Nature’s way of nurturing the child – Importance of complementary feeding for infants and young children
Appropriate infant and young child feeding practices – breast Feeding – complementary feeding
Breast feeding is an unequalled way of providing an ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants and young child, it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implication for the health of mothers.Breast milk is an excellent food and meets all nutritional requirements of the baby for the first six months. Breastfeeding is not only important for young child survival, health,nutrition,the development of the baby’s trust and sense of security – but it also enhances brain development and learning readiness as well. However,after six months of age,breast milk alone not enough to make an infant grow well, other foods are also needed. This is because the infant is growing in size and its activities are also increasing. As a result the nutritional needs of the infant increase significantly at this age.
Did you know when is the right time to start complementary feeding for infants and young child? What is complementary feeding?
Complementary feeding is extremely essential from six months of age,while continuing breastfeeding,to meet the growing needs of the growing baby. Complementary feeding is extremely essential from six months of age,while continuing breastfeeding,to meet the growing needs of the growing baby. The purpose of complementary feeding is to complement the breast milk and make certain that the young child continuous to have enough energy,protein and other nutrients to grow normally. It is important that breast feeding is continued upto the age of 2 years or beyond as it provides useful amount of energy,good quality protein and other nutrients.
Active feeding styles for complementary feeding are also important. Appropriate feeding styles can provide significant learning opportunities through responsive caregiver interaction, enhancing brain development in the crucial first three years
First food for the baby – The staple cereal of the family should be used to make the first food for an infant. Baby food -porridge can be made with rice,suji,broken what,atta,arrow root (Koova podi) ,ethakka podi (banana powder) etc by using a little water or fresh milk. Roasted flour of any cereal or nuts can be mixed with water or milk adding sugar or jaggery with ghee is important as it increases the energy value of the food.
How to make fresh natural home made cereal or home made health mix-nutritious powder for your infants-babies and young child?
One easy way to prepare homemade baby food is arrow root powder (koova podi) porridge.This is one of traditional natures way to obtain better health for your babies. It is valuable and an easily digested and nourishing diet. Koova podi porridge maintains a healthy balance in the stomach and also aids in curing diarrhea.Giving arrowroot porridge to babies at least once in a week would help their stomach. Fresh natural home made arrow root powder is readily available in markets. Try to purchase it from reliable source with labelled product. If yu can find it is difficult our on line stores will help you.
Traditional and instant food for infants .Infant food mixes can be made at home from food grains available in the households.One can take three parts of any cereals like rice,wheat etc or millets like raggi,bajra,banana (ethakka) one part of any pulse ground nuts,cashewnuts etc .These food items should be roasted separately,ground,mixed properly,for feeding,take 2 tsp of this powder ,add hot milk or boiled water,add jaggery and ghee or oil
