Key Aspects of Infant Nutrition New Moms Need to Know

Good infant nutrition is essential to a baby’s health. Within the first year, babies rapidly increase their birth weight by three times and in order to grow and develop, they have to have appropriate quantities of vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

There are four (4) nutrient-based Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) developed by the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board:

1. EAR: Estimated Average Requirement (EAR). This is the median normal intake that will approximately fulfill the nutrient requirement of half of the healthy population for age and gender.
2. RDA: Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). This is the average intake to fulfill the nutrient requirement of 97-98 percent of healthy individuals.
3. AI: Adequate Intake (AI). This is the estimated intake of healthy individuals to keep a defined nutritional status.
4. UL: Tolerable Intake Upper Level (UL). This is the most intake of a nutrient on a daily basis that puts the majority of the population at risk.

The basis for advice and recommendations for feeding infants (baby formula and complementary food) is Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for healthy infants with normal growth patterns.

Because every infant is unique, there is no exact nutrient requirement that applies to all babies. They differ in growth rates and patterns, body built and composition, physical activity capacities, and amounts of nutrients taken in.

Infant nutrition can be overwhelming especially to first time moms and we are here to simplify it for you.

What exactly do you need to look for in formula and food for your infant?

1. Energy

Energy comes from food that contains carbohydrates, protein, or fat. Kilocalories (kcal) determine the energy needs of an infant.

1.1.2 Maltodextrin Carbohydrate Source

Maltodextrin is a white powder made from corn, rice, potato starch, or wheat sourced from organic farming.

Infant Formula with Maltodextrin as Carbohydrate:

1.1.3 Sucrose or Corn Syrup Carbohydrates

Sucrose is the carbohydrate in soy-based infant formula for babies who cannot tolerate lactose-based formula, and is the most common type of carbohydrate in US formulas. Organic Life Start does not carry any baby formulas which would have either Sucrose or Corn Syrup as the main carbohydrate source.

There are also baby formulas that have a combination of of lactose and maltodextrin.

Infant Formula with Lactose and Maltodextrin as joint carbohydrate sources:

Estimated Energy Requirements (EER) Tables For Infants: Carbohydrates

Based on the 2000 Dietary Reference Intakes guidance.

Estimated Energy Requirements For Male Babies

Estimated Energy Requirements For Female Babies

These indicators show that an infant consumes enough kcal:

• Growth rate in length
• Growth rate in weight
• Head circumference

1.2 Energy Source: Protein

Infants need protein to:

1. Build, repair, maintain tissues: brain, eyes, heart, lungs, skin, muscles, and other organs.
2. Create important enzymes, hormones, and antibodies.
3. Regulate body process.
4. Another source of energy if there is deficiency in kcal or fat.

Adequate Intake Table For Infant Protein

1.3 Energy Source: Lipids

Infants need lipids to:

1. Supply 50% of energy.
2. Supply the essential fatty acids for the development of brain, eye, hair, skin.
3. Promote immunity from infection and disease.
4. Promote increase and buildup of fat in the body for insulation and padding to protect body organs.
5. Enable the body to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Adequate Intake Table For Infant Fat

Infant Adequate Intake Table For n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Adequate Intake Table For n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

2. Calcium

Infants need Calcium for:

1. Bone and tooth development
2. Blood clotting
3. Healthy nerves and muscles development

→ Good sources of Calcium for infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Grain Products
• Green Leafy Vegetables
• Tofu

Adequate Intake Table For Infant Calcium

3. Folate

Infants need Folate for:

1. Cell division
2. Healthy cell growth development
3. Genetic material formation within every body cell

→ Good sources of Vitamin B12 for infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Green Leafy Vegetables
• Oranges and Cantaloupes
• Whole grain breads, cereals, and grains
• Legumes
• Lean beef
• Egg yolks
• Liver

Adequate Intake Table For Infant Folate

4. Iron

Infants need Iron for:

1. Blood cells growth and development
2. Iron deficiency anemia prevention

→ Good sources of Iron for infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Meat
• Liver
• Legumes
• Whole grain breads, cereals, and grains
• Dark Green Vegetables

Adequate Intake Table For Infant Iron

5. Zinc

Infants need Zinc for:

1. Protein formation and wound healing
2. Blood formation
3. Growth and maintenance of tissues
4. Taste development
5. Healthy Immune System

→ Good sources of Zinc for Infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Meat
• Poultry
• Liver
• Egg yolks
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Legumes
• Whole grain breads, cereals, and grains

Adequate Intake Table For Infant Zinc

6. Fiber

Infants do not consume fiber in the first 6 months of life. Dietary fiber is found in whole-grain cereals, green vegetables, and legumes.

