I firmly believe in the importance of proper nutrition for a child's growth and development. The phrase "Good nutrition is a foundation of a child's survival, health, and growth" highlights the significance of nutrition to a child's survival and development, especially during the first 1000 days. Research suggests that good nutrition and care throughout the first 1000 days of a child's life not only affect their survival but also their development, education, and chances of escaping the cycle of poverty.
Neuroscience and early childhood development research is offering new light on how our brains develop and how our abilities are either nurtured or impeded. Neuronal growth in the first 1,000 days of life is greater than at any other point in a person's life, and this rapid growth necessitates that a newborn receive adequate nutrients at the correct moment. A child's growing brain is sensitive to inadequate nutrition during the 1,000-day window, either due to the lack of crucial nutrients required for cognitive functioning and synaptic connections or the "toxic stress" experienced by a young kid whose family has undergone extended or acute hardship due to food shortages.
Because inadequate nutrition can have long-lasting repercussions on a child's brain development, it is vital to know how to guarantee that children get the nourishment they need during their first 1,000 days. Starting with pregnancy, the fetus should get proper nutrition from their mother’s diets. Pregnant women are putting their unborn children at risk for developmental delays, birth abnormalities, and cognitive deficiencies if they do not consume enough calories, important nutrients, or essential proteins during their pregnancy. Moving on, during infancy, the baby should get nourishment from their mother’s breast milk, nature’s superfood. There are numerous nutrients, growth factors, and hormones in breastmilk that are essential to a child's brain development in the early stages. Lastly, in the toddler stage, protein, iron, zinc, and iodine are critical nutrients for their rapidly developing brain. Iron deficiency in infants and toddlers can lead to decreased social contact, irritability, wariness, and inhibited conduct, as well as decreased interest in play.
According to UNICEF, children who get the right nutrition during the first 1000 days: are 10 times more likely to overcome the most life threatening child diseases; complete 4.6 more grades at school; go on to earn 21% more in wages as adults; and are more likely as adults to have healthier families.
Hence, The cornerstone of a child's survival, health, growth, education, and future is good nutrition. All of us bear the costs of undernutrition in children's education and future development. Issues such as educational attainment gaps and widening inequalities can be traced back to how well a kid is cared for in the first few years of their life. That is why the first 1,000 days of a child's life are important to ensuring their full growth and providing a brighter future for all of us.
References
First 1000 days - unicef.org. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/media/551/file/ZAF-First-1000-days-brief-2017.pdf
The importance of nutrition during the first 1000 Days of Life. SR Nutrition. (2021, April 22). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/2020/12/the-importance-of-nutrition-during-the-first-1000-days-of-life/#:~:text=Other%20nutrients%20of%20particular%20importance,eating%20well%20during%20this%20stage.
Nutrition in the first 1,000 Days. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://thousanddays.org/wp-content/uploads/1000Days-Nutrition_Brief_Brain-Think_Babies_FINAL.pdf