Introduction
Good nutrition is essential for the growth and development that occurs during an infant’s first year of life. When developing infants are fed the appropriate types and amounts of foods, their health are promoted. Positive and supportive feeding attitudes and techniques demonstrated by the caregiver help infants develop healthy attitudes toward foods, themselves, and others.
In 2001 the World Health Organization (WHO) released global recommendations for infant feeding practices. WHO recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months using on-demand feeding and with initiation within the first hour of life. Nutritionally appropriate and safe complementary foods should be introduced after this time. Breastfeeding should be encouraged for up to two years of age or longer (Kramer & Kakuma, 2007).
Breastfeeding is the natural and optimal way of providing appropriate nutrition to infants. Breastfeeding also plays an invaluable role in the reproductive process and provides many health benefits to both mother and infant (Kramer & Kakuma, 2007). These benefits include immune enhancement, optimal cognitive and physical development, and strengthened psychosocial skills. In resource poor nations, breastfeeding is especially important given it confers a hygienic source of renewable energy and remains a secure source of macro and micronutrients despite economic or environmental conditions. The timing of introducing complementary foods and the types and safety of these foods are of direct impact on infants’ wellbeing (WHO, 2006).
Definition of breastfeeding infants
King (1972) and others note that breast milk is the perfect food for a baby. It has the right amount of body building protein that the young infant needs to grow. Besides, it has plenty of energy giving nutrient. Carbohydrates and fat as well as the protectors. Vitamins, minerals and water is particularly suitable for the young infant.
Breastfeeding is the natural method of feeding the young child. To feed a baby well, the nursing mothers must have a diet consisting all the nutrients. She should have plenty of fruits. Breast milk is the most important food during the first three months and should be continued to six to seven month.
Anyakoha and Eluwa (1991) remark that both mother and body usually enjoy the experience of breast feeding. Better Homes Baby Book (1965) notes that three or four days after birth a fluid called colostrums (yellow in colour) which comes from the breast is considered essential for the baby for its nutritional value and possibly immunity substance which protect the baby for disease infection. Williams (1975) notes that one of the important values of colostrums is that it contain antibodies which provide valuable immunity to the infant. A mother who plans to breastfeed should be health and should eat adequate and nutritious diet to ensure the quality and quantity of her milk supply.
A breastfeeding mother needs an increased calorie intake, additional vitamins, minerals and protein and an adequate fluid intake. The diet of a breastfeeding mother affects not only her own health and well-being, but that of her child, as well. Some physicians recommend that the diet of the breastfed infant be supplemented with vitamin D, iron and fluoride beginning early in the infant’s life. In fact, the American Academy of Paediatrics recommends a supplement of 200 lu per day of vitamin D for a breastfed infants unless they are weaned to at least 500ml per day of vitamin fortified formula or milk.
Nutritional requirements in infants
Because a baby typically receives all nutrients from a single food source or a limited number of sources. It is imperative that the right kinds of nutrients at the right level be present in that source or sources. A proper balance of protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals essential. Too much or too little of any one nutrient in a baby’s diet should be avoided.
Remember an infant’s nutritional needs are unique. They are indeed quite different from an adult’s and even from those of older children. Protein consumption is one example. When balance in the infant’s diet is essential. Although some parents think that a baby cannot be fed too much protein, this is not the case; too much protein can unduly stress an infant’s developing kidneys.
Too little of any nutrient may cause problems as well. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional problem affecting infants in all socioeconomic groups. A healthy baby born after normal, full term pregnancy generally has enough iron stored in the body to meet iron requirement for the first four to six months of life. Before this iron is depleted, iron should be supplied in the diet as research suggests. Iron deficiency in early childhood may lead to long term changes in behaviour that may not be reversed even with iron supplementation sufficient to correct the anaemia. Possible sources of iron in an infant’s diet include breast milk, iron-fortified infant formula, iron fortified infant cereals and iron supplements. Iron is important because of its role in the formation of deficiency may result in irritability, restlessness and anaemia. Research also has shown iron to be essential for proper development. During the initial and most crucial months of growth and development in a baby’s life. Nutrition and diet should be the major concern of parents.
What an infant must consume must;
- Supply the right type of amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in order to maintain the rapid, yet normal, rate of growth expected during this time and yet.
