Three out of four parents rate their knowledge of their child's nutrition in the first year of life as very good, according to a recent online survey organised by a team of nutritionists from the Medical University of Warsaw, with support from the Nutricia Foundation, the initiator of the nationwide educational programme '1000 First Days to Health'. [1]. The vast majority of caregivers (82%) also believe that their child is eating properly and is learning more skills related to accepting new tastes and dishes in a timely manner. And although there is an increasing percentage of parents who rate their level of knowledge regarding nutrition as good (66% in 2020 vs. 76% in 2021), the survey results show that nutritional mistakes are still being made and false myths are being reproduced.
The first months, years of life - the so-called "1000 first days" - is a period of fundamental importance for the child's health now and in the future. The right diet is the prevention of many diet-related diseases such as obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, which is why proper nutrition during the time when the child's most intensive growth and development takes place is so crucial. The results of the study show that there is still much room for improvement in this aspect.
23% parents surveyed introduced cow's milk to their infant's diet
It is breast milk or modified milk that forms the basis of a baby's nutrition in the first year of life. Cow's milk has an excess of protein and sodium and increases the risk of anaemia in infants, which is why it is recommended that it should only be introduced into the diet in beverage form after 12 months of age, and that too in controlled quantities.
Before the first birthday, small amounts of cow's milk can be given for the preparation of meals, e.g. pancakes, cakes or to whiten soups. Milk and dairy products are a good source of protein and calcium, which is why the introduction of dairy products such as mild rennet cheeses, cottage cheese or fermented products such as kefir and natural yoghurt is recommended during the expansion of the diet.
Plant-based drinks are in the diet of 18% infants
Not all parents know that plant-based drinks are not suitable for babies. As many as 18% children before their first birthday have them on the menu. What's more, 19% parents believe that plant 'milks' (e.g. coconut, almond) are a valuable alternative to milk replacers. Unfortunately, they are wrong! Due to their composition, which is unsuitable for a young child's nutritional needs, these drinks are not and cannot be regarded as substitutes for breast milk or modified milk. They also often contain added sugar or food additives to improve the taste, and can be a source of dangerous contamination.
– The basis of an infant's nutrition is mother's milk or modified milk, and water is recommended for drinking. Cow's milk contains low concentrations of iron, as well as too much protein and some minerals (e.g. sodium), which in excessive quantities can have a negative impact on the baby's health. It is worth remembering that during the first year of a baby's life, mother's milk or modified milk should not be exchanged for cow's milk, sheep's milk, goat's milk or plant-based drinks. Among other things, their introduction increases the risk of anaemia, as their composition is not adapted to the needs of a growing baby. - comments Karolina Lukaszewicz, nutritionist and expert of the educational programme '1000 First Days to Health'.
19% of parents surveyed do not consider fruit to be a valuable source of vitamins that should be on an infant's daily menu
Dietary expansion is an important and sensitive process for babies and their parents. According to the latest recommendations, the introduction of new foods into a child's diet should start with vegetables - especially green vegetables (e.g. broccoli), and then fruit can be introduced. Vegetables, together with fruit, are one of the key dietary components in the first years of a child's life and should be part of the daily menu. They provide the body with a range of vitamins, antioxidants and micro- and macroelements (potassium, magnesium, zinc), as well as carbohydrates and fibre, making them a healthy, tasty and colourful snack. It is a good idea to adapt the consistency of fruit and vegetables to the developmental abilities of the toddler. They can be given in the form of mousses, purees or small pieces. A variety of fresh produce in the diet is very important!
61% parents serve their children the same meals that the rest of the family eats
During the first 1,000 days, children are building their future food preferences, so the foods they are offered to eat should be healthy, of high quality and adapted to the needs of their growing bodies. Serving products from the "adult table" carries the risk of too high a proportion of salt, added sugar, trans fats or inappropriate preparation of food that is not adapted to the possibilities of the infant's still developing digestive system.
– We often hear reassuring advice from our grandmothers or mothers, who point out that they used to serve us everything that adults ate and it had no negative consequences. At this point we already know that a child and an adult should not have the same menu. The diet of young children should not contain salt or added sugar. Infants have a sensitive body and different nutrient and mineral requirements, so dietary elements should be chosen with special care. Because of their extremely delicate bodies, it is important that the food we serve to children is free of pesticide residues or harmful additives and meets the most stringent quality and safety requirements. As this is often difficult for us to judge, it is worth choosing foods for infants and young children whose composition and quality are regulated by law and whose requirements are stricter than those for foods for general consumption. - Karolina Lukaszewicz adds.
Nearly one in four parents give fruit juices to their child in the first year of life
Unfortunately, the myth about the precious properties of juices is still popular. Still, many parents see squeezed fruit juices as an alternative to raw fruit and introduce them as a beverage in the infant's diet. As many as 23% say they should be on the menu, and 24% of those surveyed admit to giving them regularly. According to the latest recommendations, fruit juices, even freshly squeezed ones, have no added value! Instead, drinking them frequently can increase the risk of tooth decay and disturb a toddler's appetite. Therefore, babies should be given fruit in various forms, but not in the form of juice, which is devoid of valuable dietary fibres. Above all, from the first months of life, it is important to teach the baby to drink water and not to get him used to sweet drinks, which are not beneficial to the baby's health.
– Many caregivers continue to make mistakes despite a high estimation of their knowledge of proper infant nutrition. Parents introduce fruit juices, vegetable drinks and cow's milk into their children's diet too early. The latter, in particular, should not be regarded as substitutes for breast milk or modified milk. In the early stages of a child's life, we carefully monitor the child's health and observe successive developmental leaps. With the same care, we should monitor the child's adequate nutrition and treat it as one of the key elements of preventive health care, which will have an impact on the whole life of the future adult. It is advisable to seek knowledge on diet from reliable sources and to consult a paediatrician or dietician if you have any doubts - even via teleportation. - says Andrea Horvath, MD, PhD, an expert from the Warsaw Medical University.
About the study: The study was initiated by a team of doctors from the University of Medical Sciences who deal with child nutrition in their daily practice.
About the campaign: The national educational programme "1000 First Days to Health" supports parents in the correct nutrition of their children during the key period of a child's growth and development, i.e. the first 1000 days of life from conception onwards. Proper nutrition during this early period of life is the best way to take advantage of the unique window of opportunity in a child's development. Caring for your baby's diet for the first 1000 days mhe real impact on your child's health, now and in the future! The programme has been running since 2013. Read more at: www.1000dni.pl
About the initiator: The initiator of the nationwide programme is the Nutricia Foundation, whose mission is to educate about the role of nutrition at different stages of human life. We support children and parents, patients and their relatives, as well as representatives of the medical community, public institutions and non-governmental organisations by carrying out educational activities on the role of nutrition and by funding research. Through our activities we aim to: educate parents-to-be, parents and caregivers of the youngest children about the key role of proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life, reduce the scale of the problem of malnutrition in illness and build habits for healthy ageing. Read more at: www.fundacjanutricia.pl
[1] Survey of 1,940 parents of children aged 4 to 12 months in May 2021