Essential nutrients for your baby’s first year of life

1. Macronutrients

• Fats (Lipids)

Fats play an essential role in your baby’s growth and development. They provide essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce on its own and therefore must be obtained through the diet.

These fatty acids are particularly important for:

• Healthy growth and development.
• Brain and nervous system development.
• Proper immune system function.
• Digestive health.

During the first months of life, babies have especially high requirements for certain fatty acids, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), due to their rapid growth and the development of the brain.

During breastfeeding, an infant’s diet is naturally rich in fats. As complementary foods are introduced, from around 6 months of age, the proportion of dietary fat gradually decreases while remaining an essential part of a balanced diet.

Current recommendations for the contribution of fat to total daily energy intake are:

• 0–6 months: 50–55% of total energy intake.
• 6–12 months: 30–40%.
• 1–3 years: 35–40%.

According to European recommendations, the intake of essential fatty acids should include:

• Linoleic acid (Omega-6): approximately 4% of total energy intake.
• Alpha-linolenic acid (Omega-3): approximately 0.5% of total energy intake.

Two other long-chain fatty acids also play a key role in brain development and cognitive function:

• DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
• ARA (arachidonic acid).

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends a daily intake of 100 mg of DHA from birth to 2 years of age. For ARA, estimated requirements are approximately 140 mg per day for infants from birth to 6 months.

Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM)

Recent research has shown that the Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM)—a natural component of both human breast milk and cow’s milk—contains a wide range of beneficial bioactive compounds, including phospholipids, cholesterol and cerebrosides.

These naturally occurring components contribute to:

• Brain development and cognitive function.
• Healthy immune system development.
• Digestive health by supporting a balanced gut microbiota.

 

• Proteins

Proteins play a vital role during the first 1,000 days of life. They are essential for building and repairing cells and are key components of enzymes and neurotransmitters, which support the body’s normal growth, development and function.

Daily protein requirements, based on body weight, are as follows:

• From birth to 6 months: 0.58 g per kilogram of body weight per day.
• From 6 to 36 months: 0.66 g per kilogram of body weight per day.

Breast milk contains more than 400 different proteins, each performing a wide range of important biological functions. Some help protect babies against infections, others support the development of the immune system, while some enhance nutrient absorption.

An insufficient protein intake may lead to poor growth and delayed motor and cognitive development. Conversely, excessive protein intake during early childhood may promote more rapid weight gain and has been associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity later in life.

 

• Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are an essential source of energy for infants and young children. They support the body’s normal functions and are particularly important for brain development.

Current recommendations for the contribution of carbohydrates to total daily energy intake are:

• 0–6 months: 40–45% of total energy intake.
• 6–12 months: 45–55%.
• 1–3 years: 45–60%, similar to adults.

Glucose is the brain’s primary source of energy. It is essential for growth, the normal functioning of nerve cells and the transmission of signals between neurons.

In infants, glucose is supplied by various carbohydrates found in the diet, including:

• Lactose, the main carbohydrate naturally present in breast milk.
• Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), complex carbohydrates found in high concentrations in human breast milk.

HMOs are not directly digested by the baby. Instead, they act as prebiotics, nourishing the beneficial bacteria that make up the gut microbiota. By supporting the development of a healthy gut microbiota, they contribute to healthy digestion, immune system development and overall infant health.

Key Takeaway

Carbohydrates provide the energy infants need for healthy growth and brain development. Breast milk supplies not only lactose, but also Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), which help establish a healthy gut microbiota during early life.

 

2. Micronutrients

 

• Iron

Iron is an essential nutrient for your baby’s growth and development. It plays a key role in transporting oxygen throughout the body and supports healthy brain development.

During the first six months of life, babies primarily rely on the iron stores accumulated during pregnancy. As breast milk naturally contains relatively small amounts of iron, these stores gradually become depleted. From around 6 months of age, it becomes important to provide iron through complementary foods.

Estimated daily iron requirements are:

• 0–6 months: 0.3 mg/day
• 6–12 months: 6–11 mg/day
• 1–3 years: 3.9–9 mg/day

Iron deficiency may negatively affect brain development, motor skills and cognitive function. It also reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, which may lead to fatigue and slower growth. Early detection and appropriate supplementation can usually correct iron deficiency.

 

• Calcium and Phosphorus

Calcium and phosphorus are essential for the development of strong bones and teeth.

During the first year of life, bone mineralisation occurs rapidly. Adequate calcium and phosphorus intake is therefore crucial to support healthy skeletal growth and promote lifelong bone health.

The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (approximately 2:1) is also important. This is the natural ratio found in breast milk and is replicated in infant formula.

Infant formulas generally contain higher levels of calcium and phosphorus than breast milk to compensate for their slightly lower absorption by the body.

Throughout breastfeeding, the calcium content of breast milk remains relatively stable, while phosphorus levels gradually decrease.

 

• Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bone growth and strength. It promotes calcium absorption and supports proper bone mineralisation.

Exclusively breastfed infants generally do not receive sufficient vitamin D from breast milk alone. For this reason, vitamin D supplementation is recommended from birth, according to national recommendations and the advice of your healthcare professional.

Insufficient vitamin D intake may lead to impaired bone mineralisation, including rickets.

The recommended daily intake for children from birth to 3 years of age is 10 µg (400 IU) of vitamin D per day.

Although the skin can produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, direct sun exposure is not recommended for infants as a means of meeting their vitamin D requirements.

After weaning, your doctor or paediatrician can advise whether supplementation should continue, as some young children may not obtain enough vitamin D through their diet alone.

  Key Takeaway

Vitamin D supplementation is recommended for most infants to support normal bone growth and development.

 

• Vitamin B12 and Folate (Vitamin B9)

Vitamin B12 and folate (vitamin B9) are essential for the healthy development of the brain and nervous system, as well as for the production of red blood cells.

During pregnancy, folate deficiency increases the risk of neural tube defects in the developing baby. In young children, inadequate folate intake may be associated with delayed cognitive development and an increased susceptibility to certain infections.

Estimated daily vitamin B12 requirements are:

• 0–6 months: 0.4 µg/day
• 6–12 months: 0.5–0.8 µg/day
• 1–3 years: 0.6–1 µg/day

Estimated daily folate requirements are:

• 0–6 months: 65 µg/day
• 6–12 months: 80 µg/day
• 1–3 years: 100 µg/day

A varied and balanced diet generally provides adequate amounts of vitamin B12 and folate. However, children following specific diets, such as a vegan diet, may require supplementation under medical supervision.

  Key Takeaway

Vitamin B12 and folate are essential for healthy brain and nervous system development. In most cases, a balanced diet provides sufficient amounts to meet the nutritional needs of young children.

 

References:

Ahern G.J. et al. Advances in infant formula science. Annu. Rev. Food Sci. Technol. 2019. 10:75–102

Cerdo T., Dieguez E., Campoy C. Infant growth, neurodevelopment and gut microbiota during infancy: which nutrients are crucial? Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2019, 22:434–441

Your guide to breastfeeding. OWH (office women health). www.womenshealth.gov.

EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies). Scientific opinion on nutrient requirements and dietary intakes of infants and young children in the European Union. EFSA J 2013; 11:3408; 103 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3408

Loughrill E., Wray D., Christides T., Zand N. Calcium to phosphorus ratio, essential elements and vitamin D content of infant foods in the UK: Possible implications for bone health. Matern Child Nutr. 2017; 13:e12368. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12368

Melvin B. Heyman, MD, MPH, for the Committee on Nutrition. Lactose Intolerance in Infants, Children, and Adolescents. PEDIATRICS Volume 118, Number 3, September 2006 . doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1721