As parents, we only want what’s best for our children and in order to give them a healthy start in life, we are encouraged to provide them with love, care and proper nutrition.
After six months your baby is halfway there to celebrating her very first birthday. She is well on her way to officially become a toddler -- and before you know it, she will already be starting preschool!
So what can you do to help give your growing baby all she needs for proper growth and development for her to get a good headstart to a successful future?¹
And what important nutrients should she be getting to help support her overall nourishment?
Nourishing the mind
After six months, your growing baby is now more alert, active and curious about the world around her.
She will be busy exploring her surroundings and making wonderful discoveries everyday, so it is important that you help provide her with a variety of stimulating activities to promote cognitive development such as:
Read books together
Although your baby doesn't know how to read just yet, the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging parents to read aloud to your children, even when they are still young.²
Reading to your child encourages word learning, literacy and is a good opportunity for bonding -- then as your little one grows up, she will form a healthy reading habit which will cultivate an impressive vocabulary and also help her shine when it comes to creative writing.³
Psychologist Dr Fernald explains, “You are building a mind that can conceptualise and imagine, and think about the past and think about the future.”
Important nutrient needed: Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) help build cells; regulate the nervous system; strengthen the cardiovascular system; builds immunity; helps your child's body to absorb nutrients; is necessary for healthy brain function and vision.4
Age-appropriate toys
Babies and young children learn through play and the toys that they interact with can help with their brain development.5
Parents are encouraged to choose toys that are not only fun and safe, but also suitable for your child's age, stage of development and emerging abilities.
Vicki Panaccione, PhD, a child psychologist and founder of the Better Parenting Institute believes that toys should be thought of as developmental learning tools and says, "Play is so important in the social, mental, physical, and emotional development of children."6
Example of important nutrient needed: Vitamin A plays an important role in your child's vision and bone growth; helps protect her body from infections; promotes the health and growth of cells and tissues in the body (including hair, nails, and skin).7
Social interaction
Children will benefit from interaction from an early age and can learn a lot by observing and imitating those around them.
Studies have shown that the areas of a baby's brain associated with moving certain body parts will become more active when they see adults move those same parts, which is why it is beneficial to play with your little one or let her interact with others.
Researchers at the University of Washington’s Center for Mind, Brain & Learning (CMBL)8 have also found that social interaction plays an important role in how infants learn language -- so it's never too early for your child to start making friends!
Example of important nutrient needed: Vitamin C boosts the immune system; keeps infections at bay; helps form and repair red blood cells, bones, and tissues; helps keep your child's gums healthy and strengthens blood vessels, minimises bruising; assists with healing.9
Keep reading for more ways you can help nourish your child
Nourishing the soul
To help your little one grow up to become a well-rounded child, it is important to provide her with some TLC for her heart and soul.
Patience and guidance
Your growing child is still learning about the world around her and the difference between right and wrong, so be patient with her and set some age-appropriate boundaries, yet still allowing some freedom for her to explore and discover things on her own.10
"It’s been said that parents are the ‘architect’ or the ‘conductor’ of a child’s development. Parental guidance is key”, says Psychologist George W. Holden of the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, USA.11
By spending time with your child, you are getting to know her better and the daily quality one-on-one time is important in shaping her behaviour.
Example of important nutrient needed: Vitamin D helps the body to absorb important minerals like calcium; builds strong teeth and bones; is essential for reaching growth potential and peak bone mass; plays a role in immune system health, insulin production, and regulation of cell growth.12
Praising and encouragement
If you want to raise your child to grow up feeling confident and have a healthy self-esteem, it is important for you to give them the right amount of praises.13
By not giving enough praises, your child might feel like she is not good enough or that you don't really care about her, so this would affect her motivation to achieve.
However, Paul Donahue, PhD, Founder and Director of Child Development Associates, believes that over-praising may have negative results too.
"Though well-intentioned, putting kids on a pedestal at an early age can actually hinder their growth", he says.
Experts say that key to praising your kids is in the quality of praises rather than the quantity -- if a praise is sincere and genuine and focused on your child's effort instead of the outcome, you can give it as often as your child does something that warrants praises from mum and dad.
Example of important nutrient needed: Potassium works with sodium to control the body's water balance and helps maintain blood pressure; assists with muscle function and heart rhythm; may also reduce the risk of kidney stones and osteoporosis in later years.14
Hugs and kisses
Like flowers need water and sunshine to blossom, your child needs your physical affection such as an affectionate kiss on the forehead, a warm hug, or even a gentle pat on the pat to grow up feeling loved.
