THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION FOR CHILDREN’S GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT
As a parent, carer or guardian of a child, you are likely to be well aware of the term ‘developmental milestones’. These can include learning to crawl, taking their first steps, learning to speak, and changes in how they play, learn and grow over time.1
Nutrition plays an important role in children’s growth and development, ensuring that they stay healthy, grow and develop as they should, and live their lives to their full potential.2
When children don’t receive the necessary nutrition, it can mean that they don’t grow and develop as they should, and it can impact their health.2
This page provides more information on the importance of nutrition for your child’s growth and development and what to do if you think your child isn’t growing in line with their developmental milestones or is showing signs of malnutrition.
Getting the right nutrients, such as protein, vitamins and calcium, is important for children as it can support:2-7
A healthy immune system
Bone and teeth development
Cognitive function (which can include brain functions such as memory, language and attention span)
Growth and development
Energy levels
Their ability to play and engage in other activities
Overall health
If children can’t get all the nutrients they need, it can impact their growth, weight, cognitive function, and immune system, making them more at risk of getting ill.3,8 It can also affect their behaviour,9 sleeping patterns,10 and learning ability.11
When a child doesn’t get the right nutrition, they may become at risk of malnutrition, which can mean they are either undernourished (not getting enough nutrients) or overnourished (getting more nutrients than they need).12
There are many reasons why a child might not be getting the nutrition they need to be able to grow and develop well, including:12,13
Underlying health conditions or diseases resulting in low appetite
Taking medicines or receiving treatment
Problems with their digestive system which means their body can’t absorb the nutrients they need
Behavioural or psychological conditions
SPOTTING THE SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MIGHT NEED NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP WITH THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
If you are worried that your child isn’t meeting their developmental milestones or they have signs that they are over or under-nourished, speak to their healthcare professional (e.g. GP or nurse). They can conduct a thorough assessment and provide guidance on changes to your child’s diet, or they may recommend nutritional supplements to help your child catch up on their growth.
Symptoms of disease-related malnutrition in children can include:12
Not growing or putting on weight at the expected rate (sometimes known as faltering growth)
Changes in their behaviour, such as being irritable, moving slowly or becoming anxious
Having low energy or feeling tired more easily than normal
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP CHILDREN CATCH UP ON THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
In cases where weight loss or over or under-nutrition related to your child’s health condition means your child isn’t meeting their developmental milestones, their healthcare professional may recommend nutritional supplements to take on top of what they usually eat.
These supplements can help them get the calories, protein and other important vitamins and minerals they need, even if they do not feel well enough to eat as much as they usually would.
References:
1. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 2023. Child Development Basics. Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/facts.html Last accessed February 2023.
2. World Health Organization 2009. Infant and young child feeding. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK148965/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK148965.pdf Last accessed February 2024.
3. Verduci E & Köglmeier J. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2021;73(3):293-298.
4. British Nutrition Foundation 2015. Children. Available online: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/life-stages/children/ Last accessed February 2024.
5. Nyaradi A et al. Front Hum Neurosci 2013;26:7:97.
6. Harvey P. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience 2019;21(3):227.
7. RCN, 2010: Nutrition in children and young people with cancer. Available online at https://media.gosh.nhs.uk/documents/nutrition_in_children_andg_people_with_cancer.pdf. Last accesses July 2023.
8. Yue T et al. Nutrients 2022;14:2685.
9. Martins V et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2011;8(6):1817–1846.
10. Stanga Z et al. Clin Nutr 2007;26(3):379-382.
11. University of Oxford 2013. The learning gap experienced by malnourished children. Available online: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2013-05-29-learning-gap-experienced-malnourished-children Last accessed February 2024
12. NHS 2023. Malnutrition. Available online: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition Last accessed February 2024.
13. Westwood A S. Afr Med J 2015;105(7):606.
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