Nishita Aggarwal, mother of 10-month-old Aahan, felt disheartened as she spoke to her son's paediatrician. Aahan was suffering from anaemia. Nishita could not understand how this could have happened.
For a mother who wants to introduce solid foods, the choices are not always easy. Breastfeeding is ideal but as a mother looks to introduce her child to solid foods after six months there is a chance that nutritional deficiencies like iron deficiency may develop. The prevention of deficiencies in infants and toddlers hinges on healthy feeding practices. A lot of factors have to be taken into account while planning a dietary regimen for children.
The underlying problem
Nishita's experience mirrors the experiences of a large number of Indian mothers. An incomplete understanding of the nutritional needs of a growing baby contributes significantly to the development of nutrient deficiencies. After six months, babies do not get sufficient nutrients like iron, protein, zinc, vitamins and calcium from mother's milk alone.
“When the doctor told me that Aahan had iron deficiency, I was really scared. He said it was probably because he was not getting enough nutrients in his diet. That set me thinking and I started poring over books trying to understand what I could possibly do. I found that my understanding of my baby's nutritional needs had been woefully inadequate. I knew next to nothing about the importance of complementary foods. For me starting my baby on solids had been a random process. Now all that has changed; Aahan's iron deficiency has been taken care of and he is healthy,” says a beaming Nishita.
If your baby is approaching six months of age you need to ensure that your baby gets optimal amounts of nutrient rich foods. You may also want to consider the fact that at six months (and for quite sometime after that) baby stomachs are the size of their fists i.e. quite small and it is not possible for them to consume large quantities. Therefore it becomes important to provide them a nutrient-dense diet; one that ensures optimal nutrition even in small quantities.
Gradual process
Getting your baby started on solids is a gradual process. The ultimate transition from exclusive breastfeeding to solid foods is a big one and you would want to give yourself and your baby ample time to adjust physically and emotionally to the change.
As you start introducing complementary foods, you need to make sure that these foods provide all the nutrients your baby needs like iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin E and phosphorous. The diet also needs to be calorie-dense and protein-rich. To begin with, start with soft calorie-dense foods like suji kheer, khichdi with ghee, dalia and mashed banana.
One of the most important nutrients at this stage is iron. Healthy, full-term babies have iron stores to last them at least six months. Six months on, your baby's iron stores start getting depleted. Not getting enough iron, as in Aahan's case has been known to lead to anaemia. Start with mashed vegetables and gradually introduce meat and fish (boneless and cooked to a soft consistency). Pulses, lentils, sprouts, broccoli and cabbage are also good sources of Iron. In addition to home made food, there are also fortified complementary foods available.
A calorie-dense diet is important to meet the baby's energy needs. If the energy needs are not met, protein might be used for energy and this will adversely impact overall growth and development
Fortified Complementary foods can help meet the increasing nutritional needs during early childhood. Introducing a wide variety of complementary foods has the added advantage of tending to your child's sense of taste which is developing rapidly at this stage.
Nutrient needs
Some nutrients that are of immense significance as far as the optimal functioning of a child's system is concerned are:
Iron, plays a vital role in a child's physical and mental development as well as in the production of haemoglobin, which is instrumental in supplying oxygen to the cells and in enhancing immunity.
Calcium and Phosphorous are necessary for bone growth. Adequate amounts of calcium in the diet are recommended to lessen the risk of bone fractures later on in life.
Vitamin A and Vitamin E are essential to boost your kid's immunity as they help in the formation of antibodies thus keeping them healthy.
Proteins play a central role in the overall growth and development of the babies and are important for the building up and maintenance of body tissues. A deficiency of proteins in the diet may lead to suboptimal growth.
Docosahexaenoic acid, which is a significant omega-3 essential fatty acid, helps the development of defence system, brain and vision.
The writer is a Delhi-based senior consultant.
