Nutrition for newborns to toddlers

Newborns

How often to I need to feed my newborn?

Is my baby getting enough breast / formula milk?

Breast milk

Formula milk

Baby

Weaning & Introducing solids

Finger foods

A few facts about your baby's weight gain pattern

Toddler

How much should my toddler eat?

What should your toddler be eating?

Your toddler should not be eating

Vegetarian baby

Newborn ( 0- 6 months)

Q: How often to I need to feed my newborn?

• Most newborns want to feed 10 - 15 times a day after the first 3 - 4 days of life and then settle down to 6 - 8 times a day by the end of the first week.
• Your baby will lose 5 - 10% of her birth weight in the first 3 days but will start to regain weight after that.

Q: Is my baby getting enough breast/formula milk?

If you are breastfeeding your baby it can be hard to tell if your baby's getting enough milk, as it can't be measured in millimetres.

Possible signs that your baby is not getting enough milk and might still be hungry (for both breastfed and formula fed babies):

• Your baby does not begin to regain his birth weight after the first few days.
• Your breasts don't feel softer after feeds.
• Your baby is wetting fewer than six to eight nappies in a 24-hour period after the five days following birth.
• Your baby doesn't have a bowel movement at least once a day, or is having small, dark stools five days or more after birth.
• He becomes more yellow, instead of less, after the first week.

Breast milk

Q: Did you ever wonder what the ingredients are of your breast milk?

1. Fat

• Breast milk has a very high fat content. The high fat content is not bad for your baby like a high fat diet might be or you. The fat is important for the healthy growth (weight-gain) of your baby.
• An enzyme in breast milk called "lipase" helps to break down the fat unto smaller molecules which your baby can digest easily.
  

1. Protein

• Your newborn needs more protein now that he/she will ever need again.
• Breast milk contains the protein "lactalbumin" - it is a simple, highly nutritious protein. Lactalbumin is found in the milk of many mammals. There are alpha and beta lactalbumins; both contained in milk.

1. Vitamins

• Your breast milk contains all the vitamins your baby needs.
• But, if your baby is not getting enough sunlight (and this does not mean sun exposure every day/ or a suntan) you might have to give your baby a Vitamin D supplement. Speak to the clinic sister or your doctor before giving your baby any supplements.
• Newborns also don't make their own Vitamin K until a few days after birth. That's why your baby might get a Vitamin K injection directly after birth.

1. Carbohydrates

• The carbohydrates found in breast milk are mainly lactose. You might have heard of babies being lactose intolerant.

1. Minerals
• A healthy baby is born with a very good reserve of iron. Iron levels in breast milk are quite low, but the combination of Vitamin C and lactose in your breast milk will help your baby to digest the iron available.

1. Fluids
• Breast milk consists of 87% water, therefore you don't have to give your baby additional water.

1. Antibodies
• This is the most amazing of all the ingredients - natural antibiotics to protect your baby and build his/her immune system.

Formula Milk

Cow milk and babies

• Babies under one year cannot drink cow's milk as their digestive systems are not developed enough to cope with cow's milk.
• Formula is a modified cow's milk that contains the right ingredients to be suitable for a baby.

What formula to choose?

• There are many brands on the market and if your baby has no health problems your doctor will suggest any of the infant formulas.
• What you buy may depend upon the cost or a personal brand choice.
• But there are also many other formulas specially designed to cater for babies with health problems such as lactose intolerance, allergies, asthma or digestive problems including reflux and colic.
• Once the choice is made, try and keep to your chosen brand, as there are subtle taste differences between them, and if you change the brand, your baby may go off her food.

Follow the directions on packaging

• It is also very important to follow the directions on the packaging very carefully.
• Formula measurement spoons differ, so always make sure you use the spoon provided in the pack.
• You must always level off the formula as directed, as too much or too little formula mix in the bottle can make your baby ill.
• In the beginning it is nerve-wracking, and while you count you will want no interruptions - but as with everything it does become much easier.

Ask your doctor to recommend formula milk.

Baby (6 - 12 months)

Weaning and introducing solids

• Introduction of complementary solid food is usually a gradual process over several weeks or months, starting at about six months of age. (This may vary with every child.)
• The quality, number and variety of solid feeds can be increased gradually at a pace that will be generally dictated by the child.
• Cereals are generally the first foods that are introduced into the infant's diet (mixed with a little breast milk or formula), with purées of vegetables and fruits and meats to follow.
• The introduction of complementary foods by about six months is important to ensure normal chewing and speech development. Finger food is a great way to make your baby aware of different tastes and textures.

