Nutritional Needs for Toddlers are carefully discussed in this article. We do hope you find these guides helpful and informative.
Nutritional Guidelines for Toddlers
Daily Nutritional Needs for Toddlers
What are Children’s Recommended Daily Requirements for Nutrition
Read Also: Dietary Needs Of Infants
A toddler is a child of one to two years of age. At this period, the child walks with short feeble steps that he toddles.
He is now able to share in most of the dishes served to a family but requires relatively more protein of good quality than adults.
Some children really become obese. Therefore, there is a need to avoid excessive weight gain. Excessive consumption of sweets and candies spoils children’s appetite for the main meal and can lead to dental problems.
These problems can be avoided by preventing the child from consuming many sweets. It is important to note that the youngest child in the family should be given the best part of the family food because he is still growing and requires more carbohydrates, protein, and essential vitamins to grow rapidly, especially in his or her first two years.
Read Also: Common Ailments in Children
Nutritional Needs Of The Toddler
Toddlers are still growing and active in fact a healthy toddler is always active but they vary greatly in their needs for good health, a toddler requires the following:
1. protein. Milk is the best source of protein for toddlers. Milk is chiefly protein and calcium which the child requires for growth.
He should also be given lean meat, liver, poultry, and eggs. Where milk is scarce, a good mixture of vegetable proteins, especially including soya bean products, would provide excellent protein sources for toddlers. This is needed for the production of enzymes, hormones, and antibodies generally in the body.
2. Vitamins. Toddlers require an extra supply of vitamins C, A, and D either as a special supplement or in the form of fruit juice and Cod liver oil.
This extra supply is necessary to prevent deficiency diseases such as rickets. After the age of two, provided the child is healthy and eats a good mixed diet, there is no necessity for the extra vitamins.
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3. Carbohydrates. A healthy toddler is often active and needs energy foods. Cereals and their products are excellent sources of energy. Other sources include yams, garri, etc.
Therefore, they should be properly taken care of through the provision of adequate food containing protein, vitamins, and carbohydrates.
Provision of suitable clothing as the toddler needs sleeping gowns, outing dresses, play dresses, undergarments, good shoes, stockings, and so on.
His or her clothing should be made of suitable fabrics that are non-flammable and do not irritate the skin. Clothes should provide enough room for growth and free movement.
His clothing should not be excessively large for his size. Also, the personal hygiene of the toddler should be ensured. He must be given his bath regularly.
Hence for proper development, the toddler should have regular rest and sufficient exercise. He or she should be provided adequately with suitable toys and play materials.
Read Also: Benefits of Breastfeeding to Mother and Child
In conclusion, when you talk about the nutritional need of a toddler, their health is a priority. For their health to be checked and sustained with these nutritional needs, immunization should be given at the right periods or right intervals to protect the toddler against diseases.
