Dear mothers,
You have held your baby in your arms in good health. You left the most important part behind. Now a new era begins before you and of course new questions: How should I feed my baby? Should I give only breast milk for the first 6 months? Will I give water? When should I switch to supplementary foods? Which one should I give and which one should I not give? How much of which food should I give? questions… questions… questions… I know you are very confused.
Also, there are many mentors in this period. Everyone around you suddenly becomes an expert on the subject. Everyone who raises a child will share their experiences with their own child with good intentions. This is very normal behavior. What you need to do here is to listen to what is said to you and write it down as an example in a corner of your mind. By reading the articles of me and experts on the subject, you will be informed about the latest developments, get accurate information and benefit from the information we offer you about the nutrition of many babies. Make sure that the articles you read are written by experts in baby nutrition. Because now you can find a lot of dirty and wrong information on the internet. Unfortunately, there is an environment where people talk. If you would like to get further help, do not hesitate to get help from a dietitian in your city. Nutrition is important for us at all ages, but it has extra importance in the first 2 years after birth. Because this is the period when the child's fastest growth and development occurs. Growth retardation, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and diarrhea are most common during this period. It is very difficult to correct the growth retardation that occurs during this period in later ages. That's why children's eating habits need to be acquired during this period. These eating habits must be correct eating habits so that the child does not experience health problems in later years and adulthood due to wrong eating habits. It is very important for mothers to be aware of this issue.
FIRSTLY, BREAST'S MILK FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS: The most suitable food for a newborn baby is definitely its own mother's milk. Every mother's milk is special to her baby. This is a miracle of our body, mothers. The content of the mother's milk varies depending on the deficiencies in her baby.
Let's explain why we call it breast milk. First of all, in addition to improving the emotional bond between the mother and the baby, it is cheap, sterile, does not require a process for preparation, its content is suitable for the baby's needs, contains hormones and growth factors, is anti-infective, reduces the risk of chronic diseases, ensures the development of jaw and teeth, and helps the baby's mental health. It helps physical and mental development. These are just some of them.
Let's look at the content of breast milk. I wonder what's in it?
The protein in breast milk is less than cow's milk, but the protein in it is completely absorbed by the baby. This increases the bioavailability of breast milk. The difference between the protein in breast milk is that it contains more whey proteins. While the casein/whey ratio of cow's milk is 80/20, this ratio is 40/60 in breast milk. This composition is suitable for the development of the child. The whey proteins found in cow's milk contain high amounts of β-lactoglobulin, which has an allergenic effect in children. The whey proteins in breast milk do not contain β-lactoglobulin.
There are growth factors in breast milk.
The casein in breast milk is more easily metabolized than the casein in cow's milk.
Breast milk contains anti-infective elements, which affect the child's gastrointestinal tract. The fat content of breast milk is palmitic and oleic acids in triglyceride structure, which ensure normal brain development of the baby. The absorption and digestion of breast milk fat becomes much easier thanks to the fatty acid enzymes contained in breast milk.
Two types of milk are secreted during breastfeeding: the first is fore milk, which is a watery milk that is poor in fat and rich in lactose. It prevents dehydration and hypoglycemia in the baby. That's why you don't need to give water to babies for the first 6 months. The baby gets its water needs from breast milk. Second milk (hind milk) is fatty milk. Towards the end of breastfeeding, the baby reaches this milk. This milk has high fat content and protein content. In order for the baby to access this milk, the sucking time must be long. Since whole milk provides satiety as well as energy, the child can experience relaxation and deep sleep. For this reason, mothers should empty one entire breast during each breastfeeding.
Child sucking time Obesity is prevented because it keeps the body under its own control. The fat and protein content of breast milk is affected by the mother's nutrition. Therefore, the mother should have an adequate and balanced diet during breastfeeding. The carbohydrate value of milk is not affected by the mother's nutrition. Therefore, the mother should be careful about the consumption of sweets, pastries and sugary foods during breastfeeding. Let's not forget that there are many mothers who overeat during breastfeeding and gain more weight than they did during pregnancy, in order to produce milk for the baby. In order for the mother to secrete healthy milk, it will be sufficient for the mother to have an adequate and balanced diet, consume plenty of fluids, stay away from worries, have skin-to-skin contact with her baby and not listen to the negative words coming from the environment. Apart from vitamins K and D, the fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins in breast milk will be sufficient. Its density is ideal for the baby. Since there is no loss during processing, the bioavailability of vitamins is high.
Although the calcium amount of breast milk is 25% of cow's milk, 55% of the calcium in breast milk is 55% due to the acidity of the intestinal pH, better fat absorption and lower phosphorus absorption. It is absorbed, this rate is 38% in cow's milk.
The iron density of breast milk is low but its bioavailability is high. While 5-10% of the iron in cow's milk can be absorbed, 50% of the iron in breast milk can be absorbed. This and many other similar facts have proven that breast milk is the most beneficial food for the baby. Therefore, for the first 6 months, if the mother's milk is sufficient for the child's growth, giving only breast milk is sufficient.
STARTING SUPPLEMENTARY FOODS
For the first 6 months, you paid attention to your nutrition and fed your baby with breast milk. Everything is going normal in your baby's spiritual, mental and physical development. Now that your baby is growing, different needs have begun to emerge. Some factors arise when starting complementary foods:
TIME: It should be started during the period when the needs for energy and nutrients increase while being fully or partially breastfed. (6th Month)
ADEQUATE: It should be at a rate that meets the energy, protein and other nutrients required by the growing child.
RELIABLE: Hygienically prepared and suitable should be stored under It should be served in our containers and in accordance with the cleaning rules.
SUITABLE: The child's hunger and satiety status, appetite, feeding style (on its own, mashed with a spoon or puree) and meal intervals (number of feedings per day). ) should be planned taking into account.
Additional nutrients that should be given to babies according to months:
0 – 6 Months
BREAST'S MILK ONLY
( The baby's growth should be monitored month by month)
6. month
Continuing breastfeeding / follow-on milk if breast milk is finished
Yogurt
Fruit juice, vegetable juice and puree
Molasses
Egg yolk (1/4 ratio )
7. month
Continue breastfeeding
Yogurt
Fruit juice, vegetable juice
Molasses
Rice flour, rice
Egg yolk (whole)
Meat (fish, chicken and red meat)
Vegetable oils
Vegetable puree or vegetable soup
8th month
Continue breastfeeding
Yogurt
Fruit juice, vegetable juice
Molasses
Meat (fish, poultry and red meat), lamb or chicken liver
Vegetable oils
Good mashed home-cooked meals (with minced meat and vegetables)
Whole egg or pasteurized cheese
Cereal – red lentils, beans, chickpea pastes
12th month
Continue breastfeeding
Yogurt
Fruit or freshly squeezed fruit juice, vegetable broth
Molasses
Egg (whole) or pasteurized cheese
Sitting at the family table and choosing according to their own experiences
(homemade dishes, stuffed vegetables, minced meat vegetable dishes, tarhana,
lentils). , soups with flour and yoghurt, pasta, rice, etc.)
In the following months, your baby can sit at the table with you and eat meals cooked in the family's kitchen.
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