How to feed newborns scientifically

Reasonable feeding methods can help newborns develop quickly and grow healthily. However, since many people do not have much experience in feeding newborns, they do not know how to feed them. In the process of taking care of a newborn, feeding is a very important link. If the feeding is unreasonable, it will have a great impact on the newborn's nutritional absorption. So how should we feed newborns scientifically?

Scientific feeding method 1: It should be suitable for the growth and development characteristics of each child at each age. This is especially important for infants within one year after birth, because their digestion and metabolism are not perfect at this stage, and their growth and development are rapid, so their nutritional needs are relatively high. Improper feeding can easily lead to nutritional imbalances and even disease in children. During this period, breast milk is the most suitable food for infants, especially for newborns under 4 months old. Breast milk is the only source of food and beverage for newborns. If breastfeeding cannot be continued due to reasons of the mother or the newborn, formula milk suitable for children should be selected. After 4 months, add complementary foods in time to supplement essential nutrients and serve as a transition to future diet.

The second scientific feeding method: Adequate and balanced nutrition should also be provided, and the proportion of each nutrient should be reasonable. Carbohydrates, fats and proteins in nutrition are the three major nutrients that produce heat energy. The heat energy produced by the three accounts for 50%, 35% and 15% of the total energy respectively. Among them, high-quality protein from milk, poultry, fish, meat, eggs, etc. should account for more than 50% of the total. Each nutrient has its own unique physiological function in the body and cannot replace each other. In addition, vitamins, minerals and water are also indispensable important nutrients and must be properly combined. For this purpose, the Shanghai Nutrition Association has recommended a balanced diet pyramid suitable for children of different ages to provide guidance for children's daily dietary intake: taking the 4+1 dietary plan for children aged 1-3 as an example, it includes 1-2 bottles of milk, 1 egg, 1-2 portions of poultry, fish, and meat, 2 portions of vegetables and fruits, and 2-3 portions of grains and beans (1 portion is equivalent to 50 grams, and 1 bottle of milk is 227 grams).

Scientific feeding method three: Children’s psychological and intellectual development should also be considered. The formation of eating behavior is greatly influenced by the psychological development characteristics of children of different ages. Parents must be familiar with the psychological development of infants and young children at each stage and adopt appropriate feeding methods to form good eating behavior. For example, when an infant shows signs of hunger, the parent should immediately pick him or her up, comfort him or her with actions and words, and hold him or her affectionately in the arms to feed him or her, so that the infant can get enough oral satisfaction. This consistent support and encouraging response from relatives makes the baby gradually develop a sense of trust and security in the mother. This gradually formed attachment relationship between mother and baby is an important foundation for the child to develop a sense of security and trust in the people and things around him or her, and to have the courage to explore and engage in social interaction in the future.

In general, during the feeding process of newborns, we must fully consider the physiological characteristics and growth and development needs of newborns at different age stages, and choose the feeding method based on the actual situation of the newborns. In addition, newborn feeding must maintain a comprehensive nutrition and a reasonable combination of various nutrients to promote the rapid development of the newborn. In addition, expectant mothers must pay attention to the psychological and intellectual development of newborns during the feeding process. Newborns will become smarter during the feeding process.