Nutrition for a Healthy Baby

Good nutrition in infancy and during the toddler years play a very important role in the health of young children. The first few days after a baby is born, mom usually produces a rich, clearish fluid called colostrum. This substance has large numbers of antibodies called secretory immunoglobulin or IgA. These antibodies help protect your child's throat, lungs, and intestines. Leukocytes are another key element in a mother's colostrum. Leukocytes help protect an infant from things such as harmful viruses and bacteria. Ingesting colostrum also allows the child to gain helpful bacteria in their tiny digestive tracts. Many physicians recommend giving your child this colostrum even is you are not going to breast feed on an on going basis.

Generally, after about 24-48 hours after birth, a mother's milk will begin to come in. Breast milk is considered to be the best and the healthiest food for an infant. The health benefits are the biggest reason mos women choose to breastfeeding. The only nutritionally equal alternative is an iron fortified formula comprised of soy protein or cow's milk. Breast milk is convenient for mothers, it already has everything your baby needs in the correct proportions water, protein, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins and minerals. Breast-fed babies are thought to have have better immunity against disease and infections, are less prone to digestive problems. Infants that are breast fed also tend to spit up less often, and suffer less from allergies than formula-fed infants. Some research even suggests that breast-fed babies tend to score higher on IQ tests later in life than their formula-fed counterparts. (www.kidsdirect.net)

Up to approximately six months of age a child can live exclusively on the nutrients in breast milk. When a child is 6 months it is healthy to begin to introduce iron rich solid foods such as cereal. From there gradually work up to a healthy diet of solid foods. At about two years of age a child can eat most solid foods and is able to drink 2% or 1% milk. A child's nutrition is very important to their overall health, it can prevent many medical problems, including becoming overweight, developing weak bones, and developing diabetes.

References:

Papalia, D., Olds, S., & Feldman, R. (2006). A Child's World (10^th ed.). New York , NY : McGraw-Hill.

Breastfeeding Guide. http://www.kidsdirect.net/BD/infants/breast/index.htm. 2006

Colostrum. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colostrum) 1/26/2007.