A Critical Analysis of Diet Diversity among Infants and Young Children Aged 6-24 Months

Abstract

Infancy is referred from birth to approximately 2 years of age. Young children are typically referred to infants at first year of life. Optimal feeding practices for infants and young children are necessary for nutritional status, growth, development and health. Breast milk is an important component for growth and development by providing required nutrients that serve the unique needs of the human infants such as poly unsaturated fatty acids, certain milk proteins and iron in readily absorbable form. It also contains immunological and bioactive substances, which is absent from commercial infant formulas, which also confer protection from bacterial and viral infection and aids in gut adaptation and development of infants (WHO/UNICEF, 1998).