Kids need guidance of parents to grow healthy

R. Dijan Subromo ,  Contributor ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 04/26/2009 1:06 PM  |  Supplement

A child is a valuable asset for a family, so it is not surprising that parents pay special attention to the child's health. It is not easy to define being healthy as being thin, fat, tall and so forth. Being healthy means a good physical balance in the child's growth.

The most important factor in the early days is the ratio between height and weight from baby to the age of five. Doctors concentrate on the Golden Ages, that is between baby and the age of two, which is a vital period for physical and mental growth.

During this period, the benchmark of growth, that is, of height and weight, is clearly defined in the parameters issued by WHO in a specific tabulation.

So, a child is considered to grow in a balanced or normal way when the height and weight is according to the tabulation. Experts have also formulated other growth standard measures, such as physical activities, self-expression, motoric ability, speech ability and the ability to socialize.

"Today, experts in medical science or doctors are able to create parameters to measure the normal or balanced growth of a child during the early years, such as phy-sical, psychomotoric and the ability to socialize," confirmed Dr. Bhaktipatria Anoraga from the Indonesian Family Doctors Association.

A healthy child is reflected by its physical growth as set by the height and weight standard of WHO or NCHS and by its socializing activities, said Bhakti, who manages a Children's Health and Growth Clinic in South Jakarta.

"Socializing is with the child's family, relatives, friends and so forth. From these activities we can evaluate whether the child is growing normally or has retarded growth," she said.

Dr. Susy Octowati from the Mitra Sehati Clinic in Bandung agreed with Bhakti's comments, sating that parental care concerning the child's health and growth during the first five years is very important. "It is not surprising, therefore, that Indonesian parents care about their children by giving them correct and balanced nutrition during the growth period," she said.

This means, she added, that Indonesian parents are aware of various food products, medicines, supplements and health products to make their child or children healthy, strong and free from a number of dangerous diseases.

A number of the world's food supplement manufacturers target this segment in their marketing. Producers like Nestle, Nutrisia, SUN, Wyeth, Bayer and Milna produce milk and porridge as supplement foods for children whose mothers have careers.

This means a reduced number of breast-feeding mothers during the first two years. There are dozens of brands of formula milk available to choose from on the market.

All these milk products are derived from cow's milk and are enriched with a number of vitamins and minerals. Other added elements believed to be good for brain growth are Omega 3, DHA and EPA. Tuna and codfish are rich in these elements, which are also contained in formula milk, porridge and liquid supplements.

Generally speaking, a varied daily menu also helps during the growth period. As a child grows, its nutritional needs also change along with further requirements for carbohydrates, protein, iron, calcium, vitamin A, C, B1, B6, B12 and D.

Parents have many choices of food supplements, formula milk and porridge in many brands. As long as no harmful chemicals are used, all these food products are relevant for the maximum growth of a child. Wise parents play an active part during this period.

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