Take a quick look at the age-by-age guide to feeding 0 to 4, 4 to 6, 6 to 8, 8 to 10 and 10 to 12 months old babies.Feeding a child during the first year is the most crucial and sensitive parenting task. As it is the most important year of a baby’s growth and development, parents have to ensure that the baby is getting adequate nutrition. It is important to ensure that a baby is getting proper nutrition during each stage of its development. Adequate and right nutrition is very essential to help babies achieve their developmental milestones on time. So, new parents should be aware of how they should feed their babies and what they should include in their diet during each stage of their development. Now, let us take a look at how babies should be fed during every crucial phase of their development after birth.
As recommended by most of the expert paediatricians, it is crucial to feed newborn babies exclusively during the first four months of his or her growth and development. When the baby is born the first milk colostrum (yellow milk) that seeps out of the breast of mothers immediately after delivering the baby is very essential. Some mothers may experience that they are not able to produce enough of breastmilk during the initial days of the delivery. In such a situation it is necessary to encourage the newborn to suck on the breast as it will ensure smooth flow of breastmilk from the breast. New mothers are also recommended to have nutritious food that helps in improving breast milk supply.
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended as mother passes on the vital antibodies to the baby through breastmilk. These antibodies are very crucial for developing and maintaining a strong immune system throughout his or her life. Therefore, every new mother should make sure that she breastfeeds her baby exclusively to give him or her a healthy life.
When breastfeeding is not possible
There are many cases when breastfeeding is not possible. Some of the common cases where breastfeeding is not an option as well as what should be done in such cases is listed below.
Illness
When breastfeeding is not possible due to severe illnesses formula feeding is recommended by experts. While feeding a baby with formula milk, it is necessary to follow the instructions provided by the doctor. It is also recommended that parents should use a Vati (bowl) and a small spoon for feeding the baby. Bottle-feeding should be avoided at all costs as it can give rise to other problems in babies. When feeding equipment is used for feeding the baby, it is necessary to take right care of them. Such equipment should be sterilized from time-to-time. Parents can use sterilizers, or they can follow the traditional method of sterilizing such equipment by boiling them in water.
Inverted (Retracted) and Flat Nipples
10 out of every 100 new mothers face the problem of inverted (retracted) or flat nipples. Inverted and flat nipples are different from the normal nipples. It is very difficult to feed with inverted or retracted nipples as they sink inside the breast tissues or dimple inward in it. Same is the case with flat nipples. Babies find it difficult to suck from such breasts as they do not protrude outwards like the nipples of the normal breast. They are in the level with the areola or the dark area of the breasts, but they do not sink inside them. Although it is difficult to feed the baby with inverted or flat nipples, it is not impossible. Some techniques suggested by the doctors or the lactation consultants can work wonders. Such techniques include, techniques like using nipple formers can surely help. So, there is no need to worry. The other traditional technique as mentioned below can also prove very useful.
- Using the thumb and forefinger to roll the nipples so that they protrude outside.
- Compressing the area behind the areola in such a way that nipples are pushed outside.
- Using a cold compress or ice cube to help the nipple protrude outside.
- Expressing the breastmilk or using a breast pump immediately before breastfeeding in order to encourage the nipples to protrude outside.
- Feeding the baby frequently so that breasts become light and do not get engorged thereby encouraging the nipples to protrude outside.
Ideally, trying the above listed ways should definitely work to breastfeed with inverted (retracted) or flat nipples. If these ways are not working at all, the mothers can opt for feeding the expressed breastmilk. There many breast pumps available along with the equipment for storing and feeding the breastmilk. When mothers opt for feeding the expressed milk, they should ensure that they talk to their doctor about the right ways to store and feed the expressed breastmilk. They should also ensure that they take the right care of the breast pump and other feeding equipment and sterilize them from time to time. Nowadays, electric sterilisers are also available which can be used for serializing the equipment that is used for feeding the baby.
Working Mothers
Some new mothers start working very early. They start working as early as the baby is 2 to 3 months old. In this case it is difficult to breastfeed the babies exclusively. In such a situation, they should give first preference to feeding the expressed breastmilk to the baby. If it is not possible to give expressed breastmilk, formula milk can be given to the baby under the guidance of a doctor.
Feeding 4 to 6 Months Old Baby
When babies complete 4 to 6 months of their age, they are ready for having solids.
Therefore, solids can be introduced during this phase. Which means that in addition to breastmilk babies can consume solids. Now, let us take a look at some useful tips on introducing solids to babies.
Tips on Introducing Solids
Take a quick look at the tips for introducing solids in your baby’s diet.
What should be included in the diet of the baby while introducing solids?
