Best Child Nutrition in India | Rainbow Children’s Hospital

Q: What are the nutritional needs of a baby?

td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;} When it comes to babies, all their nutrition comes from milk. This milk can be breastmilk, formula, or both. For the first few years of life, milk will be providing almost every nutrient required by the baby’s body. When babies are between 6 and 9 months, breast milk will not be providing sufficient zinc and iron. Now, babies are ready to start eating solid foods like strained vegetables, fruits, pureed meats, and iron-fortified infant cereal. If your baby is breastfed, meats and fortified cereals can help them a lot. Once you start adding solid foods to your child’s diet, you won’t have to go low-fat crazy. There are some fat restrictions for babies in general, but you don’t have to follow it strictly until they reach 2 because they need an appropriate amount of fat for the brain and nerve development.

Q: What are the nutritional needs of toddlers and preschoolers?

td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}Toddlers and preschoolers have growth spurts. Even their appetite goes and comes in spurts. So, they might be eating nothing one day and a whole lot on the next. It is very normal and as long as they are eating healthy, they will get all the required nutrients.To develop healthy and strong teeth and bones, your child needs calcium, the building block of the body. The best source of calcium is milk. For children who are lactose-intolerant, milk-allergic or just don’t like to drink milk, there are some alternatives available. These include soy milk, lactose-free milk, sardines, tofu, calcium-fortified cereals, orange juice, oatmeal, and waffles. In some cases, calcium supplements might be recommended by the pediatrician.Another important factor is fiber. Most of the kids and toddlers want to eat a beige, bland, and starchy diet containing fries, macaroni, and chicken nuggets. But it is very important at this age to get them to eat vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains, which are all great sources of fiber. Fiber helps in preventing conditions like constipation and heart diseases and also improves digestion.

Q: What are the nutritional needs of a grade-schooler?

td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}It is very common for a grade-schooler to become a vegetarian. This is because, at this age, they start understanding where food comes from and animals. However, you don’t have to worry about protein intake for your child. There are some other great sources of protein like rice, beans, milk, eggs, and peanut butter. You also need to restrict the intake of sodium, fats, and sugars. Now that your child has started going to school they will have so many choices. Snacks like chips, candy, and cake can end up becoming lunchtime staples. And even though their body needs sugars, sodium, and fats, they should eat it in moderation. Too much of these can lead to health problems and unwanted weight gain. To help them keep their health on track, you need to give your child healthier choices. Make sure that you pack their lunch so that they don’t have to eat at the cafeteria.

Q: What are the nutritional needs of preteens and teens?

td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cellWhen your child starts going through puberty, he/she will need more calories for supporting all the changes that they are experiencing. Unfortunately, most of the preteens and teens get these extra calories from junk and fast foods that have little to no nutritional value. However, some kids start getting conscious of their body image and weight and restrict any fats, carbs, and calories. This can result in unhealthy behaviors and eating disorders. It is the responsibility of the parents to keep an eye on their eating patterns. Family dinners should be encouraged. At this age, the calcium requirement of the body is also high. It is even more important than before because, during this time, the majority of the bone mass is built. You need to encourage your child to have more milk, milk products or calcium alternatives that will help them in getting more calcium. Your child’s need for a particular nutrient will also depend on their gender. For example, teen girls who are menstruating will need more iron than teen boys their age. This is because they need to make up for blood loss during periods. Also, boys will need more protein than girls. Making your child eat healthy at any age can be challenging. But with your support and guidance, your child can have a well-rounded, healthy body.

Q: How important is water?

td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cellWater covers more than half of your child’s body weight. It is also required for keeping all body parts function properly. There is no specific recommended amount that a child needs. So, you need to make sure that they are drinking water throughout the day, even when they are not feeling thirsty. Babies don’t need water for the most part of their first year of life. After this, these need changes. If your child doesn’t like drinking water, you can add a bit of lime or lemon to give it a flavor. You can also make them eat a lot of veggies and fruits as they are great water sources. When they are engaged in physical activities or when it is hot outside, it is even more important for the kids to drink water; or else they will get sick.

Advanced technology & state-of-the-art infrastructure

Round-the-clock emergency care

Seamless support from diagnosis to post treatment care

Children's Nutrition

The Department of Nutrition at Rainbow Children’s Hospital extends its expertise in offering nutritional services designed specifically to children. Our nutrition health assessment is designed to ensure optimal care for infants and children while enhancing their overall well-being. This comprehensive assessment encompasses various facets, such as nutritional scoring, analysis of eating habits, evaluation of eating disorders, body composition analysis, dietary intake history, and anthropometric measurements. Once all micro and macronutrients are meticulously calculated, we create personalised therapeutic plans to cater to each child's unique needs.

Rainbow Children’s Hospital is home to a team of nutrition experts who deliver an array of services, including:

Identifying and assessing patients for potential nutritional risks
Thoroughly evaluating a child's nutritional requirements and offering appropriate recommendations to meet those needs
Providing guidance on feeding options for infants, including breast milk, tube feeding, or formula feeding, as necessary
Managing children who require parenteral nutrition
Offering education and dietary instructions to parents, empowering them with the knowledge and tools to support their child's nutritional well-being.

