Nutritional Practices and Dietary Consumption in Early Childhood

Nutrition in the first years of life lays the foundation for growth, cognitive development and long-term health. From exclusive breastfeeding through the gradual introduction of complementary foods, caregivers must balance energy and nutrient requirements against developmental readiness. Exclusive breast milk or formula feeding is recommended for approximately the first six months, delivering bioactive factors that support immunity and optimal neurodevelopment. As infants progress to solid and semi-solid foods, dietary diversity becomes critical to supply micronutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamins A and D. Sociocultural factors, maternal education and household food security shape both feeding practices and the timing of solid food introduction. In many settings, high consumption of processed and ultra-processed products displaces minimally processed foods, heightening risks of obesity and nutrient imbalance. Public-health interventions target promotion of breastfeeding, guidance on complementary feeding and reduction of ultra-processed foods to safeguard healthy trajectories into childhood and beyond.

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Nutritional Practices and Dietary Consumption in Early Childhood publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutritional practices and dietary consumption in early childhood across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Exclusive breastfeeding: feeding an infant only breast milk, without additional solids or liquids, for approximately the first six months of life.

Complementary feeding: gradual introduction of solid and semi-solid foods alongside continued breast milk or formula, typically beginning at six months.

Dietary diversity: the inclusion of a wide variety of food groups in the diet to ensure adequate intake of essential nutrients.

Ultra-processed foods (UPF): industrial formulations containing little or no whole foods, often high in sugar, fat, salt and additives.

Measurement invariance: statistical assessment confirming that a survey instrument measures constructs equivalently across different demographic or age groups.

References

1. Exploring Maternal Socio-Demographic Factors Shaping Children’s Dietary Patterns in Brazil: Results from the 2019 National Health Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2024).
2. Sisvan food intake markers from six to 23 months: critical analysis and validation. Revista de Saúde Pública (2024).
3. Maternal diet quality and associations with body composition and diet quality of preschool children: A longitudinal study. PLOS ONE (2023).