This was a research paper I completed in my Infant and Toddler Development course at

UNT in 2016. I spent the semester researching poor nutrition and the impact that it makes on
toddlers and young children. I felt like this is a major health issue that tends to be overlooked in
schools and needed to be addressed. This paper is in APA format. I was shocked at the research I
read through while writing this paper. I feel that if we could get a strong handle on promoting
healthy nutrition in homes and schools that children will be positively affected. Their mental,
emotional, and physical development can be enhanced just by ensuring they are getting the
proper nutrients.

Running head: EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON TODDLERS

Effects of Poor Nutrition on Toddlers

Emilie Yell
University of North Texas

EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON TODDLERS

Effects of Poor Nutrition on Toddlers

A childs diet and eating patterns prove to be the foundation for a healthy life. Parents and
caregivers need to make a conscious effort to provide their child with the most beneficial diets
full of nutritional value. When infants reach an age at which solid foods are introduced, it can be
a disconcerting time for parents. Toddlers dietary needs are constantly changing and making the
wrong nutritional choices can be harmful to them. It is important to know the type of foods that
best aide in a childs growth and development, especially as infants mature into their toddler
years. According to Weaver, More, and Harris (2008), an unhealthy diet and poor nutrition
during the first three years of life have both short-term and long-term unpropitious effects on
mental and physical development; it could even increase the risk of chronic adult diseases.
Childrens unhealthy eating habits can cause critical nutrient deficiencies well before
school age. A weak appetite and fatigue are the most common symptoms of an unhealthy diet. An
energy-dense diet is required for toddlers to meet their growth and activity needs. This type of
diet provides a high concentration of calories and micronutrients to guard against iron deficiency,
rickets and growth faltering (Weaver, More, & Harris, 2008). Children who consume an
excessive amount of cows milk are prone to developing severe iron-deficiency anemia. An
increased risk of irreversibly compromised cognitive, affective, and motor development has been

found in children who suffer from chronic, severe iron-deficiency anemia in the first years of life
(Paoletti, Bogen, & Ritchey, 2014). A toddler who consumes an unhealthy diet can suffer from

EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON TODDLERS

obesity, severe iron-deficiency anemia, excessive weight loss, and developmental delays, and
many other hazardous health issues.
Annotated Bibliography
Berkel, S. R., Groeneveld, M. G., Mesman, J., Endendijk, J. J., Hallers-Haalboom, E. T., Pol,
L. D., & Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J. (2014). Parental Sensitivity Towards Toddlers
and Infant Siblings Predicting Toddler Sharing and Compliance. Journal of Child and
Family Studies, 24(8), 2270-2279. doi:10.1007/s10826-014-0029-y
Parents often use different techniques with each child that can affect the way siblings
interact with one another. If parents are more sensitive to the second-borns in the family, then the
firstborns will be more compliant and exhibit positive sharing behaviors. The results revealed
that the eldest child tends to share with their younger siblings. The firstborn toddlers were also
highly cooperative when their fathers showed more sensitivity towards them and were less
empathetic to the other siblings. The researchers formed two different suggestions to explain
their results. On one hand, the oldest sibling may exhibit positive sharing behaviors to secure a
favored position. On the other hand, the toddler may try to make up for the fathers lack of
sensitivity towards the younger siblings. According to Berkel et al. (2014) the findings of this
study highlight the importance of a broader understanding of parenting for child socio-emotional
development.

Giallo, R., Rose, N., & Vittorino, R. (2011). Fatigue, wellbeing and parenting in mothers of
infants and toddlers with sleep problems. Journal Of Reproductive & Infant
Psychology
EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON TODDLERS

29(3), 236-249. doi:10.1080/02646838.2011.593030

The relationships between health, exhaustion, and parenting by mothers of young
children with difficulties sleeping were explored through an intensive study. The sleeping
regimes of children can also have a substantial effect on the parents sleeping patterns. Parents of
young children are at risk of suffering from increased levels of fatigue and difficulties with their
wellbeing (Giallo, Rose, & Vittorino, 2011). Raised levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were
associated with the mothers who reported moderate to high levels of fatigue. Giallo et al. (2011)
stated that exhaustion was also found to be correlated with parenting warmth and involvement,
increased parenting aggression, and low parental self-efficacy. The predicators of fatigue could
be linked to limited health and self-care behaviors, impractical sleep expectations, and too great
of a reliance on social support. These results prove to be the stepping stones for the management
of parental exhaustion (Giallo et al., 2011).