These services enable us to effectively address and manage the most common nutritional concerns in children, encompassing:

General nutrition
Constipation
Comprehensive tube feeding assessments
Food allergies and intolerance
Poor weight gain or malnutrition
Managing selective or finicky eating habits

Find a Doctor

Expertise you can trust, Meet our esteemed doctors who bring exceptional knowledge, compassion, and innovation to provide top-notch care for your health and well-being.

Dr. Brundavani

Consultant - Nutritionist

English,Hindi,Telugu Kondapur, Hydernagar, Banjara Hills

Online Consult Hospital Visit

Dr. V Malathi

Consultant - Nutrition & Dietetics

14 Years Kannada,English Marathahalli

Online Consult Hospital Visit

Ms. Legundapati Vidyadhari

Clinical Dietician and Nutritionist

3+ Years English,Telugu,Hindi Secunderabad

Online Consult Hospital Visit

Ms. Zohra Sania Khan

Clinical Dietitian and Nutritionist

4+ Years English,Hindi,Telugu Secunderabad

Online Consult Hospital Visit

Our Hospitals and ClinicsOur Hospitals and Clinics

Rainbow Children's Hospital stands as a testament to the hospital's continual pursuit of excellence and innovation, providing specialized care for women and children.

Anna Nagar

Banjara Hills

Bannerghatta

Currency Nagar

Financial District

Governorpet

Guindy

Health City

Hebbal

Himayatnagar

Hydernagar

Kondapur

LB Nagar

Malviya Nagar

Marathahalli

Sarjapur Road

Secunderabad

Sholinganallur

warangal

chennai

Request a Call back

Tap to Fill Form

Request a Call back

Name

Mobile Number

Select Hospitals

Type your Query

By clicking here you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Blogs

Discover our most recent health articles provided by our reliable experts.

Childrens Hospitals In RCHI Banjara Hills

July, 2022

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

Centre of Excellence

July, 2022

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Centre of Excellence

Pediatric Hospital In Chennai, Best Hospital In Chennai For Normal Delivery

July, 2022

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

Centre of Excellence

July, 2022

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

Centre of Excellence

July, 2022

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Centre of Excellence

July, 2022

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

Centre of Excellence

July, 2022

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

Centre of Excellence

July, 2022

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Centre of Excellence

July, 2022

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

Centre of Excellence

What Are People Saying About Us

Embark on a journey of inspiration and hope with our patient success stories, complemented by informative videos from our dedicated doctors.

Successful ECMO Therapy Rainbow Maternity Care!

Seamless Premature Birth in NICU Premature Birth Treatment at NICU

Life-Changing Liver Transplant Life-Changing Liver Transplant

Gastro Surgery Recovery in NICU Mr Rambabu

Cleft Palate Surgery Cleft Palate Surgery

Media

Infant Complementary Feeding - Nurturing Healthy Eating Habits & Growth

Ways to Protect Infants and Premature Babies

Special Celebrations at Rainbow Hospitals

Rainbow Children’s Hospital celebrates New-Born Week and World Prematurity Day by spreading awareness

Rainbow Children’s Hospital celebrates New-Born Week and World Prematurity Day by spreading awareness on infant care, launches Human Milk Bank

All you need to know about premature babies

23 Years of Spreading Smiles | Rainbow Children's Hospital

Rare Procedure Saves Unborn Baby

'EXIT' life saving procedure on unborn baby performed

Urban Baby Saved Through Exit Procedure Delivery In Rainbow Hospital Hyderabad

Rainbow Team Performs Unique and Life Saving Procedure on Unborn Baby

Infant Complementary Feeding - Nurturing Healthy Eating Habits & Growth

Ways to Protect Infants and Premature Babies

Special Celebrations at Rainbow Hospitals

Rainbow Children’s Hospital celebrates New-Born Week and World Prematurity Day by spreading awareness

Rainbow Children’s Hospital celebrates New-Born Week and World Prematurity Day by spreading awareness on infant care, launches Human Milk Bank

All you need to know about premature babies

23 Years of Spreading Smiles | Rainbow Children's Hospital

Rare Procedure Saves Unborn Baby

'EXIT' life saving procedure on unborn baby performed

Urban Baby Saved Through Exit Procedure Delivery In Rainbow Hospital Hyderabad

Rainbow Team Performs Unique and Life Saving Procedure on Unborn Baby

FAQs

What are the nutritional needs of a baby?

When it comes to babies, all their nutrition comes from milk. This milk can be breastmilk, formula, or both. For the first few years of life, milk will be providing almost every nutrient required by the baby’s body.

When babies are between 6 and 9 months, breast milk will not be providing sufficient zinc and iron. Now, babies are ready to start eating solid foods like strained vegetables, fruits, pureed meats, and iron-fortified infant cereal. If your baby is breastfed, meats and fortified cereals can help them a lot.

Once you start adding solid foods to your child’s diet, you won’t have to go low-fat crazy. There are some fat restrictions for babies in general, but you don’t have to follow it strictly until they reach 2 because they need an appropriate amount of fat for the brain and nerve development.

