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Baby Nutrition

8 Child Nutrition Facts
Expand the horizons of your picky eater.

Parents often harbor unrealistic expectations when it comes to their child's diet. But the best way to understand why children eat the way they do -- and to plan accordingly -- is to understand their physical development. Here are eight important things to remember about child development that may make it easier for you to feed your kids:

1. After the first year, your child's growth slows down considerably.

Infants grow at an explosive rate during the first year. A typical newborn starts out weighing 7 pounds and measuring 19 inches in length. In 12 months, he'll have nearly tripled his weight to 20 pounds and grown almost a foot to be 30 inches long. By the time a child reaches his second birthday, he's growing only about one-tenth as rapidly as he did his first year. As a new parent, you may come to expect this phenomenal growth rate to continue for three or four years. But it doesn't. (If it does, see your physician. Your child may have serious medical issues.)

2. Your child needs fewer calories after the first year.

As your child gets older, her body becomes leaner and she loses her "baby fat." Her new body proportions require less energy to function. A preschooler needs only half as many calories per pound of body weight than she did as a baby. This is why your 2- to 5-year-old may appear to be eating less as she gets older.

3. Children "streak eat."

Your child may have certain foods that he'll eat for months or years then refuse for no particular reason. Children may eat very well for a few days and then just pick for a week. Children rarely eat a wide variety of foods in consistent quantities day in and day out.

4. Babies are born with a natural preference for things sweet and a resistance to things sour.

Breast milk, intended by nature to be your child's first food, is very sweet. All other preferences or tastes are learned. You can modify your child's preference for healthier foods by serving them often, but she may never lose her sweet tooth completely!

5. Children are wary of new foods.

Although toddlers are prone to pick up and put strange things -- like Grandma's heart pills or a shiny new penny -- into their mouths, they often resist trying new foods. It just isn't in their nature. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't offer them new things. Just remember to adjust your expectations. If your child is an especially picky eater, don't offer something new more than once or twice a week. Help your child by allowing her to incorporate new foods into her diet slowly -- don't be too aggressive.

6. Young children usually eat only one and a half to two meals per day.

If you're expecting your toddler or preschooler to pack down three square meals each day, you're setting him up for failure. Your child may eat a good breakfast, a so-so lunch, and then next to nothing for dinner and be perfectly healthy.

7. A child's appetite for food seems to decline as the day goes on.

This is very important for working parents to understand. No one knows exactly why children eat less later in the day. It may simply be that they've already consumed the necessary calories and their appetite shuts down. It could also be that they are more tired than hungry.

8. Not everyone loves to eat.

What's true for adults is often true for children: Some people love to eat. Others only eat to stay alive and seem to get little pleasure out of the process. Each child comes with his own tastes and habits. Make sure that you're setting realistic dietary goals for your child based on his age, development, and individual food preferences.

Your should know:

The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.