Some research has shown that children who experienced early deprivation of physical and emotional engagement had different levels of oxytocin and vasopressin (hormones linked to emotion and social bonding) and were at higher risk for behavioural, emotional and social problems when they grow up.15
So by showing your child warmth and affection, this will lead to positive outcomes for her in the long-run, such as a higher self-esteem, better parent-child communication, and fewer psychological and behaviour problems.
Example of important nutrient needed: Iron is important in helping to produce haemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells) and a lack of iron can affect growth, cause anaemia, and may even lead to learning and behavioural problems.16
Go to the next page to see how you can help nourish your child's body for healthy growth and development
Nourishing the body
For your child’s body to be in tip-top shape, it is important for her to have a well-balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise
Just like mum and dad, kids need exercise to help them build strong bones, muscles and joints; maintain a healthy weight; sleep better at night; and even feel more ready to learn in school.17
According to Jane Clark, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland, "The earlier infants, toddlers, and preschool children get exposure to daily movement and exercise, the better the likelihood of healthy development in later life."18
Parents can set a good example by having an active lifestyle themselves and exercise together as family -- not only is this fun and good for your health, it will also help to strengthen your family's bond and relationship.
Example of important nutrient needed: Calcium helps to build strong bones and teeth; promotes healthy nerve and muscle function; helps blood clot; and helps your child's body convert food into energy.19
Well-balanced diet
After six months, your baby's digestive system is now ready for solids and it is important that you offer her healthy options of food throughout her growing years for proper growth and development.
However, energy and nutritional needs will vary from birth to preschool, so your child should be getting the right number of servings from the Health Promotion Board's four food groups in her daily diet to get all the nutrients she needs20, which are:
1. Brown rice and wholemeal bread
2. Fruit
3. Vegetables
4. Meat and dairy (or calcium containing) foods
Example of important nutrient needed: Zinc is needed by more than 70 enzymes that aid digestion and metabolism; and is also essential for growth.21
Go to the next page to find out more about the important nutrients found in Enfamil A+ Stage 2
High quality milk
Enfamil A+ Stage 2 with 360° DHA PLUS is a high quality milk and nutritionally balanced follow-on formula for infants after six months.
It is the only Stage 2 formula with scientifically formulated levels of 17mg DHA and 34mg ARA per 100kcal -- it contains DHA at a level which helps meet recommendations* for infants 6 - 12 months old.
DHA and ARA are important building blocks for your child's brain and eye development.
Enfamil A+ Stage 2 is also formulated with a unique blend of GOS and Polydextrose (PDX) Prebiotic (GOS) stimulates the growth of beneficial intestinal flora to maintain a healthy digestive system.
Just sign up online and request for a FREE sample of Enfamil A+ Stage 2 today!
*FAO/WHO recommends daily DHA intake of 10-12mg/kg body weight for infants 6-12 months. FAO 2010. Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition. Report of an expert consultation. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper no. 91. FAO: Rome.
Breastmilk is the best for babies. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. After six months of age, infants should receive age-appropriate foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.
- https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/baby-development-6-month-old
- https://time.com/2917400/read-to-your-baby-say-doctors-but-which-books/
- https://sg.theasianparent.com/the-importance-of-reading-to-children
- https://www.kidseatgreat.com/essential-fatty-acids/
- https://sg.theasianparent.com/child-directed-play
- https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/choosing-right-toys-for-right-age
- https://www.who.int/elena/titles/vitamina_children/en/
- https://www.medicaldaily.com/do-babies-really-learn-through-imitation-brain-areas-associated-movement-activate-upon-seeing-adults
- https://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02811/facts-on-vitamin-c
- https://www.washington.edu/news/2003/07/14/social-interaction-plays-key-role-in-how-infants-learn-language-studies-show/
- https://www.livestrong.com/article/500633-how-to-develop-age-appropriate-boundaries-in-children/
- https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0315/p745.html
- https://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/the-right-way-to-praise-your-kids
- https://www.livestrong.com/article/232233-low-potassium-in-children/
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/infant-touch/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/iron-deficiency/art-20045634
- https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseforchildren.html
- https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/even-babies-need-exercise
- https://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/bone/bone_health/juvenile/default.asp
- https://www.hpb.gov.sg/HOPPortal/health-article/6086
- https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20020524/zinc-helps-kids-grow