In the past week alone on separate occasions, I’ve met two well-informed, dedicated young moms who were genuinely perplexed by one simple fact: “Babies need a little bit of animal-source food (dairy, eggs, poultry, meat, or fish) every meal or at least every single day”.

Despite their best efforts to stay “informed”, they had missed a crucial, research-based pillar of infant health (specifically, Recommendation 4 of the WHO’s guidelines on complementary feeding). If you’re feeling a bit perplexed too, let’s go through the thought process together.

An undisputed fact: Mom’s milk is the ultimate growth nutrient. Its bioavailability, the ease with which a baby’s body absorbs its nutrients, is unrivalled. It is also an”animal-source food”. Yes, we are mammals, after all. All agree on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding alongside solids thereafter for as long as possible. Very few quarrels there.

Zoom in at the “formula for success” in breastmilk:

87% Water (Hydration) and 13% Solids.

The solids break down into:

• 54% Lactose (The energy/carbs)
• 29% Fats (The brain fuel)
• 8% Proteins (The building blocks)
• 8% Vitamins, Minerals, and Oligosaccharides

Here is where basic common sense often gets lost. If breastmilk is the “superfood” that fuels a baby’s rapid growth, shouldn’t we try to mimic that composition when we introduce solids?

A baby grows at a staggering rate of roughly 1mm every three days. To support that kind of “construction project,” nutrient density is everything. Baby’s stomach is so small, every spoonful has to count.

Turning 180 degrees away from animal-sourced foods the moment a baby starts solids is, quite frankly, “nuts.” When we swap nutrient-dense animal proteins and fats for low-density plant fillers, we lose that mimicry of the breastmilk composition that the baby’s body is already primed to use.

The logic is contingent on one simple rule: Don’t break a winning streak. If baby thrived on the animal-sourced nutrients in breastmilk, they will continue to thrive if we ensure there are carbs, fats, and proteins from animal sources in their meals every time and every day.

Let’s stop overcomplicating and start mimicking. Every meal, every day!