Optimal nutrition for children 13 to 24 months old

In the second year of life, a child needs a variety of foods for healthy growth and development. The journey from breastfeeding to joining family meals takes time and your baby will not immediately accept all the types of food you prepare for him. Think about what and how much the child ate each week, rather than each day.

Continue breastfeeding your child on demand both day and night. This will maintain his or her health and strength as breast milk continues to be the most important part of your baby’s diet. There is no need to give infant formula or follow-up formulas (which are specially formulated milks for older children from 6 months of age), as breastmilk with a diversified diet provides all the nutrients your child needs.

Breast milk continues to make up about one third (1/3) of the energy needs of the young child from 12 up to 24 months.

When giving complementary foods to your baby, there are 6 important things to do:

Frequency: Feed your young child complementary foods 5 times a day

Amount: Increase amount to three-quarters (¾) to 1 cup (250 ml cup). Use a separate plate to make sure young child eats all the food given

Thickness: Give family foods cut into small pieces, finger foods, sliced food

Variety: Try to feed a variety of foods at each meal.  

  • Animal-source foods: well-boiled minced meat from low-fat beef, lamb, horse meat, pork, chicken, turkey, liver, fish, eggs and dairy products. Animal source foods are very important. Start animal source foods as early and as often as possible. Cook well and chop fine.
  • Beans, well-cooked and grated (skinning)
  • Cooked vegetables puree: carrot, turnip, pumpkin, cauliflower, white, brussels sprouts, cucumber, beetroot, eggplant, tomato, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot, cabbage, parsnip, you can also combine various vegetables with porridge
  • Soft fruits puree: bananas, apples, pears, peaches, plums, though make sure your child is not just fed fruits, and that vegetables are fed
  • Dairy products like cottage cheese, yogurt
    • Nuts in paste form
    • Additional nutritious snacks (extra food between meals) such as pieces of ripe fruit, or other fruits and vegetables, when in season, can be offered once or twice per day.
    • Use iodized salt

Avoid giving highly processed foods, such as sugary drinks, sweet biscuits/cookies/cakes, fried foods or fast foods. These foods are high in fat, salt and/or sugar, and contain preservatives which can prevent healthy growth in your child.

Water is the healthiest (and cheapest) drink for a child! You offer water often, always after a meal, do not wait for a child to get thirsty.

Responsive feeding

Be patient and actively encourage your baby to eat. Don’t force your baby to eat.  Use a separate plate to feed the baby to make sure he or she eats all the food given. Give the child food "out of hand", encourage him to eat on his own. The child should have his own cutlery.

Hygiene

Good hygiene (cleanliness) is important to avoid diarrhea and other illnesses. Use a clean spoon or cup to give foods or liquids to your baby. Store the foods to be given to your baby in a safe hygienic place. Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing foods and feeding baby. Wash your hands and your baby’s hands before eating. Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and washing or cleaning baby’s bottom.