• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • mom

Baby’s first 1000 days: Critical phase for nutrition and development

by Leslie Schilling Leave a Comment

Baby's first 1000 days: The most important for brain development

In recent years the phrase the “first 1000 days” has become very popular in the pediatric medical community. The first 1000 days, which refers to the period from conception through the first two years of life, is one of the most critical times of brain development of a lifetime. Nourishment during this time may hold one of the most important keys to lifelong health and wellness.

In early 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Committee on Nutrition issued a policy statement

online pharmacy buy phenergan no prescription pharmacy
buy vibramycin online https://creakyjoints.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/vibramycin.html no prescription

titled “Advocacy for Improving Nutrition in the First 1000 Days To Support Childhood Development and Adult Health.” In the policy statement, experts write this compelling statement about the many of the processes that take place during this critical period.

“Important primary structures and processes that support fundamental behaviors and provide scaffolds for later-developing structures form during this time period. These structures and processes include the sensory systems (especially auditory and visual), the hippocampus (declarative learning and memory), myelination (speed of processing), and the monoamine neurotransmitter systems (affect, reward). Even the prefrontal cortex (planning, attention, inhibition, multitasking) and brain circuits involved in social development have the onset of rapid development in the first 1000 days. Although neurodevelopment continues throughout the life of a healthy person, by age 2 years the brain has undergone tremendous restructuring. Many of the developmental changes expected to occur during this period will not be able to occur in later life.”

The realization that this period is so important can be quite overwhelming for many parents, and for good reason. However, new and expecting parents can make this time a bit less daunting by thinking about it as three main stages: nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding if possible, and starting solid foods.

Nutrition during pregnancy

One of the first steps if trying to conceive, or newly pregnant, is to take a prenatal vitamin. Vitamins and minerals like folate, choline, and iron help mom and baby during pregnancy. New recommendations from the AAP also recommend prenatal supplements with additional choline for the growing baby’s neurological development. Choline

online pharmacy atarax no prescription with best prices today in the USA

, folate, and omega-3 fatty acids aid in neurological development. A prenatal diet with a variety of nutrient-rich foods like eggs, salmon, beef, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can aid in meeting the needs of both mom and baby.

Breastfeeding, if possible

The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first months of life. Breastfeeding has been linked to many health benefits for baby including enhanced neurological development and reduced risk of certain diseases. However, breastfeeding doesn’t come naturally every mom. It can be helpful if families discuss breastfeeding plans and concerns with their pediatrician during pregnancy. This may help new parents set expectations for breastfeeding that may improve the success and duration of providing human milk. It may also help parents develop alternative plans to meet baby’s nutritional needs if breastfeeding isn’t feasible.

Starting solid foods

online pharmacy purchase synthroid no prescription with best prices today in the USA

At or around six months of age, babies are generally developmentally ready to start solid foods. Nutrients of particular concern during this time are iron, zinc, and vitamin D (especially in breastfed infants). Providing baby with nutrient-rich, whole foods can feel like a challenge with a six-month-old. Parents can plan to include first foods like beef, eggs, avocados, and dairy. With a little planning for appropriate texture, baby can share nutritious meals with the whole family.

Before you know it, you’ll be celebrating baby’s 1000th day. Breaking down the stages of nutrition during this time of development can make each phase a little easier to chew.

Filed Under: Pregnancy Tagged With: early pregnancy, Fetal Development, infant feeding, nutrition, Prenatal Care, prenatal vitamin

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe

Peaceful Discipline by Sarah Moore

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

10 Thoughtful Baby Bottle Gift Sets for New Moms in 2025

By Emme Lukasik

Ternx Luggage stroller packs clothes and goes on the plane 2025

By Emme Lukasik

Footer

© Copyright –2025 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • 10 Thoughtful Baby Bottle Gift Sets for New Moms in 2025
  • Chop and Blend Like a Pro: The Best Immersion Blenders Go Beyond Blending
  • Ternx Luggage stroller packs clothes and goes on the plane 2025
  • 25 Cutting-Edge AI Baby Monitors Perfect for the Modern Mom
  • 25 BBQ Gifts That Will Make Dad the King of the Grill

Search

© © Copyright –2025 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT