Final answer:
Infant nutrition should include iron-fortified formulas and must address the unique needs due to low birth weight or decreased muscle tone to prevent conditions like marasmus. Adequate nutrition is key to preventing wasting, stunting, and severe undernutrition in infants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Good nutrition for infants, including iron-fortified formulas and special feeding methods, is essential, particularly for those with decreased muscle tone who may have difficulty feeding. Infants with low birth weight, due to reasons like maternal undernutrition and intrauterine growth restriction, are more vulnerable to diseases and developmental delays. Targeting adequate caloric intake is crucial to avert conditions like marasmus, a form of severe undernutrition characterized by calorie malnutrition leading to extreme emaciation. To ensure infants receive the necessary nutrients for growth and to avoid wasting and stunting, a diet with the right balance of proteins, calories, and micronutrients such as iron, vitamin A, and iodine is vital. Table 28.3 suggests avoiding cow's milk for infants, due to unsuitable composition and indigestible proteins, emphasizing the need for specially tailored infant nutrition.