For the first time, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services issued new dietary guidelines, which include recommendations for babies and toddlers.
“Children in this age group consume small quantities of foods, so it’s important to make every bite count.”
The guidelines, which were issued on Tuesday, recommend babies should only have breast milk at least until they reach six months and no added sugar for children under age two.
“Feed infants iron-fortified infant formula during the first year of life when human milk is unavailable,” the guideline stated, adding that parents should provide infants with supplemental vitamin D beginning soon after birth.
The guideline also suggests introducing infants to nutrient-dense complementary foods at “about six months.”
Additionally, infants should be introduced to potentially allergenic foods along with other complementary foods around six months old, as well as, encouraging infants and toddlers to consume a variety of foods from all food groups, avoid foods and beverages with added sugars, limit foods and beverages higher in sodium and as infants wean from human milk or infant formula, transition to a healthy dietary pattern.
The guideline also covers donor human milk, proper handling and storage of human milk and infant formula, providing infants supplemental Vitamin D beginning soon after birth, introducing infants to nutrient-dense complementary foods at about six months old, developmental readiness for beginning to eat solid foods, introducing infants to potentially allergenic foods along with other complementary foods and more.
To download to new guidelines, click here
Photo: healthline.com
