First 1,000 Days of Life Determine Child's Growth Quality, Says Paediatrician

The Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) has reminded the public that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are a determining factor for the quality of their growth and development. “We must remember that the first 1,000 days of life are the golden age, up to the age of two years, which will determine the quality of their growth and development,” said Dr. dr. I Gusti Ayu Trisna Windiani, Sp.A., Subsp. T.K.P.S.(K), a member of the IDAI Growth and Social Paediatrics Coordination Unit. Speaking during an online seminar on Tuesday, she explained that brain development occurs very rapidly in early life. Approximately 80 percent of brain development takes place by the age of two, reaching 85 percent by age three and 95 percent by age six. Dr. Trisna also noted that the speed of development varies across different parts of the brain at different age stages. Beyond ensuring adequate nutritional intake and providing stimulation, she advised parents to monitor their child’s growth and development to enable early detection and intervention for any problems. She stated that growth monitoring should be carried out through periodic measurement, recording, and interpretation of weight, length or height, and head circumference based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standard growth charts. According to her, these periodic measurements are necessary to observe the child’s growth trend over time and to detect issues early so they can be addressed promptly.