What is a Diet for infants, children of 0 - 6 months age?

Infants from their birth to 6 month age need only breast milk.

Infants from their birth to 6 month age need only breast milk for their nutritional needs. The breast milk is the best milk for new born children. Mother's breast milk is a complete food for babies. It gives extra immunity to the body of the baby and protects them from illnesses. It is hygienic as it is free from contamination and supplies nutrients to the infant in almost correct amount and proposition. It meets your baby's needs in first 4 to 6 months, provided you are eating a healthy diet.

"Breast milk is responsible for higher IQ and leads to lesser chances of having diabetes, hypertension and asthma. It has long term advantages even when the baby grows up into an adult and therefore ensures longevity," says Dr Arun Soni, consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital's Department of Neonatology.

If the child cannot take breast milk or if there is some problem in breast feeding, then fortified formula milk can be given. If a newborn baby does not start taking breast milk, then the milk from the breast can be taken out and fed to the child. Formula milk can also be given to such babies who need breast feed training.

A newborn baby need breast feeding 8 to 12 times per day i.e. every 2 to 4 hours. The number of feedings will decrease as the baby gets older. When the baby reaches to four months age, he can be fed 4 to 6 times per day, at each feeding the child consume increased quantity as his need grows.

When to Start Giving Solids to Infants

The expert recommends that you should introduce solid foods when your child is 4 to 6 months old. But if there is a family history of food allergy and if the child is satisfied with breastfeeding, you can delay the solids until 6 months of age. You should not delay solids past 6 months as the breast milk or formula milk cannot meet out baby's nutritional requirement as the baby grows.

The reasons for introducing solids are:

1. At this age, because your baby's natural iron stores begins to decline, iron enriched cereals become necessary.

2. Milk alone is not sufficient for energy requirement.

3. Chewing develops the muscles required for speech.

Is Your Baby Ready for Solids

Your baby is ready for solids when he has good control of head and neck. If the baby wakes up during night or looking for more food after a full breastfeed, you should start solids.

Foods that can be given to the babies when they reach the age of 4 to 6 months are iron-fortified baby cereals, ragi powder, suji (sooji, semolina), and raw plantain powder cooked in milk, mashed fruits (apple, pear, banana or avocado), and mashed vegetables (pumpkin, potato, carrot or zucchini) soups. At first start with cereals of soft, smooth texture mixed with breast milk or formula milk to a thin consistency. When the baby learns to control it in his mouth, the cereal may be mixed to a thicker consistency. Never give cereals in the bottle.

Solid feeding

1. Week 1:
   Start with 1 teaspoon of cereal once per day after breast of bottle feed.

2. Week 2:
   Give 2 feeds per day after breast or bottle feed.

3. Week 3:
   Add pureed fruits to the cereal for one feed and the other feed only cereal.

4. Week 4:
   Add pureed vegetables as a third meal per day.

Points to Note for Solid Feeding

1. Start solids slowly with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon at a time. Increase the amount gradually.

2. When your child start eating 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time, you can give the solid food at the second feed.

3. First start with a single food and watch for 4-5 days for any food allergy. Then give second food and watch for any allergy. If you observe any signs of food allergies, consult your doctor.

4. Give soils after a breastfeed or bottle feed.

5. Start giving water to your baby.

6. No meat, chicken or fish before 6 months.
   No eggs before 8 months.
   No cow milk before 12 months. It has been found that children who are given cow milk before 12 months have a chance of developing type 1 diabetes as they grow.

Note the growth of the baby. In 5 months time, the infant's weight should generally double his birth weight.

Some of the information on this age has been compiled from the Golden Circle (Australia) Fact Sheet on Feeding your baby solid foods.

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