Early nutrition

Question 1

Describe the changing nutritional needs as a baby grows

Answer 1

A baby grows fast in its first year of life and so its growth reflects it nutritional intake. Fluid requirements for infants are very high and they can get easily dehydrated

Question 2

Why can newborns not be given cows milk?

Answer 2

Infant kidneys are still developing and so can only handle a small amount of solute load. Cows milk has a high solute load on the kidneys and and can therefore cause dehydration as the kidneys cannot process it efficiently. In some cases the infant may die from this dehydration.

Question 3

Why can babies not eat solids?

Answer 3

Not only has their oral anatomy not developed (no teeth) but they are also unable to start on solids as they lack the motor skills for eating eg holding head up, holding food up to mouth, gag reflex etc.

Not only this but their pancreas and other digestive organs arent very developed and so they lack digestive enzymes therefore cannot digest food.

Question 4

What is the recommendation from WHO as to how long a baby should be breastfed?

Answer 4

Exclusively for the first 6 months, and then with the addition of solids up until 12 months.

Question 5

When is cows milk introduced to the baby?

Answer 5

At 12 months

Question 6

What are the obvious physical changes in body shape from a one year old to a two year old?

Answer 6

At one the legs and buttocks are very chubby and the head appears to be 1/3 of the size of the body.

At two the legs, back and buttocks muscles have strengthen from undertaking weight bearing activities eg walking. This causes the fat to be lost and the lean muscle mass to increase.

Question 7

What are some of the benefits of breast milk (some things it can offer that formula milk cannot)?

Answer 7

• It allows for self regulation of the baby/infant (they can chose when they have had enough/are finished)
• It contains important antibodies that cant be replicated in the formula milk. Such antibodies can protect against things such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.
• It meets the infants complete nutritional needs for the first 6 months of life
• It is always at the right temperature
• encourages emotional attachment/bonding between the mother and infant
• contains bio active components which assist in gut maturation and development in the immune system and immune defense.
• has a low risk of contamination whereas formula made milk can be easily contaminated when being prepared