|
Feeding Infants and Toddlers Under Two Years
Eating patterns of infants and toddlers are different from those of adults. For their size,
they require more calories and different types, textures, and portions of food for good
health and proper growth.
What is best for feeding infants?
For the first few months, breast milk or formula provide for a baby's nutrient needs.
Health professionals recommend that whole cow's milk be fed to infants when breast
milk and formula are no longer offered, usually when the infant turns one year.
When it is time to introduce solid foods to the baby, parents should first offer plain,
single-ingredient foods, watching for symptoms of food allergies or sensitivities such
as diarrhea or skin rashes. Babies grow so rapidly that, for their size, they need more
iron, calcium, and zinc than at any other time. At this time, you can add fortified infant
cereals to the baby's diet to help provide these minerals. When introducing solids, first
try iron-fortified cereals, followed by a variety of pureed vegetables and fruits such as
peas, carrots, peaches, or applesauce.
For older infants, other sources of iron include meats, poultry, and cooked dried beans
and peas. Offer a variety of whole-grain breads, fortified cereals and crackers, milk,
yogurt, and cheese.
To help babies and toddlers accept new foods, offer the same new food for several
days in a row. Practice and patience by parents are key ingredients to help children
develop healthful eating habits.
More on food variety
Offering a variety of foods at an early age sets the stage for life-long healthful eating
habits. No one food ensures a healthy eating pattern. Parents can help balance older
infants' and toddlers' nutrient intakes by offering a variety of foods. Include foods from
all of the food groups every day to help supply the energy, vitamins, and minerals
growing children need.
Special tips for feeding toddlers
As toddlers become more independent, they enjoy feeding themselves and often
develop their own food likes, dislikes, and eating habits. "Food jags" are common. A
food jag is a short-term eating habit in which toddlers select the same food for every
meal. Toddlers may choose these favorite foods for one week and ignore them the
next. Since food jags are usually short term, the toddlers' nutrient intakes are
balanced over time.
After 12 months of age, serve about two cups of whole milk in place of formula each
day to be certain toddlers eat enough foods that contain calcium. After age two,
gradually switch from whole milk to lower-fat milk, such as 2 percent, 1 percent, or
skim. If fruit drinks or juices are offered in place of formula or milk, the toddler may not
get the calcium and other minerals needed for proper bone growth. Serving other
calcium-rich foods like yogurt and cheese either as snacks or with meals will also help
meet calcium needs and build strong bones.
Use appropriate portion sizes of foods to meet infants' and toddlers' nutritional needs.
A general guide for providing adequate portion sizes is to offer one tablespoon of each
food for every year of age. Allow infants and toddlers to eat until they are full. It is
unwise to force a child to eat or to use food as a reward. Keep mealtime a pleasant
time for everyone.
Adult dietary guidelines are not for infants
Adult dietary guidelines are for adults only. Adults usually need to lower the amount of
fats and sometimes calories in their own eating patterns. However, efforts to limit fat
intake for infants and toddlers are unwise. Infants and toddlers under two years need
fat and calories to fuel their rapid growth.
Physical activity = playtime for infants
Plan times of active play with your infant or toddler every day to encourage a healthful
lifestyle. Some active games include pat-a-cake, hide and seek, and duck, duck,
goose. Help your toddler develop the habit of making regular physical activity a fun part
of a healthy lifestyle.
Every baby is different, with different food likes and dislikes. Registered dietitians or
other health professionals can help answer specific infant feeding or nutrition
questions.
For more information
The American Dietetic Association/National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics Consumer Nutrition Hotline. For food and nutrition information or for a referral to a registered dietitian in your area,
call 800/366-1655.
Copyright © 1996. ADAF. Reprinted with permission. My ParenTime and the ADA do not endorse the products or services of any company.
|