All parents would wish to see their children healthy and strong when they grow up. However, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of daily activities in today’s world, parents find it hard to monitor whether their children are taking the appropriate amount of nutrients and growing at the expected rate. Fortunately, there are easy ways for one to monitor his or her child’s nutritional health, if he or she has the proper guidance.
Why Child Nutrition Monitoring Matters
The growth rate of children’s bodies is fastest during the first five years of their lives. During this crucial period, nutritional deficiencies may affect brain development, immunity, and physical growth of the child adversely. As per the World Health Organization, malnutrition among children in early life stages is considered a leading cause of illness around the world.
With regular check-ups, parents and caregivers can identify any potential issues in time and take remedial actions such as altering diet plans or seeking assistance from professionals. Be it an undernourished, overnourished, or stunted child, early diagnosis ensures a healthy future for the child.
Key Indicators of Child Growth and Nutrition
The health experts rely on three important markers when evaluating a child’s nutrition status:
- WA – Weight for Age: This marker shows whether the weight of your kid is appropriate according to their age. It is helpful in recognizing underweight and overweight kids.
- HA – Height for Age: Stunting is an issue in which the kid does not develop properly because of chronic malnutrition. This index will help recognize that problem.
- WH – Weight for Height: The kid has wasted, meaning he or she is too thin for their age because of acute malnutrition.
Knowing the value of these three indicators will give you a full insight into the nutrition of your kid. You can have a healthy-weight kid who is stunted at the same time; or vice versa, a healthy-height kid who suffers from wasting.
How to Measure Your Child at Home
Precision in measurement is the key to successful nutrition monitoring. Here is how to make accurate measurements:
- Weight: Weigh using the digital scale. Babies should be weighed when the infant is being carried; weigh yourself first and then subtract your weight from that measurement. Toddlers and bigger kids should weigh standing. The ideal time to weigh is early in the morning, preferably before eating anything.
- Height: For babies below two years, height should be measured laying down. For those above two years old, height should be measured standing against a wall mounted measuring tape. Remember to stand straight against the wall.
- Age: Be precise when calculating age. One month makes a lot of difference when it comes to nutrition classifications of children under two years old.
Using Online Tools to Track Child Growth
Calculating the various measurements through manual calculation using WHO growth charts may prove to be difficult and tedious. Thankfully, there are now online means to make it easy for parents to obtain their results instantly. Poshan Calculator Online is an example of such an online free tool that enables one to input the age, height, and weight of his/her child and receive their nutritional status according to the World Health Organization standards. All three measures will be generated within seconds, without any need for downloading anything.
This kind of software can greatly benefit those people living in remote areas, namely parents, Anganwadi workers, teachers, and NGO field personnel who find themselves in need of instant information while visiting homes or communities.
Practical Tips to Improve Your Child’s Nutrition
Now that you know about the current nutritional status of your child, take note of some of these tips that can help achieve optimal growth:
- Provide a balanced diet: Make sure that all the food groups, which include carbohydrates, proteins (such as legumes, eggs, and meat), dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, are consumed at every meal.
- Focus on providing iron- and calcium-rich foods: Foods rich in iron such as green leafy vegetables and lentils promote good blood health. Foods containing high amounts of calcium, such as dairy products and sesame seeds, promote good bone health.
- Establish fixed meal schedules: Like adults, children also function well with routine schedules. They need to be fed at the same time regularly, because having meals at irregular intervals causes unnecessary eating.
- Avoid giving processed foods and sugary drinks: Such foods give your child empty calories.
- Keep him/her hydrated: It is important to keep the child well-hydrated by drinking lots of plain water.
When to Consult a Healthcare Professional
Online resources are useful for general awareness, but cannot replace the consultation of a professional health care provider. You may need to talk to a pediatrician or nutritionist if:
- Your child belongs to the extremely malnourished or extremely stunted group
- Their growth pattern seems to have stopped for two or more successive months
- They suffer from sickness, lack energy, or continuously lose their appetite
- You observe unusual weight loss or gain that cannot be attributed to any specific cause
A qualified professional will be able to carry out further tests, request blood work, and devise a tailored diet program for your kid.
Conclusion
Nutrition tracking for your child doesn’t need to be difficult or costly. By using easy-to-make calculations at home, free online resources, and an intelligent way of eating, you can keep track of what you should do. For instance, Poshan Calculator Online helps parents and health professionals track this in less time with more precision. Growth is a process – one which needs regular tracking along with proper nutrition.