Child’s Nutrition Definition by IAP
Nutrition is a process of acquiring enough nutrients and energy from the food we eat. This is similar for both adults and infants. According to the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, a child’s nutrition is defined as a process of obtaining the adequate nourishment from breastmilk or formula milk or foods the baby eats which inturn supports the baby for their growth and development.
IAP also recommends exclusive breastfeeding for an infant within 6 months of age and adding up the complementary feeding after this month. It also recommends not to add certain foods like biscuits, breads, chocolates, pastries, ice cream, cakes and doughnuts as a complementary food for the baby. Let us see more in detail about how to nourish a child’s nutrition.
Nutrition for Babies under one year
First 6 months
All new born babies are tiny ones whose digestive system is not fully developed yet to digest solid foods. They don’t have teeth to chew solid foods and they are totally unaware of swallowing it safely. Hence it is highly recommended that infants below 6 months of age should be fed with breast milk only. If breastmilk is not available or if the infant is not fully appetite for breastmilk, the alternate source called infant formula milk can be used under doctor’s guidance.
Breast Milk contains all the required nutrients such as fat, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water for a baby’s growth. Vitamin D is obtained by exposing the baby to the sun and not to the direct sunlight. A baby is born with sufficient iron to process for the first 6 months of its life. The following table gives a brief schedule about the baby’s feeding time and amount of breastmilk intake for an infant.
| Baby’s age | Amount of Breastmilk or Formula milk to be fed | Feeding time per day | Time intervals |
| New Born Babies | 30 to 50 ml | 8 to 12 feedings | Every 2 hours |
| 2 Weeks | 50 to 90 ml | 8 to 12 feedings | Every 2 to 3 hours |
| 1 month | 90 to 120 ml | 8 to 10 feedings | Every 3 to 4 hours |
| 2 months | 120 ml to 150 ml | 6 to 8 feedings | Every 4 to 5 hours |
| 4 months | 120 to 180 ml | 4 to 6 feedings | Every 4 to 5 hours |
| 6 months | 200 ml to 250 ml | 4 to 6 feedings | Every 4 to 5 hours |
Mothers of all the newborn should begin nursing within one hour of birth providing 8 to 12 feedings per day, for the first week of the baby’s life. Every 2 hours the babies must be fed with milk and it’s likely to wake them up for every feeding as they are asleep most of the time. As the baby’s grow, the feeding time may fall in a pattern that mothers can stick to. It mostly resembles the table above.
For formula milk babies, they must be fed on demand. On average newborn babies should be given formula milk every 2 to 3 hours and from 2 months that timing may vary for about 3 to 4 hours. At 4 months, the babies are fed for a time interval of about 4 to 5 hours and it may continue for a year.
Things that should be avoided
No liquids should be given to babies below 6 months, other than breastmilk or formula milk. Juice or animal milk are strictly not to be given to babies as they may upset their little tummies. No honey should be given, as frequent usage may cause infant botulism.
Parents or the caretakers must always keep in check the nutrition level in babies by consulting with a doctor or paediatricians. Incase of inadequate supply, supplementations are available.
After 6 Months
After 6 months of development the infant will begin to move or crawl around which needs a lot of energy and breastfeeding alone cant help with it. Hence, Complementary foods are introduced to the babies after their 6 months along with breastfeeding. Introducing solid foods to the babies are made to expose them to the taste, colours, textures and different foods.
Starting with puree or porridge form of foods may not be liked by the babies. But introducing new tastes and foods from all groups and colours without any added sugar or any beverages can help a child to enjoy the complementary foods. Some of the foods that can be included in the complementary foods are listed below
- At the age of 6 months, start with easy to swallow food like cereal, iron fortified cereals, oatmeals or pureed barbley. Fruits such as apricots, bananas or avocado, peaches and vegetables such as carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, that are cooked and pureed well. Protein foods like meat, fish, poultry, scrambled eggs, peanut, or nut butter thinned can also be included in the complementary foods.
- At 7 to 9 months, babies begin to eat coarse, or lumpy textured foods, so we can introduce lumpier oatmeal cereals, mashed all types of vegetables and fruits.
