Nutrition & Brain Development in Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers

Malnourishment

• Although your toddler may be a fussy eater, she's probably not really deprived of calories, protein and other vital nutrients. When children don't receive adequate nourishment, however, they do not grow properly, either physically or mentally. When a baby̵7;s brain is not properly nourished, the brain is smaller than normal. The dendrites -- structures of the brain̵7;s nerve cells -- grow less than they normally would. Glia cells in the brain produce myelin, the substance that covers the nerves; when a baby is malnourished, her brain produces fewer glia cells and the nerves do not function properly. A malnourished baby may have trouble with language and motor development or have a lower IQ, according to Zero to Three.

Breast Milk and Fat

• Breast milk is the ideal food for infants, according to Zero to Three, as long as children receive supplemental iron beginning at about six months of age. Iron deficiency can cause cognitive deficits in children, and breast milk doesn̵7;t provide enough iron once a child uses up the body̵7;s iron stores that were present at birth. If your baby receives formula, it should include iron. Fat is critical for the development of myelin, and breast milk is high in fat. Once a child is weaned, she should continue to drink full-fat (whole) milk until she is at least two.

Blood Sugar

• Toddlers will continue to grow quickly, although not as fast as they do in the first year of life. Most toddlers need between 1,000 and 1,400 calories a day, according to the Kids Health from Nemours. She still needs full-fat milk and iron supplementation to promote brain development. She should have adequate protein, carbohydrates and a wide variety of foods such as grains, fruits and vegetables to assure she has the full range of necessary nutrients and maintain a stable blood sugar. Severe fluctuations in blood sugar during the infant and toddler period can cause damage to the brain, according to an October 2009 article in ̶0;Nutritional Neuroscience.̶1; Infants and toddlers who had experienced one or more severe episodes of either high or low blood sugar had less grey matter in areas of the brain related to memory and visual functions.

Brain Foods

• By the time your child is three, Zero to Three notes that her brain will have grown to 80 percent of its adult size. Her brain will be 90 percent of adult size by the time she is five. Her neural processing -- the speed at which the brain works -- will also increase. There are some foods that can help improve her brain function, according to GreatSchools.org. Oatmeal improves memory and hearing. Blueberries contain antioxidants that can increase memory and cognitive functioning. Eggs, high in choline, seem to support memory cell production. Flax seeds, which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, have been found to improve learning capacity. Sugar, on the other hand, tends to make it more difficult for kids to concentrate.