Nutrient Needs During the First Two Months of Life

This section reviews the nutrient needs of young infants, and some general guidelines around nutrient intake.

In general the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for young infants (0-6 months) were set using information about average intake and composition of breastmilk by healthy, term infants. This information, intake of complementary foods, and some data about nutrient absorption and deficiency were used to set DRIs for older infants. The DRIs for older infants (7-12 months) are included in this section for comparison and to aid in understanding of the recommendations.

Energy
Protein
Fat and fatty acids
Carbohydrate
Water
Minerals
Vitamins

This information is summarized in a table.