Your baby’s nutritional needs change slightly at about his seventh month. By now solids foods should be a part of your child’s diet and a full range of nutrients are important—particularly those highlighted in this article. Make sure to avoid possible choking hazards (you may need to mash some foods, for example), and consult with your doctor about how to best introduce solids.
AI: Adequate Intake (approximate intake amount observed to be adequate for an average healthy infant in a gender group; used when a RDA can’t be determined).
RDA: Recommended Dietary Allowance (average daily nutrient intake level sufficient to meet the requirements of 97 to 98 percent of healthy infants in a gender group; a more precise measure than AI).
UL: Upper Limit (highest level of averagedaily nutrient intake that is estimated to pose no risk of adverse effects to almost all infants in a gender group; these are not recommended levels).
DHA
(docosahexaenoic acid)
What does it do? DHA is a type of Omega-3 fat and an important building block of a baby’s rapidly developing brain. Your baby's brain more than doubles in size the first year of life. A baby’s brain contains Omega-3 fat and most of that fat is DHA. That’s why DHA is important for your child early in life.
How much does my baby need? A panel of experts recommend* 100 mg of DHA per day for older babies.
Where can my baby get it? Salmon, Atlantic Mackerel, herring, sardines, DHA enriched formulas and breast milk (but the amount of DHA typically depends on the foods Mom eats).
*EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for fats, including saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, and cholesterol. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(3):1461. For babies aged 7-24 months.
ARA
(arachidonic acid)
What does it do? ARA is a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid and an importantomega-6 fatty acid in the brain. It is important for normal brain and eye development.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, meat, poultry, and eggs.
Calcium
What does it do? Helps build strong, healthy bones and teeth and helps the heart, muscles and nerves work properly.
How much does my baby need? AI is 260 mg/day.)
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, dairy products such as yogurt and cheese, fortified or enriched grain products, and green leafy vegetables (kale, collard greens, mustard greens).
Carbohydrates
What do they do? Carbohydrates supply energy to fuel your baby’s activity and growth; they help spare protein so it can be used more efficiently in building new tissue. Glucose derived from carbohydrates is the brain’s main source of energy
How much does my baby need? AI is 95 g/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, whole grain products such as breads and cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables such as potatoes and corn.
Iron
What does it do? Ironhelps build red blood cells whichcarry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. It also helps the brain develop normally. How much does my baby need? RDA is 11 mg/day and the UL is 40 mg/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, meat, fortified-cereals, enriched grain products, and dark green vegetables.
Niacin
What does it do? It helps the body release energy from other nutrients.
How much does my baby need? AI is 4 mg/day (niacin equivalents).
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, meat, poultry, fish, whole grain breads and cereals or other fortified or enriched grain products, and egg yolks.
Protein
What does it do? Protein is essential for keeping the body functioning well. It is part of every cell in the body, is needed to build and repair muscle, tissue, skin, nails and hair. Protein helps build hormones and enzymes. How much does my baby need? RDA is 11 g/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products such as cheese and yogurt, and legumes.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
What does it do? Riboflavin helps the body utilize energy from other nutrients.
How much does my baby need? AI is 0.4 mg/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk-, formula, meat, dairy products, egg yolks, legumes, green vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals or other fortified or enriched grain products.
Thiamin (Vitamin B1)
What does it do? Thiamin helps the body release energy from carbohydrates and is needed for the nervous system to function. It also plays a central role in brain development and metabolism. How much does my baby need? AI is 0.3 mg/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk-, formula, wheat germ, whole grain breads and cereals or other fortified or enriched grain products, legumes, and potatoes.
Vitamin A
What does it do? Vitamin A supports general growth, specifically by building healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes, along with the immune and reproductive systems, and it helps vision development. (35, p. 19)
How much does my baby need? AI is 500 mcg/day (retinol activity equivalent). UL is 600mcg/day
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk-, formula, egg yolks, and dark green leafy vegetables and deep yellow and orange fruits and vegetables like apricots, cantaloupe, carrots and pumpkin
Vitamin B6
What does it do? It helps the body use protein to build tissues, and metabolize fat and is essential to the development of the central nervous system. This B vitamin also aids in the synthesis of neurotransmitters
How much does my baby need? AI is 0.3 mg/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, liver, meat, whole grain products such as breads and cereals, legumes, and potatoes.
Vitamin B12
What does it do? Vitamin B12 supports neurological function and the formation of genetic material in the blood cells.
How much does my baby need? AI is 0.5 mcg/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk- breast milk content depends on mother’s intake and stores , formula, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products such as cheese, and egg yolks. If you are following a vegan or vegetarian diet, speak to your doctor about a vitamin B12 supplement.
Vitamin C
What does it do? Vitamin C helps keep gums healthy, helps support the immune system, promotes iron absorption and helps heal cuts and wounds. How much does my baby need? AI is 50 mg/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, fruit (citrus, papaya, cantaloupe, strawberries), and vegetables (potatoes, cabbage).
Vitamin D
What does it do? Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. It works together with calcium to help
maintain healthy bones and teeth
How much does my baby need? AI is 10 mcg/day (400 IU/day). UL is 38mcg/day (1500 IU/day).
Where can my baby get it? Formula, egg yolks, fatty fish, and sunlight- to minimize possibility of skin damage, the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends infants should be exposed to sunlight for short periods (probably less than 15 min/day). (vitamin D is synthesized in the body upon the exposure of sun to the skin).
Vitamin E
What does it do? Vitamin E is an antioxidant.
How much does my baby need? AI is 5 mg/day (alpha-tocopherol).
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, wheat germ, whole grain breads and cereals or other fortified or enriched grain products, butter, and egg yolks.
Zinc
What does it do? Zinc helps support the immune system, as well as helping in wound healing, blood formation and in the general growth and maintenance of all tissues..
How much does my baby need? RDA is 3 mg/day. UL is 5 mg/day.
Where can my baby get it? Breast milk, formula, meat, liver, egg yolks, whole grain breads and cereals or other fortified or enriched grain products, and legumes.
