Government Guidelines for Child Nutrition

Government Guidelines for Child NutritionMAGDA ZIMONGOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ON forage AND NUTRITIONThe UK Department of Health guidelines (May 2003) recommend breast feeding exclusively for the first six months, as this should meet both impairs nutritional needs. Most babies should not need solid victuals before the age of six months. Milk is still the major viands, it is very important to remember, when baby commencement solids, that milk is still the ruff and close natural fodder for festering babies. In the first a couple of(prenominal) days of breastfeeding is a very important witnesser of antibodies which help to build up a babys resistive system. It is also medically proven that breastfed babies atomic number 18 less likely to develop real disease in lester liveness. Good.Milk should contain all the nutrients our baby needs to grow. There atomic number 18 65 calories in 120ml/4 fl oz milk, and formula milk is fortified with vitamins and iron.Cows milk is not muc h(prenominal) a good food for thought for human babies so is best not started until baby is star form old.Between four and six months babies should have 600-800 ml/ 21-28 fl oz breast or infant formula severally day. 600 ml/ 21fl oz is enough when solid are introduced.For most babies who eat fresh food in commensurate quantities and drink formula milk until the age one(a) year, vitamin supplements are probably unnecessary . 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 drinkable less 500 ml /18 fl oz of infant formula a day mother should put on baby vitamin supplements.Vitamins are necessary for the correct development of the genius and nervous system. Vitamins are essential for all types of growth and development and they wad be found in m any(prenominal) forms.A healthy, balanced diet, join with daily physical exercise, is crucial to the development of small fryren. It is not simply sufficient to serve healthy meals and snacks it is brisk that youngsterren come across the importance of have a healthy balanced diet so that they themselves are to a greater extent likely to choose healthy options when given a choice.Diet is all about educating the individual to understand the importance of eating sensibly while understanding that they flowerpot enjoy food.Food habits are positive during childhood which result affect 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 give get ahead children to eat sensibly end-to-end their lives, promote normal growth and development and protect against disease in later life.RECOMMENDED provender AT AGE OF 6 MONTH TO ONE YEARBABYS AGETYPE OF FOODSTARCHY FOODVEGETABLES AND FRUITMEAT AND MEAT ALTERNATIVES6 montsstarts with a fine semi-liquid puree mix with milk, or cooled boiled waterbaby rice cerealpureed cooked carrots, parsnip,apple, pear, mashed bananasmall amount of pureed turn tail 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(seedless)introduce a littleboneless white weight(cod or haddock)hard boiled egg yolk(no egg whiteuntil ix months)9-12 monthsmost foods should outright 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 snacks nitty-gritty and meat alternativesslicedham, chicken orturkey, and smallchopped sausages make good finger foodintroduce boiled eggs or omelette.One year onwardschild merchantman now eat most family foodnow contribute safely introduce honeyoffer one serving of potato, pasta, bread,rice or couscous at every meallimit very starchy food such(prenominal) 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 include oily fish such as salmonmackerel andpilchards palmfullyremove small bones from fishSPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTSChildminders should forever discuss with the parents of the children in their care which meals they will be expected and what food should be given. It is suddenly preponderant when preparing meals that childminder take into consideration factors such as culture and religion and come across that the food they provide is in keeping with the parents wishes.It is important to recognise and cater for differing dietary needs and this should not only be the subject if you are caring for a child from unalike culture from your own. All children should be introduced to variety of different food and you can do this by offering foods which are associated with ce rtain religious festivals. For example, the Christian customs duty of serving mice pies at Christmas and pancakes on Shrove 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 fit in 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 abnormal response of immune system to what is otherwise a harmless food. Ninety per cent of all food allergy reactions are caused by just eight foods. These food aremilkpeanutseggstree nuts, including almonds, pecan and walnutsfishshellfishwheatsoyaSymptoms of an allergic reaction can be varied but will usually includevomitingdiarrhoeaeczemawheezingcrampsdifficulty in breathingChildminder mustiness ceaselessly respect a childs cultural background regardless of whether the culture is their own or not. The y should use their knowledge and understanding to encourage children to learn about other cultures ia a positive way. A childs culture can have a huge impact on their development.It is absolutely paramount that childcare practitioner 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 time 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 channelize on a regular basis and effectively in order to establish a good rapport 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 grea try out pleasures and yet it is also a source of worry for most parents. Although baby is able to eat a lot more grades 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 adolescent 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 plunder 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 with(predicate).HONEY-this is a sugar and can cause the same 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 bacterium which can produce toxins i n the babys intestines and can cause a very unspoiled unwellness(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, specially to the egg whites. Soft boiled eggs can be given after one year. weight AND SHELLFISH-are highly allergic. The amount of mercury 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 mor e 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 that 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 claim 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 includewheezing precipitancy of breathtightness in the chestcoughingThese symptoms are usually variable, intermittent, oft en worse at night, and can be provoked by various triggers including cigarette smoke, house-dust mites, contact with animals and exercise.All allergic reactions, including food allergy, eczema, hay-fever and the life-threatening anaphylaxis, are on the increase.Asthma impacts not only on the child, with frequent episodes of wheezy illness which can be frightening, time off school, visit to the GP, but also on the family, leading to invariant anxiety and sleepless nights.DIABETES- is a disease affecting the pancreas. This gland produces the substance insulin, which helps the body use up the sugar which comes from the diet. If there is insufficient insulin glucose builds up in the the businessstream 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 bl ood 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 mucus. 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 change 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. The re is no cure. However if it is diagnosed early, hurt to the lungs can be prevented.CEREBRAL PALSY-results from change to the parts of the brain which control 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 damaged 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 equally 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 Fo rd-The commodious Little Baby Book Of Weaning- 2012Gina Ford-The Contented Childs Food Bible-2012Jane Rossiter and rosemary Seddon-The Diabetics Kids Cookbook -1987Meenu Singh -Asthma in Children 2011Teresa Kilgour -Childrens Illnesses (Understanding)(Family Doctor Books) 2008