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Nutritional Requirements For Growing Baby
Babies go through an amazing growth spurt during their first two years of growth. During the first year of growth, babies grow to triple their birth weight. To attain that much growth, they need plenty of nutrients during this time more than any other phase in their lifetime.
It is always suggested by experts that breast milk is the best food and a great source of nutrition for babies during the first 6 months of growth, but formula feed can also be a good option.
Nutritional Requirements For Growing Baby
Following are the nutrients required for babies to grow and stay healthy are as follows:
Calcium:- It is essential for the growth and development of strong bones and teeth.
Fat:- Fat is essential to create energy which helps the brain develop. It also keeps skin and hair healthy and protects skin and hair from infections.
Folate:- It is an essential nutrient which Helps in cells division.
Iron:- It helps to Build blood cells and also helps in brain development. Breast-fed babies need to receive iron supplements.
Protein and carbohydrates:- They are required for bodybuilding and also provides energy.
Zinc. It Helps the cells repair and growth.
These vitamins are also required for Your baby to grow and healthy functioning of the body:
Vitamin A:-It helps to Keep skin, hair, vision, and also an immune system in great health.
Vitamin B1:- Also called as thiamine. This vitamin helps to turn food into energy.
Vitamin B2:- Also called riboflavin. This vitamin as well Helps the body to turn food into energy and also protects cells from free radical damage.
Vitamin B3:- Also called niacin. It helps to utilize fats and protein and turn food into energy.
Vitamin B6:- It helps to Keeps healthy brain and immune system.
Vitamin B12:- This vitamin helps to Keep healthy nerve and blood cells. It also makes genetic material DNA in every cell.
Vitamin C:- It helps to Protects skin and body against infections, builds healthy bones and muscles, and also helps wound healing.
Vitamin D:- This vitamin is essential because it helps the body to absorb calcium from food, and keeps healthy bones and teeth. In the case of Breast-fed babies their require a D supplement.
Vitamin E:- It Protects the cells from free radical damage and also strengthens the immune system.
Vitamin K- It helps in the blood clotting
Nutrients in Formula
Most of the formula feed these days are made from cow’s milk. They are fortified to make them as close as breast milk to meet babies all the nutritional requirements which are needed for healthy growth.
These formula feed contains:
Carbohydrates which is in the form of the milk sugar called lactose.
It also has Iron, Protein and Minerals, such as calcium and zinc
It also contains all the essential Vitamins which are A, C, D, E, and the B vitamins
Some formulas make there milk more nutritious to be more like breast milk, which includes
Essential fatty acids. They are important for the healthy functioning of the baby’s brain and vision. ARA and DHA are the fatty acids which are added to their formula feed.
What are things to avoid
You should avoid giving whole cow’s milk during the first 12 months. As it doesn’t contain enough iron, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids required for your baby. It contains lots of protein, sodium, and potassium which can not be absorbed by your baby’s body and it can cause harm. Wait till your baby is 1 year old and then introduce cow’s milk.
Also, avoid giving baby soy milk or homemade formula. AsThese substitutes do not have sufficient nutrition for the baby needs right now.
