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The importance of nutrition in the growth and development of your baby.


You need to worry about feeding your baby from the moment it is still in your belly as a good diet at this stage of his life, contributes to good health later on. After birth, the first year of the baby's life is essential, because it is in this period that the introduction of new foods begins in its diet, requiring certain adaptations and requirements on your part in order to prevent any " Nutritional problems.


Breast milk is the ideal food for the newborn. It is a fluid naturally enriched with vitamins, minerals and water. It also provides energy and contains antibodies, anti-inflammatory and anti-infectives that strengthen the immune system. It also contains enzymes and hormones that stimulate the growth and development of your baby.

The incorporation of solid foods or complementary foods should begin gradually at 6 months and can be increased and adjusted according to the nutritional demand of your baby. Growing up, breast milk alone is no longer enough for the baby's diet.

This article provides recommendations on supplemental feeding of your child between 4 and 12 months.

Additional Food Recommendations

Portion control
Portion control is an important part of the success of the diet for anyone. It is even more so in your baby's diet. For parents, the task is not easy because in our local markets in Togo, it is not common to buy pre-prepared baby foods where the quantities are clearly indicated. Although there is currently no specific guideline associated with infant diet as to the amount of food per meal per day, parents need to pay attention to the amount.

Power Supply Example
• Fruits, vegetables and juices. Include fruits, vegetables and fruit juices as soon as your baby is ready to eat, about 6 months, in his diet and increase the portions quietly. The juices must be natural. Mango, banana, apple and pineapple are among others, recommendable fruits. Slowly introduce citrus fruits (orange, mandarin, grapefruit) around 9 months.

• Meat and fish. Introduce the meat to 6 and 7 months and the fish a little later to 9 to 10 months. Serve the fish with mashed vegetables or rice.

• Beans and other legumes. Add them to your baby's diet after 9 months. Serve with vegetable purées and rice.

• Cow's milk. You can give it to your baby after 12 months. At this point, your child can take whole cow's milk and its derivatives like cheese and yogurt.

• Condiments, spices and salt. They are not necessary or recommended to babies.

• The water. Introducing new food into your baby's diet brings a heavier load on their small kidneys. They therefore need liquids in addition to those provided by food and breastfeeding.


It is very important to maintain good food hygiene and proper cooking to prevent gastrointestinal disorders, since the baby is immature and is physiologically more vulnerable. A deficient diet during this period can irreversibly affect growth, physical development, intellectual capacity and cause food allergies for life.
A good diet helps to prevent later diseases such as osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or hypertension.

The best way to feed your baby is to give him various foods. Try not to give heavy food at night. Give meals frequently and in small quantities.

Remember, nutrition in the first year of your baby's life is very decisive for its growth and development.

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