As babies grow up to ten months of age, they tend to indulge more in food. It is essential to continue providing them with a variety of meals suitable for their growth and development. Solid feeding during ten-month-old infants is an interesting concept. We will help you understand through this blog about the samewith our 10-month baby food plan.
Let us see what we will cover-
- Nutritional needs of 10 months baby
- A sample diet plan
- Precautions to keep in mind
Let us first start with
Nutritional needs of 10 months baby
Your baby’s diet is now different as the baby is presently in active growth as well as an active baby. Looking at their growing bodies, let’s draw up the list of basic components, that they might need with 10-month baby food plan-
Formula or breast milk
Breastmilk or formula is still the primary nutritional source at this age for babies.
Quantity: Give breast milk or formula 500- 700ml daily depending on the amount of solid food consumed.
Protein and Iron
Muscles and the brain need protein and iron for complete body growth and development.
Iron-rich foods: Try offering 1-2 tablespoon pureed meat or iron-fortified baby cereals. One tablespoon of beans or lentils will also do.
Protein-rich foods: Include 1-2 tablespoons of mababyd/scramble eggs, small pieces of tofu, fish or most soft cooked chicken.
Beneficial Fats
Fat is vital to provide energy and development of the brain.
Beneficial fats: Include 1-2 tablespoons of smooth avocado, olive oil or ghee. For high fat, include 1-2 tablespoons of full fat cheese or yogurt.
Vegetables and Fruits
The combination of vegetables and fruits are the two food groups that have vitamins, minerals, and fiber that boosts the immune and digestive systems of your baby.
Fruits: Provide two to three teaspoons of chopped or pureed apple, banana or pear. Veggies: Provide two to three teaspoons of chopped or pureed broccoli.
Veggies: Provide two to three teaspoons of cooked, chopped or mashed veggies, such as broccoli, carrots, sweet potato, peas.
Vitamin D and Calcium
Calcium develops strong bones and teeth, while vitamin D aids in calcium absorption.
What to do: give two tablespoons of fortified cereals, two or three tablespoons of ghee, or one or two pieces of cheese as desired.
Fiber
Fiber prevents constipation and also helps in the process of digestion.
High-fibre food: Give to your child one tablespoon of whole grains, including beans and lentils, two to three tablespoons of soft fruits or vegetables and one to two tablespoons of cooked oats.
Now that we understand the significance of providing the appropriate nourishment, we would like to present you with a sample diet plan.
Diet Plan
Meal | Foods | Preparation Tips |
Breakfast | Oatmeal with banana or pureed apple | Cook oatmeal with water or breast milk; mash banana or apples before mixing in. |
Snack | Yogurt with fruit puree | Choose whole milk yogurt and mix in fruit for flavor and nutrition. |
Lunch | Lentil puree with carrot and spinach | Cook lentils until soft, blend with steamed carrots and spinach. |
Dinner | Sweet potatoes with chicken | Bake or steam sweet potatoes; cook chicken thoroughly before mashing or shredding |
Along with these your baby’s diet will contain 3-5 sessions of breast/ formula feeding as it is required by your little one till the age of 12 months at least.
Now let us talk about
Precautions to Keep in Mind When Making Food
As nice as it is to watch your child feed properly, there are some tips to keep in mind when we prepare food for such a small child.
- Wash Hands and Surfaces: Hands should be washed and clean any utensils and surfaces prior to making any food for the baby.
- Cook Thoroughly: Ensure that every food cooked on the plate is very well cooked to help eliminate harmful bacteria.
- Avoid Salt and Sugar: Infant food should be salt and sugar free to mitigate any health risks associated with them for the infants.
- Check Temperature: Confirm the appropriate level of food and device heat energy before offering it to avoid scalds.
- Chop and Mash Properly: Cut or mash food into tiny bite-sized pieces fit for swallowing to prevent choking.
- Avoid Honey: Honey may contain botulism spores in large enough concentrations that it is not safe for babies especially those below one year.
- Introduce One Food at a Time: So as to monitor for allergies, it is advisable to try out new foods one at a time.
- Stay away from whole nuts: Infants should not be offered whole nuts because they could choke on them. In this case, smooth nut butters are encouraged.
These safety precautions will enable you to make sure that every meal served to your baby is healthful, age-appropriate and supportive of their growth and development.
Conclusion
We hope this 10 month baby food plan is helfull for you. Following a structured meal plan along with observing all the necessary safety procedures enhances the chances of your infant receiving adequate nutritional requirements for growth and development. Constantly monitor your infant’s preferences and growth patterns and consult a pediatrician whenever in doubt.