Child Development In First 36 Months & Impacts Of Contaminated Baby Foods

 

 

 

 

 

The first 36 months of a child's life are divided into three developmental stages:

1. Infacy (0-12 months old)

At this stage, the infant begins to lift the head, rolling over, and crawling. The child can recognize familiar faces, understand that objects are permanently situated even when not seen, and begins to learn problem-solving skills. They learn cooing, babbling, gesturing, and speaking first words. During infant's first 12 months of life, there should be exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and continued breastfeeding along with solid foods until 12 months. Parents should introduce iron-rich solid foods such as pureed meat, poultry, and fortified cereals for 6 months. Variety of fruits and vegetables should be given to the infants for the provision of essential vitamins, minerals, and fibers. 

2. Toddlerhood (13-24 months old)

At this developmental stage, they improve in balance and coordination. They learn pointing, using raking and grasping motions. They learn to imitate anybody around them in the environment. They begin to understand cause-and-effect relationships and objects. They learn to speak very few words to communicate, identifying body parts, and obeying simple instructions. They test boundaries, exhibiting separation anxiety, and developing attachment to familiar people. At this stage, they need protein-rich foods such as lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy (milk), and legumes in their diets. They also need whole grains such as brown-rice, quinos, and whole-wheat bread to provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They also need healthy fats such an avocados, nuts, and seeds in their diet.

3. Early preschool age (25-36 months old)

At this stage of development, their gross motor skills will begin to improve. They will begin to hold cups and drink from them. They can draw simple shapes. They can now demonstrate an understanding of categories and classes of things, showing interest in plays and puzzles. They improve in language and communication too. They will begin to combine two simple words together and identity colours and pictures. They can cooperate with others in the environment, showing love to immediate family members, and becoming independent. In terms of dietary, this stage of development requires foods rich in calcium taken through dairy products, leafy greens and fortified plant-based milk. Children at this age also need Vitamin D-rich foods such as fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and sunlight exposure. They should also be given probiotic-rich foods such as yogurts, kefir, and fermented vegetables for good health. Not only that, they should be adequate hydration through breast milk formula and water. Limit added sugars in infants and toddlers. Children below three years should not be given nuts, seeds, and hard candies to avoid choking hazards. It is recommended that parents should consult paediatricians to have a personal diet plan for their children, if they have money to do so. 

The first 36 months of a child's development is very important according to the World Health Organization (WHO) . The WHO's guideline recommends that children receive nurturing care, which includes adequate nutrition, good health, safety, security, and opportunities for learning from birth. This care should be given by families, parents, caregivers, and communities with support from health services. The European Commission's Health and Nutrition Department has reiterated the inestimable importance of good health and nutrition for young children's development and well-being. The European Commission has emphasized the importance of early childhood education and care settings using play-based learning approaches to support children's cognitive, social, and emotional development. The US FDA has launched its Closer to Zero: Reducing Childhood Exposure To Contaminants From Foods. The FDA has reported the presence of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in some foods given to babies and young  children. However, this discovery was not made today. The issue of contaminants in babies and young children's foods has been in the front burner for many years. No permanent solution has been found for it. If there is a solution for it at all, it is not complete because the impacts of contaminated foods, especially foods eaten by babies and young children, have not been totally addressed. The presence of contaminated foods varies from country to country. It is everywhere! It is more common in the developing countries than in the advanced world. The reason is because the food and drug regulatory agencies in the developed countries are better than their counterparts in the underdeveloped countries. These contaminants may occur naturally in the environment (as elements in the Earth's crust) and from anthropogenic activities. Levels in the air, water, and soil used for crop growing, food processings, and rearing of animals can vary depending on some geographical factors or differences and proximity to past or present pollution. The amount of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in certain foods depends on the amount in the environment and how much the plant or animal takes up from the environment. The FDA's goal is succinctly to reduce dietary exposure to contaminants to the barest minimum, while maintaining access to nutritious foods. The FDA said, "We have prioritized foods commonly eaten by babies and young children because their smaller body sizes and metabolism make  them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of these contaminants." The FDA has focused efforts on: 

1. Developing new and improved testing methods to measure lower levels of contaminants in food,

2. Conducting survey on foods commonly eaten by babies and young children to understand variability in concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in these foods, 

3. Working with federal partners to identify strategies to reduce contaminant levels in foods, 

4. Measuring dietary exposure to these contaminants, 

5. Identifying reference levels for these contaminants to determine levels of concern, and

6. Understanding how nutrients can help protect against the health effects associated with contaminants.

These contaminants found in babies and young children's food are found in the following food substances: 

1. Lead: 

It is found in fruits, vegetables, and pasteurized juices. Lead harms brain development drastically. 

2. Arsenic: 

It is found in rice-based products. It affects children's cognitive development.

3. Mercury: 

It is found in fish and seafood products such as prawns and crabs etc. It damages brain development to the hilt.

4. Cadmium: 

Cadmium is present in rice, wheat, and potatoes. It harms kidney functions. 

5. Pesticide residues: 

One of the examples of pesticide residues is organophosphates. It is found in fruits and vegetables. It harms brain development.

6. Pyrethroids: It is present in fruits and vegetables. The pyrethroids affects nervous system developments. Other microbiological contaminants include: 

1. Salmonella:

It is found in poultry, eggs, and dairy products. It causes food poisoning.

2. E. Coli: 

It is found in meat, poultry, and dairy products. It causes food poisoning.

3. Listeria: 

It is found in dairy products, meats, and vegetables. It causes food poisoning too.

4. Phthalates: 

They are found in industrial packaging materials. They can leach into food and harm the endocrine system development when consumed. It specifically causes malformation of the scrotal sac which stores the scrotum where the sperm is found. When this happens, the male child automatically becomes impotent. I wrote about the phthalates in This Day Newspaper in Nigeria in 2007, when I was renewable energy and environment columnist. I mentioned it when I published an article on the impacts of electronic waste. The phthalate is a silent killer. It is not only found in industrial packaging materials alone. It is also found in electronic products too. It is one of the most deadly problems of electronic waste. It is found in nearly all electronics. 

5. Bisphenol A (BPA):

It is a chemical substance (contaminant) commonly found in food packaging materials. It can leach into the food and affect endocrine system development. It is a synthetic estrogen used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is a dangerous contaminant. It causes infertility. It affects fetal development and birth weight. It causes increased risks of breast cancer and prostate cancer respectively. It also causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and other neurological issues. Not only that, BPA causes obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Yet, all these deadly contaminants are commonly found in food eaten by all of us, especially the babies and young children. They do not kill immediately. Hence, no proactive measure is taken against them in many countries. Food manufacturers across the world know too well that the food products they are manufacturing and selling all these years are harmful to the human systems. One manufacturer cannot possibly produce food products that contain all these mentioned contaminants. No! One manufacturer may be guilty of one or two contaminants, whereas another manufacturer may be guilty of one or two other contaminants. 

In summary, parents and caregivers should ensure that they help their children develop physically, cognitively, and emotionally in their early lives. The United Nations should persuade the Governments of the nations and regions of the world to build a capacity to eradicate contaminants in food products, especially those eaten by babies and young children who are vulnerable to their impacts. If this advice is despised, the babies and young children, including adults, will continue to die and suffer from the dreadful impacts of food contaminants.

Please, share with your friends and loved ones. Thank you.