The First 1000 Days...

The first 1000 days refers to the 1000 days from conception to the date of your LO's second birthday, and is an area that a lot of research has been directed towards, to understand how the experiences, environment, family structures, nutrition etc. can influence the way a person develops and their future health. From this research there is clear evidence that the experiences and exposures during these first 1000 days have a direct influence on long term health and development, and can determine the level of risk that a person has in developing certain conditions later in life.

The total body of research is absolutely fascinating, and unsurprisingly I am sure, nutrition plays a significant role in the first 1000 days. The first 1000 days are when our LO's programming occurs - i.e. what the body's cells do, and how they act based on what's acting upon them, and food and nutrition make a significant contribution. As the first 1000 days includes conception and prenatal phases, it's important to understand that the food parents eat prior to conception work alongside what happens when our LO's arrive. Our littlest people, even whilst you are still pregnant use the foods we eat to program them for the world on the outside. As we transition them through exclusive milk feeding and the commencement of solids to toddlerhood, what and how we feed children are also important in determining your LO's growth and behaviours at the time, but also their future health status.

Whilst what food we serve our children (and eat during pregnancy) is important, how children are fed and experience foods requires equal consideration. Early and consistent exposure to vegetables especially bitter vegetables without a sweet complementary food for example is a key factor in determining whether vegetables will be eaten in the later years. Another example being that allowing your LO to practice self-regulation and managing their appetite, using responsive feeding practices that don't force a child to eat more than what their body is telling them they want, can support a balanced and intuitive eating style. Or the introduction of high allergen foods when your LO starts foods (*not before 4 months) influences their later susceptibility to allergies.

Good nutrition is a fundamental aspect of your LO's growth and development, and whilst we commonly think of LO's falling off growth curves and being fearful of slow weight loss (which is absolutely a cause for concern and should be investigated), the opposite end of the spectrum is also something that as health professionals we work with, and aim to support parents in understanding that growth that is too quick, and/or causes weight gain beyond what the trends suggest is detrimental to a child's health now and in the future.

So what? Should optimising the nutrition in every mouthful that you eat and that your child eats be your sole focus for the next however many days, months, years? No. That type of mentality will be exhausting and stressful, and as parents there is enough of that already (stress is also a factor that plays a part in the first 1000 days, and has effects in other areas). Instead, we talk about the first 1000 days, and hope to introduce it in a way that supports you in understanding why there are guidelines for infants, why it's such a frequently discussed topic between you and your health care providers, and why we're so passionate about working in this space.

As a final note, food and nutrition are hugely influenced by a number of factors including our family income, the structure and type of family dynamic, your cultural background, where you live and the supermarkets or foods that you have available to you (amongst other things). You aren't expected to know what to do, and how to do everything that comes with parenting, and feeding your LO is no exception.

We have a number of different avenues that you can use to get in contact with us, based on where you're at right now, including through our Facebook group - Starting solids Australia, our VIP Facebook support group subscriptions, our Fun with First Food Program, or through individual 1 on 1 consultations.

Head to the connect tab on the website to get in touch today x

Jeanette

Starting Solids Australia