A healthy diet for baby

Are you monitoring your toddler's weight on a six-month basis?

Do you think your child is eating right and enough through the day to enjoy normal growth and development? If not, it is time you are aware of what you need to concentrate on as your child grows.

Children are prone to disease and in a developing country like ours, respiratory and diarrhoeal infections take a number of lives in the under-5 age group. And malnutrition only adds to this. There is much emphasis being given to the ready-to-eat baby food, protein powder, expensive and at times unnecessary vaccines but the easiest way of dietary management is often neglected. Here are a few important and easy methods to see that your child is growing normally.

Vaccines: First ensure that your child is  vaccinated against the seven deadly diseases at the correct time — BCG, Hepatitis-B and polio drops at birth, polio and DPT at 6,10 and 14 weeks, measles at 9 months and polio and DPT boosters at 15-18 months and at five years of age. Also have your child weighed at every visit, or on an average, thrice a year.

Infancy: If the child is underweight and falls sick often, it is a sign. Care for your child begins with exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months after birth and then a gradual process of weaning. During the weaning period, introduce feeds one at a time. Infants are not receptive to a variety of tastes at a time and hence, starting with a bland diet is important. Very slowly, at around 8 months of age, sweet tasting food like mashed fruit can be given. When your child completes one year, make the feeds more protein-rich by adding well-cooked dal.

Nutrients: A good balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats is important. Carbohydrates in late infancy can be given in the form of homemade multi-grain porridge. At the age of one, your child is ready for rice mixed with dal. Gradually increase protein content by increasing the amount of dal. An egg can also be given. Food also needs to be made energy-dense by adding a spoonful of ghee or oil to the food. This practice can also be extended to the milk the child takes. As already known, fats are the major energy sources and when present in sufficient quantity preserves the protein for tissue building.

Green leaves in the diet ensure a good amount of iron. Mashed fruit in late infancy and whole fruit in the early years give the required amount of vitamins and minerals.

Roasted peanuts and other nuts given now and then give proteins and minerals.
The upbringing of the child with all this along with a lot of love and time also helps the baby to socially develop. Enrolling the child in a playschool helps your child to make friends and socialise. Timely care will prevent ailments. Appetite stimulating syrups and protein supplements help too but can never replace the best, easiest and most economical way of diet management. Dr Smruthi Marathe