Prenatal Care
- Calcium and phosphorus are particularly important for your unborn child.
- If the mother is calcium and phosphorus deficient, her body will compensate for this by drawing calcium from her bones. Her teeth however will not be affected.
- Canadian Health Food Guide recommends 3-4 serving per day of milk products to meet the calcium requirements.
- The mothers dental health is important to prevent the pain of a toothache or soreness in the mouth, both of which may prevent proper eating.
Other Key Nutrients During Pregnancy
Vitamin D: Supports fetus and the mother, helps absorb calcium and phosphorous. A good source of vitamin D is sunshine, but it is also found in fortified milk and margarine.
Iron: required for mothers increased blood volume, very important to store extra iron for the baby in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
Folic Acid: found in green leafy vegetables and supplements. It supports the production of red blood cells, and prevents fetal neural tube defects. The lack of folic acid has be proven to help contribute to spinal bifida and MS.
Essential Fatty Acids: assists baby with a healthy brain, visual, and emotional development.
Birth to 6 Months Old:
- The Canadian Paediatric Society suggests exclusive breastfeeding or iron fortified formula until 6 months of age.
- Vitamin D supplements are also required
6 Months - to a Year Old:
- Begins transition period when solid foods are introduced. The order to introduce solids is:
- Infant cereals (single grains, then mixed)- these are iron fortified, and rice cereal is the least apt to provoke a food allergy
- vegetables (pureed)
- fruits (pureed)
- meat (cut up into extremely small pieces)
- cheese and yogurt
Breastfeeding vrs Bottle Feeding
- build antibodies -time and frequency
-nutrition and ease of digestion of feeding decreses
- strengthens the facial muscles - the mother doesnt
- convenient and free have to watch her
- obesity prevention diet so closely
- smarter babies - other people can
- emotional bonding feed the baby
(skin to skin contact)
Preschool Children
- children at this age now have an opinion on the foods that they are eating. Nutrition is very important for these children because the muscle mass increases as well as the bone mass, and they lose fat tissue. It is extremely important that parents are patient and to create a positive atmosphere at meal and snack time.
- The goal for nutritional care are to provide adequate energy and nutrients for optimal growth, development, and activity. To encourage development of the child's sense of taste, acceptance, and enjoyment of foods. To promote positive, life long eating habits.
- The amount of food preschoolers need depends on age, body size, activity level, growth rate, and appetite.
- Preschoolers should consume 2 cups of milk everyday as well as one other child size serving of milk products.
- Due to small stomach capacities and high energy needs, preschoolers require small but frequent feeding to meet nutrient needs = 3 meals plus nutritious snacks between meals.
School Aged Children
- appetites vary from day to day; some factors can be: over stimulated or overtired, too many snacks, distractions present, and a new environment.
- energy needs decrease with time. A general decline of appetite occurs at 12 months to two years. The average weight gain for two years on, is approx 4-6 pounds per year.
The Cautious or "Picky" Eater:
- the child tends to limit the variety of their diet and is quite resistant to the introduction of new foods
What To Do:
- continue to serve new food frequently to ensure variety in the diet.
- offer small amounts of the new food along with a favourite food
- remove the food if not accepted and try again at another meal
- adults should set a good example for the child
The "Dawdler":
What To Do:
- give the child a reasonable amount of time (20-30 mins) to finish their meal and then remove the plate quietly but firmly
- remove any distractions present ex: TV, radio, toys, pets.
- start with small portions
- do not force or bribe or punish the child
Food Jags:
- the same food is desired everyday for a period of time. This is often the child's favourite food.
What To Do:
- serve the child the family meal along with a small portion of the "favourite" food.
- be patient, food jags are common in children, even adults.
- they wont last long if an issue is not made about it
Vegetables - a Problem
Why?
- loss of colour and texture from overcooking
- learnt from negative attitudes displayed by adults/siblings
- preference for sweet foods
- try vegetable juices
- cut them in different and fun shapes
- serve them raw with a dip
- grow a summer garden patch with the child
- put them in soups, omelets and sandwiches
Preferences:
1-3 years = softer cooked vegetables
4-6 years= raw vegetables with bright colours
The Over Weight Child
- aim to maintain their present weight and as they grow in height, their wight will slowly begin to suit their height.
What To Do:
- encourage activity
- offer hugs and kisses as a "reward" instead of using food
- limit of avoid foods that are low in nutrients and high in calories ex: chips, candies, soft drink etc.
- use low calorie, high nutrient foods whenever possible ex: skim milk instead of whole
- restrict the habit of allowing the child to eat from cupboards and fridge at will. Set specific snack times and meal times.
Adolescents
Factors that influence eating patterns
- newly found indpendance
- busy schedules
- search for self identification
- desire for peer acceptance
- dissatisfaction with body image
- increase tendancy to skip meals
- eating more meals outside of the home
- frequent snacking
- heavy reliance on convenience foods
- dieting
- vegetarian/fad diets
- frequenct changes in eating habits
Eary Childhood Caries (cavitys) Syndrome (ECC):
Refers to the development of early caivties from the prolonged contact of fermentable charbohydrates with the enamel. This can occur with bottle fed infants or breast fed infants.
This happens in over 50% of the childhood population, and it extemely painful for the child. It can also cause speech delays, and a shyness beaucse of their teeth. It the contidtion is too far gone, they may have to extract all the decaied teeth.
Avoid:
- putting flavoured milk, jucie, soda or any sweetened subsatance in a baby bottle
- dipping the bottle nipple or pacifier in honey
- putting the chid to sleep with a bottle containing milk of sweetened substance
- delay weaning - it should be done no later than one year
- poor oral hygiene- babys teeth need to be cleaned.
How to Provide Oral Hygiene to Infants
- hold the baby whie your feeding, to keep make sure the baby have swolled the fluid in there mouth, and has no fell asleep with the sugars just hanging out in their mouths
- make sure you can see into you babys mouth
- use a soft baby brush, or a wrap you finger with a clean, damp wash cloth to brush or wipe the babys gums and teeth
- do not use tooth paste until your chid has teeth, and do not allow the infant to swallow toothpaste.
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