The first 1000 days between conception and a child's second birthday provide the greatest opportunity to positively impact long-term development through nurturing care. During this period, the brain grows rapidly and is shaped by environments and relationships. Proper nutrition, health, stimulation and parenting can influence cognitive, physical, social and psychological development. Ensuring children receive responsive caregiving, good nutrition and healthy supportive environments during these critical first 1000 days lays the foundation for their future growth, learning and well-being.

1. Ensuring focused
interventions in

2. What is first 1000 days ?
The phase between conception to a
child’s second birthday has been
identified as an area of focus for
greatest possible positive impact on
long-term physiological, psychological
& social outcomes for a child if
nurtured and cared properly.

4. Can shape out
✓ Cognitive development
✓ Physical development
✓ Sociological development
✓ Psychological developments
✓ Food habit
of an individual.
Why first 1000days

5. The brain grows to 80% of its full size by the age of 2 years!
The brain needs different essential elements to grow & develop
well, just like a plant
Important First 1000 Day Facts!
caring
adult
Nurture,
Support &
Care stress
free
environme
nt
good
parenting
Safety
Protection
Stimulation
Nutrition
Health

6. First 1000 Days Circles of Support

7. ▪ Brain develops most rapidly from
conception to three years
▪ 100 billion neurons in human brain
by 40 weeks of gestation
▪ Up to 700 neural connections
formed every second through
stimulation
▪ Responsive relationships and
healthy stimulating environments
build sturdy brain
What Science Tells us

8. ▪ Intrauterine growth
retardation
▪ Preterm birth
▪ Behavioural problems
in children
Maternal Stress during Pregnancy
Stress

9. Reduces preterm birth. Preventing
childhood caries in babies.
Oral Hygiene & Pregnancy
Evidence: Periodontitis is associated with
preterm birth and low birth weight, and
bacteria in mothers can lead to increased
dental caries in the infant

10. Exposure to too much heat and
effect on fetus
Excess heat during first trimester could
increase the chance of having a baby with a
birth defect or other reproductive problems
(body temperature higher than 39°C or 102.2°F)
.

11. Infant’s food choice develops
during Pregnancy & Breast feeding
Identification of flavour and taste
through amniotic fluid and breast milk
➢ Have variety in diet
➢ Eat healthy food
➢Include all food groups
➢Avoid alcohol

12. 12
• Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD): the single most
preventable cause of mental retardation in childhood.
IDD reduces intelligence quotients IQ by 10-15%.
• Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA):
maximum during 6 -24 months and any deficiency would
impact the cognition during this critical period of brain
development
• Protein-energy malnutrition/undernutrition (PEM): Over
all impact on child growth and development
Nutrition & Early Childhood
Development

13. Energy and protein are essential for
growing children
Optimum
Deficit
1. Stunting, Wasting , Under
weight
2. Lower IQ
3. Weak immunity
4. High mortality and
morbidity
1. Achieves optimum weight
and height as per age
2. Better IQ
3. Better Immunity
4. Low mortality and
morbidity

14. Supply of optimum energy and protein in
diet through
➢ Adequate nutrition during pre pregnancy
and reproductive age
➢Adequate nutrition during pregnancy and
lactation
➢ Good IYCF practices
➢ Appropriate and adequate complementary
feeding
➢ Appropriate and adequate nutrition during
childhood and adolescence for a healthy
future generation

15. ➢ Early initiation of breast feeding
➢ Kangaroo Mother care
➢ Exclusive breast feeding
➢ Maternal weight gain monitoring
➢ Maternal immunization
➢ Screening for any developmental
delays
Recommendation during pregnancy
(270 Days)

16. ➢ Early initiation of breast feeding
➢ Kangaroo Mother care
➢ Exclusive breast feeding
➢ Growth Monitoring
➢ Regular immunization
➢ Screening for any developmental delays
➢ Vitamin A supplementation
Recommendation from birth to 6 months
(180 Days)

17. ➢ Continued breast feeding up to 2years
or more
➢ Schedule immunization
➢ Monitoring of Mile stones
➢ Growth Monitoring
➢ Introduction of appropriate
complementary food
➢ IFA & Vitamin A supplementation
Recommendation from 6 to 53 months
(550 Days)

18. Nutrition and stimulation
• Communication & relation between mother and
child and child with surrounding provides
stimulation to the child and contribute to
optimal growth and development
• Improved infant and young child feeding helps
in reducing malnutrition.
• Optimum nutrition and stimuli are essential
for cognitive development (WHO 1999)

19. Stimulation
❑ Family is the first social
institution and family
members are the architects
of a child’s social and
cognitive development.
❑ Tools of stimuli are
actions like talking, playing,
reading singing, love etc.
❑ Without any expenditure
stimuli seems to have
immense impact on a child
growth & development

20. Toys should be developmentally appropriate,
safe, and affordable

21. Nurturing care is required for children
• Children which are essentially normal but could do
better with proper stimulation during the critical
period of brain development
• Children who are at risk of developmental delay
due to biological reasons like Birth defect ,
newborns discharged from the NICU/SNCU
• Children who are at risk of developmental delay
due to psychological and social reasons like orphan
child, extreme poverty , domestic violence and
child abuse

22. MCP Card
Best IEC
Tool for
SBCC on
1000 days

23. Thank you