Childhood growth and development

The NNI and the Wyeth Nutrition Science Center are proud to have participated in the 12th annual International Conference on Nutrition & Growth. The event focuses on current nutritional issues, providing healthcare professionals with the latest scientifically based information to help them improve their patient care.

Our presence at the event highlighted our ongoing commitment to healthy childhood growth and development.  We hosted a symposium focused on the critical role of toddler nutrition in supporting healthy eating behaviours, intellectual growth, and physical growth. The symposium included presentations focused on healthy growth presented by Professor Raanan Shamir and Professor Ciarán Forde.

Professor Shamir's insightful presentation examined the role of complementary feeding in achieving growth milestones, highlighting both present and future implications. He defined complementary feeding as the necessary introduction of foods and liquids beyond breast milk, typically after four months and no later than six months, to meet healthy growth needs. He also delved into the evolving textures of food introduced to infants, aligning with their developmental growth. He continued his presentation by focusing on allergies, sharing findings from studies like the LEAP study, which demonstrated that early introduction of allergenic foods, such as peanuts and eggs, can significantly reduce the risk of developing these allergies.

Professor Ciarán Forde's presentation complemented Professor Shamir's by focusing on the critical role of early life texture experiences in shaping healthy eating behaviours. He emphasised that "learning to eat" is a multifaceted process that includes:

• Learning to chew: This involves both the anatomical development of the palate and the emergence of teeth, alongside the maturation of coordinated movements of the tongue, lips, and muscles throughout infancy. Chewing skills progress from sucking and swallowing to more complex rotary chewing.
• Acquiring taste: This is largely driven by repeated exposure to diverse food textures and flavours.
• Learning to eat (broadly): This encompasses sensory and cognitive development, as well as crucial social and environmental influences.

Professor Forde stated that the transition to more challenging food textures is essential for meeting nutritional needs and developing vital oral motor skills. His research indicated that early exposure to lumpy foods, ideally between six and nine months, is a sensitive period crucial for later food acceptance and can help prevent feeding difficulties. He concluded that while the physical anatomy for eating develops naturally, the behaviours associated with eating are learned. This learning process requires physiological and sensory adaptation to different food textures, highlighting the profound importance of diverse early food experiences.

These presentations collectively reinforced the profound impact of early nutrition and feeding practices on an infant's growth milestones, physical health and long-term well-being, setting the stage for healthy eating behaviours and overall development.

We also showcased our latest tools and resources, including the NNI 365 App, our educational podcast series, and new scientific publications at our booth.

For NNI Members, exclusive access is now available to:

• Professor Raanan Shamir‘s presentation
• Professor Ciarán Forde’s presentation
• The brochure
• N&G Yearbook 2025

Access these resources for valuable insights into the latest research and practical applications in paediatric nutrition and growth.