Practice Exclusive Breastfeeding, but Give Vitamin D as Supplement, Says U.S. Nutritionist

While it is mostly preached in Nigeria that exclusive breastfeeding is key to optimal mental, psychological, physiological and social growth of an infant if given within the first six months of life, the Programme Director, Nutrition, National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD), United States of America, Dr. Daniel Reiten, says vitamin D should be given as supplement in addition to exclusive breastfeeding.

 

He said even though breast milk contains ‘all’ the nutrients needed for the brain development of an infant before the first six months, it contains very little vitamin D required by the infant.

Speaking during the orientation programme for the three award winners of the 2016 Early Childhood Development Reporting Contest in Washington DC organised by the International Centre For Journalists (ICFJ) and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) he said, “vitamin D should be the only supplement in addition to exclusive breastfeeding.

 

“Vitamin D is intimately involved in immune system, and it is the only supplement the American Paediatrics Society recommended as supplement for an infant in the first six months of life, because only little of it is found in breast milk,” he said.

Reiten, who bagged his doctorate in Human Nutrition from the Pennsylvania State University, explained that after exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, breastfeeding, in addition to supplements/formula should be given until the infant clocks his or her first 1000 days of life.

He said this was necessary for proper brain, mental and social development of the child, adding that a child breast fed for the first 1000 days of life would most likely be able to face adulthood better than the children who are not.

“These are well known researched facts, and for any society that wants its children to do well in school, financially or even in their healths, they should practice breastfeeding for the first 1000 days of life,” he said.

 

On her part, the Chief Child Development and Behaviour Branch, NICHD, Dr. Lisa Freund, said the level of development and exposure of a child’s brain during the early days of life determines how much of capacity the brain would carry during adulthood.

She said apart from nutrition, the role of caregivers and what the children are exposed to at the tender age shapes their lives as well.

“Strong evidence shows that healthy emotional and cognitive development is shaped by responsive, dependable interaction with caregivers,” she said.

 

by Martins Ifijeh