The Importance of Adequate Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days of Life for Body Endurance and Little One's Growth and Development

Nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life can affect your little one's future. This is because the child's immune system and organs are developing rapidly. In addition to adequate nutrition, it is also important to provide love and a healthy environment for your little one.

The first thousand days of a child are counted from the fertilization process until he is about 2 years old. This period is the key to health and well-being, so it is called the golden period. Because it affects the future of your child, you need to pay attention to nutritional intake for the first 1,000 days of life.

Providing less than optimal nutrition during this golden period can cause developmental disorders in children. This condition can be characterized by poor nutrition, short stature, speech delay, impaired concentration, and hyperactivity in children.

Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days of Life according to Child's Age

Good nutrition during the first 2 years of a child's life is very important to support their growth and development. However, the provision of nutrition must also be adjusted to the age of the child.

For more clarity, see the following explanation:

Age 0–6 months

From the first day of life until the age of 6 months, breast milk is the single best nutrition for babies. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months has many benefits for both mother and baby. Breastfeeding can be continued until the child is 2 years old accompanied by safe and appropriate complementary foods from the age of 6 months.

Breast milk is equipped with antibodies that can boost the immune system, so it can protect your little one from exposure to viruses and bacteria that cause infection. Breastfeeding can also reduce the risk of death in newborns if the mother initiates early breastfeeding initiation (IMD) 1 hour after the baby is born.

6–8 months old

In addition to breastfeeding, babies aged 6-8 months can be introduced to complementary foods (MPASI). This complementary food can be in the form of cooked vegetables, fruits, meat, nuts, or other vegetable protein that has been mashed.

When introducing solid food for the first time, start with very small portions, about 1-2 teaspoons, so that your little one gets used to the texture and taste of food. If your little one starts to enjoy the food, you can increase the portion.

Age 8–12 months

At this age, babies can be introduced to solid and soft foods for chewing practice. You can give solid food that has been cut into small pieces and cooked until soft. The frequency of eating babies aged 8 months and over will be more frequent, which is up to 3 times a day.

Age 1–2 years

When your little one enters the age of 1-2 years, many types of food can be consumed, from honey to whole grains, such as whole wheat bread, pasta, and rice.

To be safer and healthier, children under 2 years old are recommended not to consume sugar. However, if you want to provide added sugar intake for your little one, make sure to limit it to no more than 10% of the total daily calories, yes.

The total daily caloric requirement for children aged 1–2 years is around 1000–1400 calories. So, a child's added sugar intake should be no more than 100–150 calories or the equivalent of 25–40 grams of sugar.

The Importance of Adequate Nutrition in the First 1000 Days

The adequacy of nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life greatly affects the development of a child's brain and immune system. Your little one needs calories, protein, and other nutrients to support optimal growth and development

The following are some of the nutrients needed in the first 1,000 days of your little one's life:

1. Iron

Naturally, babies are born with enough iron. However, these iron reserves will run out approximately when your little one is 6 months old, so you need to give your baby foods that are high in iron when starting solid food. Adequate iron for babies can be obtained from breast milk, red meat, fish, chicken, chicken liver, beans, and spinach.

2. Calcium

Calcium is very important for building bone density, as well as maintaining healthy teeth, nerves, and muscles in babies. In the first 1,000 days of life, babies can get calcium from breast milk.

3. Folate

Folate is an essential nutrient needed in the first 1,000 days of life for the development of the brain and spinal cord. These nutrients can be obtained from green leafy vegetables and whole grains

4. Iodine

Iodine is needed by the Little One for brain development. Breastfeeding can meet the iodine needed by babies. In addition, iodine can also be obtained from sea fish and seaweed.

5. Synbiotic

To increase endurance and maintain a healthy digestive tract, your little one needs synbiotic intake in the first 1,000 days of life. Synbiotics are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, which can be found in breast milk

In addition to the nutrients above, children also need choline, DHA, and vitamins A, D, B6, and B12 to meet nutritional adequacy in the first 1,000 days of life.

All of these essential nutrients can be found in breast milk. If your little one is 6 months old, you have to make sure that the complementary food you give also contains the various nutrients mentioned above.

In addition to adequate nutrition, children also need love, a sense of security and protection, as well as a healthy environment, to increase their immune system and growth and development, including in the womb.

Make sure you meet the nutritional adequacy in the first 1,000 days of your little one's life to support their growth and development. If your little one's growth and development is not in accordance with his age, consult a doctor to get the appropriate treatment.

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