Nutrition in Life Stages: Infancy to Adolescence

Nutrition in Infancy

• Breastmilk is the best source to fulfill nutritional requirements for infants 6 months or younger.
• Infants require frequent feedings, 8-12 times a day or more in the beginning.

Energy Needs

• Energy needs relative to size are much greater in infants than adults.
• An infant's Basal Metabolic Rate is twice that of an adult.
• IOM formula for energy needs:
  • 0-3 months: (89 x Weight kg - 100) + 175 kcal/day for boys and 472-645 kcal/day for girls.
  • 6-12 months: 645-844 kcal/day for boys and 593-768 kcal/day for girls.
  • 12-24 months: 844-1050 kcal/day for boys and 768-997 kcal/day for girls.

Factors to Consider when Estimating Requirements for Sick Children

• Nutritional status prior to the onset of the disease.
• Whether the disorder is acute or chronic.
• Is mobility affected?
• Any impact on normal feeding, such as dysphagia or reduced appetite.
• Increased gastrointestinal losses, such as vomiting or diarrhea.
• Inability to metabolize dietary constituents.

Common Infant Reflexes and Stimuli

• Blinking reflex: stimulated by puff of air, causing infants to close their eyes.
• Babinski reflex: stimulated by stroking the sole of the foot.
• Grasping reflex: stimulated by pressing objects against the infant's palm.
• Moro reflex: stimulated by loud noise or shock, causing infants to arch their back and throw out their arms.
• Rooting reflex: stimulated by stroking the cheek, causing infants to turn their head towards the touch.
• Sucking reflex: stimulated by inserting a finger or nipple into the mouth.
• Stepping reflex: stimulated by holding the infant upright with their feet touching a surface.
• Babkin reflex: stimulated by stroking the forehead, causing infants to turn their head towards the touch.
• Plantar reflex: stimulated by touching the ball of the foot.

Failure to Thrive (FTT)

• Insufficient weight and weight gain during infancy may indicate FTT.
• FTT can occur at any life stage but typically occurs after 6 months in infancy.
• Causes of FTT include poverty, lack of food, feeding inappropriate foods, and excessive intake of fruit juices.

Average Weight Gain during Infancy

• Boys: 240g/week (0-3 months), 130g/week (3-6 months), 80g/week (6-9 months), 65g/week (9-12 months).
• Girls: 210g/week (0-3 months), 120g/week (3-6 months), 75g/week (6-9 months), 60g/week (9-12 months).

Nutritional Requirements

• Macro and micronutrient needs are higher during infancy than any other life stage.
• These needs are affected by rapid cell division (somatic development) during infancy.
• Infants are entirely dependent on their caregivers to meet these needs.

Child Development

• Refers to biological, psychological, and emotional changes from birth to adolescence.
• Divided into three stages: early childhood (0-6 years), middle childhood/preadolescence (6-12 years), and adolescence (10-19 years).

Physical Development

• Refers to biological changes during certain life stages.
• Aspects that determine progress include physical and brain changes, development of reflexes, motor skills, sensations, perceptions, and learning skills, and health issues.

Physical Development during Infancy

• Rapid growth is influenced by genetics, nutrition, and environment.
• Body weight doubles by 6 months and triples by the baby's 1st birthday.
• Infants grow 10-12 inches during the first two years.
• Head size decreases by 1/3 of entire body, ¼ at age 2, and 1/8 by adulthood.
• Neonatal period is the first four weeks of life.
• Most babies weigh between 5 ½ to 10 lbs and are between 18 and 22 inches long.
• Neonates weighing less than 5 ½ lbs are considered low birth weight (LBW) infants.
• Infants who arrive 2 weeks or more after their due date are postmature.
• Premature and postmature babies are at risk of complications such as sickness, brain damage, or death.