Chapter 12 – From Pregnancy to the Toddler Years

Nutritional choices that parents make, such as the decision to breastfeed or bottle-feed, not only affect early childhood development, but also a child’s health and wellness later in life. It is imperative to promote and support the best practices for the well-being of infants and mothers alike. In this chapter, we will examine how dietary choices—from the daily caloric intake for pregnant women to serving sizes for toddlers—impact health and wellness during pregnancy and the early childhood years.