Newborn Nutrition
NEWBORN NUTRITION
Food provides the energy and nutrients that babies need to be healthy. For a baby, breast milk is best. It has all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Infant formulas are available for babies whose mothers are not able or decide not to breastfeed.
Infants usually start eating solid foods between 4 and 6 months of age. Check with your health care provider for the best time for your baby to start. If you introduce one new food at a time, you will be able to identify any foods that cause allergies in your baby. Some foods to stay away from include eggs, honey, peanuts (including peanut butter) and other tree nuts. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEWBORN
a. Fluid. Newborns require more fluid relative to their size than adults require. Additional fluids are required with fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.
(1) Dehydration. Until the ability to retain body water through kidney function improves in the early months of life, the infant is at risk for dehydration. Signs of dehydration are:
(a) Depressed fontanels.
(b) Rapid, weak pulse.
(c) Elevated low-grade temperature.
(d) Dark, concentrated urine.
(e) Dry, hard stools.
(f) Dry skin with little turgor.
(g) Elevated specific gravity (1.020).
(2) Water. Prepared infant formulas provide sufficient water under normal environmental conditions. Water intoxication may result from excessive feeding of water to infants. It may occur when water is fed as a replacement for milk. Signs of water intoxication are:
(a) Hyponatremia.
(b) Weakness.
(c) Restlessness.
(d) Vomiting, diarrhea.
(e) Polyuria or oliguria.
(f) Convulsions.
(3) Nursing care.
(a) Maintain accurate input and output (I&O).
(b) Observe frequently for signs of dehydration or water intoxication.
b. Vitamin, Mineral, and Caloric Requirements.
(1) The newborn's rapid growth makes him especially vulnerable to dietary inadequacies and iron deficiency anemia. Adequate vitamin intake is especially important to support normal growth and
Food provides the energy and nutrients that babies need to be healthy. For a baby, breast milk is best. It has all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Infant formulas are available for babies whose mothers are not able or decide not to breastfeed.
Infants usually start eating solid foods between 4 and 6 months of age. Check with your health care provider for the best time for your baby to start. If you introduce one new food at a time, you will be able to identify any foods that cause allergies in your baby. Some foods to stay away from include eggs, honey, peanuts (including peanut butter) and other tree nuts. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEWBORN
a. Fluid. Newborns require more fluid relative to their size than adults require. Additional fluids are required with fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.
(1) Dehydration. Until the ability to retain body water through kidney function improves in the early months of life, the infant is at risk for dehydration. Signs of dehydration are:
(a) Depressed fontanels.
(b) Rapid, weak pulse.
(c) Elevated low-grade temperature.
(d) Dark, concentrated urine.
(e) Dry, hard stools.
(f) Dry skin with little turgor.
(g) Elevated specific gravity (1.020).
(2) Water. Prepared infant formulas provide sufficient water under normal environmental conditions. Water intoxication may result from excessive feeding of water to infants. It may occur when water is fed as a replacement for milk. Signs of water intoxication are:
(a) Hyponatremia.
(b) Weakness.
(c) Restlessness.
(d) Vomiting, diarrhea.
(e) Polyuria or oliguria.
(f) Convulsions.
(3) Nursing care.
(a) Maintain accurate input and output (I&O).
(b) Observe frequently for signs of dehydration or water intoxication.
b. Vitamin, Mineral, and Caloric Requirements.
(1) The newborn's rapid growth makes him especially vulnerable to dietary inadequacies and iron deficiency anemia. Adequate vitamin intake is especially important to support normal growth and