Government Guidelines for Child Nutrition

Government Guidelines for Child NutritionMAGDA ZIMONGOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ON FOOD AND NUTRITIONThe UK Department of Health guidelines (May 2003) recommend breast feeding exclusively for the get-go sextette months, as this should meet all go bads nutritional regards. Most babies should not need solid sustenance before the age of six months. Milk is still the major victuals, it is truly important to remember, when baby starting solids, that milk is still the outmatch and most natural pabulum for growing babies. In the first few sidereal days of breastfeeding is a very important source of antibodies which help to build up a babys immune system. It is in addition medically proven that breastfed babies are less likely to develop certain disease in lester life. Good.Milk should contain all the nutrients our baby needs to grow. on that point are 65 calories in 120ml/4 fl oz milk, and formula milk is fortified with vitamins and iron.Cows milk is not much(prenominal) a superb f ood for human babies so is outgo not started until baby is bingle year old.Between four and six months babies should have 600-800 ml/ 21-28 fl oz breast or baby formula each day. 600 ml/ 21fl oz is complete when solid are introduced.For most babies who croak through fresh food in sufficient quantities and drink formula milk until the age one year, vitamin supplements are probably un necessary . However in the UK the Department of Health recommends that if your baby is being breastfed(breast milk does not contain enough Vitamin D) or is drinking less 500 ml /18 fl oz of infant formula a day mother should give baby vitamin supplements.Vitamins are necessary for the correct development of the brain and nervous system. Vitamins are essential for all types of growth and development and they can be found in many forms.A healthy, balanced diet, coupled with daily physical exercise, is crucial to the development of baberen. It is not simply sufficient to serve healthy meals and snacks it is vital that pip-squeakren understand the importance of consume a healthy balanced diet so that they themselves are more(prenominal) likely to choose healthy options when given a choice.Diet is all near educating the individual to understand the importance of eating sensibly while understanding that they can enjoy food. pabulum habits are developed during childhood which will involve us for all our lives and this is way it is important for children to develop healthy eating habits from the outset.Establishing healthy eating habits in the early years will aid children to eat sensibly throughout their lives, promote normal growth and development and protect against disease in later life.RECOMMENDED FOOD AT AGE OF 6 month TO ONE YEARBABYS AGETYPE OF FOODSTARCHY FOODVEGETABLES AND FRUITMEAT AND MEAT ALTERNATIVES6 montsstarts with a graceful semi-liquid puree mixed with milk, or cooled boiled waterbaby rice cerealpureed cooked carrots, parsnip,apple, pear, mashed bananasmal l amount of pureed lean soft-cooked beef, lamb, pork,poultry, pureedlentils7-9 monthsmashed or chopped, finger foodtry white or wholemeal bred, pasta, rice,noodles, couscousporridgecucumber, green beans, leek, peasmushroom, onion,sweetcorn, tomato,mango, melon,strawberries, grapes( thinkdless)introduce a littleboneless whitefish(cod or haddock)hard boiled formal yolk(no egg whiteuntil nine months)9-12 monthsmost foods shouldnow be mashed orchopped, and someleft whole for baby to chew onhome-made pizza, chips, cakes,puddings and biscuits arehealthier alternatives toshop-boughtencourage baby to eat raw fruit andlightly cookedvegetables as snacksmeat and meat alternativesslicedham, chicken orturkey, and smallchopped sausages make good finger foodintroduce boiled eggs or omelette.One year onwardschild can now eat most family foodnow can safely introduce honeyoffer one serving of potato, pasta, bread,rice or couscous at every meallimit very starchy food such as crisps, pastries or other savoury snacksaim to serve four portions a day-offer as snacks or blend into a stew or soup.start to hold oily fish such as salmonmackerel andpilchardscarefullyremove small bones from fish special DIETARY REQUIREMENTSChildminders should always discuss with the parents of the children in their care which meals they will be expected and what food should be given. It is absolutely paramount when preparing meals that childminder take into consideration factors such as culture and religion and ensure that the food they provide is in keeping with the parents wishes.It is important to recognise and cater for differing dietetic needs and this should not unaccompanied be the case if you are caring for a child from different culture from your own. All children should be introduced to variety of different food and you can do this by whirl foods which are associated with certain religious festivals. For example, the Christian tradition of serving mice pies at Christmas and pancakes on Shro ve Tuesday can be done alongside offering Chinese food to celebrate the start of the Chines New Year, or poori to celebrate Diwali.Diets vary immensely and can differ according to belief or preference. Vegetarianism for example, may be chosen for several reason including religious or cultural beliefs or simply concern for welfare of animals.A food allergy is an bear upon response of immune system to what is otherwise a harmless food. Ninety per cent of all food allergy reactions are caused by just eightsome foods. These food aremilkpeanutseggstree nuts, including almonds, pecan and walnutsfishshellfishwheatsoyaSymptoms of an allergic reaction can be varied but will usually includevomitingdiarrhoeaeczemawheezingcrampsdifficulty in breathingChildminder must always respect a childs cultural background regardless of whether the culture is their own or not. They should use their knowledge and understanding to encourage children to learn about other cultures ia a positive way. A child s culture can have a huge impact on their development.It is absolutely paramount that childcare practician work in partnership with the parents of the children placed in their care to ensure a good relationship which is beneficial to everyone concerned.Practitioner need to take age to talk to the childs parents to ascertain a suitable strategy for caring for their child and to ensure continuity of caredietary requirementsfood allergiesdietary differencenecessary medicationsemergency contact informationChildminder and parents need to communicate