Nutrition of children aged 1–3 years

Česká verzia

Authors: E. Kudlová; A. Slámová
Authors place of work: Přednosta: prof. MUDr. Vladimír Bencko, DrSc. ; Univerzita Karlova v Praze, 1. LF a VFN, Ústav hygieny a epidemiologie
Published in the journal: Prakt. Lék. 2008; 88(5): 272-275
Category: Of different specialties

Summary

The mothers of 321 children aged 12–47 months (median 29 months), addressed in public premises across all 22 Prague districts, were asked to complete a questionnaire in a retrospective study. Data about basic demographic indicators and feeding habits were collected. We tested the statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between age groups. The mean breastfeeding duration of the 257 children already non-breastfed was 9 months. At 12 months of age 52.8 % of the children were still breastfed, and at 2 years the figure was 20.9%. Breastfeeding duration was positively associated with higher education. The most common reasons for breastfeeding cessation were: not enough milk (56.3 %) up to 5 months, not enough milk (33.4 %) and child refusal (34.1 %) between 6 and 11 months, and child’s age (47.4 %), child refusal (26.3 %), and mother’s fatigue (20.9 %) between 12 and 23 months. Mean age of supplementary food introduction was 6 months; 23.0 % of children started to receive supplementary food before they were 5 months old. On average, all the main food groups were consumed at least once a day, but the frequency of fruit, vegetable and white meat consumption and the proportion of children who daily consumed fruits and vegetables significantly decreased with age; the frequency of sweets, sweet bakery products, pork, smoked products, and fried food increased. Fruit and herbal teas, and milk were the most common beverages regardless of age. In addition to vitamin D recommended during winter month of the 2nd year of age (31.5 %), 33 % of children, significantly more 3-year-olds, received other food supplements, most often multivitamins, possibly with minerals.

Breastfeeding duration has increased but the main reasons for breastfeeding cessation still suggest the negative influence of incorrect breastfeeding technique and erroneous beliefs about child feeding. The food variety was on average satisfactory, but negative changes in the food selection occurred with increasing age. Improving lactation consultation during the first year of age, and nutrition consultation for toddlers, is desirable.

Key words:
feeding habits, nutrition, toddlers.

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