Hoffman, E. R., Bentley, M. E., Hamer, R. M., Hodges, E. A., Ward, D. S., & Bulik, C. M.
(2014). A comparison of infant and toddler feeding practices of mothers with and
without histories of eating disorders. Maternal & Child Nutrition,10(3), 360-372.
doi:10.1111/j.1740-8709.2012.00429.x
Mothers with eating disorder histories were asked about the different ways they fed their
children. Mothers reported on the childs diet, feeding strategies, and restrictive approaches to

EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON TODDLERS

consumption. Those who scored lower on the restrictive feeding style were mothers with a
history of an eating disorder, but that was the only significant difference observed between the
groups. Variances were not found in the number of mothers who breastfed, breastfeeding length,
how many times the child ate daily, the introduction of solid foods, or the consumption of fruits
and vegetables (Hoffman et al., 2014). Although there were not vast differences between the two
groups of mothers, those with a history of an eating disorder were more likely to take a
restrictive method to feeding their children. This feeding technique used by mothers with an
eating disorder could potentially be harmful to their children in the future.

Paoletti, G., Bogen, D. L., & Ritchey, A. K. (2014). Severe iron-deficiency anemia still an issue
in toddlers. Clinical Pediatrics, 53(14), 1352-1358. doi:10.1177/0009922814540990
Iron-deficiency anemia has decreased in infants due to nutritional changes and it has been
found that toddlers can benefit from these dietary adjustments as well. An increased risk of
irreversibly compromised cognitive, affective, and motor development has been found in
children who suffer from chronic, severe iron-deficiency anemia in the first years of life
(Paoletti, Bogen, & Ritchey, 2014). IDA (iron-defiency anemia) continues to be a health issue in
young children 13-36 months of age due to excessive milk consumption. The severeness of this
health concern has reiterated the importance of screening for IDA during routine doctor visits.

EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON TODDLERS

Weaver, L. T., More, J. A., & Harris, G. (2008). What foods for toddlers? Nutrition Bulletin,
3
(1), 40-46. doi:10.1111/j.1467-3010.2007.00667.x
A healthy diet is extremely important as a young infant begins to mature into their toddler
years. Toddlers have many nutritional needs and they are constantly changing. The ages of 1 to 3
is known as a period of substantial growth and development. These years are vital to the current
and future wellbeing of the child. Weaver, More, and Harris (2008) found that toddlers require an
energy-dense diet to meet their needs for growth, development, and activity. An energy-dense
diet also provides sufficient micronutrients to guard against iron deficiency, growth faltering, and
rickets. Healthy eating patterns are the foundation for a healthy life. Watching what a toddler eats
has many benefits including the prevention of diabetes and obesity. This article proposes that
parents and caregivers should make a conscious effort to provide their child with healthier
energy-dense foods and solicit consistent advice.

EFFECTS OF POOR NUTRITION ON TODDLERS

References:
Berkel, S. R., Groeneveld, M. G., Mesman, J., Endendijk, J. J., Hallers-Haalboom, E. T., Pol,
L. D., & Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J. (2014). Parental sensitivity towards toddlers
and infant siblings predicting toddler sharing and compliance. Journal of Child and
Family Studies, 24(8), 2270-2279. doi:10.1007/s10826-014-0029-y
Giallo, R., Rose, N., & Vittorino, R. (2011). Fatigue, wellbeing and parenting in mothers of
infants and toddlers with sleep problems. Journal Of Reproductive & Infant
Psychology
29(3), 236-249. doi:10.1080/02646838.2011.593030
Hoffman, E. R., Bentley, M. E., Hamer, R. M., Hodges, E. A., Ward, D. S., & Bulik, C. M.
(2014). A comparison of infant and toddler feeding practices of mothers with and
without histories of eating disorders. Maternal & Child Nutrition,10(3), 360-372.
doi:10.1111/j.1740-8709.2012.00429.x
Paoletti, G., Bogen, D. L., & Ritchey, A. K. (2014). Severe iron-deficiency anemia still an issue
in toddlers. Clinical Pediatrics, 53(14), 1352-1358. doi:10.1177/0009922814540990
Weaver, L. T., More, J. A., & Harris, G. (2008). What foods for toddlers? Nutrition Bulletin,
3
(1), 40-46. doi:10.1111/j.1467-3010.2007.00667.x