A sample diet chart for a baby from 6 months to 12 months is given below.
| Time | 6 months (700-800 calories) | 8 months (900 to 1000 calories) | +10 months (1000-1400 calories) |
| 6:00 am | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk |
| 8:00 am | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | 1 stewed applesmall + ¼ tsp ghee | Boiled and mashed mixveg and dal soup – 1 small cup (Carrot + French beans + moong dal + ¼ tsp ghee) |
| 10:00 am | Malted ragi or Ragi sattu gruel (4 tsp ragi + ¼ tsp ghee + water) OR Rice kanji (4 tsprice flour + ¼ tsp ghee) | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | |
| 10:30 am | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | ||
| 12 noon | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | Rice ½ cup + Dal ¼ cup well mixed and mashed with boiled and mashed Carrot and Beetroot ¼ cup + ¼ tsp ghee. | Rice 1 small cup, Dal ¼ cup, Boiled bottle gourd vegetable ½ cup curd 25 ml |
| 12:30 pm | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | ||
| 2:00 pm | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | |
| 3:30 pm | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | ||
| 4:00 pm | 1 small mashed banana/ other fruits | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | |
| 6:00 pm | 1 small Idli mashed and soaked in curd | Mashed papaya ½ small cup | |
| 7:30 pm | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | Plain Upma with ½ tsp ghee with boiled and mashed beetroot | |
| 8:00 pm | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | ||
| 9:00 pm | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | ||
| 10:00 pm | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk | |
| 11:00 pm | Mother’s milk/ Formula milk |
All these extra foods are given along with the breast milk for the infants. Breast milk can fulfil up to one-third of a child’s energy requirements beyond the age of one, providing vital nutrients such as vitamin A and vitamin C, which contribute to the child’s health and emotional well-being. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in strengthening the immune system.
Do we need to panic?
While introducing babies to solid foods and vegetables, always follow a three day rule. Wait for 3 days before introducing other new items to the baby. When new food is introduced to a baby, Check for any symptoms such as
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Rashes
- Itching
- Stomach pain
Incase of any symptoms, stop the food immediately and reintroduce it in later days. These symptoms will always reduce gradually, if it prolonged for a longer time, do consult the doctors.
Nutrition for Babies at one to two years
Once the babies step out of a year, they are in need of 1000 calories everyday in their diet and it has to be achieved only through the food supplements that they eat. As they are still a developing one with a small tummy, healthy meals can be given 5 to 6 times a day to get their full nutrition.
A Child’s meal plate must consist of Vegetables, Fruits, Grains (such as wheat, Maize, Barley, Rice) and Protein foods (like pulses, nuts, milk, egg, fish etc) along with some water. This is a simple representation of a nutritious meal for a baby. We can alter the types of foods like fruits and vegetables day after day but it should not be avoided. So plan a healthy meal that fits your list of food items available at home.
The necessary nutrition for a growing 1 year old baby includes iron, calcium, vitamin D, proteins and healthy fats. All these are undercheck in the planned meal mentioned above. The only thing the parents have to do is to encourage the baby to self feed first and develop an eating schedule and follow it.
A small time table for one year baby is given below.
Veg plan for 2 to 3 year old babies
| Days | Early Morning | Breakfast | Mid morning | Lunch | Evening | Dinner | Post Dinner |
| Day 1 | 1 cup milk with dried fruits and 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* | Vegetable Rava Upma: ½ cup, Apple: 1 no | Corn soup: 1/2 cup, Banana: 1 No. | Rice: ½ cup, drumstick dal: ½ cup, ghee: 1 tsp, curd: ½ cup | Paneer sandwich: 1 no. | Potato Peas paratha: 1 no., curd: ½ cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 2 | 1 cup milk with almonds and 1 tsp. Jaggery/honey* | Pongal with coconut chutney | Veg. roll: 1, Water melon: ½ cup | Vegetable Pulao: ½ cup, raita: ½ cup | Fresh mango juice: 1 cup | Chapati : 1 no, ghee: 1 tsp, Beetroot vegetable: ½ cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 3 | 1 cup milk with dry fruits and 1 tsp. Jaggery/honey* | Idli: 1 no., coconut chutney: 2 Tbsp | Orange juice: 1 cup | Rice: ½ cup, dal palak: ½ cup, ghee: 1 tsp, curd: ½ cup | Ragi ladoo = 1 no, Banana = 1 | Vegetable Khichdi: ½ cup, curd: 1/2 cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 4 | 1 cup of banana milk shake with 1 tsp. jaggery /honey* | Idiyappam or puttu with coconut | Mixed Veg soup: ½ cup, Pineapple: ½ cup | Mixed vegetable rice: 1/2 cup, dal fry: 1/2 cup | Besan ladoo: 1 no. Muskmelon: ½ cup | Vegetable noodles: ½ cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 5 | 1 cup of milk with dry fruits and 1 tsp. Jaggery/honey* | Veg Poha: 1 cup | Orange: 1 no. | Rice: ½ cup, bottle gourd dal : ½ cup, ghee: 1 tsp | Vegetable cutlet: 1 no., Lassi: ½ cup | Paratha: 1 no., dal fry: ½ cup, ghee: 1 tsp | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 6 | 1 cup of milk with 1 tsp. Jaggery/honey* | Oatmeal porridge with fruits & raisins: 1/2 cup | Papaya: 1 cup, dates: 4-5 nos. | Chapati: 1 No., ghee: 1 tsp., carrot and potato vegetable – ½ cup | Carrot soup: 1 cup | Vegetable pasta: ½ cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 7 | 1 cup of mango milkshake with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* | Banana: 1 no | Rice: ½ cup, Green gram dal: ½ cup, ghee: 1 tsp, curd: ½, cup | Fruit salad: 1 cup | Chapati: 1 no, paneer and peas vegetable: ½ cup, ghee: 1 tsp | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
Non Veg plan for 2 to 3 year old babies
| Days | Early Morning | Breakfast | Mid morning | Lunch | Evening | Dinner | Post Dinner |
| Day 1 | 1 cup milk with dried fruits and 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* | Dosa: 1 no, groundnut chutney: ½ cup | Beetroot Carrot soup: 1 cup | Rice with green peas: ½ cup, chicken curry: ½ cup, | Banana: 1 no. | Methi Paratha: 1, curd: ½ cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 2 | 1 cup milk with almonds and 1 tsp. Jaggery/honey* | Idli with coconut Chutney | Fruit salad: 1 bowl | Chapati: 1 no., scrambled egg with veggies: ½ cup | Chicken cutlet: 1 no. | Vegetable fried rice: 1/2 cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 3 | 1 cup milk with dry fruits and 1 tsp. Jaggery/honey* | Bread omelette: 1 no. | Chicken soup: ½ cup | Rice: ½ cup, tomato dal: 1 cup, chicken fry: 1 piece | Banana with mango smoothie: ½ cup | Chapati: 1 no., palak paneer: ½ cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 4 | 1 cup of banana milk shake with 1 tsp. jaggery /honey* | Vegetable vermicelli upma: ½ cup | Orange: 1 no | Egg paratha: 1 no. | Paneer cutlet: 1 no. | Chicken fried rice: ½ cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 5 | 1 cup of milk with dry fruits and 1 tsp. Jaggery/honey* | Idiyappam or puttu with coconut | Papaya: 1 cup | Chapati: 1 no, chicken with capsicum gravy: ½ cup | Vegetable sandwich: 1 no | Jeera and peas pulav: ½ cup Raita: ½ cup, dal: 1/2 cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 6 | 1 cup of milk with 1 tsp. Jaggery/honey* | Pongal with coconut chutney/sambar | Lentil soup: 1 cup | Paratha: 1 no., egg curry: ½ cup | Banana: 1 | Mixed vegetable rice: ½ cup, dal: 1/2 cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
| Day 7 | 1 cup of mango milkshake with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* | Onion Uthupam: 1 no, coconut chutney: ½ cup | Grapes: 1 cup | Egg fried rice: ½ cup | Carrot kheer: ½ cup | Potato paratha: 1 no., curd: ½ cup | 1 cup milk with 1 tsp. jaggery/honey* |
This is a reference table that shows a sample of foods that can be provided for the babies to acquire the nutritions.
Nutrition for Babies above 2 years of age
Once the baby is trained to eat the meal regularly, it is easy to follow it everyday and also we can add in new food items into the meal. For a baby above 2 years the calories needed is about 1000 to 1600, which highly depends on the activity level of the baby.
By increasing the amount of food in the planned meal we can achieve the required calories a baby wants. The meal should always consist of Protein, Fruits, Vegetables, Grains and Dairy Products. A simple reference amount of items is listed in the table below.
| Nutritions | Amount needed |
| Calories | 1000-1600 |
| Proteins | 60 to 150 ml |
| Fruits | 1 to 1.5 cups |
| Vegetables | 1 to 2 cups |
| Dairy | 2 to 2.5 cups |
| Grains | 90 to 150 ml |
Food for Toddlers to preteens
Once the babies are used to the food routine all the nutrition needed for their growth and development is absorbed from it. Different styles and types of food can be introduced after that. The quantity of the food items shall be increased gradually while the babies grow from toddlers to school goers and then to their preteens.
Keeping this in mind we can schedule the kids meal for a day without any missed out nutritions. We can feel confident to say that by following all the steps the required nourishment for a child is served properly. Afterall , all we need is to build a strong and healthy child into this world.
