Babies: A Nutrition and Development Guide
From newborns to 1-year-olds, learn what babies should be eating and what milestones they should be reaching in the first year of life.
Babies are such precious gifts. Nothing beats their smiling faces when they first greet you in the morning, when their eyes light up when you surprise them with a new toy, or when you witness their first roll or few steps.Â
But it can also be quite stressful when you realize the amount of responsibility you bear when you bring another being into this world. What do you feed them? When can you start filling their bellies up with anything other than milk? When do they start rolling? Sitting up? Walking and talking?Â
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There’s seemingly an endless list of questions that arise when caring for an infant. Most of the questions I receive from parents are about nutrition and development. So I thought it would be an informative episode for some new (and even guru) parents to provide some general guidelines in regards to these two topics. But please remember that every child is truly different. I urge you to discuss everything with your doctor to see what is right for your child specifically.
Newborns
The newborn period is really one of the sweetest, most precious times in your children’s lives…and also often one of the most tiring. If you’ve cared for a newborn, you know that their nutritional requirements are one of the most exhausting to keep up with. They are mostly doing two things as a newborn – sleeping (about 16-20 hour per day, for up to 4 hours at a time), and feeding when they’re not sleeping, about every 2-4 hours. If there is an issue with weight gain, your doctor may ask you to awaken the baby every 2-3 hours to feed, which is no easy task for sleep-deprived parents. Most babies will lose about 10% of their birth weight during that first week of life, but will regain it by the second week.
Wait a minute, how could I forget the third most popular newborn activity – diaper changing! For the first week of life, the number of wet diapers typically equals to the number of days old the baby is – so for a 3-day-old, it’s about 3 wet diapers per day. Bowel movements are at least once daily. Having good wet diapers and bowel movements are one potential indication that a baby is receiving appropriate nutrition (but weight checks are also important).
What to feed them? Definitely no solids or water at this stage please. And no cow’s milk until age one. Breast is best. Formula lacks those precious antibodies that you pass off to your baby’s immune system. But of course it’s not always feasible. For some mothers, problems with breastfeeding can be an obstacle, especially in the first month (which I will address in a future episode). But just remember: any amount of breast milk is helpful and better than none.
2-Month-OldsÂ
Infants of about 2 months old are downing about 4-6 ounces of milk about 5 times a day. Still no water or solids are recommended. Their gut is changing, and at this stage, it’s common to find that some babies may be stooling less frequently (even up to every 2-3 days). However, if the stool is hard or the baby is straining, it may be a sign of constipation. Average weight gain at this stage is about 20 grams/day.
2-month-olds start to show a social smile – so get your cameras ready! They also are able to follow you past the midline, and raise their heads off the floor about 45 degrees at “tummy time” (an important activity to perform promote proper motor development). They can also grasp your fingers, which is a particularly sweet experience.
Don’t forget your 2 month well-child visit and vaccines!
4-Month-Olds
These hungry babies feed about 5-7 ounces about 5 times a day, still gaining about 20 grams a day. At this stage, you can introduce rice cereal (mixed with milk), but milk should still be the primary nutrition for this age. Introduce the rice cereal gradually – start with one teaspoon twice a day. Still, no water or other solids are recommended. This is because 4-month-olds are typically growing rapidly, and their nutritional requirements are best met with breast milk or formula.Â
These babies are now starting to give back – your hard work is finally being rewarded with more interaction from your baby! At this age, babies now can vocalize, coo, and even laugh! They can bring their hands together, put toys in their mouth, and follow you 180 degrees. They also can typically sit with a steady head when held. They may also sleep up to 8 hours at a time, but perhaps not yet through the whole night just yet (if yours does, consider yourself very lucky!).
Don’t forget to make your 4-month-old well-child appointment that include vaccines.
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6-Month-Olds
You start to notice that life is becoming a tad easier for you as a parent at this stage (okay, I did say, a tad). The baby’s feeds are starting to space out more, as they take in about 7-8 oz about 4 times a day. You can now start introducing solid foods – yay! Some doctors say to go through all the veggies first, before introducing those yummy, sweet fruits. And it is recommended that you introduce a new food every 2-5 days, to make it more apparent if there are any allergies. Don’t forget to introduce the sippy cup!
By this time, most babies have at least doubled their weight.
6-month-olds can reach and grasp objects, and are able to transfer objects from one hand into the other. They can roll over and back, and sit with minimal support briefly. They can see objects across the room and babble. It’s a great age for photographs, because they are really starting to become more interactive at this point.
9-Month-Olds
At 9 months, your little munchkin will be drinking on average 8 ounces of milk, 3 times a day, while increasing the amount of solids gradually. You can start to introduce finger food, such as soft fruits and veggies at this point.Â
They are crawling, perhaps starting to creep, and may be able to pull to stand. They may be able to stand alone, and cruise along furniture.  They orient to their spoken name, and even respond to “no.”
12-Month-Olds
Congratulations, your baby is no longer considered an infant – now a “toddler.” Although by this time these munchkins are 3 times their birth weight, their growth tends to slow down now, along with their appetite. Discuss whether or not your baby may need a daily multivitamin with the doctor. You can now finally get rid of formula and start whole cow’s milk, but make sure to serve milk with every meal.  Serve 3 meals a day to mimic your own meal schedule, replace baby food with table food, and wean off the bottle to be replaced by the sippy cup. Milk intake should be between 16 and 24 ounces per day maximum, in order to allow for better solid intake. You can also make water readily available.Â
Your baby’s skill and development is really taking off now, as well. About 50% of 1-year-olds are able to walk, and perhaps even squat in the middle of play and then resume. They can also grasp using their thumb and index finger, called a “pincer grasp.” They also can say “mama” and “dada,” and start to follow simple directions. And they will be seeking your involvement in play – so please be a role model and play with your child for at least one hour a day. TV exposure in kids less than 2 years has been shown to be harmful to brain development, so limit this to strictly no more than one hour a day.
Congratulations – you’ve made it through what many parents think of as the toughest year (although the teen years are a very close second). You’ve survived the sleep deprivation, the lack of free time (although that, sadly, doesn’t end here), and stringent food/sleep schedules. What’s next? Toddlers, tantrums, and the toilet, oh my!
What are your thoughts on this issue? Share it with us on the House Call Doctor’s Facebook and Twitter pages! If you have any suggestions for future topics, email me at housecalldoctor@quickanddirtytips.comcreate new email. Hope you have a healthy week!
Please note that all content here is strictly for informational purposes only. This content does not substitute any medical advice, and does not replace any medical judgment or reasoning by your own personal health provider. Please always seek a licensed physician in your area regarding all health related questions and issues.