- Not stress the baby’s developing digestive system and kidneys.
Importance of breastfeeding to infants
When breastfed appropriately, benefits to infants may include reduced risk of diarrhoeal and gastrointestinal illnesses, allergies, acute respiratory infections, otitis media, bacterial meningitis, atopic disease, childhood asthma, and childhood leukaemia (Kramer & Kakuma, 2007). There is evidence to suggest that breastfed infants have enhanced cognitive development that is sustained throughout childhood. Breast milk’s immunological properties may also increase protection from infectious disease and may reduce risk for long-term conditions like diabetes mellitus, Crohn’s disease and lymphoma; breast milk may provide protective antibodies and may stimulate and infant’s immune system to overcome these diseases. This protective effect is enhanced with greater breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. However, exclusive breastfeeding beyond the recommended six months has been reported to be associated with a higher risk of malnutrition (Fawzi, Herrera, Nestel, Amin & Mohamed, 2008).
It is widely accepted that breastfed infants develop a closer bond with their mother and that this has positive implications in the psychosocial development of an infant. Furthermore, there are strong indications that the benefits of appropriate breastfeeding may not only be experienced in the short term but may extend throughout the lifespan (Fawzi, et al., 2008).
What nursing mothers should expect when breastfeeding infants
Although breastfeeding is natural, it also takes patience and practice. The more the nursing mother breastfeed, the more milk they will produce.
- New babies who are breastfed usually nurse from 15-20 minutes at each breast. The length of feedings will vary according to the baby’s appetite and growth.
- Babies may want to nurse about every 2-3 hours or 8-12 times in 24 hours. As the baby gets older, he or she will eat more at one time and the mother will be able to nurse less often.
- When babies suddenly want to eat more than usual, they are likely going through a growth spurt. Infants should be fed more often during these times and should not be forced to follow a strict feeding schedule.
- For the first 4-6 months, breast milk should be the baby’s only food. When cereal is given too early, it is hard to digest and can cause food allergies.
- Starting solids too soon will naturally decrease the baby’s intake of breast milk. Breast milk is better for a baby because it contains more calories and nutrition needed for growth.
Weaning
Mothers choose to wean their infants for a variety of reasons including traditional beliefs, nutritional status of the infant, new pregnancy or onset of illness. When weaned too early, there is a possibility the infant cannot ingest enough food to attain adequate macro and micronutrients which can lead to under nutrition, failure to thrive and death. When weaned too late, breast milk may delay consumption of foods that are more nutritionally appropriate for the infant’s need and may also result in poor nutritional status. WHO and UNICEF recommend weaning infants at two years of age or older based upon studies that indicate breast milk is not an adequate source of nutrition beyond this age and that prolonged breastfeeding can reduce total food intake and thus predispose to malnutrition (World Health Organization (WHO), (2006).
Conclusion
For an infant to grow, maintain a good health and develop adequately, there should be a balanced diet in the three different stages of infancy feeding which are, the child’s must be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, adequate complementary feeding must be given between the age of 6 – 24 months and the weaning diet must be carefully planned and implemented adequately. Above all, the meals for the child should be prepared in a hygienic condition to avoid diarrhea and after childhood infections.
References
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Gibson, R. S., Ferguson, E.L., & Lehrfeld, J. (2008). Complementary foods for infant feeding in developing countries: Their nutrient adequacy and improvement. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 52, 164-110.
Kings, M.; Kings, F., Morley, D., Bugress, H & Burgress, A. (1972): Human Nutrition for Developing Countries. London: Oxford University Press.
Latham, M. (1965): Human Nutrition in Tropical Africa, Rome: Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United States.
Lozoff, B., Brittenham, G.M., Wolf, A.W., etal (1987): Iron Deficiency Anaemia and Iron Therapy Effects on Infants: Development Test Performance.Paediatrics 79:981.
Motarjemi, Y. (2005). Research Priorities on Safety of Complementary Feeding. Pediatrics, 106 (5), 1304-1305.
Simondon, K. (2010). Lactational amenorrhea is associated with child age at the time of introduction of complementary food: a prospective cohort study in rural Senegal, West Africa. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 78:154-161.