Feeding newborns and children up to one year: recommendations

Only when born into the world, the baby experiences great stress. And one of the first and main needs of the child, and the care of his parents is the feeding of newborns.

When the baby is still in the womb, its digestive system is relatively inactive. All the substances necessary for development and nutrition are received through the blood of the mother, which enters the placenta. After the birth of the baby, the situation changes. Taking into account the peculiarities of digestion of a newborn, it is necessary to note the expediency and, perhaps, the vital necessity of breastfeeding almost from the first minutes of life. This, in addition, affects the appearance of a subsequent close connection between the mother and the child.

Almost all modern pediatricians recommend feeding newborns with breast milk. After all, it is this type of food that is most useful for children. Nature is provided that its composition is balanced in such a way that such food is easily assimilated by the digestive system of the newborn, which is still immature, and the risk of developing allergies is minimal. In addition, the mother's milk has an optimal temperature and is sterile.

In the first days after childbirth , colostrum is secreted from the breast. It is distinguished by its high protein content and high energy value (as opposed to "mature" milk, which appears in women later). At this time, the feeding of newborns only begins to improve. Colostrum is often released in small quantities, but the baby will have enough for now, as his stomach is still very small. No less important reason, according to which it is considered that this is the best food for a child after birth, is the presence in this liquid of immunoglobulins (antibodies) to many infectious diseases.

If breastfeeding is impossible for certain reasons, then the baby is fed with infant formulas. Currently, they are quite a wide choice in specialized stores and child nutrition departments in large supermarkets. There are such mixtures between the manufacturer and the composition. At the same time, all products undergo thorough monitoring, so it is not worth worrying about their quality. Among the most popular and preferred in Russia can be mentioned the firm "Nestle", "Agusha", "Malyutka", etc. For children prone to allergic reactions, they produce specialized nutrition. Usually, the manufacturer informs on the box how old the mixture can be given and how to prepare it.

It is desirable to organize feeding of newborns according to the regime, so it will be easier to schedule time for the young mother. However, if this fails, then do not get too upset. Modern pediatricians tend to believe that the nutrition of children of the first year of life (especially if it is breastfeeding) should be carried out "on demand." Parents may feel that their baby eats too little. Do not be too hung up on this. The kid will not eat less than he needs.

In the first year of life, the first lure is introduced , that is, new foods will appear in the baby's nutrition. Most pediatricians recommend starting it about 6 months for "nursing" children and a little earlier for "artificial". Among the first products that a child will try, there will be monogranular cereals or vegetables. Recommendations for what to choose, the pediatrician will give depending on the development of the baby, his physiological characteristics and how he is gaining weight. For complementary foods, you can choose as ready-made baby food, which is usually already balanced and rich in nutrients for a certain age, and make it yourself. In the latter case, it is important to take into account the characteristics of children's dishes. It is worth remembering that a healthy diet of a child under the age of one year is the basis for the normal functioning of its digestive organs in the future.