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Healthy Feeding for Children: Guidelines by Age
Starting off your child's journey with healthy eating lays a strong foundation for their overall health. The article below provides tlored feeding recommations based on age ranges, from birth up to 24 months.
0-6 Months:
Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula are the sole requirements until solid foods are introduced between 4 and 6 months as your baby grows developmentally ready.
A vitamin D supplement is necessary for exclusively breastfeeding parents, due to low levels in breast milk.
The amount of breast milk or formula varies with your baby's growth.
Avoid:
Cow’s milk before age 12 months: Drinking dry milk too early may cause intestinal bleeding and other serious health issues in infants.
Plant-based beverages like soy, rice, almond milk are not recommed for infants under one year as they might induce allergies or intolerances. If needed, a pediatrician can help identify suitable alternatives to infant formula.
Honey should be avoided in children below 12 months due to the risk of botulism.
Juices and sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, fruit drinks, sweetened teas are not recommed for infants as they may discourage them from eating other nutritious food.
6-12 Months:
Introduce baby foods gradually once your baby is developmentally ready. Start with vegetables and fruits mashed or pureed to suit their taste and texture preferences.
Avoid sugar in infant formulas, cereals, or when mixing drinks with breast milk or formula for bottle feeding.
Ages 12 - 24 Months:
Diversify food options including proteins like meat, fish, eggs, beans, cheese as well as grns. that it's essential to ensure your child is eating enough nutrients.
Avoid:
Cereal in a bottle: Adding cereal dilutes the milk or formula and may lead to poor absorption of nutrients.
Sweetened drinks such as soda, energy drinks, sweetened teas can be tempting for infants but are not beneficial for their health.
Prenatal Postpartum:
Healthy diet during pregnancy helps ensure adequate nutrition before birth. Postnatal care focuses on exclusive breastfeeding if possible or feeding formula that's properly prepared and stored.
Additional Tips:
Feeding should occur in a peaceful environment conducive to interaction without distractions like smartphones.
Don't force your baby to finish a bottle; they intuitively know when they are full.
Recognize hunger cues such as fidgeting, hands to mouth movement, rooting reflex turning head towards stimuli near their mouth, and sounds of sucking.
Incorporating variety into meals encourages healthy taste preferences later on. Offer vegetables early and in various forms like purees or mashed, along with fruits.
Avoid sugary drinks that could influence a preference for sweet tastes over healthier options as your child grows older.
Introducing too many high-sodium foods like packaged snacks at this age can shape a lifelong habit of preferring these foods.
Don't rush; it may take several exposures before children accept new flavors. Picky eating behavior from toddlers should be handled with patience and encouragement rather than coercion.
Stay tuned for more tips in upcoming videos on feeding infants and introducing solid foods!
Explore the full report for comprehensive insights:
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For more guidance tlored to family members, caregivers can access the recommations specifically designed for children aged 2-8 years old.
SEE THE RECOMMATIONS
For information about beverage guidelines for children from birth up to age 5 and resources med at parents or guardians, visit HealthyDrinksHealthyKids.org.
SEE THE RECOMMATIONS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD
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Healthy Feeding Guidelines for Babies Nutrition Tips from Birth to 24 Months Introducing Solid Foods at Ages 4 6 Avoiding Common Infant Nutrition Mistakes Balanced Diet for Toddlers Ages 12 24 Months PrenatalPostpartum Nutritional Importance