LESSON 11 NDMU | College of Arts and Sciences | Nursing

Notre Dame of Marbel University

College of Arts and Sciences
Nursing Department

LESSON 11
NUTRITION DURING INFANCY
& CHILDHOOD

Figure 2.5.1. Asthma

LESSON 11 NDMU | College of Arts and Sciences | Nursing

LESSON 11: INFANCY & CHILDHOOD

Introduction
The previous course packet described the care of a woman’s nutritional status during
pregnancy and lactation. This course packet adds information about the nutritional needs
of a newborn, preschool and school-age child. This population group’s nutritional needs
are high during this time because of a rapid rate of growth and development. Knowing
these needs fortifies you to play a key role in educating parents about how to provide
adequate nutrition to meet both physiologic and psychological needs of their children.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course packet, the student-nurses can:
1) Describe the nutritional requirements for an infant
2) Describe the nutritional requirements for a pre-school and school age child
3) Formulate a meal plan for a pre-school or school age child

Kickstart!
Activity: Open the FNRI website (https://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/ ) and search for the Ping-
gang Pinoy for Kids. Answer the following:
1. For 6 to 9 years old, give at least one sample of GO foods that is recommended
_______________
2. For 3 to 5 years old, give at least one sample of GROW foods that is recommended
_____________
3. For 10-12 years old, give at least one sample of GLOW vegetable foods that is recom-
mended ___________________
LESSON 11 NDMU | College of Arts and Sciences | Nursing

Definition
INFANCY
• Refers to a person not more than 12 months of age
• 2.7 to 3.2 kg (6 to 7 bs) = weight of a healthy full term infant
• 48 to 50 cm = length of a normal infant
• 35 cm = head circumference
• Skin is moist, elastic, not wrinkled

Nutritional Goals during Infancy

• Provide nutritional base for rapid growth and development of the child during the
first year of life
• Establish the foundation for good food habits and attitudes

Nutritional Requirements of an Infant

CALORIE ALLOWANCES
• Infant’s calorie requirement is high because the proportionately larger skin surface leads to heat loss
• At birth: 350 to 500 calories; 1 year: 800 to 1200 calories
• Average requirement for growth in the 1st year is 50 calories per pound of expected weight.

PROTEINS
• Allowances of 1.5 to 2.5 g of protein per kg in the body weight from 0 to 6 moths of age, and 1.5 to
2 kg in the body weight from 6 to 12 months of age.
• In early infancy, milk from the mother, cow or goat comprises the only protein food.

FATS
• Whole cow’s milk contains satisfactory levels of the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, and arachi-
donic acid required by the infant
• The suitable quantity of fat is supplied in quantities of milk which furnish the required amounts of
proteins.

MINERALS
• All minerals & vitamins are required in proportionately greater amounts by the infant/
• After 4 months, the infant must consume an inclusion of iron-rich foods lest anemia will result
• Mineral-salt intake is supplies to any infant when 1 1/2 oz of milk per lb of body weight is given

VITAMINS
• Desirable to administer tomato or orange juice very early in life regardless if the baby is breastfed or
formula fed to supplement Vitamin D and Vitamin C
• Vitamin B6: deficiency may result in a syndrome characterized by convulsions
LESSON 11 NDMU | College of Arts and Sciences | Nursing
WATER
• Daily fluid needs of the infant are approximately 2.5 oz per lb of body weight
• Fluid balance more easily disturbed than an adult
• Requirement varies from 10 to 15% of the body weight

Feeding the Infant

BREASTFEEDING BOTTLEFEEDING
• Breastfeeding = physiologic and psychologic • May meet the needs of a working mother
value for mother and baby • Only recommended when breastfeeding is
• Clean contraindicated
• Easily digested • Costly
• Non-allergenic • Associated with infantile obesity or protein
• Beneficial to the health of the mother calorie malnutrition plus
MIXED FEEDING
• Combination of breast and bottle feeding
• Complemented = When bottle is given to complete a single breastfeeding because of insufficiency
of mother’s milk
• Supplemental = when bottle is used to replace one or more breastfeeding sessions

FEEDING TIME
• Baby weighing 2.5 to 2.7 kg usually feeds every 3 hours
• Baby weighing 3.6 to 4 kg usually feeds every 4 hours

Supplementary Foods
1. Second month—liquids such as rice water, kalamansi juice, vegetable water
2. Fourth month—scraped banana, papaya or thin lugaw, commercial cereal pop
3. Fifth to Sixth month—Full diet consisting of pureed meat, egg, fruit or vegetables and
cereals
4. Seventh to Eighth month—Foods chopped finely to teach mastication
5. Ninth to Twelfth month—Whole tender foods or foods chopped coarsely

Common Disorders
Diarrhea Vomiting
• Caused by bacteria, viruses or both overfeeding • Commonly seen in infants during 1st few days
and underfeeding • Fluid replacement must be given attention as in
• Signs of dehydration: parenteral or oral fluids diarrhea
should be given (Oralyte, Oresol)
LESSON 11 NDMU | College of Arts and Sciences | Nursing

