The ‘golden’ 1,000-day nutrition determines 60% of a child’s height

Specialist doctor 2 Dinh Thi Kim Lien – Nutrihome Nutrition Clinic System, said that the first 1,000 golden days of a child’s life are divided into 3 stages including: 280 days in pregnancy, first 180 days after birth ( exclusively breastfed infants), 540 days of complementary foods (after 6 months to 2 years of age). This is the “golden” period of the child’s height, physical and intellectual development.

Accordingly, starting from the 4th month of pregnancy, the baby’s skeletal system is formed and develops rapidly. If the mother has good nutrition, during 9 months of pregnancy, the baby will be born with a standard height (length) of over 50 cm (corresponding to a birth weight of about 3 kg). In the remaining period of 1000 golden days after birth, a baby can increase 25 cm in the first year and increase 10 cm in the next year, determining up to 60% of the child’s future height growth.

“No matter what stage a child is in during the 1,000 ‘golden days’, it’s never too late to start building a reasonable diet to help children develop their best physical condition and health,” said Dr. said.

Children who are malnourished in 1,000 golden days will easily face the risk of stunting, low birth weight, growth retardation, greatly affecting their stature later on. If this malnutrition persists throughout the child’s development, by puberty, the child will be more severely malnourished and stunted.

Doctor Kim Lien recommends that, for optimal child development in the first 1,000 days of life, parents need to maintain a scientific diet from the fetal stage until the child is 2 years old. Specifically:

Pregnancy stage: from conception, growing up in the mother’s womb, the baby absorbs daily nutrition from the mother’s diet and supplements with minerals and vitamins. Mothers need to pay attention to adequate nutrition through a variety of meals of meat, fish, eggs, shrimp, crab, micronutrients, fiber (vegetables, tubers, fruits)…

If the mother eats subjectively, neglects, abstains, does not have enough nutrients, or eats poorly nutritious foods, the baby will be born with a lack of multi-micronutrients, low birth weight, malnutrition, growth retardation… For mothers having a lot of morning sickness, poor appetite, and expected weight gain is difficult to reach 10-12 kg / 9 months of pregnancy, need to consult a doctor to be supplemented with milk, essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins B, C, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A (low dose less than 5,000 UI/day).

Exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life: according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months of life, without any additional nutrients from outside, including water, at the same time should continue breastfeeding until the child turns 24 months old. The mother’s nutrition during this period is important, determining the health of the baby through breast milk. Therefore, mothers need to eat enough nutrients to enhance the health of mother and baby. In addition to 3 main meals, mothers need to eat 2 additional meals. Postpartum mother’s energy needs 550 kcal/day (2,470-2,704 kcal/day).

Breast milk is an important source of nutrition for the baby, however, if the mother does not have enough milk, she needs to go to the doctor to be consulted by a nutritionist on diet, massage methods, feeding sessions, etc. to have a source. best milk. To have a good milk supply, mothers can drink at least 600 ml of extra milk per day and eat enough (meat, eggs, shrimp, crab, fish, vegetables).

Stage of children learning to eat complementary foods (6 months – 2 years old): at this time, breast milk does not meet the nutritional needs of children, so children need to be supplemented with nutrients to eat solid foods. The composition of meals for babies from powdered weaning to porridge, soup from liquid to thickening (rice, potatoes…), animal protein, micronutrients (eggs, meat, shrimp, crab, fish, assorted) vegetables, fruits, etc.), grease from 2.5 ml per meal when starting to eat to 5 ml per meal after a few weeks and 10 ml per meal when almost 1 year old; vegetables 1-2 spoons/meal, besides that the baby needs to continue to breastfeed and drink enough water.

Parents should familiarize children with common vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, amaranth, pumpkin, beets… and should let children get used to vegetables first and then vegetables. Because vegetables are often sweet, the baby will no longer be interested in vegetables.

From 1-2 years old is the period when children’s calorie needs increase higher. Children still drink breast milk, formula milk, combined with solid foods, but the nutrition in this age group is different from that of children under 1 year old. Children from 1 year old can drink whole milk (including butter and fat), because at this time the body needs more calories from fat to help children grow and develop comprehensively. Children drink 4 servings of milk per day, about 120 ml each.

During this period, in addition to drinking milk, children need to eat all four important groups of substances: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Mothers should add fresh juice with a dose of about 150 ml/day, encourage the baby to drink more filtered water.

Parents should note more, the child’s energy needs also depend on the child’s weight and activity. On average, children aged 1-2 years need 1,000-1,200 kcal/day (100 kcal/kg body weight). If the child is active, the mother can give the child more snacks besides the main meal of the day. Children should eat 4-6 meals a day.

“Nutrition for the first 1,000 days of life is very important for a child’s development throughout life. If this period is missed, the child will be greatly disadvantaged in growth, especially in height. Parents should give Children go to the doctor for advice on specific diets, suitable for each child’s condition, health and preferences,” said Doctor Lien.

Peace