Why the First 1,000 Days Are So Important?
The 1,000-day period — from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday — is a unique window of opportunity to build a healthier and more prosperous future.
The first 1,000 days of life are a period of remarkable potential but also great vulnerability.
How well mothers and children are nourished and cared for during this time profoundly influences a child’s ability to grow, learn, and thrive. This is because the brain begins its most rapid phase of growth and development during these early days, laying the foundation for lifelong health.
Research in neuroscience, biology, and early childhood development provides deep insights into how nutrition, complementary feeding, relationships, and environment during the 1,000 days — from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday — shape future outcomes.
Nutrition plays a fundamental role in a child’s development and in a nation’s prosperity.
Poor nutrition during the first 1,000 days can cause irreversible damage to a child’s developing brain, affecting their ability to learn at school, earn a decent living, and escape poverty. It can also lay the foundation for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases, leading to lifelong health problems.
Studies show that countries failing to invest in the well-being of women and children during these first 1,000 days lose billions of dollars in reduced productivity and higher healthcare costs. This is why many of the world’s leading economists have called for greater investment in maternal, infant, and young child nutrition and health — as a way to build a brighter and more prosperous future for all.
Brain-Boosting Weaning Method – Maximizing the First 1,000 Days
Impressive Figures
Every second, new brain connections are formed during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. Each meal plays a vital role in fueling this extraordinary journey of growth and discovery.
A child can grow up to 87 centimeters tall within the first 1,000 days of life — a once-in-a-lifetime pace of growth. To support this incredible development, every meal matters.
A baby’s brain can gain up to 2 grams every day — a once-in-a-lifetime pace of growth. To make the most of this amazing development, babies need brain-nourishing meals.