Nutrition During Infancy and Toddler-Hood

Nutrition During Infancy and Toddler-Hood

The first year of a baby's life is a crucial time of development. Good nutrition is important for overall health, bone growth and density, and even at this early age, beginning to adjust the baby's tastes to the nutritious foods that will sustain its good health over a lifetime.

The very first decision a parent must make is whether to provide the baby's primary nutrition through breast-feeding or by providing formula. The breast milk or a formula fortified with iron are the only food a baby requires for the first four to six months of its life.

Children become the "structures" they are built from. What goes into their bodies as infants and toddlers will determine the habits they form regarding good vs. bad nutrition. And whether the structure is solid and lasting, or unstable and feeble, will be a result of their nutrition beginning their first day on earth.

After those first few months of liquids, babies and then toddlers need fruits and vegetables. Whole grains are a must. They also need nutrition for their continuing forming and growing bones in the form of calcium. Proteins are important from fish, poultry, meat and eggs. Other plant sources would suffice as well. All these foods give their bodies those vitamins and minerals that are required to ensure the child grows strong and healthy.

Among those commodities that are not required by infants, toddlers, or children of any age, is sugar in large quantities. It is debated whether large doses of sugar cause severe behavioral changes in these young people, but it is known that it does cause adrenalin surges a few hours after consumption which affects their energy level. And, as we all know, sugar is a major contributor to obesity, which is a huge problem among children today.

Good nutrition is also important for the mental growth of the child -- their ability to learn.

This is significant for many reasons, but one is that, at the age of about one year, a child makes the transition from infant to toddler, and becomes more independent. The toddler gains self-feeding skills and, thus, becomes more in control of what he or she will actually consume. So, those good nutritional habits and foods that a parent has introduced in the formative months, become even more critical to good nutrition as a toddler. If the baby has learned the tastes of good nutrition, those will continue with them as a toddler, young child, etc. And if bad nutritional habits have been developed -- for example, too much sugar -- it could affect the child's health for a lifetime.

Obesity, as we have mentioned, is an enormous problem with children. Its importance has risen dramatically over the past decade as a part of the public health issues. Besides obvious health considerations, poor nutrition leading to excess weight can lead to low self-esteem, diabetes, hypertension, and other weight-induced difficulties. However, it should be emphasized that, in toddlers, diets should not be restricted to strict low-fat, or low-calorie diets as these may lead to restriction of much needed nutrients and unbalanced intake of food groups required at this age for mental, physical, and bone growth. Healthy food choices and an increase in physical activity might be recommendations in cases such as these.