Nutrition tips for your infant's 1st year : The most crucial

 According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an average healthy new born weighs 3.2 Kgs. The weight doubles in 5 months and triples by the age of 1 year. Now you know that the first year of life is a period of rapid growth. So mommies watch out for his nutrition in the first year. 

The first six months: Breast milk is the ideal and complete nutrient rich food for the first 6 months and the infant will latch on to the breast like a parasite- i.e you , the mommy is the only food factory for it. This food factory itself should be sufficiently stocked to provide a bounty of nutrients to the infant- water, proteins, fats,carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins besides a supply of disease fighting antibodies, enzymes for digestion and also having anti-fungal properties.

Post six months:  Mind you, by six months the infant needs much more that what the milk can provide. So now is the time to introduce solid foods . Biologically his system is also ready for it. The infant can start with cereals first which are soft cooked and mashed to a thin consistency- non starch soups, mashed vegetables and fruits are a great choice to be gradually introduced during the weaning period.     Solid foods can first be introduced at lunch time. Like adults, babies too like variety. Try stewed apple, stewed carrots, mashed bananas, potatoes/ sweet potatoes, mashed papaya, khichidi, suji porridge and so forth. There is nothing like homemade weaning foods. 

10 to 12 months: At 10  months, the child has more teeth and so can chew. Thus introduce little chunky texture foods  like oats in a porridge, vegetable khichidi. This is the time to start with a boiled egg (remember to introduce the egg only after the administration of the measles vaccine). Try the yolk first.

Summary

• Mommies look after yourself in the first six months. You are the food factory

• After six months try mashed solids at lunch time

• Introduce only one new food at a time

• Small quantities at first

• Never force feed

• Very little salt and sugar and that too only after nine months

Variety is the key to success.