Parents Must Understand, Here Are 5 Tips To Meet Children's Needs So That Their Growth Period Is Optimal

Illustration of tips for meeting children's needs so that their growth period is optimal (Freepic)

YOGYAKARTA Welcoming National Children's Day on July 23, awareness of being parents who can meet their child's needs and support optimal growth and development, needs to be built from planning pregnancy.

Parents need to prepare themselves, which can create a healthy environment for their children. As stated by pediatrician I Gusti Ayu Nyoman Partiwi, SpA. MARS. in the Media Briefing Virtual event: Welcoming National Children's Day 2023, Let's Fulfill Rights together and Realize Child Protection which was held this afternoon, Thursday, July 20. That actually the needs of children are not adventurous, but parents must prepare health since pregnancy. More fully, see the following points below.

A healthy environment forms a healthy lifestyle for children as well. To create a healthy environment, parents need to get education from pregnancy, breastfeeding, to children to be independent later. It is important to understand that a healthy environment is formed through the habits of their parents. So, to create a healthy environment for children, parents also need to have a healthy lifestyle.

At the age of 0-6 months of babies, breast milk is the main food. Because at that age the baby's digestion are still developing, breastfeeding mothers need to eat nutritious food so that the baby can be absorbed through breast milk. The need for babies for liquid is also 100 percent fulfilled through breast milk. According to doctor Tiwi, breast milk is the best nutrition for babies, especially in the early months after birth. After the baby reaches the age of 6 months, it can be accompanied by breast milk complement (MPASI).

In children aged 6-12 months, they must receive carbohydrates as a source of energy. However, it is also necessary to balance it with protein and fat, which at the previous age was fulfilled through breast milk. Added doctor Tiwi, parents can provide vegetables and fruit, but first prioritize foods that are difficult for children to accept.

Children tend to be easier to receive sweet foods, such as fruit. So to anticipate so that children do not become voters, give them protein food first. Like fish and eggs, then after getting used to protein and fat foods, then introduce fruit and vegetables.

Given the importance of measuring nutrition in foods for children of MPASI age, parents need to curate food for them every day. As with Antonia Adega's explanation, Tokopedia's Corporate Affairs, parents can look for children's needs that support the growth and development of children in online stores which are drained by the Tokopedia Parents e-commerce feature. The reason is, not only products are drained but also get recommendations for sellers closest to the location. That way, parents can easily find breast milk companion food such as home products from Kidsmen. Agung Sri Anjani's son, the owner of the home product business, explained that his products are drained from the materials used, the nutritional content needed by children, to be safe because they do not contain preservatives.

Specifically, doctor Tiwi explained that every protein portion eats as much as 1 baby's palm. While carbohydrates as many as 2 palms. For example, introducing vegetables, you can give 1 sheet of spinach in one portion of food.

For newborns, parents need to provide pancaindra stimulation according to their development and age. A newborn baby, because Pancaindra is still developing, doctor Tiwi's advice, in principle, can provide stimulation from the mother's body. For example through touch, feeling each other's heart rate while filling, and through sound. Then you can stimulate with motor movements.

The older you get, the more complex you get. That is, starting from stimulation with gross motor movements to motor loss. It is also important to realize that parenting from the age of 1-5 years is very important. At the age of 1-2, the most important role of parents is to build attachment. For parents who work, start considering priorities and take time for children in the morning, afternoon after work, and weekends.

Reading is a way to gain knowledge. Reading is important not only to gain knowledge, for parents, reading also forms a child's habit of the same interest. Introducing a reading culture, it can actually start from pregnancy, said Devi Raissa, business owner of Rabbit Hole and child psychologist. Mother and father can read books since childhood is still in the womb.

With age, parents can get books according to their children's abilities and growth. The recommendation is, at the age of 0-6 months introduce books with contrasting colors. Of course with simple content or content. At the age of 1-3 years, parents can facilitate children with books that review the emotional and picture sides of age. Children aged Batita and Toddlers, parents can provide books with flips and pop-ups.

Through the tips above, you as a parent can absorb as inspiration in meeting your child's needs. You can also develop steps that suit your family's preferences.