Importance of Nutrition in those first 1000 days



It feels like a lifetime ago when I fell pregnant with Noah but in reality it has only been three years come March. Ever since that red line appeared on my home pregnancy kit I knew how important it was to consume the right nutrients and vitamins for the baby. Not only for their growth then and there but also detrimental for their health and development later in life too. SMA Nutrition is working with medic Dr Ellie Cannon, best known for her weekly health column in the Mail on Sunday, to educate mums further about the importance of protein levels and nutrition in their baby at this time.

I had actually been taking folic acid before I fell pregnant as I had read that it also helps with conception. We did fall pregnant the first month of trying, so who knows, perhaps that helped? Once we had conceived I switched to a highly recommended pregnancy multi vitamin. Not only did I take the vitamins but I also made sure that I was having a healthy and balanced diet full of protein, iron and calcium, but of course I had a naughty treat here and there when the cravings kicked in! (Hello chips and gravy and chocolate milkshake!)

I was lucky that during pregnancy I didn't have to suffer with any morning sickness and didn't have too many problems with my appetite either but I did have low iron levels here and there. I was prescribed iron tablets and also ate as much spinach as I could which seemed to eliminate that problem.


Nutrition for a baby's first 1000 days (from conception to their second birthday) is extremely important and they recommend that you breastfeed for at least 6 months. Protein is one of the key components in breastmilk that helps to ensure healthy growth and development. The protein level in breastmilk decreases as your baby grows, meaning it contains the right quality and quantity of protein to help them grow at a steady rate. We bottle fed Noah and now at 2 years old he drinks cow’s milk. Protein is just as important now than it was when he was newborn and his needs increase and change as he gets older. The correct amount of protein not only supports growth and development but it also decreases the chance of obesity further down the line.


We began our weaning journey a little earlier than recommended as we followed Noah's lead. He snatched a pear from me and started gnawing on it and from then on there's been no stopping him when it comes to food. Once our weaning journey started we didn't let food replace any milk feeds and we were very conscious of making sure he had the correct nutrients.


Noah is now a fully fledged toddler and watching him grow and develop over the last two years has been the most rewarding (and sometimes bitter sweet) moments of my life. He has always been a great eater, from guzzling his milk like a champ to munching through his lunch like a gannet. He's a little foodie, that's for sure and enjoys pretty much anything you put on his plate. 

We've teamed up with SMA Nutrition to promote the importance of nutrition and protein in the first 1000 days of our little one's lives. We would like to invite you to ask any questions regarding nutrition, growth or anything else you have in mind below in the comments section. Dr Ellie Cannon will respond to a selection of the questions asked and I will write up a follow up post in the next few weeks. 


Do you have any questions that you would like to ask? Feel free to leave them below in the comments. And don’t forget you can also watch a video all about the importance of protein here. Thank you.


- This is a sponsored post

36 comments:

  1. My son was born prematurely so he was a little smaller than the average newborn. When breastfeeding these premature babies, are there any additional nutrients or foods that the mother should eat or take to pass onto their little one? Or should their breadtmilk alone be enough?

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    1. Your body always prioritises milk for the baby so it'll be the absolute best for them and completely tailor made. You do want to make sure that you eat well though for your own health :) x

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  2. When Pregnant are there any foods that are recommended to eat to help the health of the baby and mother?

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  3. I always puréed food for my first two children when weaning began but I'm interested in baby led weaning for the next child. Can you recommend any good and healthy finger foods?

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  4. I wasn't able to breastfeed, apart from the formula is there anything thing else I could have ate or drink to make up for the lost nutrients. x

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  5. My son had a tongue tie which made it impossible to breastfeed, he was also born seven weeks premature, so my milk supply was barely existent! If I have another child, and the same problems occur, is there anything I can do to try and avoid this problem?

