The period between birth and puberty -childhood period- that encompasses the age from birth to 10 years is a critical time for the growth of children. To have a healthy growth, children in the first six months of age should be kept only on maternal breast milk (because breast milk is complete and contains all the required nutrients for this age including protective antibody), then at six months of age initiate complementary feeding.

Starting from a toddler, a child after age one should be slowly weaned to solid foods that the other members of a family consume, naturally in different forms and amounts. Breastfeeding should continue at least for two years because the first 24 months of life is the most important window of opportunity for establishing healthy growth, and it has been approved that optimal feeding of children during this age is critical to breaking the cycle of malnutrition from generation to generation.

Poor infant and child feeding practices are the major determinants of malnutrition. A very large proportion of women does not practice optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding for their children. According to the 2011 EDHS report, In Ethiopia, 51% of children ages 6-9 months are eating complementary foods, while the remaining 49% are not eating the appropriate complementary food on time, i.e. this percent of infants are given complementary food too early or too late.

Therefore, as a health extension worker, to avert the problem of childhood malnutrition, you have a critical role in addressing the messages of ENA in the context of the young children nutrition.

The increased requirements of nutrients for late infancy and childhood should focus on energy, protein, and essential fatty acid, calcium and phosphorus. The average daily recommended calorie requirement for children is 1600 Kcal. which is in the range of 1250 - 1800 Kcal.

Recommendations for child feeding during the first 24 months. Key messages for optimal breastfeeding practice:

  • Initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
  • Breastfeed the child frequently day and night.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of age.
  • Continue breastfeeding more frequently even when the child is sick.
  • Position and attach infant correctly at the breast.
  • Offer the second breast after the infant releases the first.
  • The mother should eat more than usual.
Last modified: Sunday, 26 February 2017, 5:08 PM