What are the nutritional needs of toddlers and preschoolers?

Toddlers and preschoolers have growth spurts. Even their appetite goes and comes in spurts. So, they might be eating nothing one day and a whole lot on the next. It is very normal and as long as they are eating healthy, they will get all the required nutrients.

To develop healthy and strong teeth and bones, your child needs calcium, the building block of the body. The best source of calcium is milk. For children who are lactose-intolerant, milk-allergic or just don’t like to drink milk, there are some alternatives available. These include soy milk, lactose-free milk, sardines, tofu, calcium-fortified cereals, orange juice, oatmeal, and waffles. In some cases, calcium supplements might be recommended by the pediatrician.

Another important factor is fiber. Most of the kids and toddlers want to eat a beige, bland, and starchy diet containing fries, macaroni, and chicken nuggets. But it is very important at this age to get them to eat vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains, which are all great sources of fiber. Fiber helps in preventing conditions like constipation and heart diseases and also improves digestion.

What are the nutritional needs of a grade-schooler?

It is very common for a grade-schooler to become a vegetarian. This is because, at this age, they start understanding where food comes from and animals. However, you don’t have to worry about protein intake for your child. There are some other great sources of protein like rice, beans, milk, eggs, and peanut butter. You also need to restrict the intake of sodium, fats, and sugars.

Now that your child has started going to school they will have so many choices. Snacks like chips, candy, and cake can end up becoming lunchtime staples. And even though their body needs sugars, sodium, and fats, they should eat it in moderation. Too much of these can lead to health problems and unwanted weight gain. To help them keep their health on track, you need to give your child healthier choices. Make sure that you pack their lunch so that they don’t have to eat at the cafeteria.

What are the nutritional needs of preteens and teens?

When your child starts going through puberty, he/she will need more calories for supporting all the changes that they are experiencing. Unfortunately, most of the preteens and teens get these extra calories from junk and fast foods that have little to no nutritional value.

However, some kids start getting conscious of their body image and weight and restrict any fats, carbs, and calories. This can result in unhealthy behaviors and eating disorders. It is the responsibility of the parents to keep an eye on their eating patterns. Family dinners should be encouraged.

At this age, the calcium requirement of the body is also high. It is even more important than before because, during this time, the majority of the bone mass is built. You need to encourage your child to have more milk, milk products or calcium alternatives that will help them in getting more calcium.

Your child’s need for a particular nutrient will also depend on their gender. For example, teen girls who are menstruating will need more iron than teen boys their age. This is because they need to make up for blood loss during periods. Also, boys will need more protein than girls.

Making your child eat healthy at any age can be challenging. But with your support and guidance, your child can have a well-rounded, healthy body.

How important is water?

Water covers more than half of your child’s body weight. It is also required for keeping all body parts function properly. There is no specific recommended amount that a child needs. So, you need to make sure that they are drinking water throughout the day, even when they are not feeling thirsty. Babies don’t need water for the most part of their first year of life. After this, these need changes. If your child doesn’t like drinking water, you can add a bit of lime or lemon to give it a flavor. You can also make them eat a lot of veggies and fruits as they are great water sources. When they are engaged in physical activities or when it is hot outside, it is even more important for the kids to drink water; or else they will get sick.

Ensuring right nutrition for perfect growth & strong kids.

Children's Nutrition

Find a Doctor

Dr. Brundavani

Dr. V Malathi

Ms. Legundapati Vidyadhari

Ms. Zohra Sania Khan

Our Hospitals and ClinicsOur Hospitals and Clinics

Blogs

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

What Are People Saying About Us

Successful ECMO Therapy Rainbow Maternity Care!

Seamless Premature Birth in NICU Premature Birth Treatment at NICU

Life-Changing Liver Transplant Life-Changing Liver Transplant

Gastro Surgery Recovery in NICU Mr Rambabu

Cleft Palate Surgery Cleft Palate Surgery

Media

Quick Links

Patient Care

Centres of Excellence

Hospitals Locations

Top Specialities

Quick Search

Corporate

Quick Links

Ensuring right nutrition for perfect growth & strong kids.

Children's Nutrition

Find a Doctor

Dr. Brundavani

Dr. V Malathi

Ms. Legundapati Vidyadhari

Ms. Zohra Sania Khan

Our Hospitals and ClinicsOur Hospitals and Clinics

Request a Call back

Thank You

Blogs

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

Sleep problems in children: Tips to promote good sleep hygiene

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Newborns sleep and sleep deprived parents

What Are People Saying About Us

Successful ECMO Therapy Rainbow Maternity Care!

Seamless Premature Birth in NICU Premature Birth Treatment at NICU

Life-Changing Liver Transplant Life-Changing Liver Transplant

Gastro Surgery Recovery in NICU Mr Rambabu

Cleft Palate Surgery Cleft Palate Surgery

Media

Quick Links

Patient Care

Centres of Excellence

Hospitals Locations

Top Specialities

Quick Search

Corporate

Quick Links