2. Baby Nutrition: What You
Need to Know
• Good nutrition plays a big part when it comes to a baby’s
growth and development.
Knowing the nutritional requirements for babies 0-12
months can help parents make informed decisions about
what their baby eats.
• By providing exactly what types of food their baby
needs, parents can ensure that their babies grow up to
be healthy and strong.
• Babies go through a lot of changes in their body as they
grow and develop during their first year. It is because of
this period of rapid growth and development that babies
need a lot of essential nutrients to make sure that
everything is on track
.
3. • Without proper nutrition, babies can have
cognitive and developmental problems,
or even grow up to have a weakened
immune system.
• This is why when it comes to baby
nutrition, food that has a lot of vitamins
and minerals should be a priority. The
better the quality of nutrients that a baby
eats, the healthier and better their growth
and development get.
4. BABIES NEED TO BE GIVEN
THE RIGHT TYPE OF FOOD
Newborns can only drink breast milk,
but as they grow older they can start
eating soft foods, and eventually they
are able to eat solid foods by the time
they are toddlers.
By providing the right type of food,
parents can ensure that their baby can
absorb all of the nutrients essential for
growth.
• .
5. FOOD GUIDELINES
FOR NEWBORNS
Breast milk is ideal for newborns up until 6 months (and can be
continued up until the mother and their child have mutually understood
that breastfeeding can stop). However, babies older than 6 months can
still breastfeed along with eating solid food.
Breastfeeding should start immediately after birth
Breast milk provides all of the nutrients that a growing baby needs.
For mothers who are not able to breastfeed, formula milk can be an
alternative. However, exclusive breastfeeding is still recommended by
doctors. Please consult your doctor/pediatrician first before starting
formula milk
6. FOOD GUIDELINES
SOLID FOOD
Soft/Solid food is not a replacement for Breastfeeding/Breast milk… it
is only a “complement” for breastmilk.
Introduce soft, solid foods slowly. Wait 3-4 days before giving your
child another solid food.
Use a small spoon when feeding your baby, and feed them only small
amounts to avoid choking.
Don’t force your baby to finish their food, especially if they are
already full.
At 6 to 8 months old, start with soft, mushy foods that are easily
digestible.
For babies who are 8 to 10 months old, be sure to cut up any big
chunks of food into small pieces.
Avoid using salt or sugar when preparing your child’s food.
7. WHAT TO AVOID
•Newborns typically do not need to drink water,
as breast milk already provides all of the water
they need.
•Honey should be avoided during the first year
as this can cause infant botulism.
•Cow’s milk should also be avoided, and not
used as a substitute for breast milk.
•Avoid giving solid food too early, because it
may cause your child to become overweight.
•Cereals with iron should be avoided until your
child is 18 months old.
8. CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are important because they provide
energy that a growing baby needs. It functions as
the primary energy source for babies, and it is
important to make sure that they get enough
carbohydrates to support their growth and
development.
Newborn babies get enough carbohydrates from
breast milk, but older babies can get it from rich
food sources such as rice, bread, and sweet potato.
9. PROTEIN
Protein is an essential nutrient that helps fulfill the
nutritional requirements of babies 0-12 months
old. It functions as the building blocks of muscles,
and also helps build and repair tissues for the eyes,
skin, heart, lungs, brain, and other organs.
Protein is also responsible for the production of
hormones that are necessary for normal growth
and development of babies.
Foods rich in protein include breast milk, eggs,
legumes, lean meat, chicken, and fish.
10. FATS
For most adults, fat would not necessarily be a part of a
healthy diet. But for babies, fat is an essential part of their
nutrition.
Fat helps supply babies with energy, allows the absorption
of fat-soluble vitamins, and also helps with brain
development.
For the most part, breast milk and infant milk can provide
the fat necessary for a baby’s growth and development.
However, other sources of fat include, butter, vegetable oil,
and fatty fish such as tuna and salmon.
However, it is important to limit the fat intake of babies,
since it can cause problems if eaten in large amounts.
11. VITAMINS A,D,E,C
Vitamin A helps with proper vision, healthy skin, and a
healthy immune system.
Vitamin D helps with bone formation, and proper
absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
Vitamin E helps protect vitamin A in the body, and helps
prevent the breakdown of tissues.
Vitamin C helps form collagen that is essential in the
development of bones, cartilage, blood vessels, and other
connective tissue. It also helps with wound healing,
strengthens the immune system, and helps the body absorb
iron better.
12. B VITAMINS
B vitamins include vitamin B1,B2,B6,B12, niacin,
thiamine, and folate. These vitamins are essential
for regulating body functions, as well as brain
development.
They also help promote cell health and cell
metabolism.
Just like the other vitamins, B vitamins can be
found in breast milk as well as fruits and
vegetables.
13. CALCIUM
Calcium helps with healthy bone and tooth
development, blood clotting, and maintenance of
the nerves and muscles.
The best sources of calcium for babies are from
breast milk or infant formula
14. IRON
Iron is a vital nutrient that is important when it
comes to the production of red blood cells. Iron
also helps prevent iron-deficiency anemia in
babies.
It can be found in breast milk, formula milk, red
meat, fish, liver, and legumes.
It would be best to obtain iron from these sources,
rather than from supplements, because they are
more readily absorbed by the body.
15. ZINC
Zinc is a nutrient that helps promote wound
healing, blood formation, and formation of protein
in the body. In addition, it also helps support a
growing baby’s immune system.
Good sources of zinc are breast milk, red meat,
and fish, eggs, and liver.
16. SODIUM
Sodium is a mineral that helps maintain the
balance of water in the body, regulates blood
volume, as well as ensures the function of cells and
cell membranes.
For the most part, breast milk and formula milk
can provide all of the sodium that a growing baby
needs.
While sodium is indeed found in salt, it would be
best to avoid adding salt to your baby’s food as
they do not need to eat a lot of salt at a young age.
17. WATER
Lastly, water is an essential nutrient that your
baby’s body needs. It helps regulate kidney
function, metabolism, as well as the transportation
of nutrients around the body. It also helps with
regulating body temperature.
For babies aged 0-4 months old, all of the water
they need can be found in breast milk. However, as
babies start to eat solid food, they also need to
drink water as part of their meals.
18. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR BABIES
CARBOHYDRATES
0-6 months: 60 grams per day
6-12 months: 90 grams per day
PROTEIN
0-6 months: 9.1 grams per day
6-12 months: 11 grams per day
FAT
0-6 months: 31 grams per day
6-12 months: 30 grams per day
19. VITAMINS A,D,E,C
0-6 months:
400 µg vitamin A
5 µg vitamin D
4 mg vitamin E,
40 mg vitamin C per day
6-12 months
500 µg vitamin A
25 µg vitamin D
5 mg vitamin E
50 mg vitamin C per day
B VITAMINS
0-6 months: 0.1 to 0.3 mg per day
6-12 months: 0.3 to 0.4 mg per day
20. FOLATE
0-6 months: 65 µg per day
6-12 months: 80 µg per day
NIACIN
0-6 months: 2 mg per day
6-12 months: 4 mg per day
CALCIUM
0-6 months: 210 mg per day
6-12 months: 270 mg per day
IRON
0-6 months: 0.27 mg per day
6-12 months: 11 mg per day
21. ZINC
0-6 months: 4 mg per day
6-12 months: 5 mg per day
SODIUM
0-6 months: 100 to 200 mg per day
6-12 months: 100 to 200 mg per day
WATER
0-6 months: Only water from breast milk
6-12 months: 4-8 ounces of water
