Products Necessary for a Child in the First Year of Life

For children in the first year of life, nutrition is especially important, since at this stage all body systems are formed. Proper nutrition ensures healthy growth, development and strengthening of the immune system. The best food for a baby is mother's milk. It contains all the necessary nutrients and antibodies that protect the child from infections and diseases.

The amount of milk sucked by the newborn gradually increases. If the baby develops normally and gains weight well, then the mother has enough milk. However, if the baby shows anxiety after each feeding and cannot stand the intervals between feedings, it can be assumed that there is not enough milk. In this case, you should contact a children's clinic, where the doctor carries out control feeding and calculates the daily amount of food, which should be equal to 1/5 of the child's body weight.

If, during repeated control feedings, it is determined that the child is not receiving enough mother’s milk, he is prescribed supplementary feeding in the form of donor milk or adapted milk formulas. Moreover, the younger the child, the more advisable it is to use donor human milk as supplementary feeding. At the age of 2-3 months, you can refuse it and switch to supplementary feeding with adapted mixtures.

In addition to breast milk, a child needs water during the first days of life, especially during the hot season or at high indoor temperatures. Give the child 1-2 teaspoons of water between feedings (up to 50 ml per day, and up to 100 ml in hot weather). To drink, you can give boiled unsweetened water or weak tea.

After 2 weeks of age, the child begins to be given fruit and vegetable juices as a drink, which are richer in vitamins than decoctions, but contain slightly less minerals. Apple juice is introduced first, starting with a few drops, gradually increasing its amount to 40-50 ml in two or three doses. Juice is given during or after feeding, but not before meals, as this can lead to a decrease in appetite. When the child gets used to apple juice, you can also gradually begin to give him other juices - cherry, blackcurrant; after 2 months - plum, cranberry, apricot, pomegranate, carrot, cabbage, beet and others.

However, we should not forget that the introduction of new foods into a child’s diet should be gradual and careful. Some foods can cause allergic reactions, so it is best to start with small amounts and monitor your child's condition.

In addition, the baby does not need to be given solid food in the first months of life, since his digestive system has not yet fully developed. When introducing complementary foods, it is necessary to choose foods that are rich in nutrients, but easily digestible by the child's body. For example, the first complementary food can be vegetable purees from potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and other vegetables.

Thus, the nutrition of a child in the first year of life plays an important role in his healthy development. Breast milk is the optimal nutrition for the baby, but if necessary, donor milk or adapted milk formulas can be used. The introduction of new foods should be gradual and careful, and complementary feeding should begin only after 4-6 months of the child’s life. The main products of the first complementary feeding are vegetable purees, which should be easily digestible and rich in nutrients.