In 2014, the Polish Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Child Nutrition (PTGHiŻDz) developed recommendations for the feeding of healthy infants. The goal to be pursued is exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life. Breastfeeding fully meets the infant's need for all essential nutrients, ensuring proper development in the first six months of life. The exceptions are vitamins D and K.

In 2013, new recommendations for vitamin D supplementation were published, and a few months ago for vitamin K supplementation and the introduction of gluten into the infant's diet and the risk of coeliac disease (January 2016).

As the child grows and develops, the nutrient requirements increase, which milk alone can no longer cover. Therefore, complementary foods should be introduced. New foods are introduced into the diet to provide additional energy, protein, iron, zinc, vitamins A, D, E and trace elements, among others. Between 17 weeks of age and 26 weeks of age, the introduction of complementary foods should begin. New foods should be given one at a time, initially in small volumes. When the baby tolerates the diet well, new ingredients can be introduced. So far, avoiding or delaying the introduction of potentially allergenic foods, such as fish and eggs, has not been shown to reduce the incidence of allergies either in infants at risk of developing allergies or in those at no risk.

By the age of 5-6 m, most infants acquire the ability to accept solid foods. Children are already able to sit with support, control head and neck movements and take food from a spoon.

Gluten

Until now, child nutrition experts have recommended introducing gluten into the infant's diet between 4m and 7m.

Their current position is that gluten can be introduced into the diet of all infants at any time between 4 and 12 months of age. This recommendation applies to all children, so both naturally and artificially fed infants, as well as those at increased risk of developing coeliac disease. Gluten is best introduced gradually, starting with a small amount - e.g. 1 teaspoon of semolina added to dessert, soup, or dissolved in water, modified milk or breast milk. If the child tolerates gluten well, the amount can be increased steadily. The principles for introducing gluten into the diet are the same as for expanding the baby's menu with other foods.

Cow's milk

According to current expert opinion, cow's milk should not be the main drink before the age of 12 months. After the age of one year, a child should not drink more than 500 ml. Cow's milk contains a slightly lower concentration of iron and its absorption is lower compared to the absorption of iron from breast milk. Furthermore, research results show that early feeding of cow's milk can cause microhaemorrhages from the gastrointestinal tract, which can then lead to iron deficiency anaemia. Due to the high content of protein and mineral salts, too rapid introduction of cow's milk or excessive consumption of cow's milk can lead to an overload of protein and its transformation products and mineral salts. The consequence of this can be overloading of the kidneys, as well as an inadequate, both in terms of quantity and quality, supply of carbohydrates and fats. Consumption of unmodified cow's milk can also promote the development of allergies.

photo: panthermedia

Goat's or sheep's milk

Such milk is highly saturated with mineral salts and at the same time poor in folic acid and vitamins (especially vitamin B). The consumption of goat's or sheep's milk is strongly discouraged. The use of such milk in infants before the age of 12 months is conducive to folic acid and vitamin B 12 deficiency anaemia.