3 Ways to Stay on Top of Your Child’s Growth and Development

Fact: It’s second nature for parents to want to stay on top of their child’s growth and development. You want to be reassured that your child is on track, or isn’t lagging behind the normal averages.

Having said that, it’s a pretty daunting task, so here’s how to keep it simple: The three measures of growth that you should keep in mind are height, weight, and immunity. They all have a role to play in your child's growth.

While genes are important in determining a child’s development, you can also make sure your kids remain healthy as they grow. Here’s what you can do:

1. Give them lots of play and sunshine

Physical activities help build strong and healthy bones and muscles. An activity as simple as hanging onto monkey bars help stimulate their body. Let your kids try other stretching exercises like yoga to elongate the spine and strengthen their muscles. Kids also get their daily dose of vitamin D from exposure to sunlight—it helps absorb phosphorus and calcium.

2. Make sure their room is conducive to sleep.

When we sleep, our bodies release human growth hormones that stimulate tissue and bone growth. Our bodies secrete more of these hormones between 10 p.m. and midnight, while we're sleeping in the dark. A night light may help your kids fall asleep, but see to it that you turn it off once they're in dreamland to keep the room dark.

3. Prepare a balanced and nutritious diet.

According to a study, a big part of your child's growth in the first five years is largely dependent on his or her nutrition. This means it's not just your genes that affect your child's height.

A balanced diet—consisting of healthy portions of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fat—is all the more important. While you’re at it, it’s best to limit sugary treats and drinks as well as food full of saturated and trans fat.

If your kids aren’t getting all their nutritional needs from their food, try giving them an oral nutritional supplement like PediaSure Plus to help fill in the nutritional gaps. PediaSure Plus helps support bone and muscle growth in kids above 3 years of age.

To know if your kids' growth is on the right track, you can measure it regularly, at least once a month. Doing a #GrowthCheckDay helps you monitor for any signs of a growth gap. You'll be able to take the necessary action as early as possible, like providing your child with the proper nutrition with the help of a nutritional supplement like PediaSure Plus.

PediaSure Plus is an oral nutritional supplement for kids above 3 years old. PediaSure Plus is available in all major supermarkets and drugstores nationwide, and online via Lazada. Visit www.pediasure.com.ph for sample meal plans and creative recipes for kids. Check out the site's height predictor to calculate your child's maximum height potential.