ROLE OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING

Good nutrition is essential for the growth and development that occurs during an infant’s first year of life and beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding of infants from birth through 6 months is important for optimal health, growth, and development.

The first 24 months of life provide a critical window of opportunity for ensuring children's appropriate growth and development through optimum feeding. The introduction of an appropriate diet corresponding to the developmental stage of infants provides enough micronutrients to meet requirements.

Appropriate feeding facilitates the proper development of eating and self-feeding skills.