Proper nutrition for children's development

When children show unusual signs, parents should take them to a medical facility for timely examination and advice.

Improper care

Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung, in Thanh Dong ward, has a 4-year-old child. Although she takes care of every meal and sleep for her child, her child's body is smaller than that of her peers. Worried, she took her child to nutritionists from the grassroots level to the central level and received the conclusion that her child was malnourished and stunted.

According to doctors, the baby's diet was prepared by the baby's mother cleanly, but lacked the necessary nutrients for comprehensive development in the first 5 years of life. This surprised Ms. Dung, because she believed that with the knowledge accumulated from life and online references, she was enough to raise her child properly and reasonably.

“I didn’t think my child would be malnourished because of my own care. This is not only a lesson for me but also for other parents whose children are slow to grow. In addition to the underlying medical condition of their child, they should also review their feeding methods,” Dung shared.

Similarly, when bringing her 1-year-old baby to a health check-up at the program to examine and assess the nutritional status of children organized by the Health Station in Kien Thuy commune, Ms. Bui Thi Lan was quite surprised to receive the results of her baby with the following symptoms: weight 10 kg, protruding posterior fontanel, parietal tumor, frontal tumor with glossitis, frequent loose stools or constipation.

These are typical signs of rickets and malnutrition, requiring dietary adjustment and special care. After being instructed by medical staff, Ms. Lan also realized that one of the reasons for the child's malnutrition was improper eating. Ms. Lan confided: "I thank you for carefully guiding me so that I know what my child is lacking and what micronutrients he needs to supplement."

In recent years, the rate of malnourished children nationwide as well as in Hai Phong city has decreased significantly. Specifically, the rate of underweight malnourished children nationwide is currently about 10.4%. In Hai Phong, this rate is only 6.5%, which is considered a safe level.

However, according to statistics from the National Institute of Nutrition in 2024, the rate of children under 5 years old suffering from stunting is 19.6%, concentrated in mountainous and rural areas. In Hai Phong, according to statistics from the City Center for Disease Control (CDC), the rate of children under 5 years old suffering from stunting is still about 16%.

To limit malnutrition in children, it is necessary to increase nutrition communication in preschools.

Proper care in the early years

Nutrition in the early years of life plays a decisive role in the health and intellectual development of children. If the diet is inadequate or incorrect, children may face a series of consequences that last throughout their lives, such as: reduced resistance, slow growth in height and weight, poor concentration or increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.

In Vietnam, despite many advances in nutritional care, malnutrition in children under 5 years old remains at a worrying level, especially the rate of stunting mentioned above. In addition, the problem of increasing overweight and obesity in young children has emerged, creating a double burden of malnutrition.

According to medical experts, the cause of this situation stems from many factors, both subjective and objective. First of all, many parents' nutritional knowledge is still inadequate. Some families think that chubby children are healthy, leading to a diet that is high in energy but lacking in nutrients.

On the other hand, some parents listen to information on the internet and completely limit fat because of concerns about obesity, causing their children's diets to not provide enough nutrients needed to absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

In addition, children have increasingly easy access to fast food and processed foods, while their physical activity time is significantly reduced due to the use of electronic devices. For low-income families, prioritizing cheap, energy-rich but micronutrient-poor foods puts children at risk of both malnutrition and excess energy.

Another noteworthy point is that many parents do not recognize early signs of micronutrient deficiency in children. Symptoms such as restless sleep, black rotten teeth, hair loss, and prickly tongue... are often confused with other causes, while these are signs of zinc deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, calcium deficiency or enamel disorders, which are signs of bone cell damage due to rickets. Late detection makes children susceptible to complications and long-term health effects.

Master, Doctor Bui Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Department of Nutrition (Hai Phong Center for Disease Control) said that every year the city conducts a nutrition survey to help detect malnourished, overweight, obese or micronutrient deficient children early for timely intervention. However, to limit the situation of malnourished children, it is necessary to strengthen nutrition communication in preschools, support teachers and parents to update official knowledge, especially in the first 1,000 days of life - the golden period for physical and intellectual development; encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, continuing until 24 months...

“Parents need to regularly monitor their child’s growth chart to detect early abnormalities in weight and height. Children’s meals must be balanced according to each nutrient group and age-appropriate, avoiding following trends or unverified information. Parents should absolutely not arbitrarily supplement micronutrients or vitamins for children.

Overuse of vitamin D, iron or other supplements can cause excess nutrients, leading to metabolic disorders, affecting the liver, kidneys and long-term health. All micronutrient indications should be based on the assessment of a nutritionist. When children show abnormal signs, parents should take them to a medical facility for timely examination and consultation," Dr. Huong advised.

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