1. Infant: Breastfeeding is preferable to bottle feeding for
infants because it provides the right balance of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids for human digestion, brain development, and growth (FDA, 2004). Studies have shown that breast-fed babies are healthier and have fewer infections than formula fed babies because breast milk transfers antibodies from the mother to the baby, protecting them from such diseases as pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. However, mothers who are taking certain medications such as chemotherapy drugs, lithium, or ergotamine for migraines should not breast-feed as these drugs they will be passed to the baby in the milk. Mothers should also not smoke while breast-feeding because nicotine can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and restlessness in the baby. Drug use by the mother also affects the baby through the milk, so must be avoided while breastfeeding.
Toddler: Do not overfeed toddlers. They know when they have eaten enough to sustain growth and development innately, and overfeeding them at this stage develops bad habits for later in life (Health, 2004). Liquids are just as important as food for a toddler, and it is important to read the labels of today's drinks because many of them contain high amounts of caffeine, which should be avoided for toddlers. Toddlers also need to have their immunizations on schedule, e.g. DtaP, Hib, IPV, and MMR (2004 Immunization, 2004).
School-aged children: School children need good, nutritious school lunches to take with them to school. School cafeterias often don't serve nutritious food. Children should also be discouraged from buying sodas and snacks from machines while at school. Drug and alcohol abuse starts at an early age, and parents should talk about these things to their children to make sure they do not become involved.
Teenaged children: The main problems teen...