Train your toddler
FOOD, PARENTING STYLE AND EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOUNG BRAINS DEVELOP
WHEN my daughter was born, like any new mum, I fussed and fretted over her diet and I haven’t stopped even though she’s now 7. I still worry about what she’s eating, how much she consumes and whether she’s getting enough fruit and vegetables in her diet.
Good nutrition is crucial for a child’s brain development so while mothers may huff and puff and struggle with a fussy eater or demanding child, we still try every trick in the book to get some goodness down their throats. But nutrition and brain development is not a subject one can only tackle after birth.
HEAD START
Brain development actually starts in the first 1,000 days of life, which means from conception right up to the child’s second birthday, says Rozanna Rosly, head of dietetic services at UM Specialist Centre (UMSC). This is the crucial time for brain development and the reason why pregnant women are prescribed supplements such as folic acid, iron, calcium, Vitamin D and DHA. “There are nutrient and brain interactions during these crucial 1,000 days. It’s very important for expectant mums to have proper nutrition, right from the time they plan on having a baby,” says Rozanna. The most rapid period of brain growth happens in the last trimester so what the mother consumes can make a huge difference. And once they deliver their babies, the first “brain food” the baby receives is breast milk.
Breast milk contains just the right balance of nutrients such as fats, proteins, lactose, vitamins, minerals and water for newborns. More importantly, says Rozanna, breast milk plays a key role in a child’s brain development because it is rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids (DHA and AA), taurine, choline, zinc and many other nutrients that support this process.
“While there’s no guarantee that breast milk will turn your newborn into the next Einstein, it will help your infant’s brain to achieve its maximum potential,” she stresses.
Numerous studies have proven the connection between breastfeeding and positive neuro-developmental gains. Studies have linked breastfeeding to higher IQ, mastery of developmental milestones and improved cognitive and academic performance.
But Rozanna says parents need to keep in mind that both over nutrition and under nutrition can have an impact on brain development.Children should not be eating too much and becoming overweight, or too little and becoming underweight or stunted.
Malaysia however is facing both problems.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2016 revealed that there is still a high prevalence of stunting (20.7 per cent) and underweight (13.7 per cent) in children below 5.
At the same time, the prevalence of overweight has increased to 6.4 per cent.
In its 2016 report, “Overcoming Childhood Obesity and Malnutrition in Malaysia”, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) also states that Malaysia is one of several Asean countries facing a simultaneous crisis of over and under nutrition.
The Seanuts Malaysia survey carried out in 2011 also indicated that over-nutrition is a problem in the country. There was a higher prevalence of overweight (9.8 per
cent) and obesity (11.8 per cent) compared to thinness (5.4 per cent) and stunting (8.4 per cent) among children surveyed.
Rozanna explains that while the brain requires all nutrients for growth, certain nutrients such as protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, iron, zinc, copper iodine, folate and vitamins A, B6 and B12 are particularly critical. She says after the breastfeeding period, the best approach parents can take is to ensure children have a well-balanced diet which includes a variety of food from different food groups so they get a wide range of nutrients.
Assuming that only certain foods such as superfoods can improve brain development is wrong because there is no one food that can do that. Children need a variety of nutrients from various foods.
“Too much or too little is unhealthy when it comes to food and nutrition. It is important to eat the right and sufficient amount following the recommended ageappropriate servings for each food group.”
DON’T MILK IT
The tendency to frequently replace proper meals with milk is also not the right approach for children. Many parents are taken in by advertisements for growing-up milk which indicate a whole host of benefits, including boosting brain development. As a result, they assume that as long as the child drinks milk, he is fine even if he does not eat properly at main meals.
Rozanna says the rule should be solids before milk because if you give too much milk the child will be too full to eat proper meals.
“Milk is a supplement to your main diet. It has many benefits but it is not a magic pill which can take over the main diet. If the child has some form of physical or mental disability or medical condition which impairs his or her swallowing or chewing ability, then the child may need to be on a liquid or liquidised diet.”
She also cautions that high calorie milk formulations may lead to weight gain if given in excess. So the child, in the journey to promote brain development, could be gaining fat instead.
Rozanna says one has to first look for any inadequacy in the child’s diet before introducing high calorie formulations and the milk given has to match the child’s needs. Too much or too little of anything will be detrimental. “At the end of the day, it’s all about balance,” she says.
Milk is a supplement to your main diet. It has many benefits but it is not a magic pill which can take over the main diet.
Rozanna Rosly