n the major compartments change. At birth about 75 percent of the infant’s weight is water and 12-15 percent is fat. The relatively high amount of water, low amount of subcutaneous fat, and the proportionately large surface area explain why precautions must be taken to keep the infant well hydrated and warm. Each infant requires a certain amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins, water, energy, carbohydrates, and fats to meet its nutritional and developmental needs. The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for the first six months are set at the level that a healthy, well-nourished infant would receive from breast-feeding. For the second six months, the levels of nutrients are based on satisfactory growth on a formula plus solid foods. Here I will outline these nutritional needs. Energy Needs- the actual energy requirement of individual infants will vary based on body size, level of activity, and rate of growth. These are important aspects. Different infants have widely different activity patterns, some are restful and quiet while others spend more time crying, kicking, and moving. To support the remarkable growth however, a substantial portion of energy intake goes toward deposition of new tissue. The importance of high energy density diets are important, to meet high energy needs. Protein Needs- protein requirements per kilogram of body weight are higher during infancy than at any other time in life. Protein provides amino acids and energy for the formation of new muscle, connective tissue, and bone, as well as for synthesis of a large number of enzymes, hormones, and plasma protein. The reference protein used for early infancy is human milk protein, and the protein requirement for the first few months after birth is based on the intake of protein by healthy breast-fed infants who are growing normally (NAS 1989). Amino Acid Needs- the nine amino acids that are essential for adults are also essential for infants. S...
