Facts and tips on child care and nutrition

By Anarita M. Ramirez
Food and Nutrition Research Institute

A child is a bundle of miracle.   Everything “becomes right” when one gets the wisdom from a child's trusting look.  That is why many things a mother does or even plans ahead generally concern the development of her child.

One such maternal concern is keeping tab on her child's growth and right nutrition.  Here are a few facts and quick-tips on a child's growth:

• The first “growth spurt” is during infancy.   Infants increase weight rapidly from birth up to two years.  If the baby's growth is normal, birth weight doubles at about 5 months and triples at one year old.
• Breastfeed the baby exclusively from birth to 6 months.  Do not give any other liquid food to the infant except breastmilk during this period.
• At 6 months of age, a mother may introduce variety of soft foods.  Since the child's eating habits are usually formed as early as infancy, teach the child to appreciate various colors, texture, and taste of food.
• Give the child finely sliced food.   Whenever possible, mash foods for easier digestion.
• Give the child foods cooked in oil or spread margarine for added energy.  Try vitamin A-fortified cooking oil and spreads.
• Serve foods in amounts that the child can consume.   A child eats to his capacity.
• Feed the child more frequently to meet his body's requirements for food and nutrients.
• Be observant of the child's physical growth and development.
• Monitor the child's weight every month.  Check for weight loss or if the child does not gain weight.   This may be a cause for alarm and may signal insufficient food intake.
• Continued weight loss may signal disease or the child could have suffered from frequent bouts of infection.
• Often, a malnourished child is prone to contract infections easily due to decreased immunity or resistance to diseases.
• Prolonged micronutrients deficiency predisposes a child to physical or developmental damage in later life. 
• A child who weighs excessively more than his age or height may show signs of overweight or obesity.  Obesity and being overweight are also forms of malnutrition.
• Severe under- or over-nutrition are risk factors to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, etc. that may appear in adulthood.
• Consult a doctor for any abnormal change in child's growth.
• The second “growth spurt” is at puberty, or when the child is 10 to 13 years of age.
• At puberty, energy giving foods rich in protein, calcium, and zinc are a must to sustain the child's increasing needs for growth and bone development.
• Zinc deficiency was documented to be partly responsible for growth retardation, delayed skeletal maturation, and sexual maturity, among others.  Red meat and shellfish are rich sources of zinc.
• Increased intake of iron-rich foods especially for the females.  Onset of menstruation is around this age and menstrual blood loss needs to be replenished to prevent anemia.
• School-aged child should drink milk at least once a day.  Milk meets the child's requirements for calcium, protein and the B vitamins, which are important to growth.
• The child should eat breakfast before going to school.  Eating a good breakfast aids in his school performance.  Encourage children to be conscious with nutrition labels.
• Buy fortified foods.  Some brands of cheese, hotdog, powdered drink, noodle, catsup, and cooking oil are fortified.
• Prepare nutritious lunches for the school-aged child.  Packed lunches should be easy-to-eat and appetizing.  Plan packed lunches such that the child does not get bored with the food.
• Instill in the child the value of eating properly and avoid wastage.
• At home, serve nutritious snacks in amounts he can consume, served ahead of the next meal so as not to disrupt the child's appetite.
• Lastly, give additional care and feeding to children who are ill.  This enables the child to regain strength faster.