Baby and Toddler Diet Requirements: Food, Macronutrients and Supplements

Protein, fat, and carbohydrate — the crucial three nutrients known also as ‘Macronutrients’, are responsible for supplying energy and important nutrition for your child’s growth and development. These macronutrients, along with many other vitamins and minerals are what parents have to pay due attention to when planning a healthy diet for their little ones.

Table of Contents

Protein

Protein is found in foods like meat, beans, eggs, nuts, soy and dairy products. Protein has four calories per gram and is involved in building new tissues and repairing damaged ones.

Young children experience rapid growth, which is why protein is an important component of their diet. Infants meet their protein needs through breast milk or infant formula. As toddlers venture into larger range of foods, including meat, beans, cheese, egg and nuts, their protein needs are easier to meet. Always keep in mind though, that when it comes to protein, more does not necessarily mean better! Too much protein in a child’s diet can damage the kidneys and even cause dehydration.

Fat

Fat may not be an adult’s favourite word, but this component makes up a large part of a young child’s diet, up to 50 percent of the little one’s calorie needs! This requirement declines slowly to about 30 to 40 percent as they become toddlers and preschoolers.

It’s easy to meet fat recommendations in the first year, as breast milk and infant formulas incorporate the right amount of fat. As a vital part of the diet, fat is involved in brain growth and is a concentrated energy source (nine calories per gram). Babies and toddlers don’t even have to consume that much food to meet this requirement.

Vegetarian and vegan parents have to keep in mind though, that babies and toddlers whose diet is highly concentrated in grains, fruits and vegetables but low in fat may experience a slowdown in growth and development.

Good sources of fat for babies and toddlers are avocado, plant oils such as olive, sunflower and safflower, whole milk (up to age two), cheeses, full fat yogurt, and nut butters (after two years old).

Carbohydrate

Carbohydrate is the main energy source for working muscles, the brain and nervous system and is found in nearly all foods, including fruit, vegetables, dairy products and grains. Forms of carbohydrate include refined sugar, fructose lactose and complex carbohydrate, A low carbohydrate diet could interfere with childhood growth and development. Carbohydrate weighs in at four calories per gram, similar to protein.

A diet rich in all the macronutrients is exactly what young children need to grow well and develop normally. If you are considering putting your young child on a specialised diet which limits any of the important macronutrients, do get the expert opinion of your doctor first, to avoid any serious ramifications to your child’s health.

Does your little one need supplements?

When you’re pregnant, you’re in charge of what you consume, so it’s easier to ensure that your unborn baby is getting all the important nutrients he or she needs to grow into a healthy bundle of joy. When your little one is born and begins to grow and develop, it’s just as important to maintain their good health, although it is now a much more challenging task!

Easier said than done!

Thanks (but no thanks!) to easy accessibility of fast foods at home, daycare centers, play schools and other public areas, plenty of children as young as a year old are now used to living with nutrient deficiencies. This problem is further compounded by the fact that many young children are selective eaters who may also suffer from further lack of nutrition due to their limited diet.

Luckily, parents can now rely on supplements to help in providing well-balanced nutrition to their active little ones without having to drastically change their diet or lifestyle. Besides purchasing supplements that are exclusively certified by the Ministry of Health, parents should also practise moderation and only feed supplements according to their child’s dietary needs. When in doubt, it is always best to follow the instructions on the supplement label or discuss the issue further with a certified nutritionist or dietician.

Who Needs Multivitamins?

Most children can get by without a multivitamin, but your child might require this supplement if he or she:

Is not thriving mentally/physically
Has chronic diseases or food allergies
Has a restrictive diet (e.g. vegan diet)

Multivitamin supplements for babies and little children are typically found in palatable syrup forms. These specially made supplements are packed with all the essential vitamins and minerals that a growing child needs on a daily basis. Since it’s highly likely that your child will already be getting his or her B vitamins, vitamin D, calcium and iron from other common daily foods (like milk, cereal and orange juice), it is important that you choose a multivitamin that doesn’t provide more than 100% of the Daily Value of vitamins and minerals your child requires.

A Healthier Stomach with Probiotics

Probiotics are basically living organisms contained in a tablet or powder form. Specifically, probiotics consists of good bacteria and yeast which can improve the number of micro-flora in your child’s body. Children with a good digestive system due to early consumption of probiotics will enjoy better results, as compared to taking probiotics later on during adulthood.

Unfortunately though, natural probiotics are abundant mostly in foods that are less popular with little ones, such as fermented soy, dairy, wheat, onions, artichokes and asparagus. (Yes, some of us adults are not too crazy about them either!)

Probiotic supplements in powder form is ideal because it is easy to serve in juices or mixed into your little one’s cereal. Children and babies who suffer from diarrhoea or vomiting due to a stomach virus may benefit greatly from probiotics.

Vitamin D for Stronger Bones

Parents used to believe that their little ones could get all the Vitamin D they need just by drinking milk or playing in the sun, but recent studies have found that children these days are simply not getting enough of this essential vitamin. Long term lack of Vitamin D can eventually cause rickets, a bone-softening disease due to the body’s inability to absorb calcium and phosphorous that is needed to strengthen the bones. Infants who are exclusively breastfed are especially encouraged to receive daily Vitamin D supplements.

According to the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), parents are advised to feed babies and children 400 International Units (IU) per day of Vitamin D. Another alternative to Vitamin D capsules is to have your children consume fermented cod liver oil.

Vitamin C

Every household should be stocked with Vitamin C supplements, as this vitamin (also known as ascorbic acid) is an important antioxidant that helps the body heal itself and strengthens the body’s immune system. Bolster your child’s immunity against sickness or disease with one daily dosage of Vitamin C. You might also want to consider purchasing the chewable version of this vitamin for little ones with teeth. Check the recommended age group on the label before purchasing, or ask your doctor for a suggestion.

Cod Liver Oil

Fish oils are good for children as they protect against heart disease and lowers the risk of developing arthritis later on in life. Cod liver oil is especially beneficial as it contains fatty acids known as Omega-3s that the body cannot self-produce. A child deficient in these good fatty acids will display symptoms such as dry skin, dandruff, flaking nails and low energy levels. Cod liver oil is not the best tasting supplement on its own, and manufacturers have long caught on to that fact. That’s why these days, there are many good brands of more palatable cod liver oil supplements with delicious, fruity flavours.

Chewable or syrup form supplements?

Little kids who already have their first set of teeth should have no problems with chewable supplements, especially if they come in tasty flavours. However, do ensure that your child actually consumes his or her chewable supplement as soon as it’s offered. Remember, the last thing you want is to find expensive supplements hidden behind couches, in school bags or even have it fed to an eager family pet when you’re not looking!

Babies and little ones who cannot chew yet will benefit from the syrup forms of supplements available in the market. Always check on the recommended dosage before feeding them to your child.

Caution: Keep the adult vitamins separate and out of reach of younger children. While the dietary supplements for adults are generally safe for kids, it is best to keep them away to prevent your child from digesting large amounts of any single nutrient.