Breastmilk, or formula milk for some, is by far the most important food source for babies. Milk is the primary dietary cvomponent for babies from 0 to 6 months. However, as babies grow, their nutritional needs also grow. In order to meet these growing nutritional needs, parents are encouraged to complement breat or formula milk with solid foods.
Importance of Complementary Feeding: Meeting Baby's Higher Nutritional Needs
According to the Food Nutrition Research Institute or FNRI (2002), the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake or RENI per day for babies 0-6 months is 500 kcal, 9 g of protein and 0.38 mg of iron. However, babies 6-12 months need approximately 44% more calories, 56% more protein and 2500% (thats 25x) more iron. Specifically, starting 6 months onwards, babies need 720 kcal of energy, 14g of protein and 10 mg of iron in their diet every day!
Introducing Solid Fods: When to Start Complementary Feeding
It is advisable to start complementary feeding at 6 months when babies' nutritional needs are higher. This is also the time when babies are generally physically and developmentally ready to eat - they are able to control their head, they can sit with little or no support, and they start to show interest in food. (According to some research, introducing solids before this age is related to obesity and eating disorders in adults.)
Choosing the Right Complementary Food: Start Baby's Path to a Lifetime of Healthy Eating
On average, babies' stomach capacity is 1oz (or 2 tbsp) at birth, 6 oz (or 1 cup) at 6 months, and 8 oz (or 1 glass) at 1 year. By comparison, adults' stomach capacity is 32 oz (or 1 pitcher). Because babies' stomach capacity is only as small as a cup, it is very important to choose the right complementary foods for your baby.
Complementary foods should be nutrient- and energy-dense. Complete nutrition for babies should meet the earlier stated RENI per day, with sufficient carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. It is important to deliver all these essential nutrients in a small serving. At the same time, complementary foods should be gentle to babies' stomach. They should be easy to digest, and should not cause diarrhea or constipation.
Carbohydrate is important for babies' daily energy. Some examples of food rich with carbohydrate are bread, rice, noodles, potato and camote. Protein is important for the development of strong bones and immunity. Foods rich with protein are egg, fish, chicken, lean beef and pork, cheese, liver, monggo, beans and yoghurt. Fat is an important source of energy and vital for getting healthy skin. Food sources for fat are butter, vegetable oil, margarine and also meat. Lastly, vitamins and minerals are important for healthy growth and development. Vitamins and minerals can come from leafy vegetables (malunggay, broccoli, camote tops, kangkong, pechay, ampalaya leaves), non-leafy vegetables (squash, carrots, white squash, sayote), fruits (banana, papaya, apple, mango, orange, melon), and others (meat and iron-fortified cereals).
Sample Daily Menu for Babies: Complete Nutrition in Every Meal with Various Tastes and Textures
- Breakfast: Breast/Formula Milk + 2 tablespoon cereals + 1/2 boiled egg yolk + 2 tablespoon papaya.
- Morning Snack: Breast/Formula Milk + 1/2 sliced bread with thinly spread butter + 1/4 orange.
- Lunch: Breast/Formula Milk + 1/2 cup rice + 1 tablespoon boiled chicken with 2 tablespoon squash + 1/4 medium-sized banana.
- Afternoon Snack: Breast/Formula Milk + 1/4 sliced bread with grated cheese + 2 tablespoon apple.
- Dinner: Breast/Formula Milk + 1/2 cup potato + 2 tablespoon carrots with 2 tablespoon fish + 2 tablespoon ripe mangoes.
How to Start Feeding Baby: Give Your Baby One Type of Food at a Time
Before you start anything, remember to practice good hygiene in preparing your baby's food. Don't forget to wash your hands and your baby's hands, and to use clean (preferably sterilized) utensils. Introduce one new food at a time for 3 days. This is to prevent babies from developing allergic reactions to different foods. Start with giving 1-2 tablespoon of iron-fortified cereals, rice, mashed meat and fish, and pureed fruits and vegetables. Don't worry if baby refuses a type of food! It takes 10-15 attempts before a type of food is accepted. After successful introduction of new foods, you may begin to combine different foods, preferably as suggested in the sample menu above.