Good Nutrition From the Start - Baby's First Year

A baby's first year is a time of rapid growth and development. Providing babies with the right foods will promote good health and give them a chance to enjoy new tastes and textures as they learn good eating habits. The rate at which a baby progresses to each new food texture and feeding style depends on the baby's own growth and development.

It is the responsibility of the infant's parents and health care provider to decide whether to use breast milk or formula; if using formula, what kind; when to introduce solid foods; and what solid foods to introduce.

Consider the following when providing the best possible care for the infant during the first year of life:

  • Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula is the only food a baby needs until 4-6 months of age. Breast milk is the best food for baby. However, iron-fortified infant formula also provides babies with all the nutrients they need to grow.
  • Be sure formula is prepared according to package directions. Mixing formula with too much or too little water can cause serious health problems and even death in young babies.
  • Avoid adding cereal to the baby's bottle. Adding cereal means the baby will not getting the formula needed. Cereal in a bottle can cause choking in young babies.
  • Avoid adding juice or other sweetened drinks to the bottle. Although babies like the sweet taste of juice and other beverages, these drinks fill them up and take the place of more nutritious breast milk or formula that babies need. Babies may be offered liquid from a cup between the ages of 6-8 months.
  • Avoid starting solid foods early. This may mean that the baby will not drink enough milk and not get the calcium, protein, and iron that are so important for growth. These nutrients are in the right amount in breast milk and iron-fortified formula.

All babies develop at their own rate. Babies need their parents and child care providers to listen to their needs. The child care provider who listens to the baby will:

  • Feed whenever the baby indicates she is hungry-about every two hours.
  • Hold baby when feeding.
  • Avoid putting baby to bed with a bottle.

    Putting babies to bed with a bottle begins a sleeping habit that is hard to change later. Babies put to bed with bottles may choke, tend to have more ear infections, and are at risk of nursing bottle syndrome, a problem of serious tooth decay when the baby's teeth begin to come in.

Introducing Solid Food to Infants

A baby is ready to start solid foods between 4-6 months when he can sit on his own, turn his head from side to side on his own, turn his head from side to side showing he has had enough to eat, and accept food from a spoon without the tongue pushing the food out of his mouth. Avoid starting solid foods too early. Starting too early mean that the baby does not get the calcium, protein, and iron that are important for growth. Introduce solid foods gradually. Rice cereal is typically the first food given to a baby because it rarely causes an allergic reaction and it is easy to digest. It is also a good source of iron and B vitamins.

Follow the tips below when introducing solid foods:

  • Introduce one new food at a time. Let the infant become familiar with this food before trying another. Wait a week between each new food to be introduced. It can take several days before signs of an allergy, such as rash, asthma, or diarrhea show up. If the baby has a severe reaction including difficulty breathing, hives, shock., etc. call the rescue squad and the baby's parents immediately.
  • Give small amounts of the new food at first - a couple of teaspoonfuls or less.
  • Use a very thin, smooth consistency when starting solid foods. The food can be thinned less as the infant develops better swallowing skills.
  • Do not add solid foods or cereal to the bottle.
  • Use a small spoon to place the food on the middle of the infant's tongue. This will help the infant to swallow. If the infant spits out the food it does not necessarily mean that the food is disliked. It may mean that they baby has not learned the tongue movement needed for swallowing and is not ready for the introduction of solid foods.
  • After several days, if it seems that the infant does not like the new food, omit it for a week or two and then try again.
  • Talk with parents to keep them aware of how their baby is doing with the introduction of solid food.

Safety Practices in Feeding Baby

  • Wash hands often. Wash your hands before preparing food and feeding babies. Wash the baby's hands before each feeding. Wash your hands after feeding the babies, too.
  • Keep dishes, equipment, and food preparation areas clean and sanitized.
  • Be careful when warming baby's food. Mix food thoroughly and check temperature to avoid hot spots. Never heat bottles in a microwave. Hot spots can cause serious burns. Heat bottles in warm water either in a container or under running water.
  • Avoid feeding baby directly from baby food jars or food containers. Serve baby food in a bowl. Throw away leftover food in the bowl after the meal. Baby's saliva can spoil the food.
  • Keep food and formula refrigerated at all times. Babies are especially sensitive to spoiled foods.

Taken fromWhat's Cooking? A fact sheet for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Volume 4, Number 4, National Food Service Management Institute, The University of Mississippi.