Finger food tips

Food that makes great finger food and allows for different taste and texture include:

• soft slices of fruit such as banana and mango
• strips of vegetables either raw or steamed, such as peppers, cucumber, marrow, broccoli, carrots (very soft) and potatoes (mashed or roasted strips)
• toast or bread fingers - either with melted cheese, Marmite, or that she can dip into a purée
• pasta - either with or without the sauce (it can get very messy) or with grated cheese
• yoghurt or her purée with a spoon - to start feeding herself

You need to make sure that the food is cut into big enough pieces so she can't choke, and you also need to avoid fruits with hard skins or seeds such as apple or grapes. No nuts, including peanuts, can be given to babies - not only because of the choking hazard, but also due to common allergies. Only give egg from age 9 months onwards. Also never leave her alone with food - it is so easy to choke and it takes less than a minute.

A few facts about your baby's weight gain pattern

Breastfed and formula-fed babies grow at different rates. In general, breastfed babies tend to be leaner, which is healthier, especially in the long run. The extra weight in formula-fed infants is thought to be due to excess water retention and a different composition of body fat.

Here's a general guide to the growth of breastfed babies during the first yea r:

• Weight gain of 112 - 200 grams a week during the first month.
• An average of 1/2 to 1 kilogram per month for the first six months.
• An average of 1/2 kilograms per month from six months to one year.

Variations in normal patterns of infant weight gain:

• Weight gain is determined by more than diet, which is why there is such a wide variation in normal patterns of infant weight gain.
• For example, babies with different body types due to heredity have different metabolic rates, and therefore burn calories differently.
• Long and lean babies (we call them 'banana babies') are hypermetabolizers. They burn off calories faster than the plumper 'apple babies' and 'pear babies.' Banana babies' are likely to grow more quickly in height than weight, so that they normally are above average in height and below average in weight on the growth chart.
• Apples and pears show the opposite pattern on the chart, usually showing gains in weight faster than height. All these patterns are normal.
• A baby's temperament also influences weight gain.
• Mellow, laid-back babies tend to burn fewer calories and therefore gain weight more quickly.
• Active babies with persistent, motor-driven personalities who always seem to be revved up usually burn more calories and tend to be leaner.

Toddler (12 - 36 months)

Q: How much should my toddler eat?

• One year-old : one teaspoon at a time of cereal, pureed fruit, cooked meat, cooked vegetable, one egg and milk or dairy products in portions of ½ a cup at a time.

• Two year old : two tablespoons at a time of different foods.

• Three-year old: should have three tablespoons at a time of different foods.

Q: What should your toddler be eating?

• Your toddler is more active year by year and needs more solids to sustain him/her during a busy day.
• Meal-to-meal appetite changes are normal.
• It is important that you don't make your child clean his or her plate.
• Your child should be eating from the following food groups:
1. Carbohydrates
2. Fruits and vegetables
3. Protein
4. Dairy products

The following is a basic table and should only be used as a reference of what your 1 - 3 year old toddler should be eating. Speak to your doctor/paediatrician/dietician to find out how much of each food group your toddler needs.

Things your toddler should not be eating

• Whole grapes; large pieces of meats; candy and cough drops.
• Small, hard foods such as nuts, seeds, popcorn, chips, pretzels, raw carrots, and raisins.
• Sticky foods such as peanut butter and marshmallows.
• Always cut up foods into small pieces and watch your child while he or she is eating.
• Also, your child may have some food allergies. The most common food allergies are milk, eggs, peanuts and other nuts, soybeans, wheat, fish, and shellfish.

If you think your child might have a food allergy, talk to your doctor.

Vegetarian baby

If you, as the mom or the family are vegetarians then it makes sense that you will want to give your baby a vegetarian diet as well. This is surprisingly easy, although for vegans it may be a little more difficult. What is important is that you understand the nutritional value of the food that you eat and make sure that your baby receives the vitamins he/she requires.

Instead of meat you can introduce pulses such as beans, peas and lentils as well as cheese and dairy products. If your diet extends to fish, then this is also an excellent source of protein.

The one nutrient found in meat, that babies do need is iron. So you will need to find alternate food that is rich in iron. Some choices include fish (especially sardines), egg yolk, lentils, dark green leafy vegetables and cereals.

Vitamin C helps to absorb iron so by combining these foods with those rich in vitamin C will also help.

As a vegan, it is a little more difficult to replace the calcium and iron found in eggs and dairy products so speak to a dietician for suitable replacements.