A Discussion on 'Nutrition' Important for Children's Healthy Development

Hello.
I am Yoshihiko Iwama, Director of Iwama Children's Clinic.

This time, I will focus on 【Nutrition and Health of Children (Infants and Toddlers)】
Nutrition is very important for a child's growth and the maintenance of their health.

In these days when information is overflowing on media and YouTube, it has become extremely difficult to select the right information.
Since I cannot convey everything about 'nutrition and health' at once, I would like to continue to share information from time to time in the future.

This time, I will list some of the questions I am often asked in the examination room by moms and dads who are raising babies or children up to about 3 years old.

I would like to make this an article that will be helpful not only for those who are currently raising children, but also for those who are about to become moms and dads.

<Question 1: If I (mom) have anemia, will my baby (infant/toddler) who is breastfeeding also have anemia?>

There are many moms who are concerned about 'anemia'.

Since the health status of pregnant women and postpartum moms is checked during regular checkups, anemia is almost never overlooked.

Babies within 6 months of birth have iron stored in their bodies (stored iron) inherited from their moms during pregnancy, so even if the mom has anemia, the baby will almost never develop anemia from breast milk..

However, after six months of age, they use up their stored iron, so breast milk cannot cover the iron needs.For a child's development, it is necessary to supplement iron with baby food.

When a baby develops anemia, their weight, which had been increasing steadily until then, suddenly stops increasing.

'It's strange, even though they are drinking enough breast milk or formula.'
At such times, pediatricians suspect anemia in the baby.

Especially when starting baby food, the frequency of breast milk (formula) decreases, and the frequency of baby food increases. If they have just started baby food and cannot eat much iron-rich baby food, the baby's body easily becomes iron-deficient.

Please be aware that anemia in babies (infants/toddlers) is often seen from the middle to late stages of weaning.

<Question 2: Should I be particular about breastfeeding?>

This is also a common question.
To conclude, I believe that 'there is no need to be too particular about breast milk'.

There are individual differences, such as those who produce breast milk easily and those who do not.
Considering nutritional balance, breast milk is good for babies, but if you are too particular about it, please be careful as there is a possibility that the baby will develop 'calorie deficiency'.

It is counterproductive if you try too hard at breastfeeding (due to pressure from those around you, etc.) and the mom's mental state deteriorates.
If breast milk is not enough, I think it is fine to supplement with formula.

The most important thing is for the mom to be able to face her baby (infant/toddler) with peace of mind and calmness.

<Question 3: My baby's weight is not increasing as expected compared to the growth standard (infant physical growth curve). Is this okay?>

This is also often consulted.
In this case, there is a possibility that 'calorie deficiency' is the cause.

However, there is no need to get serious about it.
If you take measures to supplement calories, your baby's weight will increase again.

Also, the infant physical growth curve is just a "guide".
There are large individual differences in a baby's growth, and if the weight is increasing steadily within the normal range, you do not need to worry too much.

However,since "nutrition" is important for a baby's growth and development, I would like you to be conscious of it.
In our clinic, we have a registered dietitian who provides individual nutrition consultations for moms and dads.

If you have any worries or concerns, please rely on your local pediatrician and consult them.

<Question 4: Baby food is tough. Is there any way to make it easier?>

Babies become able to eat baby food at around 5 to 6 months of age.

When you look at YouTube and other sites, there are hundreds of baby food recipes posted.
Choosing recipes from among them that your baby will happily eat might be fun for moms and dads at first.

However,it is tough to keep making baby food while handling daily cleaning, laundry, cooking... and other vast amounts of housework, isn't it?

If you continue to push yourself while doing that, making baby food will gradually change from a "pleasure" to a "burden".

When I receive consultations, I make it a point to say,"It is okay to cut corners more with baby food."When I do that, the faces of the moms brighten up.

Baby food does not need to be something special.
Baby food does not need to be something special.

Dilute with dashi (stock) or water, and keep the saltiness down. Boil well and mash.
Like this,you can easily make baby food by arranging adult menus for infants.

Also, recently, recipe books for freezing baby food have become bestsellers, andinformation to reduce the burden of baby food is increasing, so please check it out.

<Question 5: I am worried that I am giving too many sweets, such as snacks.>

I touched on "nutritional deficiency" earlier, butin modern Japan, "excessive intake" is more of a concern than deficiency.

In particular, "sweets" that use white sugar act on human fundamental desires, and once you consume them, you want more.This is the same for babies.

I understand the feeling of wanting to give snacks because the child is happy or it keeps them quiet, but excessive intake of sugar can lead to becoming an "overweight child," so caution is necessary.

So, is it absolutely forbidden to have sweets? That is not the case.
For example, I recommend foods where you can feel the sweetness derived from nature, such as dried sweet potatoes.I recommend foods where you can feel the sweetness derived from nature.

Excessive intake is not limited to "sugar".
When I did a health checkup before, there was a case where a child's "hands were abnormally yellow."
The mom had not noticed that her child's skin was turning yellow either. (It cannot be helped since they are together all the time.)

When I asked about it, she said the child loved carrots and was eating three sticks a day. Also, it seemed the child was frequently drinking vegetable juice containing carrots and mandarin oranges.

In this case, the child's skin had turned yellow due to excessive intake of "carotene."

While this was a clear example using 'excessive carrot consumption,' you should also be careful because, for instance, combinations like 'vegetable juice + mandarin orange jelly + persimmon' can lead to an increase in the total amount of 'carotene' from each food, potentially resulting in excessive intake.

Iwama Children's Clinic
Director Yoshihiko Iwama

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