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    1. Get some really good support from local groups and seek out a lactation consultant. It's made a huge difference (positive!) to our breastfeeding journey x

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  6. I am a breastfeeding mama *this* time and we're still going strong at 13 months, however with Reuben there was absolutely no way to feed him myself after a very traumatic birth which ended in a post op infection, which then developed into septicaemia! I was far too ill to breastfeed him, and we used SMA. He is as fit as a fiddle!

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  7. I breastfed all my babies for as long as I could because I wanted to give them the best.

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  8. I breast fed Rosalie until she was 14 months old, she didn't have a bottle ever. Is there an age that you should breast feed till? Do they still need milk after this time? When should you stop giving toddlers milk at bedtime? Looking forward to hearing what she says! :)

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  9. I'm hoping to breastfeed with my second baby; I managed 4 months with O before I was advised to stop by my Health Visitor due to severe anxiety/PND and my health issues. I look forward to the weaning stage!! x

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  10. I feel so proud of myself for breastfeeding. Lovely photos

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  11. I attempted to breastfeed Sophie but it didn't last long as we struggled with the latch, but we hardly received any help or support with it. She was bottle fed formula from the start and she's now a very healthy 2 year old! x

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  12. I have the worst cravings when i'm pregnant. First time it was sweets, this times it's mcdonalds! I also craved fruit both times so i'm at least getting some goodness. I couldn't breastfeed Lamb so /i expressed for 4 1/2 months, and gave formula too. I'd like to BF this time if it works! x

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  13. Well be weaning in the next week or so....I'm terrified!

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  14. So important to feed with nutritious food rather than the easier option of giving little ones what they seem to like rest is best but unfortunately lots still seem to think it's easier to bottle feed

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  15. So important to feed with nutritious food rather than the easier option of giving little ones what they seem to like rest is best but unfortunately lots still seem to think it's easier to bottle feed

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  16. We loved weaning with Lily and our journey is still going on as she tries new foods all of the time! I attended an event last year and the first 1000 days of life was their focus as well, I had no idea it was SO important. I didn't breastfeed for as long as I wanted to unfortunately but I appreciate its benefits.

    Cute pic of baby Noah by the way, what a sweetheart :)

    X

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  17. My Daughter was born with a cleft lip and palatte which can make feeding difficult but now at 18 she is a beautiful young woman

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  18. My family has a history of milk allergy. My father was severely allergic and could not tolerate dairy in any form, my son & I can eat yoghurt and hard cheese but can't have milk or cheese made from raw cow's milk. Somehow the allergy skipped my daughter, but her baby daughter is severely allergic, to the point that my daughter, who was breastfeeding, could not have any dairy. If she does, baby suffers from terrible colic and vomiting. It has been very difficult trying to wean baby off the breast and onto bottled soy formula now that my daughter is back to work full time, so it's a real worry that baby is not getting enough nutrients.

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  19. Well post its tell us how to spend your first 100 days in pregnancy and how relief with pregnancy products thanks for share it pregnancy pillow .

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  20. What lovely photos and great post - I've bookmarked this page.

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  21. brilliant article, i have tried to be as healthy as possible since i got pregnant, due in 2 days time hope it has helped with our little one being healthy when she arrives

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  22. very cute photos. It's very important to eat healthily all the time but especially when pregnant and that important little baby is growing inside of you

    Kirsty Fox

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  23. Thank you for a fab artical xx

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  24. A very interesting article. I didn't know I was pregnant for sometime and attempted to be as healthy as possible after I did.

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  25. I took folic acid with all of mine, but not until I knew I was pregnant. Didnt know it could help with conception too.

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  26. Noah looks so cute.

    Rachel Craig

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  27. I have twin growing baby. I am feeding them nutrition food regularly. There are a variety of vitamins and minerals which support growth and development during childhood. Calcium, obtained from milk and dairy products and from dark green, leafy vegetables, is usually sufficient nutritionally in the diets of young children. As children approach teen years, their dietary calcium intakes do not always keep up with recommended daily allowances.So we have to give them nutrition, calcium food in their regular meal's.

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  28. Love your post this is very informative post. Nutrition is very important fact for that pregnant mom & growing child, we should give them nutrient food.

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