INFANCY and NUTRITION
The term infant is derived from the Latin word Micronutrients
infans, which means “unable to speak.” Healthy infants
grow steadily, but not always at an even pace. Their growth • Almost all of the nutrients that infants require can be
and development must be tracked and compared against met if they consume an adequate amount of breast
standard norms for an infant’s age. Growth charts may milk.
provide warnings that a child has a medical problem or is • Human milk is low in vitamin D, which is needed for
malnourished. Some causes of malnutrition include calcium absorption and building bone, among other
poverty, lack of enough food and feeding inappropriate things. Therefore, breastfed children often need to take
foods a vitamin D supplement in the form of drops.
• Breast milk is also low in vitamin K, which is required
Nutritional Requirements for blood clotting, and deficits could lead to bleeding or
hemorrhagic disease. Babies are born with limited
• Requirements for macronutrients and micronutrients
vitamin K, so supplementation may be needed initially
are higher during infancy than at any other stage in the
and some states require a vitamin K injection after
human life cycle.
birth.
• These needs are affected by the rapid cell division that
• Also, breast milk is not high in iron, but the iron in
occurs during growth, which requires energy and
breast milk is well absorbed by infants. After four to six
protein, along with the nutrients that are involved in
months, however, an infant needs an additional source
DNA synthesis.
of iron other than breast milk.
• During this period, children are entirely dependent on
their parents or other caregivers to meet these needs. Fluids
• For infants six months or younger, breast milk is the
best source to fulfill nutritional requirements. An infant • Infants have a high need for fluids, 1.5 milliliters per
may require feedings eight to twelve times a day or kilocalorie consumed compared to 1.0 milliliters per
more in the beginning. kilocalorie consumed for adults.
• After six months, infants can gradually begin to • Because children have larger body surface area per
consume solid foods to help meet nutrient needs. unit of body weight, they are at greater risk of
dehydration.
Energy • Parents or other caregivers can meet an infant’s fluid
needs with breast milk or formula.
• Energy needs relative to size are much greater in
• As solids are introduced, parents must make sure that
an infant than an adult.
young children continue to drink fluids throughout the
• A baby’s resting metabolic rate is two times that of
day.
an adult.
• The RDA to meet energy needs changes as an Introducing Solid Foods
infant matures and puts on more weight.
• Infants should be breastfed or bottle-fed exclusively for
Macronutrients the first six months of life according to the WHO.
• Infants should not consume solid foods prior to six
• The dietary recommendations for infants are based
months because solids do not contain the right nutrient
on the nutritional content of human breast milk.
mix that infants need.
• Carbohydrates make up about 45 to 65 percent of
• After six months, infants can hold up their heads and
the caloric content in breast milk, which amounts to a
move them around, which make eating solid foods
RDA of about 130 grams.
more feasible.
• Almost all of the carbohydrate in human milk is
• Solid baby foods can be bought commercially or
lactose, which infants digest and tolerate well.
prepared from regular food using a food processor,
• Protein makes up about 5 to 20 percent of the caloric
blender, food mill, or grinder at home.
content of breast milk, which amounts to 13 grams per
• By nine months to a year, infants are able to chew soft
day.
foods and can eat solids that are well chopped or
• Fat makes up about 30 to 40 percent of the caloric
mashed.
content in breast milk..
• Parents and caregivers introduce solids, they should
• A high-fat diet is necessary to encourage the
feed their child only one new food at a time (starting
development of neural pathways in the brain and with rice cereal, followed by fruits or vegetables), to
other parts of the body. However, saturated fats and
help identify allergic responses or food intolerances.
The term infant is derived from the Latin word Micronutrients
infans, which means “unable to speak.” Healthy infants
grow steadily, but not always at an even pace. Their growth • Almost all of the nutrients that infants require can be
and development must be tracked and compared against met if they consume an adequate amount of breast
standard norms for an infant’s age. Growth charts may milk.
provide warnings that a child has a medical problem or is • Human milk is low in vitamin D, which is needed for
malnourished. Some causes of malnutrition include calcium absorption and building bone, among other
poverty, lack of enough food and feeding inappropriate things. Therefore, breastfed children often need to take
foods a vitamin D supplement in the form of drops.
• Breast milk is also low in vitamin K, which is required
Nutritional Requirements for blood clotting, and deficits could lead to bleeding or
hemorrhagic disease. Babies are born with limited
• Requirements for macronutrients and micronutrients
vitamin K, so supplementation may be needed initially
are higher during infancy than at any other stage in the
and some states require a vitamin K injection after
human life cycle.
birth.
• These needs are affected by the rapid cell division that
• Also, breast milk is not high in iron, but the iron in
occurs during growth, which requires energy and
breast milk is well absorbed by infants. After four to six
protein, along with the nutrients that are involved in
months, however, an infant needs an additional source
DNA synthesis.
of iron other than breast milk.
• During this period, children are entirely dependent on
their parents or other caregivers to meet these needs. Fluids
• For infants six months or younger, breast milk is the
best source to fulfill nutritional requirements. An infant • Infants have a high need for fluids, 1.5 milliliters per
may require feedings eight to twelve times a day or kilocalorie consumed compared to 1.0 milliliters per
more in the beginning. kilocalorie consumed for adults.
• After six months, infants can gradually begin to • Because children have larger body surface area per
consume solid foods to help meet nutrient needs. unit of body weight, they are at greater risk of
dehydration.
Energy • Parents or other caregivers can meet an infant’s fluid
needs with breast milk or formula.
• Energy needs relative to size are much greater in
• As solids are introduced, parents must make sure that
an infant than an adult.
young children continue to drink fluids throughout the
• A baby’s resting metabolic rate is two times that of
day.
an adult.
• The RDA to meet energy needs changes as an Introducing Solid Foods
infant matures and puts on more weight.
• Infants should be breastfed or bottle-fed exclusively for
Macronutrients the first six months of life according to the WHO.
• Infants should not consume solid foods prior to six
• The dietary recommendations for infants are based
months because solids do not contain the right nutrient
on the nutritional content of human breast milk.
mix that infants need.
• Carbohydrates make up about 45 to 65 percent of
• After six months, infants can hold up their heads and
the caloric content in breast milk, which amounts to a
move them around, which make eating solid foods
RDA of about 130 grams.
more feasible.
• Almost all of the carbohydrate in human milk is
• Solid baby foods can be bought commercially or
lactose, which infants digest and tolerate well.
prepared from regular food using a food processor,
• Protein makes up about 5 to 20 percent of the caloric
blender, food mill, or grinder at home.
content of breast milk, which amounts to 13 grams per
• By nine months to a year, infants are able to chew soft
day.
foods and can eat solids that are well chopped or
• Fat makes up about 30 to 40 percent of the caloric
mashed.
content in breast milk..
• Parents and caregivers introduce solids, they should
• A high-fat diet is necessary to encourage the
feed their child only one new food at a time (starting
development of neural pathways in the brain and with rice cereal, followed by fruits or vegetables), to
other parts of the body. However, saturated fats and
help identify allergic responses or food intolerances.
