CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

The First 1,000 Days: When Nutrition Matters Most

Baby's first introductions to food can lock in preferences—and healthiness—for life.
save article
profile picture of Evelyn Rusli
Published June 23, 2017
baby being spoon fed by mom
Image: iStock

The world of childhood nutrition and wellness is riddled with conflicting advice. Whether you are considering baby-led weaning or sleep training, there’s several experts on either side of the coin. And yet, amid the chatter, there is growing consensus around one topic: the importance of the first 1,000 days.

In the last decade, scientists and researchers have circled the first 1,000 days–the period from conception to age 2–as the most important time in a person’s life for nutrition. The concept of the 1,000 days was first established in 2008, when The Lancet, an influential British medical journal, published a landmark series on maternal and infant nutrition. The report concluded that nutrition consumed during this period has a lasting impact through adulthood and that nutrient deficiencies can lead to “irreversible damage.”

The seminal report inspired subsequent studies, which have only underscored the far-reaching importance of this period.

"Research has shown that mom’s diet during pregnancy and what the baby eats in the the first one to two years of life can have a long term impact on not only baby’s health, but also food preferences, behaviors and even neural development,” says Nicole Avena, PhD, author of What to Eat When You’re Pregnant, a research neuroscientist at the New York Obesity Research Center at Columbia University and advisor to Yumi, our fresh baby food company.

Below is a look at three ways nutrition impacts your baby in the first 1,000 days:

Neural Development

The brain alone goes through phenomenal growth during this period.

By age 2, about 80% of the adult brain is formed. During this period more than half of all energy consumed is going to straight to the brain. Several vitamins and minerals play an important part in this development. For example, folate helps close neural tubes early in a baby’s development, while iron carries oxygen to the brain. Unfortunately, it is quite common for babies to be iron-deficient, especially after 6 months of age when they have depleted the iron stores from their mother.

Related Video

Several studies have shown a correlation between proper nourishment and strong academic performance. In one study, children who were well nourished in early childhood were able to enter school earlier and be more productive in school. Cross-cultural studies have shown that well-nourished children also exhibit higher levels of work capacity.

Taste Preferences

Flavor exposure actually begins in the womb and continues as a child begins to eat solids. Studies show that early exposure to a wide variety of texture, tastes and vegetables can reduce fussiness and instill a love of healthy foods later in life. In a 2013 study conducted across three countries in Europe, researchers found that “increasing variety and frequency of vegetable offering between 6 and 12 months, when children are most receptive, may promote vegetable consumption in children.” On the other hand, there is also concern that over-exposure to sweetened foods or drinks during this period will encourage kids to develop a preference for sugary foods.

Metabolic Issues

This period has also been regarded as an important one for fat cell development. Studies show that introducing solid foods too early—before 4 months—is linked to a higher risk of obesity. According to a Washington Post article by Michael I. Goran, PhD, professor of preventive medicine and pediatrics at the University of Southern California, “The sugars that a mother consumes while pregnant or nursing can be passed to her baby, disrupt healthy growth and development and pose risk for obesity.”

In one of Goran’s recent studies, there was evidence that fructose consumed by mothers was detectable in breast milk and was correlated to an increased risk of obesity for their babies.

Guidelines around sugar have also tightened in recent years, with the American Academy of Pediatrics recently declaring that children under age 1 should not have juice.

While all the research may feel daunting, mealtime doesn’t have to feel scary. In the first 1,000 days focus on a varied diet for you (during pregnancy and breastfeeding) and your baby when your child transitions to solids. Try to avoid feeding your child too much fruit, and do not give juice before the age of 1. Though whole fruits are definitely better than juice because of their fiber content, a diet too rich in fruits will increase fructose consumption and limit room for other nutrient-rich veggies and proteins. Variety will help you hit nutrients that young kids are typically deficient in, such as iron, and will help kids develop a real love for real food.

Evelyn Rusli and Angela Sutherland co-founded Yumi because of the importance of the first 1,000 days and their frustration with the current baby food market. Yumi works closely with nutritionists and doctors to design baby meals that are nutrient dense, organic and low in total sugar. Evelyn is a former New York Times & Wall Street Journal journalist and Angela is a former finance executive and the mother of two young children in Los Angeles. You can follow Yumi at @yumi on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

doctor weighing child on scale
AAP Issues First Update to Childhood Obesity Guidelines in 15 Years
By Wyndi Kappes
homemade baby food in bowls surrounded by fruits and vegetables
Study: Homemade Baby Food Contains as Many Toxic Metals as Store Bought
By Wyndi Kappes
young girl wearing sunglasses and eating healthy snacks by the beach
24 Healthy Snacks for Kids and Toddlers That Are Fun and Easy to Make
By Rose Walano
ADVERTISEMENT
Is It Okay for My Toddler to Play With Her Food?
Is It Okay for My Toddler to Play With Her Food?
By Elizabeth Pantley
illustration of different baby vitamin bottles plus eye dropper
What You Need to Know About Baby Vitamins
By Rachel Morris
All different kinds of protein for toddlers including cow's milk, soy milk, almond milk yogurt and cheese.
Ask the Pediatrician: Which Type of Milk Is Best for Toddlers?
By Dina DiMaggio, MD, and Anthony F. Porto, MD, MPH
dad feeding his baby at the kitchen table
USDA’s Nutritional Guidelines Now Include Recommendations for Babies
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
toddler child holding orange sip cup
Preschoolers Who Drink 100% Fruit Juice May Have Healthier Diets as Adults
By Nehal Aggarwal
Vitamins for a Picky Eater?
Vitamins for a Picky Eater?
By Michael Lee, MD
small child drinking milk from a bottle
Research Aims to Debunk the 'Milk Causes Mucus Myth’
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
child eating his breakfast cereal
Why Gluten-Free Isn’t Always the Healthier Choice for Kids
By Dina DiMaggio, MD, and Anthony F. Porto, MD, MPH
collage of major soda brands, sprite, coke, fanta
Soda and Sugary Drinks Are Banned From Kids' Menu in Baltimore
By Laurie Ulster
Young blonde girl picking her nose
Blame Bad Behavior on Bacteria
By Anisa Arsenault
ADVERTISEMENT
toddler drinking from orange sippy cup
Heard of 'Transition Formula'? Here's Why Health Professionals Are Against It
By Anisa Arsenault
A dad spoon feeding baby in high chair
AAP Updates List of Nutrients for Baby's First 1,000 Days
By Anisa Arsenault
9 slides
Best On-the-Go Snacks for Toddlers
Best On-the-Go Snacks for Toddlers
By Kylie McConville
Nutrition Tracker
Nutrition Tracker
By The Bump Editors
ADVERTISEMENT
20 Ways to Eat Better
20 Ways to Eat Better
By Sarah Yang
How Much Milk Should My One-Year-Old Drink?
How Much Milk Should My One-Year-Old Drink?
By Michael Lee, MD
Can Baby Be a Vegetarian?
Can Baby Be a Vegetarian?
By Jennifer Mellick, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List