Importance of Mother's Milk
The foremost thing that should be remembered is that infants and babies should not be deprived of mother's milk. It is the most essential food for the babies till the age of two. Whereas in the infant stage mother's milk is the only thing that the babies should be fed with, essential foods and nutrients should be given to the baby when they are six months or more. It should be noted that evaporated milk, cow milk, and goat milk should not be given to the babies as these are hard to be digested.
For babies between four and six months mother's milk should be continued. In case it is not practicable they should be given formula from the bottle. The baby usually wants mother's milk or formula every four to five hours. Some paediatricians also suggest that a baby food diet should consist of iron fortified cereal for the infant at least two to three times a day.
Feeding the babies with infant cereals
For babies between six months and nine months the amount of mother's milk that should be included in the diet decreases. They should be fed with infant cereal at least four to five times in a week. Other foods that get into the list constituting a baby food diet include finely boiled meat, vegetables and strained fruits. The baby can also be given cooked yolk of eggs. However, the egg whites, being hard to digest at such delicate stage, should be avoided as they are indigestible for the babies. The perfect time to feed the babies is in the morning when they are very hungry. It is good to give them one new food every week. For babies between nine and twelve months, more solid food should be included in their diet. Consequently, the frequency of having bottled milk or mother's milk reduces to a great extent.
Conclusion
Baby food diet varies with the stages of infancy. While in the early periods of infancy, the baby should be fed only with mother's milk or formula. As the baby grows, more solid food go into the diet with a simultaneous decrease in the intake of milk.
Source
For babies between four and six months mother's milk should be continued. In case it is not practicable they should be given formula from the bottle. The baby usually wants mother's milk or formula every four to five hours. Some paediatricians also suggest that a baby food diet should consist of iron fortified cereal for the infant at least two to three times a day.
Feeding the babies with infant cereals
For babies between six months and nine months the amount of mother's milk that should be included in the diet decreases. They should be fed with infant cereal at least four to five times in a week. Other foods that get into the list constituting a baby food diet include finely boiled meat, vegetables and strained fruits. The baby can also be given cooked yolk of eggs. However, the egg whites, being hard to digest at such delicate stage, should be avoided as they are indigestible for the babies. The perfect time to feed the babies is in the morning when they are very hungry. It is good to give them one new food every week. For babies between nine and twelve months, more solid food should be included in their diet. Consequently, the frequency of having bottled milk or mother's milk reduces to a great extent.
Conclusion
Baby food diet varies with the stages of infancy. While in the early periods of infancy, the baby should be fed only with mother's milk or formula. As the baby grows, more solid food go into the diet with a simultaneous decrease in the intake of milk.
Source