Nutrition during infancy and toddlerhood

Nutrition During the Infancy and Toddlerhood Period

During the first year of life, a child grows incredibly quickly, as any parent will attest to. At that same time a child must get the right nutrition that he or she needs in order to succeed. Without adequate nutrition a child might not grow properly, but physical issues are not the only ones addressed (Fomon, 2001). Mental and emotional issues can also be affected. By the first birthday an infant's weight should have tripled, but that will not happen if it does not receive good nutrition (Satter, 2000). Calories are required, as are minerals and vitamins. Getting balanced nutrition can be difficult, though, which is why infant formula was designed for mothers who did not want to or who could not breastfeed properly (Satter, 2000). Experts agree that breastfeeding is the best choice, but there are certainly mothers who choose to feed their children with formula, and this works well, too (Fomon, 2001). It is very important, however, that children under one year of age not be given whole milk from a cow, because they can end up with an iron deficiency (Fomon, 2001).

No one wants their child to have a problem or get a sickness, but it is sometimes unavoidable. Diseases and accidents occur. With nutrition, though, problems can be avoided if parents know what they should be doing when it comes to feeding their infants and toddlers (Fomon, 2001). Some people try to feed their infants solid food much too early because they want those babies to sleep through the night. Solid food will not make babies sleep through the night, as sleeping is a developmental milestone (Satter, 2000). The problem with solid food too early in life is that it cuts down on how much formula a baby eats and that can actually hurt that child's nutritional status because there are some vitamins and minerals that are in the formula that are not given in concentrations that are as high in other foods (Fomon, 2001). In other words, children who are given solid food before about six months of age miss out on the nutrition that they actually need (Satter, 2000).

Once an infant reaches six to seven months of age, he or she can learn to eat without the aid of a parent. The child can hold a bottle, and he or she can also pick up soft bits of vegetables and fruits (Satter, 2000). He or she can also eat biscuits or crackers that are specifically designed for children of that age. (Fomon, 2001) There are a lot of foods that a baby should not be eating because it is too easy to choke on them, and an adult should always be present when a very young child is eating, even if that child is doing well with eating on his or her own. Nutritionally, it is also a good idea for an adult to be present (Satter, 2000). It is expected that an infant or toddler will have food preferences, just like an older child or an adult. With this being the case, not eating the right foods can become a problem. (Fomon, 2001) by offering a wide range of choices, it is much more likely that the infant or toddler will find something that he or she likes and that is healthy. Giving babies and young children candy and soda should really be avoided in order to keep these youngsters from developing bad nutritional habits at an early age (Fomon, 2001).