Nutritional Needs of Growing Children

Optimal nutrition, which is essential to support the growth and development of children, will vary depending on the child’s age and developmental stage.

As the nurse, you’ll collaborate with the registered nurse, or RN, to support individualized nutritional needs of your pediatric patients.

Now, due to the rapid growth during infancy, which is the period between birth and 12 months, infants require more nutrients in proportion to their weight than adults.

Until six months of age, breastmilk supplemented with vitamin D or iron-fortified formula will meet the infant’s nutritional needs.

Then, between four and six months of age, infants will start to show signs of being ready for solid foods. Their deciduous, or baby teeth, start to erupt; the extrusion reflex begins to disappear, which means they’re no longer pushing food out of their mouth as they protrude their tongue; and they are able to sit with good head control.

They also start to watch others eat and reach for food. A variety of soft, easy-to-swallow solid foods should be introduced at this time, like pureed fruit and vegetables or cereals.

Lastly, if their baby doesn’t have a history of eczema, foods that are potentially allergenic, such as peanut products or eggs, can typically be introduced after four months of age to help prevent development of food allergies as their child ages.

Okay, the dietary needs of toddlers, aged one to three years, and preschoolers, aged three to six years, have a lot in common.

During this time, growth begins to slow, and energy requirements decrease. Their stomach capacity increases so it can start to accommodate up to three meals a day, along with at least two healthy snacks.

By the end of their second year, they begin to develop a sense of independence. They start feeding themselves and prefer finger foods like sliced banana and soft cheese.

They also begin to regulate their own food intake and start to develop strong food preferences. Feeding difficulties like picky eating may develop at this time, though they shouldn’t be forced to finish their meals, as it can lead to mealtime anxiety.

To promote nutrition, mealtimes should be offered at consistent times each day, and children should be allowed to choose from a variety of nutrient-rich food options including vegetables, fruits, dairy, grains, and proteins; while fruit juice, sodas, and foods high in sugar should be limited.

The school-age period begins at six years and lasts until 12 years. Key changes during these years include a gradual loss of all deciduous teeth, which are replaced by permanent teeth, and their stomach capacity continues to increase, in order to accommodate the nutrients needed for their increased growth and energy needs.

During this time, school-age children start to take more responsibility for food preparation and are ready to learn how to choose healthy foods.

As with other developmental stages, school-age children should have limited amounts of sugary drinks, like juices and sodas, as well as foods high in saturated fat and sugar, like fast food.

Lastly, there's adolescence, that lasts from ages 12 to 18, also known as the teenage years. This period is characterized by the onset of puberty and an increase in height and weight, which requires additional calories and nutrients.

Adolescents are especially vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies due to a greater demand from their body and changes in lifestyle and social food habits to gain peer approval, such as diet fads or skipped meals.

As the nurse, you’ll collaborate with the RN to identify the nutritional needs for your pediatric patients and reinforce education to promote optimal nutrition.

From infancy to two years of age, you’ll measure their height and weight and plot it on a growth chart; after that, you’ll calculate their body mass index, or BMI.

Report to the RN if your patient’s weight is not within the expected range, or if there are signs and symptoms of malnutrition, such as pallor, dry and brittle hair and nails, or fatigue.

When reinforcing education, review appropriate caloric and nutrient guidelines based on the child’s age and development.

Encourage caregivers to include a variety of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains and proteins that come from lean meat as well as plant-based sources.

Ensure they understand how to read food labels, which can help limit unhealthy fats and sugars that are often found in highly processed foods and encourage them to provide healthy age-appropriate snacks, such as nuts, fruits, soft cheese, and carrot sticks.

Be sure to answer questions about changing nutritional needs as their child grows and develops and review findings that warrant a call to their health care provider, such as signs of disordered eating, like restricting intake or changes in weight.

Lastly, review the importance of attending yearly checkups and follow-up appointments, and obtain a referral to a pediatric dietician, as needed.

Alright, as a quick recap… Optimal nutrition is essential to support significant growth and development during childhood.

As the nurse, you’ll collaborate with the RN to identify nutritional needs for your patient and reinforce education to promote optimal nutrition.