Introduction
To develop to their optimal potential, it is vital that children
are provided with nutritionally sound diets. Diet and exercise patterns during
childhood and adolescence may spell the difference between health
and risk of disease in later years. Different stages of the life
cycle dictate differing nutrient needs.
What are the most important
nutrituonal considerations in the first year of life?
In the first 12 months of life a baby will triple its weight and
increase its length by 50 per cent. These gains in weight and height are the
primary indices of nutritional status and their accurate measure at
regular intervals are compared with standard growth charts. These measurements
are important tools for monitoring a child's progress particularly during the
first 6 to 12 months of life.
Breast-feeding on demand remains the ideal form of feeding for
healthy babies who are born at term. Human milk provides optimum nutrition for
growth and development. The first 4-6 months are a period of very rapid growth,
particularly for the brain, and the amino acid and fatty acid composition of
breast milk is ideally suited to meet those needs. Breast milk also contains
anti-bacterial and anti-infection agents, including immunoglobulins, which have
an important role to play in boosting immune function. The colostrum, which is
the fluid produced by the mammary gland during the first few days after birth,
is rich in protein and has high levels of minerals and vitamins.
Colostrum also contains antibodies, anti-infection agents, anti-inflammatory
factors, growth factors, enzymes and hormones, which are beneficial
for growth and development.
Breast-feeding is strongly advocated for physiological,
psychological and emotional reasons. There is no reason why breast-feeding
should not continue for as long as it is nutritionally satisfactory for mother
and child up to 2 years. However, with changing lifestyles and the availability
of commercially prepared formulae, prepared formulae are generally safe
provided that an approved infant formula is used under strict hygiene
conditions. The infant formulae attempt to mimic as far as possible the
composition of human milk and their use must comply with guidelines laid down
by the European Union and the World Health Organization. Formula-fed infants
also need to be demand fed and the formulae must be made up exactly according
to the manufacturer's instructions for optimal growth. Special attention has to
be taken to sterilise all the feeding equipment to reduce the potential risk of
contamination, because formula-fed babies do not have the same degree of
immunological protection as breast-fed babies.
