The Nest

Adequate feeding practices are important to promoting healthy growth and development in infants and children, particularly during the complementary feeding period when their nutritional needs increase. A child's nutritional status has both short- and long-term impacts on health, and the timely introduction of a balanced, nutrient-dense, and age-appropriate diet is essential for preventing malnutrition.

Infant feeding is a multifaceted process that extends beyond simply offering food. Complementary feeding is the process of giving foods that complement breastfeeding to be able to provide balanced, nutrient-dense options to be able to meet their high nutritional needs while preventing obesity. There are a lot to consider such as timing, perceptual complementary feeding, and the culture and family context. Typically, this begins at 4 to 6 months, when the baby exhibits signs of readiness. Age adapted foods, and encouraging the baby to try to feed themselves based on their oral motor skills

There is a lot to be understood about the gut microbiome and the many synergies which happen in this environment. It holds a lot of potential in terms of its contribution to immunity and shaping long-term health. In this edition of The Nest, the world's experts expound on the evolution of the microbiome and the impact of breastmilk and the first foods as modulators that help shape this development, alongside research advancements in this field.