First Four Months

Recommended Dietary Allowance Along with your recommended dietary allowance (RDA), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also suggested a recommended Dietary allowance, as shown in Table 1, to meet the nutritional requirements of your little one in the first three years.

Nutrients

0 to 6 months

6 to 12 months

1 to 3  years

Energy

108 kcal/kg

98 kcal/kg

1240 kcal

Protein

2.05 gm/kg

1.65 gm/kg

22 gm

Fat

- *

-*

25 gm/day

Calcium

500 mg

500 mg

400 mg

Iron

1 mg/kg * *

1 mg/kg

12 mg

Vitamin A - Retinol 

- Beta Carotene

350 mcg

1200 mcg

350 mcg

1200 mcg

400 mcg

1600 mcg

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

25 mg

25 mg

40 mg

Vitamin D

200 to 400 IU

200 to 400 IU

200 IU

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamin)

55 mcg/kg

50 mcg/kg

0.6 mg

Vitamin B₂ (Riboflavin)

65 mcg/kg

60 mcg/kg

0.7 mg

Vitamin B₃ (Niacin)

710 mcg/kg

650 mcg/kg

8.0 mg

Vitamin B₆ (Pyridoxine)

0.1 mg

0.4 mg

0.9 mg

Vitamin B₁₂ (Cyanocobalamin)

0.2 mcg

0.2 mcg

0.2 to 1.0 mcg

Folic Acid

25 mcg

25 mcg

30 mcg

Vitamin E

5 IU

5 IU

***

Although ICMR has not made any specific recommendations for the consumption of fats for babies, it is essential in moderation for the healthy growth and development of your baby.

Breast milk is a poor source of iron. However babies are born with adequate iron stores which suffice their daily requirement for the first 4 months. Therefore the requirement for this nutrient begins only after the age of 4 months.

After the age of 1 year there is no specific recommendation for vitamin E as most of the foods we consume like cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables contain plenty of vitamin E.