Whether it’s children or adults, the most important thing is a balanced diet. Getting
vitamins and nutrients through diet is especially important for babies. Here at Healthy Chef Creations
we can deliver baby organic food right to your door.
Supplements are a form of insurance, a guarantee that the baby is getting adequate
levels of the essential nutrients. If a mother is certain that her diet is
lacking in vitamins and minerals, then she can be sure that her breast milk also will be
deficient. For breast fed babies, this leaves dietary supplements as the sole source of
some essential nutrients. Before starting supplements, be sure to check with your
pediatrician to see if you really need them. For instance, too much iron can have a
negative effect.
"DHA is the most important brain-building nutrient at all
ages, especially during pregnancy and the pre-school years when
the child's brain is growing the fastest." - Dr. William Sears
What supplements are important for New Moms to consider?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- DHA
- Zinc
Vitamin C is critical to a brand new moms need for bone repair.
Vitamin D is important for mom's bone repair and for baby's bones, as breast milk doesn’t
have enough of this key nutrient for proper bone development. Last year, the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the government increase the recommended
daily intake of the supplement of all breastfed and partially breastfed infants to 400 IU/
day of vitamin D beginning right after birth.
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How much sunlight does baby need to metabolize
Vitamin D?
World Health Organization has stated that "Two hours is the required
minimum weekly amount of sunlight for infants if only the face is exposed,
or 30 minutes if the upper and lower extremities are exposed." It is not
necessary to get sun exposure every single day, as the body stores vitamin
D for future use. Studies have shown that children can store enough vitamin
D to avoid deficiency for several months when they are exposed to only a
few hours of summer sunlight.
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Essential fatty acids, like DHA and ARA, also may be appropriate supplements for
both bottle-fed and breast-fed babies. Experts recommend that pregnant and lactating
women consume a minimum of 200 mg of DHA per day. These nutrients are said to
support healthy brain, nerve and eye development in babies. Dietary DHA may support
mental health and mood, which are especially important during the postpartum period.
Supplements to confer with your pediatrician on to give baby directly include:
- - DHA
- - ARA
- - Vitamin D drops
- - Probiotics
- - Zinc
One study of four-month-old infants given omega-3 fatty acids showed improved visual
ability.
Probiotics are also recently being viewed as good for small infants particularly those
with colic. One study showed that Colic symptoms decreased by 74% in breast-fed
babies that were given 108 colony-forming units of L. reuteri half an hour after eating
Zinc deficiencies are also important to avoid during breast feeding. Experts recommend
some 12-14 mg of zinc be taken by breast feeding moms.
Especially if breast feeding is continuing, new moms should avoid the following,
- - Alcohol
- - Caffeine
- - Food coloring
- - Infant Formula Imitating Breast Milk (if possible)
Certain artificial colors and sweeteners have been linked to hyperactivity and attention
deficit disorders in children. Though many food coloring ingredients have been banned
elsewhere, the United States has not yet done so.
Why not formula? Consider that the World Health Organization (WHO)
recommends mother’s breast milk first and foremost. The WHO also states:
"The second choice is the mother's own milk expressed and given to the
infant in some way. The third choice is the milk of another human mother.
The fourth and last choice is artificial baby milk."
KellyMom’s Vitamins and Supplements for Nursing moms.
WebMD’s Feeding Baby: How to Avoid Food Allergies
Dr. Green on Baby Nutrition: DHA and ARA (Parents.com)
Dr. Sears on Family Nutrition: DHA
In 1956 when the La Leche League was formed, less than 25% of moms
breast-fed their babies. Today it’s estimated that some 66% - 70% percent
of pregnant women in the United States choose to breast-feed. (Note in
Scandinavian countries its closer to 95-99%.)
While breast-feeding isn’t a leisure sport in a modern lifestyle, there’s
increasing consensus that it is superior health wise and the preferred
method to feed babies.
According to Atlanta’s Center of Disease Control , breast-feeding has been
associated with a decreased risk of many diseases and conditions among
infants-- including ear infections, respiratory tract infections, obesity,
eczema, sudden infant death syndrome and diarrhea. Interestingly, Dr
Sears, widely regarded as “America’s baby doctor”, lists over 16 anatomical
areas of the infant that benefit from breast-feeding. Many of the benefits
result from cholesterol and other types of fat in human milk. Breast-feeding
is regarded as so integral to infant health that the World Health Organization
advises that moms continue partial breast-feeding for as long as they want.
Breast-feeding has many inbuilt benefits for Moms as well: it reduces the
risk of the most common form of diabetes, as well as risks for breast and
ovarian cancer.
“Did you know that Starbucks and Burger King allow breast
feeding in their locations?
The American Pediatricians Association has published the following
among their breast feeding guidelines:
- Infants should be exclusively breast fed for the first 6
months of life, which means no formula, water, juice, or cereal.
- All breast feeding infants should receive Vitamin D drops
beginning during the first 2 months of life.
- A mother and her baby should sleep close to each other to
facilitate breast feeding.