Very simple foods can be introduced in the diet of the baby in the beginning. In most of the Indian households Moong Daal Khichdi is introduced in the diet of the baby. Apart from Moong Daal Khichdi, foods like pureed fruits, pureed vegetables etc can also be introduced.
How to introduce the solids in the diet of the baby?
In the beginning you need to introduce the pureed food little-by-little. You must introduce new food in the diet of your baby gradually. If you baby is disliking the food, you can give it later by giving a pause for two to three days.
Which is the best food to be introduced in the baby’s diet in the beginning?
Moong Daal Khichdi is the best and nutritious food that you can introduce in your baby’s diet in the beginning. When you introduce Moong Daal Khichdi in your baby’s diet, you can start with feeding a little once a day. Make sure that the Khichdi is pureed properly, and the consistency is very thin when you start feeding it to your baby. By 6 months you can increase the number of feeds. You can feed the solids to your baby twice or thrice a day depending on your baby’s needs and your judgement.
Feeding 6 to 8 Months Old Baby
By this time, you can introduce a variety of foods in the diet of your baby if you have already introduced solids in his or her diet between 4 to 6 months. The foods that you can include along with breastfeeds are listed below.
Moong Daal Khichdi in pureed form
Pureed fruits like bananas, apples, peaches, pears etc.
Pureed legumes
Cooked and pureed vegetables like carrot, sweet potato, beetroot etc.
Ragi or Nachni porridge
Semolina or Suji porridge
It is obvious that all these foods cannot be included in the diet of the baby altogether. So, you can make a schedule for including these foods in the diet of your baby. You can make a weekly schedule for what you prefer to include in your baby’s diet every day. Every baby is unique and therefore you can make a schedule using your judgement and your baby’s needs. You can discuss this feeding schedule with your baby’s paediatrician so that he or she can suggest appropriate changes depending on your baby’s health.
Feeding 8 to 10 Months Old Baby
At this age you can observe that your baby can pick little things with his or her forefinger and thumb. This shows that he or she is ready for having finger foods. Introducing finger foods can be a great idea at this age as you will be taking a first step towards encouraging self-feeding in your baby. With the help of finger foods, your baby can also learn to chew. There are a variety of foods that you can introduce to your baby as finger foods. When you are introducing finger foods you should make sure that your baby is eating them under an adult’s supervision in order to prevent the choking hazard. You can include the finger foods in the diet of your baby as well as you too can feed her during her normal feeding time. You must continue breastfeeding along with the other foods that you include in your baby’s diet. Listed below are the foods that you can include in your baby’s diet.
Properly cooked and mashed vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, beetroot, French beans, potatoes, peas etc.
Soft chapatis, soft rice balls mixed with Daal, hard-boiled eggs cut in bit-sized pieces and very soft pieces of chicken properly cooked in the bit-sized pieces.
Along with the finger foods you can also continue to give foods that you used to give to your baby when he or she was between 6 to 8 months old.
Feeding 10 to 12 Months Old Baby
At this stage too, you can introduce new foods in the diet of your baby along with breastfeeding and other foods that you are already feeding your baby. This is the stage when your baby will be having more teeth and will also try to use a spoon. At this age you can include the following foods in your baby’s diet.
Bit sized pieces of cheese
Curd
Paneer or cottage cheese
Properly cooked vegetables
Bit sized pieces of scrambled eggs
Soft bit sized pieces of boneless fish
When you are introducing solids in your baby’s diet, you can introduce them gradually. You must always discuss your plan with your baby’s paediatrician. Never be in a rush to introduce too many food items in your baby’s diet. Always make sure that the food that you are including in your baby’s diet is properly cooked in order to prevent choking hazard. When you are feeding foods like eggs and meat you must take care that they are well-cooked and extremely soft. Never leave your baby unsupervised when he or she is eating. If there is a family history of allergy to certain foods, you must avoid introducing such foods in your baby’s diet or you must talk to your baby’s paediatrician before introducing such foods in your baby’s diet.
The first year is an important year of baby’s growth and development. Therefore, make sure that you include the foods in his or her diet that can provide all the essential nutrients to him or her. The most important thing to keep in mind is that, no matter how nutritious the foods that you feed to your baby are, you must continue to breastfeed your baby throughout the first year. You can even continue to breastfeed your baby along with the other food that you are feeding him or her even during the second year. Always discuss your baby’s diet with his or her paediatrician so that you can ensure that you are not missing out on anything.
When is the right time to introduce solids to a baby? Which foods can be introduced as finger foods and when? When is the right time to include non-vegetarian foods in the diet of baby? Discuss here.
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