Before a child takes a step or says a first word, a remarkable amount of development already is underway.
From conception through a child’s second birthday, the first 1,000 days are a critical window for early health. Dairy foods can be one practical way to help families meet nutrition needs during that time.
Sarah Hester, community wellness manager with The Dairy Alliance, sees the first 1,000 days as a time when nutrition can have a lasting impact on a child’s development.
“During this time, children are growing more rapidly than they will at any other point in their lives,” Hester says.
Nutrition plays a role even before pregnancy. What a woman eats before and during pregnancy helps provide the nutrients she and her baby need.
“Healthy development really starts before that baby is even born,” Hester says. “We want to make sure mom is getting the nutrition she needs, and then we continue to support that child’s growth and development once they’re here.”
Iodine Deserves More Attention
Hester says several nutrients are worth watching during this window. Of the 14 nutrients the American Academy of Pediatrics identifies as important for infant brain development, seven are found in dairy foods.
- protein
- zinc
- selenium
- vitamin A
- vitamin B12
- choline
- iodine
“Iodine is one of those nutrients we don’t always talk about, but it’s really important for brain development,” Hester says. “I feel like if more moms knew it’s such an influential nutrient and easy to get, they’d be more invested in it.”
Hester wants iodine to become a bigger part of conversations with women before and after their babies are born.
“I am on a mission for iodine to be the next thing your nurse or your OB counsels you about,” Hester says. “It’s a nutrient we don’t talk about very much, but it’s really important during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
Iodine needs increase during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and Hester says milk makes it relatively simple to get. One cup provides about 88 micrograms, according to Hester.
Building Brains, Bones and Bodies
Dairy’s benefits reach across a child’s growing body. Hester sums it up with three areas: brains, bones and bodies.
Protein helps build muscles and tissues, but its role starts even earlier. It also supports brain growth, making it an important nutrient during pregnancy as a baby develops.
“The mother is building a human. So, protein is really important there,” Hester says. “We need to make sure she’s getting enough protein to support herself and the baby she’s growing.”
Dairy foods also provide calcium and vitamin D, two nutrients closely tied to bone health. Bone health starts early. Throughout childhood and adolescence, the body builds bone mass, creating a foundation for the years ahead. Hester says those early years offer an important opportunity to build strong bones.
“Really, from zero to 30, we’re trying to build and maximize bone health that’s going to carry their skeleton,” Hester says. “We want to build as much bone as we can during those years because once we reach that peak bone mass, we’re working with what we built.”
Together, these nutrients give dairy a role beyond any single benefit. They help support the brain, bones and body as children grow, while also giving mothers important nutrients before and after a baby is born.
Introducing Dairy to Young Children
During the first year, breast milk or infant formula remains a baby’s main source of nutrition. As babies show signs they are ready, parents can work with their pediatrician to introduce solid foods.
Around 6 months, plain, unsweetened whole-milk yogurt and pasteurized cheese can offer new flavors and textures.
For Hester, these first tastes are about more than nutrition.
“We’re establishing their palate at this time, so nutrition is obviously important, but flavor and texture are just as important,” Hester says.
It can take several tries before a child warms up to a new food, so parents shouldn’t be discouraged by an initial refusal. Yogurt can be paired with other foods, while cheese can be added to meals a child already enjoys.
Around age 1, whole cow’s milk can be introduced as children transition from breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Parents should talk with their child’s healthcare provider about the transition and what works best for their child.
Dairy Can Work for Selective Eaters, Too
Not every food will be a hit right away. Young children can be selective about flavors and textures, and a food refused today may be welcomed another day.
The dairy case gives parents options. If milk isn’t a favorite, yogurt or cheese may be. Milk can also be served with meals or blended into a smoothie.
“The dairy case is so wide, and there’s a variety of things to choose from,” Hester says.
If parents think their child may have trouble digesting lactose, a healthcare provider or registered dietitian can help identify options.
Lactose intolerance doesn’t necessarily mean cutting out dairy, either. Lactose-free milk and other lactose-free dairy products provide the same nutrients as their traditional counterparts. Aged cheeses, such as cheddar and Parmesan, also contain very little lactose.
Making Nutrition Work for Families
Feeding a family comes with plenty of questions, especially during the first 1,000 days. Hester encourages parents to focus less on getting every meal right and more on offering nourishing foods as they can.
“We don’t have to make nutrition complicated. It’s about looking at what you’re already eating and finding ways to add foods with the nutrients you and your child need,” Hester says.
Milk, cheese and yogurt can fit at several points along the way — from pregnancy and breastfeeding to first foods and toddler meals.
“There are so many ways to get dairy into your diet, and it doesn’t have to look the same every day,” Hester says.
The first 1,000 days pass quickly, but small choices during this stage can help support a child’s foundation for the years ahead.
For Hester, that’s what makes dairy part of the conversation. It offers familiar foods that can help support children during a short but important stage of life.
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