Tip #1. Location, Location, Location
According to one of America’s foremost pediatricians, Dr. Sears, the single
most important factor influencing milk production is the baby’s ability to
engage in an extended period of nursing. This is highly dependent on the
baby being properly positioned and sucking effectively.
Tip #2 No Calorie Skimping
A nursing mom’s nutritional requirements actually increase over her
pregnancy’s requirements: Moms who breast feed require 500 additional
calories per day over their pre-pregnancy baseline. (This is no time to
worry about weight loss.)
How many calories?
Dr. Sears recommends that nursing moms should consume at least 1800 to
2200 calories per day. With too few calories, women are likely to become
fatigued and not have the energy to produce milk.
A Handy Visual Guide for Getting Your Calories for Breast feeding
The graphic below shows different food categories: dairy, meat, vegetables and
fruits. Under each category we show a serving bowl for each serving
required per day to produce milk.
Whole grains are particularly important: You should get 6-11 servings per
day.
Tip #3. Stay hydrated - drink fluids
Tip #4. Drinking teas which help you make milk
Three teas helpful in increasing milk are Fenugreek , Blessed Thistle and
Fennel.
La Leche League
March of Dimes on Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding website for families- American Academy of Pediatrics
Dr. Sears on Breastfeeding…
A comforting thought for the first six months is that breast-fed milk usually
supplies all the minerals and vitamins that babies really need.
Starting at 3-7 months, most babies’ first food is a little iron-fortified infant
rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. The first feeding may be
nothing more than a little cereal mixed in a whole lot of liquid.
Mom Wisdom: Use single-ingredient foods in introducing solids to infants.
Once your infant gets the hang of eating cereal off a spoon, it may be time
to introduce a fruit or vegetable. The wise approach in introducing new
foods is to go slow; Introduce one food at a time and wait several days
before trying something new. This will allow you to identify foods that baby
may be allergic to. Most health and medical sources do not recommend starting solid foods before six
months. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies starting
solids earlier are much more prone to food allergies.
In starting your baby on solid foods, there are several key ingredients to
include in baby’s diet:
- Wholesome organic ingredients with fiber like whole grains
and later, fruits.
- Vegetables rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C for antioxidant
power, to help baby’s immune system.
- After 6 months, starting juices, using 100% fruit juice (not
juice drinks or powdered drink mixes), and limiting juice drinks to less
than 4 total ounces per day.
“Did you know that Norway has breast feeding cafes where moms
can meet?”
As baby takes on more complex foods, you want to add variety for a more
fully balanced diet, including:
- High-quality meat-derived products to give protein
- High-protein vegetarian sources like lentils, chickpeas and
quinoa.
- Bone-building staples like calcium and Vitamin D
- Last but not least, healthy fats like DHA from algae or fish
and ARA (arachidonic acid) which support proper brain and eye development.
- Iron sources, such as meats, peas, tofu, beans, dark green
vegetable, whole wheat natural baby cereal, avocado and yam.
Babies of 1 year need 500 milligrams of calcium each day. Note whole milk
is a good source of fat after age 1 and that for the first year of baby’s diet, at
least 50% of the calories should be from fat.
As much as your growing baby is getting a more complex diet, there are still
foods to avoid to prevent allergies later in life.
Your toddler should get at least 500 mg of calcium per day.
Continuing a balanced diet, toddlers can be introduced safely to a wider
world of food sources. You can safely start to introduce a wider variety
including:
- Eggs
- Citrus fruits and juices
- Cow’s milk (or low-fat milk after ages 2-3)
- Honey
- Seafood
- Peanuts or tree nuts
As toddlers are now taking their full weight on legs and approaching their
key years of growth, one of the key nutrients to watch over is still adequate
calcium. Make sure you toddler is getting his/her minimum 500 mg of
calcium per day.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology,
approximately 2-4% of children experience allergic reactions to foods.
Six foods account for 90% of food allergies in children:
- Cow's milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Soy
- Tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.)
Other allergenic foods include: pork, fish and shellfish, oranges and other
citrus fruits, berries, chocolate, tomatoes, corn, and food additives.
Kidshealth.org: Feeding Your 4-7 Month Old
Infant and Toddler Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional suggestions and/or diets
offered by The Healthy Chef Inc., and/or Healthy Chef Creations, and/or Home Meal
Delivery or Catering Services are not offered or intended to treat, mitigate or
cure any type of disease, sickness or weight problem, and should not be used as a
substitute for sound medical advice. Neither The Healthy Chef Inc., nor Healthy
Chef Creations Home Meal Delivery or Catering Services can be held liable under
any circumstances for any illness or health problem that may result from the
consumption of its prepared foods or meals. Healthy Chef Creations foods and
meals are designed to be part of a healthy lifestyle in conjunction with the
services of a licensed healthcare provider. Consult your healthcare provider
before taking nutritional supplements or beginning any diet or exercise program.
The information on this website is to be used for educational purposes only.
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