Essential Baby Nutrition For Healthy Development

baby nutritionEvery mother wants her baby to enjoy his/her food and to eat well.

It is essential to ensure that the baby’s diet contains food from all the main groups in the right quantities.

The food pyramid for babies is divided into five groups:

Group 1: Breads, cereals, rice, pasta, potato

Group 2: Fruits and vegetables

Group 3: Milk, yogurt and cheese

Group 4: Red meat, poultry, egg, fish, pulses

Group 5: Cakes, biscuits, chocolates and sweet

Nutrition tips for healthy baby development

LCP’s:

LCP‘s are long chain unsaturated fatty acids found in breast milk. These acids are essential for the development of your baby’s eyes, brain and central nervous system.

Amino acids and DHA are essential for optimal development and growth of your baby. [Baby growth]

Benefits of LCP’s:

  • Better problem solving skills and visual development;
  • Brain development and developing proper thinking ability, movement and speech skills;
  • Lower blood pressure in childhood;
  • Decrease the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Iron:

For better hemoglobin production, iron is essential. To satisfy your baby’s iron needs, feed your baby solid food along with breast milk. You can give him/her iron-rich foods like red meat, fish and chicken at the proper stage of the baby’s life.

Vitamin C is also essential for better absorption of iron. It is therefore advisable to feed your baby with fruit juices with a dilution of one part of juice in four-five parts of water.

Also, introduce essential fruits and vegetables for sufficient iron quantities. Feed your baby with breakfast cereal and some fresh fruits.

Don’t give your baby vitamins or mineral supplements as a substitute for iron deficiency. Consult your doctor if your baby has an iron deficiency.

Prebiotics:

These are the special nutrients that act as friendly bacteria in your baby’s digestive system. They are found in breast milk and support your baby’s immune system greatly.

Calcium:

Calcium is essential for the healthy growth of teeth and bones. Also, this mineral regulates your baby’s heartbeat and helps in blood clotting situations.

As the baby’s development is fast between 3-6 months, it is essential that your baby should follow a diet rich in calcium. Milk, yogurt and cheese are the main sources of calcium.

One thing you should keep in mind is to feed your baby with cheese and yogurt only after the baby has his/her second birthday. Green vegetables, beans and bread are also excellent sources of calcium.

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