First 1,000 Days of Life of Your Baby

When we think about the interrelatedness of the basic building blocks for children to have successful, flourishing lives, we have to think systemically about healthy spiritual, educational, emotional and physical development. That is, we have to think comprehensively about how we love our children with language, engagement and nutrition so that they have the basic building blocks to succeed in school, in church, and in play.

This starts at the very beginning. Even before birth.

In the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from conception to about two years old—nutrition is critical for the mother and the child. In some developing nations, chronically malnourished mothers who lack access to good nutrition may give birth to children who suffer from stunting. For the more than 20 percent of children who suffer from stunting, this irreversible condition can lead to impaired brain development, a lower IQ, weakened immune systems and greater risk of serious diseases like diabetes and cancer later in life. Thus, from day one, mothers need to be educated about the need for a balanced diet fortified with iron, folic acid and protein, if possible. This can break the cycle, in many cases, and provide a strong foundation for the opportunity at a better life.

In the U.S., the first 1,000 days are just as important.

Educating women in the U.S. about proper nutrition with good prenatal care is just as critical for a strong foundation for their children’s health, as well. Though we rarely see extreme poverty and stunting here in the U.S. as you might see in other parts of the world, still, more than 25 percent of infants and toddlers live in families struggling with poverty.

This poverty leads to challenges including food insecurity, unhealthy diets, obesity and low rates of breastfeeding. We need more education and resources for mothers and families to boost nutrition and responsive care for babies and toddlers in those early years. By making these efforts, we better support children in being prepared for their educational journey and future classroom success.

Cognitive psychologists and economists also now agree that the first 1,000 days are just as critical for the development of the mind as well as the body. It is estimated that children who live in poverty hear 30 million fewer words by the age of 4 than children of professionals. Early exposure to vocabulary alone is a key predictor to being successful later in life, avoiding arrest, graduating from high school, holding a job, and not becoming dependent on welfare.

With a strong foundation in dialogue, nutrition counseling and access to resources, both here and around the world, children and families have an opportunity to thrive—physically, cognitively and emotionally. These building blocks are vital as the child enters pre-school and elementary school.

How can we, as parents and as advocates of children, support access to nutrition and healthy eating to benefit students’ success, especially among poor and minority students?

First, we can educate ourselves, our friends and our family about the critical importance of the first 1,000 days in a child’s life. Women need immediate access to high quality pre-conception and prenatal care that includes strong nutrition education programs. Nearly half of women in the U.S. gain too much weight during pregnancy and they need to know how to combat this excess so that losing the weight is much easier post-pregnancy.

With both my own children, I gained between 65-70 pounds; I too fall into this category. During my first pregnancy, I also was diagnosed with gestational diabetes due to poor nutrition. Thankfully, I had strong prenatal care, which included nutrition counseling so I could learn how to properly incorporate protein with carbohydrates so that my sugar levels would decrease. I also had to rethink my direct sugar intake in the form of too many sweets in my diet.

Once a baby is born, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months should be supported and encouraged—at home, among friends, in our communities and in the workplace. This foundation of good nutrition can lay the support for a strong immunity for years to come.

Introducing the right foods at the right times; having access to affordable, available nutritious foods; and limiting sugars in foods and beverages to babies and toddlers are also key to a solid start in life.

Secondly, beyond promoting awareness, we can advocate. We can call or write our elected Congressional officials and let them know that we care about maternal and child health, in the U.S. and around the world. We can give them permission to do the right thing to increase funding for women and children in developing nations for proper nutrition and health care.

And, in the U.S., officials can strengthen nutrition programs that reach low-income families with children, to ensure healthy foods are easily accessible for families struggling with poverty. They can also provide universal access to good prenatal care and obesity prevention programs for all pregnant women.

Together we can take a stand for nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—beginning with conception—and encourage emotional and intellectual stimulation through conversation even with infants beginning at birth. With this strong foundation, children will have a head start in the classroom for years to come.

Jenny Eaton Dyer, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Hope Through Healing Hands, a global health organization committed to improving the quality of life for communities around the world using health as a currency for peace. As such, she directs the Faith-Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

[ This article is also available in español. ]