| Feeding and nutrition of babies | 496.000000000000 | Feeding and nutrition of babies | Feeding and nutrition of babies | F | English | NA | Baby (1-12 months) | Body | Digestive system | NA | Adult (19+) | NA | | 2009-10-18T04:00:00Z | | Andrew James, MBChB, MBI, FRACP, FRCPC | | | | 11.9000000000000 | 45.1000000000000 | 594.000000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>Read about the benefits of breastfeeding and breast milk for babies. The necessity of increasing a baby's dietary repertoire as they get older is discussed.</p> | <p>It is universally accepted that human breast milk is the best source of nutrition for newborn babies and infants. Breastfeeding also has many non-nutritive benefits that lead to the best health and development of the baby. According to the World Health Organization, "exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter, infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond." </p> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul><li>Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for newborns and infants, providing them with the right amount of nutrients and antibodies.</li>
<li>Your baby can begin to eat solid foods after six months of age.</li></ul> | <p>Numerous studies have shown the benefits of providing human milk to newborn babies and young infants, which include better tolerance of feeding, reduced gastrointestinal disease, and improved intelligence. In developing countries, breastfeeding results in lower infant mortality. </p><p>There are also very important health benefits for the mother as well. Early establishment of breastfeeding after delivery makes the uterus contract back to its original size faster. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and osteoporosis.</p><p>Normal, healthy newborn babies have enough energy stores in their bodies to keep them going for the first few days of life. The small amounts of "milk" they receive from their mothers in these early days, called colostrum, offers high levels of protective immunological benefits and sugars for energy and prepare the baby for the larger volume of milk that comes in by the third or fourth day of life. </p><p>Newborn babies and young infants need specific amounts of energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins. These are all provided in the right balance by your breast milk, with the added benefit of important antibodies to help your baby fight infections during the first few months of life. Human breast milk is designed for human babies, and all substitute feeding preparations contain fewer ingredients than have been identified in human milk. Of the over 200 identified elements of human milk that interact in this complex fluid, about 30 can be artificially produced in infant formula. </p><p>Should you have difficulties feeding your baby at the breast, despite assistance by a breastfeeding specialist, you can purchase or rent hospital-approved breast pumps to express your breast milk and give it to your baby by bottle. </p><p>If you cannot breastfeed or provide breast milk for your baby, commercially manufactured formula milks are available for feeding babies. </p><p>As your baby gets older, you will be able to increase their dietary repertoire by introducing a variety of solid foods. While very early introduction to solids is not generally considered to be harmful, medical research has shown that your baby’s body is not ready to take in solids until about six months of age. </p><p>Before six months, your baby’s digestive system is not mature enough to handle solids. Your baby’s tongue will push out any foreign substances like food; this is called the tongue reflex, and it protects young babies from choking on foreign bodies. The intestines lack important enzymes necessary for digestion. Certain foods are difficult for the digestive system to cope with and giving solids before six months of age leads to a higher risk of food allergies and intolerance. Also, starting your baby on solid food before six months can lead to less frequent breastfeeding and a decreased milk supply.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/feeding_nutrition_of_babies.jpg | | | | | | | Feeding and nutrition of babies | | False | | | | | |
