by Mr Tibin Joseph

1. Nutritional needs of newborn
baby

2. Nutritional Needs of the Newborn….
Why?
• Proper nutrition is essential for optimal
growth and development.
• First few months of life the brain grows
at a rapid rate.
• Adequate food and nutrition is for
physiological and psychological needs.
• To improve the bonding with parents.

3. • Energy is needed for Resting metabolic
rate, Activity, Thermoregulation, food
processing.
• Energy is measured by calorie.

4. Calories
• Recommended daily Calorie for newborn
is 100 – 135 kcal/kg/day
• The calorie requirement for preterm,
EVLBW and SGA infants is higher ( 120-
150Kcal/kg/day)
• Caloric requirement depends on activity
level and growth rate.

5. • When baby is sick – (fever, sepsis,
hypoxia) Calorie requirement increases
by 10 – 30Kcal/kg/day
• An infant that cries frequently and
squirms constantly needs more calories.

6. Protein
• Necessary for formation of new cells.
• Generally, Newborn needs more protein
per unit of weight than adult
• Preterm needs more protein per body
weight per day than term newborn.
• 2.2 g/kilogram of body weight.

8. Fluid
• Metabolism rate is high.
• Newborns use 45 to 50kcal/kg.
• Requires a large amount of water.
• Body surface area is large in relation to
body mass. Lose water by evaporation.

9. • Extracellular body wt. is 30 to 35% so
lose depletes quickly.
• Kidneys are not fully concentrating urine
so newborn cannot conserve body water
easily
• Fluid requirement for newborn is 150 to
200 mL/kg per 24 hours.
• Supplied completely by breastfeeding or
formula-feeding.

10. Caution….
• Do not exceed feed volumes of 250 ml
/kg/day.

12. Calcium
• For bone growth.
• If newborn sucks well a low level seldom
occurs.
• Requirement: 210mg/day

13. Iron
• Term infants of a mother who had adequate
iron intake during pregnancy will be born with
iron stores lasting for 3 months, until newborn
begins to produce hemoglobin.
• Most mothers do not get adequate iron in
their diet a supplement is recommended for
formula fed infants for 1 year.
• Breast fed has adequate supply.

14. Fluoride
• Essential for teeth.
• Teeth grow into their primary form during
pregnancy.
• Mother needs to drink fluoridated water
during and after pregnancy to supply the
baby, also use in formula preparation.
• Fluoride supplement 0.25 mg/day may be
given at 6 month of age. (can be detrimental
or stain teeth)

15. Vitamins
• Unnecessary for bottle fed infants because
vitamins A,C, and D are in the formula.
• Vitamins are naturally in breast milk.
• May need exposed to sunlight for D or mother
can take 400 U daily.
• Not given to infants until 6 months of age.

16. VITAMINS REQUIREMENTS
Vitamin A 400µg/day
Vitamin C 40mg/day
Vitamin D 5µg/day
Vitamin E 4mg/day
Vitamin K 2.0µg/day

17. Nutritional requirement for a preterm
baby

19. Expected weight gain
• Most term babies regain their birth weight by
the 10th day of life.
• Most babies gain about 20-30 gm/day after
the first week.
• Most infants will double their birth weight
during the first 4 months and triple it during
the first year