Having a toddler is fun, fascinating and frustrating all at the same time, especially when it comes to eating! As your child transitions from babyhood to toddlerhood, you’ll notice developmental and social changes, which can impact their eating habits, too. Early childhood is a time of rapid development in the brain. In fact, 90% of a child’s brain growth happens before the age of five — and a big part of it is dependent on their language environment. Children’s brains are built, moment by moment, as they interact with their environments. In the first few years of life, more than one million neural connections are formed each second – a pace never repeated again. Good nutrition is one of the best steps to ensure a child’s immune system remains strong and healthy.
Children, from six months of age, need to eat from at least four food groups each day including fruit and vegetables, grains, pulses and nuts, animal and dairy products and staple foods, such as rice. They also need to drink plenty of liquids, such as breast milk and clean water to keep them hydrated. As they have small stomachs, they need to eat regularly, and the types of food and frequency can be slowly built up over time. Foods from the family meal that are mashed or pureed using a clean spoon or other implement can also be given.
Feeding Guide
• New Born/ Infant (0 to 6 months) - Appropriate and healthy feeding of your baby during the first year of life is very important. More growth occurs during the first year than at any other time in your child's life. For the first few months, breast milk or formula is all that's needed.
• Babies (6 to 12 months) - When your baby is 6 months old, she/he is just learning to chew. Her first foods need to be soft so they’re very easy to swallow, such as porridge or well mashed fruits and vegetables. As your baby grows, starting a variety of healthy foods at the proper time is important for proper growth and development. And starting good eating habits at this early stage will help set healthy eating patterns for life. From 9–11 months old, your baby can take half a cup of food three to four times a day, plus a healthy snack. Start with chopped up soft food into small pieces instead of mashing it. Foods need to be rich in energy, iron and nutrients. In addition to grains and potatoes, be sure your baby has vegetables and fruits, and seeds, a little energy-rich oil or fat, and – especially – animal foods (dairy, eggs, meat, fish and poultry) every day. Eating a variety of foods every day gives your baby the best chance of getting all the nutrients he needs.
Try Baby & Kids Products With Smytten
Smytten offers free Baby & Kids Food trials. This is the place to be if you've ever wanted to try something new for your baby but weren't sure if it was the right thing to do. Explore the free trials offered by your favorite brands to see which ones you like best. Now it’s time to Try before you Buy!
Reasons To Try Baby & Kids Products Before You Buy Them
• You have no idea what type of baby & kid’s food are good.
• You want to know if a product will suit your needs.
• You want to try out similar things at the same time.
• You're eager to find the best option in baby & kids food.
• You'd like to make a change but aren't sure where to begin.
FAQs
1. What is the right time to start solid food for babies?
WHO recommends 6 months of exclusive breast feeding. It means you don’t need to offer anything except breast milk for the first 6 months. Even water is not required as breast milk has 80% water content in it.
2. Should I skip breastfeeding to give solids?
For babies below 1 year of age, it is recommended not to skip breastfeeding just to give solid food. You can feed solids at least half an hour to 45 minutes or even one hour after breastfeeding depending upon the baby’s mood and appetite.
3. How many meals a day?
If you start with 2 to 3 meals a day, too much solids will lead to constipation in babies. Till 1 year, a baby’s main source of nutrition is breast milk. Additional solid foods are just complementary to meet their additional requirements for calories & nutrition.
