Food and Nutrients Essential for a Child's Proper Growth

When a child is born, parents and the entire family nurture dreams and concerns about the child’s well-being. One primary concern is ensuring that the child receives proper nutrition to grow healthily. Without accurate knowledge, many children experience nutritional deficiencies, hindering their natural growth.

The First Six Months: Breast Milk is the Key

Breast milk is the sole source of nutrition for a baby during the first six months of life. The yellowish, sticky, translucent milk produced initially by the mother, known as colostrum, is rich in immune-boosting components that protect the baby from infections.

Calorie Needs for Proper Growth

To grow healthily, babies require adequate calories:

• From birth to six months: 120 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight daily
• From seven to twelve months: 100 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight daily

As the baby grows, their total calorie needs increase, although the calorie requirement per kilogram of body weight gradually decreases.

Supplementing Nutrition After Six Months

From six months of age, breast milk alone is insufficient to meet the baby’s nutritional needs. Complementary foods are necessary to ensure proper growth. For example:

• Vitamin C: Found in fruit juices.
• Iron: Provided by egg yolks.
• Vitamin A and D: Available in cod liver oil or dark green leafy vegetables and cooked carrots.

If these nutrients are deficient, babies risk anemia or other health issues. Additionally, exposing a baby to morning sunlight helps their skin synthesize vitamin D, meeting their body’s needs.

Introducing Solid Foods

Starting at six months, soft, balanced meals should be introduced:

• Cooked rice, lentils, and vegetables mashed together are ideal for initial feeding.
• Soft-boiled vegetables like papaya, carrots, and potatoes are nutritious.
• Easily digestible foods like rice are excellent for babies.
• Gradually introduce small amounts of fish without oil.

Care for Premature Babies

Premature babies often have lower birth weights and underdeveloped physical structures. These babies require special care:

• Their calorie needs are slightly higher, but their digestive capacity may be limited.
• While breast milk is optimal, specific formula foods can also meet their needs.
• Protein requirements are higher—about 4-5 grams per kilogram of body weight daily—to promote faster weight gain.

A Healthy Start Ensures a Healthy Future

In Bangladesh, a healthy newborn typically weighs 3-3.5 kilograms. Proper nutrition can double this weight within five months and triple it by the first year. Ensuring a child’s balanced nutrition at an early age sets the foundation for a healthy, disease-free life.

By catering to a child’s individual dietary requirements, parents can ensure their proper growth and development, shaping a brighter future for them.

Author: Nutritionist, Lab Aid, Pallabi, Dhaka