When it comes to the growth of your child, there are a couple factors to keep in mind to achieve his/her optimal adult growth potential.

Here are a few risk factors that affects growth:

Common Types of Feeding Difficulties:

General Feeding Rules:

Reference:

¹ Axelrod et al. Pediatric Enteral Nutrition. 2006
² Kerzner et al. A Practical Approach to Classifying and Managing Feeding Difficulties. 2014
³ Katona & Katona-Apte. The Interaction between Nutrition & Infection. 2008

Impact of Nutrition on Child Height

Genes play a role in determining height. But your child has the potential to grow to a mid-parental height (somewhere between how tall you and your spouse measure), and one of the factors that determines that, is nutrition¹.

In the first 5 years of life, nutrition has 80% influence of growth while genetics contributes only 20%¹. Thus, it is important to ensure a complete and balanced diet to prevent stunting or under-development.

A few studies in the past have made some compelling arguments for achieving optimal height:

Social Prominence

A study of previous presidents of USA showed that height plays a factor in popularity³. The taller candidate has won 67% of the popular vote⁴. Psychologists say this is an effect of the perception that taller men are better providers of resources like food and protection. And so, in social situations, we tend to ascribe more charisma and respect to people who are taller and perceive them as natural leaders⁵.

Success in Academics and Career

Studies have demonstrated that height is correlated to better performance both academically and career-wise. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland found a correlation between IQ and height across 6000 subjects⁶. They are also more likely to have higher earning power at work, either because of promotions of opportunities.

Sports Performance

Although height doesn’t define success in sports (it’s the effort and time you put in), there are certainly advantages to being taller athletically. Tall basketball players are better able to jump and make shots or block other players. Tall badminton players have greater visibility on all sides of the court and have a greater force behind their shots. Tall swimmers can make laps faster with more power behind their body mass and more reach with longer limbs. Whether or not your toddler aspires to compete in high jumps at the Olympics, height will definitely play a role in his/her enjoyment of sports and being active.

Optimal height can be achieved with the right nutrition. Ensure that your child grows up with complete and balanced nutrition, especially during the first five years of life.

Reference:

¹ Jelenkovic, A.et.al. Genetic and environmental influences on height from infancy to early adulthood: An individual-based pooled analysis of 45 twin cohorts. Dci. Rep. 6,28496; dol: 10.1038/srep28496 (2016).
³ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/caveman-politics/201210/it-s-weird-candidate-height-matters-in-elections
⁴ https://www.livescience.com/16590-height-choosing-political-leader.html
⁵ http://digitalcommons.spu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1051&context=honorsprojects
⁶ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10519-014-9644-z