regularly and effectively in order to establish a good resonance so that the parents can be confident that their chosen childcare practitioner is right for them and, more importantly, for their child.FOOD THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED BY YOUNG CHILDRENFood is one of lifes greatest pleasures and yet it is also a source of worry for most parents. Although baby is able to eat a lot more kinds of food, there are still some they should not eatSALT-from seven months to a year old , 1 g of salt a day is the maximum amount for baby should have, which they will get from their breast or formula milk feeds. Do not add any salt to foods for youngish babies as their kidneys can not cope with it. Baby foods are not allowed to contain salt, but such ingredients as bacon and cheese will contain some. It is best not to encourage a liking for salt at any age.SUGAR-only add sugar to food or drinks you give your baby if it is necessary. Children does not need sugar. Sugar could encourage a sweet tooth and lead to tooth decay when the first teeth start to come through.HONEY-this is a sugar and can cause the like problems as sugar. Do not give honey until your child is one year old, even for easing coughs. Very occasionally it can contain a type of bacteria which can produce toxins in the babys intestines and can cause a very serious illness(infant botulism. After the age of one, the babys intestine matures and the bacteria are not able to grow .NUTS- these can be a choking hazards, especially whole nuts. Nuts and nut pastes should also be avoided if family has a history of allergies. Nuts products can induce a severe allergic reaction-anaphylactic shock-which can be life threatening, so it is best to be cautious.EGGS-can be given from six months but they must be throughly cooked until both the white and the yolk are solid. Allergic reaction to eggs can be quite common, particularly to the egg whites. Soft boiled eggs can be given after one year.FISH AND SHELLFISH-are highly allergic. The amount of atomic number 80 in these foods can affect a babys growing nervous system.CHILDHOOD CHRONIC DISEASESThe list of health problems that can affect a childs growth and development is huge and can range from simple colds and ear infections, which are short-lived, to much more serious problems such as cystic fibrosis, which can be life threatening.If you are caring for a child with a particular health problem it is absolutely vital t hat you work with the parents to provide the best care possible for the child. You will need to glean as much information as you can about the childs condition in order to plan for their care andwell-being.Parents will be very knowledgeable about any condition that affects their child and they are the best people to ask for advice and information.However you may also like to source further information from doctors, health visitors and the internet.ASTHMA- is Britains most common long-term childhood illness, according to the National Asthma Campaign.Asthma is a particular kind of chronic allergic reaction affecting the airways, leading to inflammation, narrowed airways and characteristic symptoms which includewheezingshortness of breathtightness in the chestcoughingThese symptoms are usually variable, intermittent, often worse at night, and can be provoke by various triggers including cigarette smoke, house-dust mites, contact with animals and exercise.All allergic reactions, includ ing food allergy, eczema, hay-fever and the life-threatening anaphylaxis, are on the increase.Asthma impacts not only on the child, with obsess episodes of wheezy illness which can be frightening, time off school, visit to the GP, but also on the family, leading to constant anxiety and sleepless nights.DIABETES- is a disease affecting the pancreas. This gland produces the substance insulin, which helps the tree trunk use up the sugar which comes from the diet. If there is insufficient insulin glucose builds up in the the bloodstream and douses problems for many organs of the body. Most young diabetics will use a blood glucose measuring device at home to check the blood glucose level frequently. A child and their family will need a period of adjustment after diabetes is diagnosed. They must establish a routine for blood glucose monitoring and injecting, learn how to count carbohydrates, see diabetes health professionals regularly and cope with fluctuating blood glucose levels. New challenges may arise as a child moves through different life stages.cystic FIBROSIS-this is an inherited disease in which a number of body tissues an abnormally thick mucous secretion. For example, the lining of the air passages in the lungs normally produces a thin mucus which keeps the lining moist. In cystic fibrosis this is very thick, leading to the air passages becoming blocked and susceptible to infection.The condition also affected the pancreas. This gland produces digestive juices and if it is affected by cystic fibrosis food can not be digestive properly. This mean that the childs bowel movements may be loose, fatty, and foul-smelling although sometimes constipation will be a problem.Cystic fibrosis affects approximately one child in 3. 000 in UK. A test of the amount of salt in the sweat will confirm the diagnosis. There is no cure. However if it is diagnosed early, damage to the lungs can be prevented.CEREBRAL PALSY-results from damage to the parts of the brain which co ntrol the bodys movements and posture. This damage may occur before birth, during birth or during the first two years of life.The developing brain may be damage by lack of oxygen, infection in the mother during pregnancy or a placenta which is not functioning properly.Children with cerebral palsy may need ongoing treatment throughout their childhood. Parents should always be involved in the treatment programme and in most cases will be able to help with exercises at home. Some sufferers from cerebral palsy may also have a mental handicap as a result of brain damage, but evenly there may be no mental handicap whatsoever.These chronic health conditions, in addition to causing issues with child development both physically, emotionally and intellectually, can also cause great distress for those caring for the child.REFERENCE-Gina Ford-The Contented Little Baby Book Of Weaning- 2012Gina Ford-The Contented Childs Food Bible-2012Jane Rossiter and Rosemary Seddon-The Diabetics Kids Cookbo ok -1987Meenu Singh -Asthma in Children 2011Teresa Kilgour -Childrens Illnesses (Understanding)(Family Doctor Books) 2008