Digestive system characteristics and nutritional needs of children

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All babies and young children have different dietary needs. This means that children can self-regulate by eating more or less. However, understanding the nutritional needs as well as the digestive system of children will help parents raise healthier and smarter children.

1. Characteristics of children's digestive system

A baby's digestive system, especially during infancy, remains a mystery to medical professionals. The reason is that gastrointestinal studies require invasive procedures, but are not usually performed in neonates in the absence of pathology.
However, with what is known, the digestive system of children is different from adults in many aspects, from anatomical features as well as function. Specifically:
Mouth: In young children, the tongue is larger than the oral cavity and the excess fat on the sides of the tongue helps the baby to suckle effectively. Esophagus: In infants, the esophagus is only about 1/2 inch longer than in an adult. In the throat, the epiglottis rests on the soft palate to protect the airway when swallowing. Stomach: Newborns have a stomach volume that holds only about 20 milliliters (just over 1 tablespoon) of liquid. This explains why babies need to eat every few hours. Studies have found that the stomachs of young children emptied twice as quickly after a meal with breast milk than with a meal with formula. This explains why formula-fed babies sleep longer and deeper than breastfed babies, allowing longer time between feedings. Small intestine: The length of a newborn's small intestine is only about 1/2 that of an adult. A key feature of the infant's digestive system immediately after birth is that the permeability of the small intestine increases for a short time and then decreases as the voids in the wall close. Therefore, babies are encouraged to breastfeed as soon as possible to optimally absorb antibodies, strengthen immunity to protect children from diseases. Large intestine: This segment of the intestine plays a much more important role in nutrient absorption in infants than in adults. This may be the body's way of compensating for the limited absorption that takes place in the small intestine during infancy. Passing stools: The first stool that comes out is called meconium, and is thick, sticky, and black or dark green. After the meconium is passed, parents will notice that the baby's stool is softer than the adult's. This is because babies only drink breast milk or formula for about the first 6 months of life. A child's diet is not only completely liquid, but also contains negligible amounts of fiber and no solid protein (such as in meat and eggs). As your baby begins to eat solid foods, his stools will also become more solid.

2. Children's nutritional needs by stage

2.1. Nutritional needs of babies 0-6 months In the first 6 months, breast milk and formula will provide all nutritional needs for babies. The digestive system in children is different but the feeding schedule for babies up to 6 months old can be like this:
Newborns are capable of eating 60 to 80 ml of breast milk or formula every 2 to 3 hours a day (although it can be difficult to know how much your baby is eating if you're breastfeeding). A 1-month-old baby can eat about 80 to 120 ml every 2-4 hours a day. Babies 2 - 3 months old can consume 120 to 150 ml of breast milk or formula every 3-4 hours a day. 4-month-old babies usually consume 150 to 180 ml of breast milk or formula every 4-5 hours a day. Experts generally recommend waiting until your baby is 6 months old to start solids, but if your pediatrician says your baby is ready to start solids in about 4 months, offer 1 tablespoon. no more than 2 times a day.) A 5-month-old baby can eat 180 to 200 ml of breast milk or formula every 4 to 5 hours a day. A 6-month-old baby can eat 200 to 250 ml of breast milk or formula every 4 to 5 hours a day, as well as 1 to 9 tablespoons of solids such as cereals, fruits, and vegetables. 2.2. Nutritional Needs of Babies 7 - 12 Months Old By the time babies are 7 months old, many babies have grown ready to sleep through the night without a feed.
Between 7 months and 1 year, babies still get most of their calories and nutrients from breast milk or formula, but they'll also get used to solid foods.
Here are details of what babies can eat from 7 months old to 1 year old. Remember that diet and meal frequency are different for each baby:
7 and 8 month olds can eat about 700 to 850 ml of breast milk or formula per day, plus 4 to 9 tablespoons of cereal. cups, fruits and vegetables, as well as 1 to 6 tablespoons of meat/protein. Babies 9 to 10 months old can eat about 700 to 850 ml of breast milk and formula per day, along with 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time. cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meat/protein foods. Children 11 to 12 months old can drink 700 ml of breast milk or formula per day, but their diet will include more solids: 1/2 to 1 cup each of cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meat/protein foods. 2.3. Nutritional needs from 1 year old At 1 year old, babies can switch to whole cow's milk instead of breast milk or formula. It is important to use whole milk because children under 2 years old need extra fat for brain development. However, a 1-year-old baby who is breastfed will benefit from continuing to breastfeed as long as both mother and baby are satisfied with this. However, regardless of the type of milk, too much milk should be avoided because babies may not get enough nutrients from other foods.
For feeding, children from 1 year old are ready to join the family table with 3 main meals of the day and 2 snacks. Children should eat foods from all food groups vegetables, fruits, protein, whole grains in a serving size of about 1/4 of that of an adult. During this stage, children may be picky eaters. Therefore, it is necessary for children to decide on their favorite food at each meal with dishes of different colors, flavors and textures.

3. What are the most important nutrients in a child's diet?

There are no “non-critical” nutrients but some will play a larger role in a child's diet than others. Here are the nutrients your baby needs to grow:
Protein: Babies still get most of the protein they need from breast milk or formula. However, after age 1, babies need to start trying other protein-rich foods, including eggs, meat, chicken, fish, and tofu. Calcium-rich foods (especially whole milk cheeses) and certain grains can also provide protein. Calcium: Both breast milk and formula provide all the calcium your baby needs for the first year. Calcium-rich foods that are child-friendly after 1 year of age are whole milk cheese and full cream yogurt, which are nutritious, delicious supplements. Whole grains and complex carbohydrates: Favorites like baby crackers, wholegrain breads, cereals, and pastas provide carbohydrates and add essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A, B, C and E: These vitamins promote healthy brain and nerve development for babies, as well as proper functioning and development of the eyes, skin, and immune system. The key to getting these vitamins into your child's diet is to feed them rainbow-colored foods. Carrots and sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A; green vegetables, bananas and beans contain many B vitamins; tomatoes, strawberries and cantaloupe are full of C; cereals are rich in E. Fats: Babies who get most of their calories from breast milk or formula will get all the fats and cholesterol they need. When transitioning to a more varied diet, parents need to pay attention to add fat from foods suitable for children such as fresh cheese, yogurt, avocado or cooked with canola or olive oil. Iron: Bottle-fed babies get more iron from formula than breastfed babies. So, starting at 4 months old and if your baby is exclusively breastfed, talk to your pediatrician about whether your baby needs extra iron. When your baby learns to eat solid foods, an easy way to provide iron for your baby is to cook from iron-rich foods such as meat, egg yolks, wheat germ, wholegrain breads and cereals, beans. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Part of the group of essential fatty acids, omega-3s (including DHA) are essential for optimal growth, vision and brain development in children. Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids for kids are fish (like salmon), meat, tofu, canola oil and yogurt, cereals, and eggs rich in DHA. In short, the digestive system of children has many differences compared to adults. Each child growing up comprehensively always requires a scientific nutrition and is fully supplemented with necessary micronutrients such as zinc, selenium, chromium, vitamins B1 and B6, ginger, acerola fruit extract. (vitamin C),... to achieve the right height and weight, strengthen the resistance to get sick less often and have less digestive problems.

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