The Role of Nutrition in Baby’s Growth and Development
Nutrition plays a critical role in optimal growth and development throughout the first 1,000 days of life. Feeding your baby not only delivers the essential nutrients they need to grow and thrive – it also serves as an irreplaceable form of bonding, nurturing connections that become the foundation for a lifetime. So let’s take a closer look at what you need to know to help nourish the connections that matter most.
Breast Milk: The Gold Standard for Infant Nutrition
Breast milk is the ideal sole source of nutrition for babies and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is recommended. What babies eat in the first 1,000 days of life - specifically from 0-12 months - can impact their health throughout their lifetime. During these early months, babies’ brains, immune systems, and gut are all developing rapidly and the nutrients they consume set the foundation for healthy growth and development. That is why, when breast milk is not available, having access to high-quality infant formula options is critical to help ensure all babies receive the nutrition they need to grow and thrive.
High-quality infant formulas provide similarities to breast milk
All infant formulas authorized for sale in the US are carefully crafted to meet specific nutrient requirements that help support healthy growth and development. These requirements are a recipe of essential nutrients in specific proportions that are intended to mimic the composition of breast milk - meaning all infant formulas must have the same defined similarities to breast milk. That said, there are meaningful ingredient differences that can be helpful to understand when selecting an infant formula. Pediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann offers, “When families ask me about formulas, I tend to gravitate to options that are whole-fat milk based and have lactose as the primary carb source. I also suggest they look for things like added DHA and consider brands that go above and beyond what is required, to provide the cleanest sources of nutrition possible.”
Why should I choose a whole-fat infant formula?
Historically, US infant formulas have been nonfat-based and therefore they have relied solely on vegetable oil blends to mimic the fatty acid profile of breast milk. While these oils are necessary for all infant formula recipes, starting with a whole-fat base allows fewer oils to be used. Additionally, the structure and composition of the whole fats provide natural similarities to breast milk.
The First 1,000 Days: A Critical Window of Development
The first 1,000 days refer to a period beginning in pregnancy through 2 years of life where growth and development occur at an astonishing pace. Specifically:
- Brain development and cognitive function
- Immune system development
- Gut establishment
During this critical window, high-quality nutrition helps build a foundation for lifelong well-being.
The benefit of whole fats with MFGM
Fats are a core component of proper infant nutrition. They provide the energy babies need to grow and serve as the building blocks for development. The fat in breast milk and whole-fat milk exists in the form of globules. These globules contain a diverse range of fatty acids encased in a complex, bioactive membrane known as milk fat globule membrane or “MFGM”. This form of intact fat not only helps with digestion and delivery but emerging studies suggest that the wide variety of proteins and fats that make up MFGM may play important functional roles within the brain, gut, and immune system.
Brain Development in the First 1,000 Days
From the period of birth to age 3, the brain grows faster than at any other time. In fact, the brain doubles in size by age 1 and reaches ~80% of its adult volume by age 3. During this time, the brain is also actively building connections called synapses that allow brain cells to talk to each other. As these connections between cells are formed and strengthened, special wires in the brain cells also develop a fatty coating called myelin which helps messages travel faster. Proper nutrition, good sleep, and nurturing interactions - like making eye contact with your baby during feeding - all can make a difference in supporting optimal brain development.
What nutrients support brain development?
Fats account for about 50% of the energy babies consume and the majority of that energy is used to support brain growth and development. Fatty acids come in a wide range of structures and sizes and are responsible for a variety of functions in the body, including nutrient absorption and structural development of the brain and eyes. In infant formulas, there are defined fatty acid requirements - like linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid - that must be met at specific ratios. These are achieved with a combination of whole fats and/or vegetable oil blends. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 essential fatty acid found in breast milk. It is a primary component of brain and eye membranes and has been shown to support cognitive development and vision. While it is not required in US infant formulas, it is often added along with ARA, an omega-6, because of these benefitsMFGM (milk fat globule membrane) is a complex, triple-layer membrane composed of fats and proteins that coats whole fat globules. MFGM may aid in fat digestion and absorption and have important functional roles in cognitive development. MFGM is naturally occurring in breast milk and whole-fat infant formulas but is also added as a premium ingredient in some nonfat formulas.
- Iron delivers oxygen to brain cells and is essential for creating neurotransmitters that enable learning and memory
- Zinc helps brain cells grow and form new connections, supporting learning and memory development
- Choline supports the structural integrity of brain cells and is crucial for memory and cognitive function
- B-vitamins help form the myelin sheath which helps brain cells communication
Immune System Development and Gut Health in the First 1,000 Days
The immune system protects the body from infection, injury, and disease. It consists of a network of organs, tissues, and cells located throughout the body, however, 70% of our immune system ultimately lives in the gut. Babies are born with an immature immune system. They rely on a combination of environmental and nutritional exposures to build different aspects of immunity, including barrier formation (skin, mucus membranes, digestive enzymes, gut microbiota) and immune cell development. Breast milk contains numerous bioactive factors like maternal antibodies, immune cells, HMOs, MFGM, and nucleotides that help build a healthy gut microbiota and develop a strong immune system and response.
What nutrients support immune system development?
- Oligosaccharides are the third most abundant component of human milk (behind lactose and fat). They serve as prebiotics, feeding good bacteria, but also serve as decoys that prevent bad bacteria and pathogens from adhering to the gut
- MFGM may play a role in intestinal barrier formation, reducing GI infections, protecting against inflammation, and regulating the gut microbiota
- Fats, like DHA, help to deliver immune cells to locations where injury and infection occur
- Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E are just a few of the antioxidants that help protect immune cells and the body while they fight off invaders
- Minerals like Iron and Zinc help the body respond to threats by supporting immune cell production and development
How does the gut microbiota play a role?
The gut microbiota influences the behavior of the immune system. A healthy microbiota can influence our overall health while an unhealthy microbiota can be associated with disease, allergy, or other poor health outcomes. The composition of the gut microbiota is established throughout the first 1,000 days of life and is affected by several factors including a baby’s diet and environmental exposures. Nutritional factors that can help support early microbiome development include:
- Probiotics, aka beneficial bacteria, like Bifidobacterium longum, help establish the microbiome and play an important role in supporting the immune response
Did you know? Bubs is one of the few infant formulas to include probiotics directly in our infant formulas by utilizing a special dry-blending process that allows the good bacteria to reach the gut in viable condition.
- Prebiotics, like oligosaccharides, are found in breast milk and added to many infant formulas to help feed the good bacteria
- Lactose is the most abundant component of breast milk. Not only is it an important source of energy, but it also contributes to a healthy gut – acting as a prebiotic and feeding beneficial bacteria like bifidobacterium in the GI tract
- Diet diversity, nutrient density, and early allergen exposure once solid foods are introduced around 6 months of age
The infant feeding journey is an incredibly special time. No matter how you choose to feed your baby, the experience of feeding and the bond that creates with baby is irreplaceable — and the love and nutrition a baby receives during that feeding time lays a foundation for life. Bubs whole fat infant formulas use only the highest quality ingredients manufactured with the highest level of care to ensure your baby is getting everything they need, and nothing they don’t.
