These include physical growth, cognitive development, immune maturation and metabolic programming. In the first 1,000 days, a baby's growth rate I the fastest they will have in their entire lives. They move from 1 single cell to over 5 trillion cells, tripling in weight from birth to one (1) year. Babies need to have the right nutrients at this point more than ever because without them, they can develop physical and mental retardation. In terms of cognitive development, in the first 1,000 days, babies build up 80% of their cognitive ability, their brain triples in size and they learn up to a 900 new words. With this known, it is imperative that maternal and infant nutrition not be taken lightly as the choices made, can and will affect their learning potential. Another thing to speak about is their immune development which is the most complex. Babies are born with an immature immune system. Nutrition is the first step to ensure a mature immune system so they can be protected against virus, infections, bacteria and allergies. A new thing to look at now is metabolic programming. Nutrition during pregnancy and the first few months of life have a lifelong impact on risk of rapid weight gain and risks of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Babies that are exclusively breastfed are less likely to be overweight due to the fact that breast milk has the correct ratio of protein to carbohydrate to fats to water. In the first six (6) months of life breast milk should be the sole source of nutrition for the child as it literally needs nothing else other than correct nutrition for the mother and her warmth and love also. Afterwards weaning foods can be introduced and gradually increases in necessity with time. At Nestle, it is their mission to ensure that all babies start healthy and stay healthy.
Mr. Schipper continued to explain the unique window of opportunity for child now than there was I the past.
