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Why is infant and young child feeding important?
Why is infant nutrition important?
Why is food important for a newborn?
Why do children's first food and feeding experience matter?
How can community-based health services improve infant and young child feeding?
Dec 20, 2023 · Infant and young child feeding is a key area to improve child survival and promote healthy growth and development. The first 2 years of a child’s life are particularly important, as optimal nutrition during this period lowers morbidity and mortality, reduces the risk of chronic disease, and fosters better development overall.
This Model Chapter summarizes essential knowledge that every health professional should have in order to carry out the crucial role of protecting, promoting and supporting appropriate infant and young child feeding in accordance with the principles of the Global Strategy.
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Improving first foods and feeding practices for infants and young children. UNICEF promotes access to nutritious, safe and affordable foods for children aged 6–23 months. Where nutritious foods are out of reach, UNICEF supports the use of multiple micronutrient powders and fortified foods to improve the quality of children’s diets.
Proper infant nutrition is fundamental to a child’s continued health, from birth through adulthood. Correct feeding in the first three years of life is particularly important due to its role in lowering morbidity and mortality, reducing the risk of chronic disease throughout their life span, and promoting regular mental and physical development.
- Fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables contain lots of vitamins, minerals and fibre. It's good to introduce lots of different types from around 6 months, whether fresh, frozen, canned or dried, so your baby can enjoy new textures and flavours.
- Bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods. Starchy foods and carbohydrates, such as bread, breakfast cereals, potatoes, yams, rice, couscous, pasta and chapattis provide energy, nutrients and some fibre.
- Milk, dairy and dairy alternatives. Milk and dairy alternatives. Breast milk is the only food or drink babies need for around the first 6 months of their life.
- Beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins. Young children need protein and iron to grow and develop. Beans, pulses, fish, eggs, foods made from pulses (such as tofu, hummus and soya mince) and meat are excellent sources of protein and iron.
From birth to six months: Exclusive breastfeeding – feeding infants only breastmilk for the first six months of life – is the safest and healthiest option for children everywhere. Yet in every region of the world, rates of exclusive breastfeeding decline steadily from birth to 5 months of age.
Sep 30, 2022 · Give small amounts of easy to digest food at 6 months and continue to breastfeed up to 2 years of age or beyond. Give a variety of foods that need chewing as the infant gets older daily, or as often as possible (such as meat, poultry, fish, fruit and vegetables or eggs)
