetables, fruits, as well as eggs and meat. Milk should continue to be given at most meals, and the baby should be given an extended meal once a day. It is worth using cooked and mixed vegetables, e.g. carrots, grated or mixed fruits, e.g. apple, banana, gluten-free porridges and gruels, 100% juices without added sugar, up to 150 ml a day – it is important to add the amount of juice with the amount of fruit puree and not exceed the amount of servings of fruit per day. We serve water without limits.
Not earlier than before the 5th month and not later than after the 6th month of feeding the child, it is recommended to give cereal meals in small amounts, e.g. in the form of porridge. This is the period of the so-called immune gap and you are less likely to develop an allergy to gluten if you introduce it at this time.
At 7-8 months of age The child eats about 5 meals a day in the size of approx. 170 ml, of which 3 meals are milk. During this period, it is worth giving the child the soft parts of vegetables, fruits or meat in his hand. The child eats shredded meat, fish, raw, chopped vegetables and fruits, groats, bread, good quality natural yoghurts and cheeses, water and juices – as before. In the nutrition of a child, it is particularly important to give fish containing DHA acids that affect the proper development of the brain and immunity of the child.
It should be remembered that it is the way of nutrition in the early years of life that determines what the child’s tastes will be in adult life. There is no need to give your child sweetened meals such as flavored porridges or yoghurts, because they will quickly become addicted to this taste. Water with glucose is too much of a burden for the insulin economy, not only for the child. Special electrolyte drinks for babies help in coping with the risk of dehydration at home. In the case of healthy children, drinking pure water is enough, and during breastfeeding, breast milk is enough up to 6 months of age.