Protein is essential for proper growth in children. It is one of the most important structural components of muscle tissue, so it plays a big role in development in children. An adequate protein intake is essential to help increase, repair, and maintain muscle mass in children. Protein is also present in your child's organs, blood, glands, and even skin. Therefore, children who do not consume enough protein-rich foods are likely to experience malnutrition, stunted growth, and physical/mental problem, such as irritability, fatigue, and more. But how much protein do 13 month olds need? What is the best way to increase protein intake in your infants?

How Much Protein Does a 13 Month Old Need?

As per the Institute of Medicine, you should give at least 13g of protein per day to children between the ages 1 and 3. Some of the best food options for toddlers include soft meats, such as hamburger, chicken, whole milk, fish, tofu, yogurt, legumes, and eggs. Ask your doctor before serving peanut butter to your toddler. Be sure to cut meats into small pieces to avoid any complications. While you can give fish to your child, you should avoid shark, tilefish, swordfish, and king mackerel because of a high risk of contamination. Haddock, catfish, light tuna, salmon, shrimp, and tilapia are some better options. Here are some other food options to consider:

1.    Dairy Products

Yogurt, milk, cheese, and cottage cheese are all good sources of protein for toddlers. For your toddler under 2 years of age, you can always go for full-fat versions of dairy products. You can also add non-fat dry milk to cream based sauces and soups to increase their protein content. You can provide your toddler with about 16g of protein by giving them an ounce of meat and 16 ounces of milk every day.

2.    Eggs

Another simple way to provide 6g of protein is to give your toddler an egg to eat. You can also add eggs to different dishes or you can add healthy vegetable puree to scrambled eggs to make them look interesting. You can also give hard-boiled eggs to your toddler, but be sure to slice them into wedges first.

3.    Beans

You can also rely on beans to provide your toddler with more protein. You can give them bean dips or purees with veggies, pita bread, and whole-grain crackers. It is also possible to add beans to tortilla to make it more interesting for young toddlers. Using canned beans is another quick and simple way to provide your toddler with more protein on a daily basis.

Protein Need for Kids of Different Ages

How much protein does a 13 month old need? You already know the answer but you should also know how much protein to give for kids at different stages. Here are some details:

• Infants: Your infant is likely to get enough protein from breast milk. Infant formula usually works fine too. You just need to provide your 0-6 months old with at least 9.1g of protein a day. They should get at least 11g/day if they are between the ages 7 and 12 months.
• Ages 4 to 8: Children in this age group should get at least 19g of protein a day. They should get more in case they are very active. You can give them the same foods most adults eat. The options include legumes, soy products, eggs, seafood, poultry, nuts, peanut butter, and seeds.
• Age 9 and Older: Children in this age group should get no less than 34g of protein per day. Boys between 14 and 18 should get 52g of protein per day, whereas girls of the same age should get 46g of protein daily. Athletes require at least 1g of protein per kilogram of body weight.

Other Nutrition Needs for Your 13 Month Old

Knowing “How much protein does a 13 month old need?” is not enough, you should also learn other nutrition needs for your kid to help them grow. While many factors play a role here, here is a table to help you have an idea about the basic nutrition needs of your 13-month old.

Calories

From age 1, your toddler needs at least 1,000 calories a day. They need more depending on their activity level. At 4 years, they would need no less than 1,500 calories/day.

Carbs

The brain needs glucose to function properly and that glucose comes from carbs. Children should not be put on a low-carb diet because it can affect their mental growth. In fact, they need an increased amount of carbs to fuel their growing brains. At age 1, children usually need at least 130g of carbs per day. You have to provide them with this many carbs because even a child's brain requires the same amount as required by an adult brain to function properly. Pick healthy sources of carbs though. Some options include wild rice, quinoa, oats, barley, and fresh fruits and veggies, such as stone fruits, apples, banana, sweet potato, squash, and peas.

Fiber

Your child between the age of 1 and 3 requires at least 19g of fiber daily. If you are paying attention to meeting their carbs goal, you usually do not need to worry a lot about providing them with more fiber. Still, stick with whole foods to help increase their intake of fiber.

Sodium

Your toddler between the age 1 and 3 needs no less than 1g of sodium per day, as it is important to help maintain muscle contractions, blood pressure, and nerve function. Just keep in mind that a half teaspoon of salt equals 1,000mg of sodium per day. Avoid giving your young ones more than 1,500mg of sodium per day.

Iron

It is important to give your child up to 7mg of iron a day and your little one is going to get enough from breast milk as well as iron fortified formula. Iron supplementation may help in some cases but are not always required.