Feeding a baby in a healthy way is crucial as it directly affects its growth and development. Good parents have to keep in mind that good eating habits start to form from the very beginning - the first day of life. And it’s your full responsibility to make your baby thrive and develop timely.
A baby's diet during the first months requires special attention.
The first month of life is crucial for a baby. It's a period of time when babies are growing and developing at a faster rate than at any other time in their life. Nutrition is essential for both physical and emotional strength. We can compare food with fuel for all organism systems to work. That’s why parents need to care about their baby's diet and do their best to give only healthy and organic food to their baby to ensure he or she gets all the necessary nutrients for all their needs.
Let’s find out what food is best at a specific age
All babies develop at different rates and have different requirements for food. But there are some basic things that we can talk about. For example, babies at the age of 1 to 5 months should consume only breast milk or baby formula. Let’s check what’s the difference between these 2 common kinds of milk.
Breast Milk
- Experts are sure that breast milk is the perfect food for a baby during the first month of life as it adjusts to the baby's needs in nutrition. For example, for the first days of a baby's life, breast milk gets a yellowish color and is created specifically for the newborn. So, it perfectly adapts over time and is suitable for every stage of life. That’s why mothers don’t need to worry whether this milk is good enough for their babies.
- Breast milk is full of healthy elements for a baby's well-being. Be sure, carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals presented in breast milk will fully satisfy the baby. And the best part about it is that these elements are just in the right amount. That is surely a benefit in comparison with baby formulas.
- Breast milk provides natural antibodies which positively affect the baby’s health. They are crucial for the immune system as they help to confront germs, viruses and bacteria. That’s why breastfed babies are less likely to catch colds and other infections.
Baby formula
· Baby formulas are the best alternative to breast milk as they can be quite enriching and nutritious. European organic baby formulas are exceptionally high quality and don’t contain any ingredients that may harm a baby. Sadly, some of the formulas on the marker can be dangerous in the long run, so keep in mind that you need to pay special attention to their content and consult a doctor.
- There are lots of types of baby formulas so it wouldn’t be a problem for you to find the one that will suit your baby perfectly. Some organic HiPP Baby Formula have special features and can deal with different health issues such as diarrhea, spitting, lactose intolerance, allergies and others.
- They are really available as you can find them on the supermarket’s shelves, pharmacies or buy them online easily. It’s better to find a trustworthy shop and formulas that are high quality. As an option parents can shop Holle and HiPP organic baby formulas at Organic’s Best.
Questions like: «Am I feeding my baby enough milk?» is a common parental concern. Babies require different amounts of food at different stages. But experts give some recommendations on that topic.
- Newborns: usually eat 2 to 3 ounces of breastmilk or formula at a time every two to three hours;
- 1-month-olds: the amount of milk rises to 3 to 4 ounces every two or four hours a day;
- 2-month-old: can eat around 4 to 5 ounces of milk at a time every three to four hours;
- 3-month-old: the amount of breast milk or formulas is 4 to 5 ounces of milk every three to four hours;
- 4-month-olds: usually consume 4 to 6 ounces every four to five hours a day;
- 5-month-olds: may eat 6 to 7 ounces of milk every four to five hours;
- 6-month-olds: may consume 7 to 8 ounces of milk every four to five hours.
When your baby gets around 6 month old
Babies at around 6 months old start to be interested in solids and that’s the right time to give first «adult» food to your little one. At this point of time, their organism becomes prepared to take, chew and swallow soft food. Sometimes, the process of giving up breast milk or formula gets challenging, so it’s better to know about these tips below, to make this time pleasant for both kid and parents.
- Introduce new foods gradually
A baby's organism is unique and unpredictable, so there might be some negative reactions. So parents need to give new food step-by-step and check if the baby takes it right.
- Give as many kinds as food as possible
A child's diet should be full of different nutrients, so introduce veggies, fruits, meat, fish, dairy, cereals and other products to your little one.
- Make the food easy to eat.
There are lots of recipes that are easy to make and that would be safe for your kid. The main idea is to start with foods that would be chewable enough. That’s how your little one will enjoy the process.
