"Human milk is the best nutrition for your child"
Human milk provides optimal nutritional support for a newborn and has recognized prebiotic and anti-inflammatory effects that enhance biological wellness for the child. Ingestion of human milk is known to aid the newborn's immature immune system. Breastfeeding is the feeding method most encouraged by health care providers today, resulting from the nutritional composition of the milk, the additional immunity it provides the infant in the form of antibodies, and the fact that it has the most easily digestible form of protein. Human milk is readily available, inexpensive, and encourages bonding between the mother and infant. The AAP (2005a) recommends breastfeeding exclusively (no supplemental formulas or baby foods) for approximately the first 6 months and supports continuing breastfeeding after foods are introduced to serve as the child's milk source for the entire first year as long as it is mutually desired by the infant and the mother. Parents should not offer low-iron milks (e.g., cow, goat, soy) to their child until the child is at least 12 months old. Cow's or goat's milk can contributeto anemia because both are deficient in iron. Infants should also never receive low-fat or nonfat milk because these milks do not have the fat, calories, or ironneeded to support the rapid growth and development that occurs at this age.
"Milk will not fully provide the child's needs for iron, which is found in solid foods."
At about 4 to 6 months of age, the infant's milk consumption alone is not likely to be sufficient to meet caloric, protein, mineral, and vitamin needs. In particular, the infant's iron supply becomes low, and supplements of iron-rich foods are needed. It is also around 4 to 6 months when the infant is able to swallow solids effectively and has the necessary enzymes necessary to digest them. It is true that the child becomes interested in new skills, but this is not the primary rationale for introducing solids. Few parents will understand the "extrusion reflex" so using that term is not effective in teaching. The nurse should, however, describe the reflex to the parents. Breastfeeding does not become painful when the child develops teeth. Many mothers nurse for long after their infants develop teeth.
The infant says "da-da" when looking at her father
By 9 months, an infant usually speaks a first word: "da-da" or "ba-ba." The other answers refer to earlier milestones in language development. In response to a nodding, smiling face, or a friendly tone of voice, a 3-month-old infant will squeal with pleasure or laugh out loud. By 4 months, infants are very "talkative," cooing, babbling, and gurgling when spoken to. At 6 months, infants learn the art of imitating. They may imitate a parent's cough, for example, or say "Oh!" as a way of attracting attention.