Nutrition: Foundations for Life
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Goals
Good Nutrition
Caloric Needs
Milk & Formula
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Vegetarian Diets
Failure to Thrive
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Newborns:
Newborn infants should regain their birth weight by two weeks of age; any child
who has not may be categorized as failing to thrive.
Newborns may fail to regain their birth weight if there is inadequate caloric intake from inefficient breastfeeding or from improper preparation (i.e. dilution) or inadequate intake of formula. Inadequate caloric intake may also be secondary to a) severe gastroesophageal reflux disease or b) central nervous system disease leading to poor muscle tone and subsequent poor feeding (e.g. as seen in Down Syndrome)
Severe milk protein allergy or cystic fibrosis may contribute to malabsorption. Infection results in inadequate calories for growth, as the calories instead go to fighting infection. Congenital heart disease (inefficient heart) results in excessive caloric requirement.