Soon after your newborn arrives, exclusive breastfeeding is the must option. As the baby grows older, you can expand the available dietary options as per the age they are at. Here are some general guidelines that would be helpful for you at different stages.
0-6 months – Exclusive breastfeeding
Soon after delivery, your body will start producing breast milk for your baby. The first feed happens as soon as possible after birth, and for the first few days, your baby will receive ‘colostrum’, a highly nutritious superfood that is exactly what your baby needs. It is a concentrated form of milk that also contains many antibodies and immunoglobulins that help build your baby’s immune system.
Alternative
Breast milk has no alternative since it is the gold standard for infant nutrition. If you are unable to breastfeed, it is good to talk to a medical professional about this..
6 months onwards – combination of breastfeeding and complementary food
The WHO recommends that for the first six months of the baby’s life, breastfeeding should be the sole source of nutrition. . You can start with soft foods, or pureed greens and fruit or even boiled vegetable puree. You can try to puree chickpeas, lentils, avocados, or leafy greens.
Start introducing solids, breastfeeding can continue till mother and child are comfortable
Breastfeeding should continue until they are one year of age at the very least. There is research to show that two LCPs – AA and DHA in particular, which naturally occur in breast milk – are important for the development of the baby’s brain, eyes, and nervous system. At 7-12 months, you can start serving a variety of options from all food groups. In the process, they will be exposed to a wide range of tastes and textures early on, and you will notice that they pick and choose.
Ensure that they get a sufficient amount of iron, as their iron requirements are steadily increasing by the time they reach this age. While weaning, ensure they get enough iron-rich foods like lean red meat, chicken, eggs, pulses, lentils, and leafy greens.
