Just like it can be difficult to find medicines for very young children, it can also be difficult to make sure their get all of their vitamins and nutrients. During their first year babies triple their birth weight and increase in length by 50%. With their tiny stomachs babies can only eat a small amount at a time thus they compensate by eating often. This food has to be nutritionally rich as it also leads to the social, emotional, and cognitive development. It is tough to provide babies with nutrients that do not upset their sensitive systems. Here are some options that should meet both criteria.
Baby formula and cereals are iron-fortified due to this mineral playing a vital role in hemoglobin production and brain development. This includes building motor skills and one’s memory. Babies need 11 mg of iron a day which can easily be achieved with iron-enriched formula/cereal plus iron-rich foods like meat, chicken, fish, eggs, avocado, broccoli, and spinach.
Not only does zinc further propel brain development it helps to keep a person overall healthier. Zinc accelerates the production of white blood cells and helps all body cells properly grow and repair themselves. Since iron and zinc are usually paired together, iron-fortified formulas and cereals are packed with necessary zinc. Foods that provide high iron levels usually provide additional zinc as do meats and dark-meat poultry.
Calcium and Vitamin D
This is another one-two combination like iron and zinc. Calcium is critical for strong bones and vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. While both breast milk and formula provide all the calcium a baby needs for the first year only formula will deliver the 400 IU of vitamin D required for young children. There are a few foods very high in this important nutrient such as fortified yogurt and cereal, egg yolks, and fish.
A large percentage of adults are deficient in omega fatty acids, which is a shame due to the amazing results these nutrients can deliver. It is extremely important to make sure your baby gets its omegas in as not only do these fatty acids promote heart health they are also essential for brain and eye development. Research has also shown that babies who are low in omegas have lover cognitive skills. These healthy fats can help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A and E and you can find DHA-fortified formula to make sure your baby gets sufficient amounts of this important nutrient.
Vitamins A, B, C, and E
These four vitamins are a nutritional powerhouse as they promote healthy nerve and brain development plus proper development and functionality of eyes, skin, and immune functions. Carrots and sweet potatoes are great sources of vitamin A, green vegetables, beans, and bananas are rich sources of vitamin B, tomatoes, strawberries, cantaloupe, and oranges are packed with vitamin C, and grains and cereals are full of vitamin E. Also check for additional levels of these nutrients in formula.
Image Credit: pixabay.com