Adequate Intake Table For Infant Fiber

1. Vitamin A

Infants need Vitamin A for:

1. Healthy skin
2. Healthy eyes
3. Growth and development
4. Healthy immune and reproductive systems

→ Good sources of Vitamin A for Infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Egg yolk
• Green and yellow vegetables
• Fruits
• Liver

Vitamin A Table For Infants

2. Thiamin (Vitamin B1)

Infants need Vitamin B1 for:

1. Energy release from carbohydrates during metabolism
2. Nervous system function

→ Good sources of Vitamin B1 for Infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Whole grain breads, cereals, and grains
• Legumes
• Lean Pork
• Potatoes

Vitamin B1 Table For Infants

3. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Infants need Vitamin B2 for energy release from protein, fat, and carbohydrates during metabolism.

→ Good sources of Vitamin B2 for Infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Whole grain breads, cereals, and grains
• Legumes
• Lean Pork
• Potatoes

Riboflavin Table For Infants

4. Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Infants need Niacin for energy release from protein, fat, and carbohydrates during metabolism.

Below are good sources of Niacin:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Egg Yolks
• Poultry
• Meat
• Fish
• Whole grain breads, cereals, and grains
• Cheese
• Yogurt

Niacin Table For Infants

5. Vitamin B6

Infants need Vitamin B6 for:

1. Protein use
2. Fat metabolism

→ Good sources of Vitamin B6 for Infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Liver
• Meat
• Whole grain breads, cereals, and grains
• Legumes
• Potatoes

Vitamin B6 for Infants

6. Vitamin B12

Infants need Vitamin B12 for:

1. Blood cells
2. Nervous system function and development

→ Good sources of Vitamin B12 for Infants:

• Breast milk
• Infant Formula
• Meat
• Egg yolks
• Dairy products

Vitamin B12 For Infants

7. Vitamin C

Infants need Vitamin A for:

1. Collagen formation
2. Capillaries, bones, and teeth maintenance
3. Wound healing
4. Infection resistance
5. Iron absorption

→ Good sources of Vitamin C for Infants:

• Vegetables
• Fruits

Vitamin C For Infants

8. Vitamin D

Infants need Vitamin D for:

1. Proper development of bones and teeth by helping the body absorb calcium
2. Use of calcium and phosphorus in the body

→ Good sources of Vitamin D for Infants:

• Sunlight
• Infant Formula
• Fish, liver, egg yolk

Vitamin D For Infants

9. Vitamin E

Infants need Vitamin A for:

1. Vitamin A and essential fatty acids protection
2. Tissue breakdown prevention

→ Good sources of Vitamin A for Infants:

• Breast milk
• Infant Formula
• Green Leafy Vegetables
• Vegetable Oils
• Wheat germ
• Whole wheat breads, cereals, and grains
• Butter
• Liver
• Egg yolk

Vitamin E For Infants

10. Vitamin K

Infants need Vitamin A for proper blood clotting.

→ Good sources of Vitamin K for Infants:

• Infant Formula
• Green Leafy Vegetables
• Pork
• Liver

Vitamin K For Infants

1. Fluoride

Infants need Fluoride for healthy teeth and tooth decay prevention.

→ Good sources of Fluoride for Infants:

• Fluoridated Water
• Infant Formula made with Fluoridated Water
• Some Marine Fish

Fluoride For Infants

2. Sodium

Infants need Sodium for:

1. Water volume balance
2. Blood volume prevention
3. Cell membrane and tissues function

→ Good sources of Sodium for Infants:

• Salt
• Meat
• Fish
• Eggs
• Milk

3. Water

Infants need Water for:

1. Regulation of body temperature
2. Fluid medium for nutrients and waste products
3. Cell metabolism
4. Healthy kidney function

→ Good sources of Water For Infants:

• Breastmilk
• Infant Formula
• Complementary Food

These nutrients and minerals ensure that your baby’s development is on track. Also, keep in mind that starting healthy nutrition patterns and practices with infants jump starts healthy eating habits.

Check the nutrition facts of baby formula before placing that purchase.

Most Popular 3 Formulas With For Balanced Infant Nutrients

1. HiPP Dutch Formula
2. Holle Goat Dutch Formula
3. Holle Cow Formula

References

1. https://www.chla.org/sites/default/files/migrated/Chapter1_NutritionalNeeds.pdf
2. https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/nutrition
3. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=infant-nutrition-90-P02236
4. https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/98302/WS_115_2000FE.pdf