Annaprashana Samaskar: The Right way to Start

Abstract

Breast milk provides all of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals an infant needs for growth for the first six months, and no other liquids or food are needed. However, from the age of six months, breast milk is no longer sufficient by itself, however it continues to be an important source of energy, high quality nutrients and anti-infective factors beyond six months of age. First time feeding with the solid foods such as cerels to a child at six month of his life is an important part of life and celebrated as Annaprashan Samskara as described in Ayurveda. Evidence-based studies also indicate that early nutritional inadequacy can lead to long-term impairment in growth and health of the growing child. Therefore this period is a sensitive period and nutritional influences at this time can exert long-term effects on later development and health of a child. Iron and zinc has been found to be the problem nutrients since their concentration in human milk is much lesser than relative need. In our Ayurvedic text they had mention about the good health of child with different type of recipes are mention for child. At every contact point with the caregivers, doctors can assess child’s growth and give age appropriate counselling on infant and young child feeding and care practices. The time invested in counselling mothers by medical personnel has shown to give returns in terms of improved nutritional status of the children.