ALLERGY
• Eczema = most common sign of allergy in infantsbefore 9 months
• Lactose intolerance = enzyme that hydrolyzes the CHO lactose in milk into glucose and galactose is pre-
sent

CONSTIPATION
• Infrequent bowel movements are not really the problem, but the pain on the passage of stools, the inability
to complete a movement through the urge is strong, blood in the stools and involuntary soiling of clothes
between movements

COLIC
• Acute paroxysm of pain, fussing, crying and irritability which lasts for 3 months.
• Changing the formula may bring about improvement but not in most cases

Definition
CHILDHOOD
• Period of life from 1 to 12 years of age

Nutritional Goals during Childhood

• Provide adequate nutrient intake to meet the continuing growth and development needs
• Provide basis of support of psychosocial development in relation to food patterns, eating
behavior and attitudes
• Provide sufficient calories for increasing physical activities and energy needs

Nutritional Requirements of a Pre-School Child

CALORIES
• The energy need of the pre-school child is determined by age, activity and basal
metabolism. 55% of total calorie needs go to metabolic activities, 25% to physical activity, 12%
to growth needs and 8% to fecal loss

PROTEIN
• 1.5 to 2 g/gk of body weight is required. The child’s protein requirement is relatively higher in
relation to body weight than that of an adult. Protein requirements are relatively high for periods
of rapid growth and lower during periods of slow growth.

VITAMINS & MINERALS

• Essential for normal growth and development
LESSON 11 NDMU | College of Arts and Sciences | Nursing

FLUIDS
• Total fluid replacement of a healthy child is 4 to 6 glasses

Feeding Problems of a Pre-School Child

Child is eating too little Child is eating too much
• Picky eaters • Heredity
• Appetite is lost due to too much parental urging • Temperament
• Child is fed up of the same food every day • Appetite
• Remedy: Go slow in adding new foods. Start • Mother’s insistence of “clean plate”
meals with food she likes best; prepare simple • Remedy: Refrain from serving foods like cakes,
dishes pastries and ice cream
Child is dawdling during mealtime
• May be trying to get someone’s attention
• May not be feeling well
• May be given big portions
• Remedies: Have the child checked regularly by
a physician, let the child enjoy eating

Child is gagging Child has aversion towards some foods

• Lack of training in eating chopped foods • Remedies: Give fruits as substitutes of vegeta-
• Remedies: encourage self feeding bles
• Mix vegetables with familiar foods

Child has allergies

• Chemicals in the air
• Food preservatives
• Food Coloring
• Remedies: Monitor nutrient intake
• Make food substitutions

Nutritional Requirements of a School-Age Child

CALORIES
• Allowances decline to about 80 to 90 kcal/kg for children 7 to 9 years old and 70 to 80 kcal/kg for
children aged 10 to 12 years old

PROTEIN
• Approximately 37 g of protein is recommended daily for children 7 to 9 years old and 43 to 48 g for
children aged 10 to 12 years
LESSON 11 NDMU | College of Arts and Sciences | Nursing

CALORIES
• Allowances decline to about 80 to 90 kcal/kg for children 7 to 9 years old and 70 to 80 kcal/kg for
children aged 10 to 12 years old

PROTEIN
• Approximately 37 g of protein is recommended daily for children 7 to 9 years old and 43 to 48 g for
children aged 10 to 12 years

VITAMINS & MINERALS

• 1.4mg/day of menstrual loss should be considered as most girls start to menstruate at age 11 or 12
• Ascorbic acid = 35 mg for children 7 to 9 years old and 45 mg for children aged 10 to 12 years old
• Growing children may need 2 to 4 times as much calcium as does an adult
• 120 mcg of iodine for children 7 to 10 years old

Feeding Problems of a School-Age Child

Child receives inadequate meals Child has poor appetite
• Breakfast is often missed or hurriedly eaten • Demanding school work
• Lunch is also a dietary problem since children • Tiring extracurricular activities
eat their lunch in school or fast food joints • Confections and soft drinks in school

Child has sweet tooth • Remedies: School cafeterias should offer nutri-

• Growing bodies recognize the need for extra tious and inexpensive snacks; Carbohydrate rich
calories snack products which provide little or no vita-
• Parents give sweets as rewards or pasalubong to
mins and minerals must be replaced with milk
and fruit beverages
kids

THINK!
Activity: Create a meal plan using the Daily nutritional guide pyramid for Filipino Chil-
dren for a 10 year old child. Consider the abovementioned feeding problems in planning
a meal.

References
Cruz-Caudal, M. L. (2019). Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy. Quezon City: C&E Publishing.
Grodner, M. (2012). Foundations and Clinical Applications of Nutrition: A Nursing Approach.
Singapore: Elsevier.
Wilson, T., & Bray, G. (2015). Nutrition Guide for Physicians. New York: Humana Press.