An infant is also called a baby. Infancy is the period of life from birth and one year of age. Infancy is one of the shortest stages of life. Infancy and adolescence are the two stages of life in which a lot of growth occurs.
Nutritional Needs During Infancy:
Calories: The amount of calories (energy) an infant needs for activity varies. Infants need more calories as they become more mobile.
Protein: needs are highest during infancy.
Carbohydrate:
Fat: Fat supplies approximately 50 percent of the energy for an infant (supplied by breastmilk and formula).
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is important for bone development. Infants who are breastfed but do not receive supplemental vitamin D, or enough sunlight exposure, are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Iron: This mineral is needed for proper growth and formation of healthy blood cells. It also helps prevent iron-deficiency anemia. Full-term infants are born with stores to last for up to 4-6 months of age.
Water: During infancy, water is supplied through breast milk, infant formula and some solid foods. Too much water can be dangerous since it can lead to water poisoning. A few things water is important for in infancy are:
Infancy Concerns: Some things to be aware of during this life stage are:
SIDS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death of a baby under the age of one, usually during sleep. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs. Cause is unknown.
Some factors that seem to put babies at a higher risk:
Prevention Tips:
Dehydration: Dehydration, excessive loss of water from the body, in infants can lead to death. These are some signs of dehydration:
Bottle Safety: Whether you are using a bottle for pumped breastmilk or using formula, it is important to keep certain things in mind:
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