2. Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing
young infants with the nutrients they need for
healthy growth and development.
Colostrum, the yellowish, sticky breast milk
produced at the end of pregnancy, is
recommended by WHO as the perfect food for
the newborn, and feeding should be initiated
within the first hour after birth.
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up
to 6 months of age, with continued
breastfeeding along with appropriate
complementary foods up to two years of age
or beyond.
3. breastfeeding reduces child mortality and has
health benefits that extend into adulthood.
Breast milk is the natural first food for babies,
it provides all the energy and nutrients that
the infant needs for the first months of life,
and it continues to provide up to half or more
of a child’s nutritional needs during the
second half of the first year.
Breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive
development, and protects the infant against
infectious and chronic diseases.
Exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant
mortality due to common childhood illnesses
such as diarrhoea or pneumonia, and helps
for a quicker recovery during illness.
4. Breastfeeding contributes to the health and
well-being of mothers, it helps to space
children, reduces the risk of ovarian cancer
and breast cancer. And its a natural method
of birth control.
"Exclusive breastfeeding" is defined as giving
no other food or drink – not even water –
except breast milk. It does, however, allow
the infant to receive oral rehydration salts
(ORS), drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals
and medicines).
Breastmilk reduces the risk of your baby
getting allergic reactions such
as asthma and eczema
5.
6. Infant formula is "a food which is represented for
special dietary use solely as a food for infants by
reason of its simulation of human milk or its
suitability as a complete or partial substitute for
human milk".
When a mother chooses not to breastfeed, the only
acceptable alternative is a commercial infant
formula. The standard formula choice is a formula
based on cow’s milk, containing skimmed milk
powder, lactose, & a variable blend of oils.
These formulas are available in two versions: low
iron ( similar amounts to human milk, but with
much lower bioavailability ) or iron fortified.
7. Mother's health: The mother is infected with HIV/tuberculosis .
If she has underwent any breast surgery.
If She is taking any kind of drug that could harm
the baby, like cancer treatments.
Baby is unable to breastfeed: If The child has a birth defect such
as galactosemia.
The absence of mother.
If the baby is at risk of malnutrition
Lactation insufficiency: The mother is unable to produce sufficient
milk.
Financial pressures.
8. Why not infant formula?
Infant formula does not contain the antibodies found in
breast milk. The long-term benefits of breastfeeding for
mothers and children cannot be replicated with infant
formula.
When infant formula is not properly prepared, there are
risks arising from the use of unsafe water and
unsterilized equipment or the potential presence of
bacteria in powdered formula.
Malnutrition can result from over-diluting formula to
"stretch" supplies.
Regulating breast-milk substitutes
An international code to regulate the marketing of breast-milk substitutes
was adopted in 1981. It calls for:
all formula labels and information to state the benefits of breastfeeding and the health
risks of substitutes;
no promotion of breast-milk substitutes;
no free samples of substitutes to be given to pregnant women, mothers or their families;
and
no distribution of free or subsidized substitutes to health workers or facilities.
9. Nutrient Human milk Formula: cow
milk based
Soy based Cows milk
Energy (kcal) 680 670 670 640
Protein (gm) 10 15 19 32
Fat (gm) 39 36 37 36
Carbohydrat
e (gm)
72 72 69 48
Sodium
(mmol)
8 8 11 22
Potassium
(mmol)
14 18 19 40
Vitamin D <0.5 10 10 9
Iron (mg) 0.4 2.3/12 12 0.4
10. Between a period of 4-6 months, a baby gets all nutrition he
requires from mothers milk. The baby does not need any other food,
in fact since baby’s vital organs like kidney or digestive system are
tender, giving any other food will be harmful.
Six months is the time when semisolid or solid foods should be
introduced.
Start with small doses: the food should be smooth like a paste
form. A time schedule has to be maintained . Considerably it is
better to prepare food from food items prepared in family.
once the baby starts taking semisolid/ solid food , introduce
fruits/vegetables . One has to start with small doses and given in
soft form, if given in solid form there will be chances of choking.
Once in seventh month the baby will be ready to take vegetables
and pulses. The pulses should be without husk. Salt is not
recommended until age of 8-9 months.
Cows milk produces allergy in 20% babies so its better to avoid it
until the baby is 1 year old.
11. The baby will also be ready to have rice / wheat products by the age
of seven months.
At the age of 10 months the baby can be given minced meat but in a
very soft form.
The baby can be given fruit juices say a spoonful or two at the age
of 6 months diluted with purified water so that he has no digestive
issues.
If one goes to purchase prepared baby food , he/she should go in
for those which do not contain added salt , sugar, starches, or other
fillers.
Finger millet is a great source of iron and calcium for babies. It helps
a lot in growth of children.
12.
13. The food should be thoroughly washed and cleaned before
preparing.
The person who prepares food has to wash his/her hands
properly before preparing or feeding the baby.
A proper gap should be given between introducing food.
The semisolid/solid food should always be accompanied by
mothers milk or formula feeding up to the age of one year.
Nutrition and growth should always be a concern.
Donts: soft drinks have no food value. They are nothing but
acids, emulsifiers, and dyes....., do not give this to a baby or
a toddler or a child.
Parents should also prefer not to give sweets to a baby or a
child.
14. Peanuts is a big no for babies under one year. It causes mild-
serious allergies. Between one per cent and two per cent of
children in the UK are thought to be allergic to peanuts, so
it's uncommon. Most children will develop the allergy when
they are about a year or two years old.
A peanut allergy usually lasts for life, though up to 20 per
cent of children outgrow the allergy.
Likewise these are some forbidden foods :
◦ Honey- not an allergen but can cause infant botulism
◦ Strawberries
◦ Shellfish
◦ Acidic fruits
Do not over feed your baby.
15. Age Boy Girl
At birth 3.4 3.3
3rd month 5.7 5.6
12th month 10 9.7
18th month 11.5 11.2
2 years 12.5 12.2
3 years 15.5 15.3
5 years 18.3 18.3
16. Baby's health should be the foremost concern
of parents.
Every parent wants that he should grow a
healthy child and must work towards
achieving that.
The baby needs a good diet not only to stay
healthy but also to develop and grow for a
number of years, if not he may grow into a
weak one and may be a prey to several
disorders and diseases.
