by admin-blog-kh | February 9, 2026 8:11 am
From the moment your baby begins to grow in the womb, nutrition plays a powerful role in their health and development. Even before birth, a steady flow of nutrients from the mother, through the placenta, helps build the baby’s body and brain. Between 20 weeks of pregnancy and birth, a baby’s brain doubles in size, forming billions of new connections. When a baby arrives early, the sudden loss of these vital nutrients can be a big shock—especially for tiny organs that aren’t fully ready for life outside. In those first days, good nutrition is as important as warmth or oxygen, helping your baby grow strong and healthy for life.
Breastfeeding is nature’s perfect food for babies. The first milk, called colostrum, is a superfood—it’s the baby’s first meal, first medicine, and the first bond of love between mother and child. Starting breastfeeding within one hour of birth helps protect newborns from dangerous infections and greatly lowers the risk of death. Babies who are not breastfed or only partially breastfed are more likely to develop diarrhoea, pneumonia, and malnutrition.
Breast milk is specially designed for each baby, packed with antibodies, healthy fats, and all the energy a growing child needs. Even after six months, breast milk continues to provide half of a baby’s daily energy needs and about one-third from one to two years of age. During illness, breast milk is gentle on the stomach and helps babies recover faster.
Around six months old, babies become curious about new foods and need more energy and nutrients than breast milk alone can provide. This is when it’s time to introduce complementary foods—soft, mashed vegetables, grains, pulses, fruits, and animal foods. These home-cooked foods help children grow stronger and healthier.
Delaying or not giving these new foods in the right amounts can slow down a child’s growth and weaken their immunity. Parents should continue breastfeeding on demand, feed responsively (encouraging but not forcing the baby), and always practice good hygiene when preparing food. Start with small, soft meals and slowly increase the amount and variety as your baby grows. Between 6 and 8 months, offer 2–3 small meals a day; from 9 to 23 months, offer 3–4 meals and 1–2 healthy snacks each day. During illness, offer extra fluids, breastfeed more often, and give soft, favourite foods to help your child recover.
The time from conception until a child’s second birthday—the first 1,000 days—is often called the golden window of life. During this period, the brain and body grow at their fastest rate. Good nutrition during this period has lifelong effects: it builds a strong immune system, supports learning, and protects against diseases later in life. Each meal you provide your child in these years is an investment in their future health, intelligence, and potential. A well-nourished mother gives birth to a stronger baby, and timely breastfeeding and complementary feeding keep the growth curve rising.
Feeding can be more challenging for babies born too early (preterm). Some tiny babies, especially those under one kilogram, cannot digest milk right away. These babies may need nutrients through a vein until their digestive systems mature. Gradually, they are given tiny drops of milk through a feeding tube to help their stomachs adapt. As they get stronger, intravenous feeding is reduced and mother’s milk is increased. Babies between one and one-and-a-half kilograms can often start with tube feeding and then move to spoon-feeding and breastfeeding. With patient care and monitoring, these babies can catch up in growth and health.
At Kauvery Hospital, Chennai[1], we are proud to support the Baby-Friendly Hospital[2] Initiative (BFHI), a global programme that helps ensure every newborn gets the best start. We encourage skin-to-skin contact right after birth, start breastfeeding within the first hour, and keep mothers and babies together 24 hours a day. Unless medically required, no other food or drink is given to newborns. Our team provides guidance on feeding during pregnancy and after birth and continues to support mothers through group meetings and community outreach.
When families, healthcare teams, and communities join forces to nourish the youngest lives, every child has a brighter chance for survival, health, and lifelong potential. The early days and months are precious—by making good nutrition a priority, you’re laying a strong foundation for your baby’s future.
Dr. Sindhu Sivanandan[3]
Chief Neonatologist
Kauvery Hospital – Radial Road
Why is infant nutrition important for brain development?
Early nutrition supports rapid brain growth, nerve development, and learning ability. Proper nutrients help form strong brain connections that influence intelligence, memory, and behaviour throughout life.
What is the best nutrition for newborn babies?
Breast milk is the best nutrition for newborns. It provides the perfect balance of nutrients, antibodies, and healthy fats needed for growth, immunity, and brain development.
Why is colostrum important for babies?
Colostrum is the first milk produced after birth. It is rich in antibodies and essential nutrients that protect babies from infections and support early immunity and growth.
When should breastfeeding begin after birth?
Breastfeeding should begin within the first hour of birth to reduce infection risk, improve survival, and strengthen mother-baby bonding.
How long should breastfeeding be continued?
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding along with complementary foods up to two years or beyond.
When should solid foods be introduced to babies?
Complementary feeding should begin at six months of age, while continuing breastfeeding to meet increasing nutritional needs.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet, Radial Road & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and paediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Radial Road – 044 6111 6111 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Maa Kauvery Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Kauvery Cancer Institute, Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 68011
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