no 9 feeding babies & young children

7/27/2019 No 9 Feeding Babies & Young Children

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Feeding Babies and Young Children

SPCFactsheet no. 9

Breastfeed babies exclusively for the firstsix months of their life. Breastfeedingshould be continued for at least two years, with the addition of other foods.

Recommendations forbreastmilk All babies should receive only breastmilk for thefirst six months of life. This is called exclusivebreastfeeding it means they only get breastmilk no foods or drinks, not even water. Giving babyanything other than breastmilk before six monthsdoes more harm than good, as babys body can-not cope with it.

Why breastfeeding? 1. It provides perfect nutrition for baby:

Breastmilk provides all the nutrients a babyneeds for the first six months of life.

2. It boosts babys immunity : Breastmilk containsimmune factors that help to protect a babyfrom infections and illness.

3. It is ready to use: Breastmilk is at the righttemperature and doesn t need making up

with water. You dont need to use bottles orcups, which need sterilising.

4. It is free: Formula milk will cost hundreds of dollars per year to use. With breastmilk youdont need to waste fuel on heating up milk.

5. It can affect babys intelligence: Researchshows that breastfed babies are more intelli-gent than babies who are fed formula.

6. It is good for mother: Breastfeeding helps toreduce bleeding after delivery. In the longterm, breastfeeding reduces the risk of breastand cervical cancer.

7. It promotes bonding: Breastfeeding helps themother and baby to bond with each other.

False myths about feedingbabiesy Giving baby formula milk is better for baby:

This is completely wrong breastfed babiesare healthier, happier and more intelligent.

y Breastfeeding is inconvenient Breastmilkis always there and available, wherever youare.

y Breastfeeding will affect the shape of yourbreasts This is not true, and breastfeedinghelps a woman to regain her pre-pregnancyshape.

y Mother doesnt have enough milk: This isextremely rare the more common problemis poor positioning during breastfeedingaffecting milk flow.

y A woman with small breasts will not be able


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Feeding Babies and Young Children SPCFactsheet no. 9

What if we wait until sevenmonths?If the introduction of complementary foods isdelayed, a baby will become deficient in certain

nutrients, especially vitamin A and iron. Growthwill be affected, because the baby will also beshort of energy.

Which foods should beintroduced first?Starchy energy foods, such as mashed cookingbanana and breadfruit, make excellent first foods.Adding some fats/oils is also a good idea toincrease the amount of energy in the foods, e.g.adding a small amount of coconut cream, oil ormargarine. Because energy, vitamin A and ironare the first things that baby is becoming shortof, foods that contain these should be introducedearly on.Foods that are rich in iron include: green leaves,meat, liver, dark fish-meat and pulses (beans).Foods that are rich in vitamin A include: liver, eggs,leaves, pumpkin, ripe papaya, and ripe mango.

Bottle or cup?When giving your baby any drink expressedbreastmilk, formula or the first drink of water(after six months of age) NEVER use a bottle;ALWAYS use a cup.Bottles can deform a babys mouth and will causeproblems later in life.Even premature babies and newborns can takedrinks from a cup.Cups are also easier to keep clean. Babies andyoung children are particularly vulnerable to foodpoisoning, and so special care should be takenwith all their food and drinks.

What about breastmilk?Babies still need breastmilk when they are eatingfoods. Breastmilk should be continued until babyis at least two years of age (beyond two years isbetter). The nutrition from breastmilk is still veryimportant even though baby is also getting foods.

Monitoring your babys growthThe only way to assess how well a baby or a childis growing is by using growth charts; baby shouldbe weighed regularly and monitored. If the parenthas concerns about a babys growth, the babymust be weighed.


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Age

06months

6 months

79months

1012months

12 monthsonward

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Feeding Babies and Young Children SPCFactsheet no. 9

Recommendations

Exclusive breastfeeding noextra fluid/drinks or food isneeded.

Continue with breastfeeding.Introduce other foods.

Continue with breastfeeding.Introduce more foods.Increase the amounts offoods given.Give larger pieces of food but watch to ensure baby

doesnt choke.Continue with breastfeeding.Most foods should be justchopped or broken.Baby should be starting tofeed him or her self.

Continue breastfeeding untilat least two years.Baby should be eating a full

and varied diet the wholefamily should eat the same.

Foods to be introduced

No other foods or drink to begiven.

Protective foods: ripe fruits, e.g.papaya, mango, banana;cooked leaves and vegeta-bles.Body-building foods: mashedfish or shellfish, cooked egg.Energy foods:yam, sweet pota-to, taro, breadfruit, cookingbanana, rice. Also:use some margarine,butter, oil or coconut creamfor extra energy.Give the same foods asdetailed above, but try tointroduce more variety.Drinks such as cooled, boiledwater, diluted fruit juice, or coconut water can be offered

from a cup.Give the same foods asabove.You can also introduce nuts(must be pureed e.g. nut but-ter), meats, bread and cheeseif desired.A full range of foods and tex-tures should be eaten.

Comments

Colostrum, the first milk to beproduced after birth, is espe-cially beneficial and shouldalways be given.Introduce one new food at atime. It should be mashedwell. Offer a small spoonfulat a time.

Do not use a bottle for any-thing.If expressing breast milk, giveit from a cup.Foods rich in iron and vitaminA are very important.

Baby will start chewing nowand will like things to chewon such as pieces of raw fruit.Do not give sweets and can-dies.

Avoid giving high sugar snacks and drinks as theyencourage tooth decay.

The best drinks are cooledboiled water, coconut water or diluted fruit juice.

SPC 2002Produced by: Lifestyle Health Section

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)BP D5 Noumea Cedex 98848 New Caledonia

Tel: +687 262000Fax: +687 263818

Website: http://wwwspc int/lifestyle/

no 9 feeding babies & young children

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