In a baby’s first 4 to 6 months, either breast milk or formula can meet a child’s nutritional needs. Cow’s milk should not be given to babies younger than 1 year of age. Babies should be fed on demand. The younger and smaller an infant, the more frequently he or she needs to eat. Newborns do not take a great deal of formula or breast milk. Gradually, babies take larger amounts of breast milk or formula and go longer between feedings.
The newborn infant may be fed naturally from the breast, or artificially from a bottle.
An individual experiences the fastest rate of growth during their first year of life compared to any other time. A nutritious diet is crucial for promoting healthy growth and development during this period.
In the first four to six months, babies’ nutritional needs are primarily met by milk, either through breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Both human milk and formula provide carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals in comparable ratios. However, human milk also includes antibodies and white blood cells that help shield the baby from infections. Starting from six months of age, additional vitamins A, C, and D should be administered to breastfed babies. (Vitamin supplements are already included in formula milk.)
Cow’s milk should not be administered during the first year of life. After the child turns one year old, it becomes safe to include full-fat cow’s milk in their diet.
Between the ages of four and six months, solids should be gradually introduced into the baby’s diet, starting with fruit or vegetable purees and cereals that do not contain wheat. This depends on factors such as the baby’s birth weight, growth rate, and satisfaction with feeding. From six months onwards, the baby should start consuming actual solids, like finely chopped meat and vegetables, and can begin to eat thoroughly cooked eggs. Infants under one year of age should avoid honey or products with nuts. Moreover, salt and sugar in home-prepared meals should be kept to a minimum to avoid potential kidney issues and tooth decay, respectively.
Some infants may exhibit intolerance to specific foods like lactose or cow’s milk protein. This intolerance can manifest as vomiting, diarrhea, or skin rashes. Issues related to milk typically emerge within the initial month. It is advisable to introduce solid foods gradually and individually to accurately determine any potential food triggers.
Persistent crying following meals could indicate that the infant requires assistance in expelling gas, is struggling to properly digest formula milk, or is possibly suffering from colic.
For every pound of an infant’s body weight, they typically need about 2½ ounces of breast milk daily. So, for a baby weighing ten pounds, around 25 ounces of breast milk is recommended each day. Formula is another option, which is created by mixing cow’s milk powder with water and including sugar. It’s common to begin with a half-cream formula powder. If the baby tolerates it well, one can gradually shift to a full-cream formula after several weeks. To help caregivers, manufacturers provide a suggested feeding chart on each formula container, which tends to be quite accurate in real-world scenarios.
Smaller, frail, or premature infants might require feedings every three hours, while other babies can be fed every four hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Another approach is demand feeding, where the baby is fed whenever they seem to cry out of hunger. However, most of the time, they will establish a rhythm of feeding roughly every four hours. The downside of this method is the unpredictability for the mother, as she can’t anticipate when the next feeding will be. A healthy baby typically doesn’t need scheduled feedings of milk or water during the night.