It is not the puberty stage but the first five years of life that determine everything, thus in order for our children to grow and mature, the first five years of life are the most important. Children reach this stage in their lives when they progress academically, emotionally, and physically at an astounding rate. For instance, a child's adult height is expected to be approximately twice as tall as the child's height when they were 2 years old.
To be more specific, the growth chart maintained by the CDC in the United States reveals that the average height of a boy at the age of 2 is 87.5 centimeters, which is equivalent to an adult height of 175 centimeters! Children can acquire up to 25 centimeters in height in their first year, 10 centimeters in each of the following two years from 1 to 3 years old, and approximately 5 or 6 centimeters between the ages of 3 and 5 years old.
Even if the child's development is hampered between the ages of 0 and 5, there are still 12 years left for them to make up for it in school. However, considering their children's stature and level of intellect, no parent would want to place a wager.
To reach one's full potential in terms of height, there are a number of aspects that need to be managed, the most important of which are diet, rest, and activity levels, both physically and mentally.
NUTRITION
Not only does proper nutrition contribute to the development of excellent height, but it also contributes to the robust development of children's brains.
1. Infancy, from birth up to the age of six months
During this time, milk is the primary source of nutrition. It is usually recommended that nursing be the baby's first choice because breast milk is packed full of beneficial nutrients and antibodies that strengthen the immune system and make it easier for the baby to ward off illness. However, there is one very important nutrient that is not adequately provided by breast milk, and that is vitamin D. Children of this age have a daily vitamin D requirement of 400 IU.
Numerous studies indicate that not only children but even moms are at risk for vitamin D insufficiency, and as a result, the immune system is not functioning as effectively as it should be. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D for the mother is between 600 and 800 international units (IU).
2. The infant stage, between the ages of 6 and 12 months
Children who are in the weaning stage can already consume a small amount of fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish. However, it is important to note that these foods should be pureed, crushed, or increased in coarseness according to the child's development. Milk is still the primary source of nutrition.
It is essential to offer children a wide variety of foods so that they can become accustomed to a variety of tastes. When children become accustomed to the bitter or ring taste of vegetables, they will eventually prefer to eat vegetables on their own without the need for coercion.
Read Also:WHO vaccine schedule for children
3. The childhood years, from ages 1 to 5, inclusive
Children are now able to consume solid foods and substances in the same manner as adults. It is recommended that breast milk be continued up until the age of 2 (if at all possible), after which fresh milk should be given in place of powdered milk.
It is still very important to provide children with a varied diet that contains sufficient amounts of healthy ingredients such as: starch, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals derived from meat, fish, eggs, milk, vegetables, tubers, fruits, and seeds. Children should eat three main meals and two to three snacks each day.
4. IMPORTANT NOTES:
Immune Gap: In the field of medicine, the time period before the age of 36 months is referred to as the immune gap because infants are highly prone to contracting diseases.
Parents should ensure proper nutrition, clean hygiene, timely vaccinations, let their children exercise outside for at least 30 minutes per day, and supplement with vitamins A, D, E, etc. C, K in order to reduce the number of diseases that affect their children.
It's not always the case that more is better:
Consuming an excessive amount of protein, fat, and flour will cause an increase in weight; however, what is missing in overweight children is trace elements such as vitamins and minerals. Although everyone wants their children to be overweight, everyone also wants their children to be plump.
According to research, a child's blood zinc levels, as well as the levels of vitamins C, D, and E, are lower when the child is overweight.
To simplify things, imagine that your body is a house. The bricks and stones that make up the house are analogous to the macronutrients protein, fat, and starch; however, the cement, lime, and mortar that hold the house together are analogous to the vitamins and minerals.
Children need enough amounts of calcium and vitamin D in order to reach their full potential in terms of height development. Please refer to the image for the recommended daily intake of calcium and vitamin D for each age group.
In point of fact, we don't consume nearly enough calcium, even though it's found in abundance in many common foods including eggs, shrimp, crabs, fish, meat, eggs, milk, tofu, almonds, and so on.
Low levels of vitamin D can cause children's growth to be slowed down, according to research that was conducted by Rana Mokhtar and her colleagues in Ecuador on a group of children aged 6 months to 36 months and published at the end of 2017 in the journal Nutrition and Public Health. Children with low serum 25(OH)D levels had a stunted growth rate of 79.2 percent, according to study.
Vitamin D supplementation resulted in considerable improvements in height and growth rate in healthy children, in contrast to children with rickets. development of the child.
There have also been a significant number of recent studies that demonstrate the role that vitamin K2 plays in coordinating with vitamin D3 to better route calcium into bones and to avoid calcium deposition in blood vessels and soft tissues.
It is not incorrect to refer to vitamin D as a hormone because of the crucial function it plays in enhancing calcium absorption, promoting height, and strengthening the immune system.
When dealing with youngsters, vitamin D supplements frequently have trouble changing the dose; nevertheless, people can learn to take them in spray form.
This Dimao is very easy to use, and each spray contains 400 international units of vitamin D at the dosage that is recommended.
Additionally, the spray form allows for better absorption because it can more easily penetrate the oral capillaries.
5.SLEEP AND ACTIVITY
Regular exercise and sleep are known to increase levels of the growth hormone GH and promote healthy bone growth.
It is recommended that children ages 1-3 sleep 11-14 hours per day, and that children ages 3-5 sleep 10-13 hours per day. Newborns require 12-16 hours of sleep each day.
Because the growth hormone is at its most active between the hours of 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., it is important that children learn the habit of going to sleep before 9 p.m.
Children also need time to play and be outside. It is beneficial for children's health to become accustomed to activities such as taking swimming lessons, going on picnics, and playing soccer with other children.
Spending time playing with one's parents significantly boosts a child's attachment as well as their intellectual development and EQ.
Treat the creator by giving a small donation.