It all starts in the first 1 000 days
The “first thousand days” concept was launched by UNICEF to embrace a holistic approach to maternal and child health. The aim is to promote environments conducive to the healthy development of the foetus and newborn child. Various factors must be taken into account: a safe and healthy environment, sleep and care!
The first studies on this topic date back to the 1980s. Today, there is a consensus among all early childhood experts on the concept of the first 1,000 days, which has also become widely known among the general public after being publicised through special websites, sponsorship campaigns, mobile applications and even government funding.
But why are the first 1,000 days so crucial?
Children are highly sensitive to the environment in which they grow up. Moreover, their genetic expression, by its very nature, is flexible and theoretically reversible, which has a lasting influence on their development.
The first 1,000 days are divided into three stages:
- Before birth: the future baby’s development is affected by the health and lifestyle (e.g. nutrition and physical activity) of its mother and father. Diversifying the parents’ diet may influence on the future child’s food preferences.
- Birth to 6 months: an exclusive breast-milk diet helps prevent allergies and infections. Babies may be introduced to varied tastes during this period.
- Six months to 2 years: this is the time to introduce a wide range of foods by repeatedly introducing new foods and varying the infant’s food experiences. Parents’ eating habits also influence how children eat.
The first 1,000 days, a drive for democratisation that is boosting the market
The first 1,000 days are a key public health issue. Certain chronic non-communicable diseases may start developing during the first 1,000 days of life. Early prevention therefore makes the body more “resistant” to factors leading to chronic diseases.
Health policies have recognised the importance of this topic and have enhanced the communication in this regard. There is also a desire to support families: special websites and public funding campaigns have been introduced in many countries. The 1,000 first days website set up by the French government is one such example. These policies have a clear aim: to slow the increase in chronic non-communicable diseases, estimated at 17% over the next 10 years.
The impacts can already be felt in the infant nutrition market. This market, which includes infant formulas and baby foods, amounted to €53.5 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach €79.6 billion by 20241.
Laïta, your nutritional ally for the first 1,000 days
Laïta Nutrition’s extensive expertise helps develop solutions to support infant development throughout the critical period of the first 1,000 days.
Laïta and our standard range
Laïta’s standard range offers powdered and liquid infant formulas for all ages, tailored to infants’ specific needs at each stage of their lives:
- Birth to 6 months: breastfeeding is the best way to feed your newborn. It provides infants with all the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development (WHO).
- Up to 1 year old: babies can be given infant and follow-on formulas to complement breast milk.
- 1 to 3 years old: we offer formulas for young children who eat a mixed diet.
Laïta products also meet international standards (EU, CODEX and China).
Laïta has the capacity to develop specialised formulas
Powdered AR (anti-regurgitation) formula (FSMP) is a product designed to promote infant development and limit gastroesophageal reflux or regurgitation, while improving the absorption of nutrients. An ingredient – carob – can be combined with starch to thicken the formula.
Laïta also offers customised product options: probiotics, FOS (fructooligosaccharides) and GOS (galactooligosaccharides) may be added to products. Laïta products can also contain DHA, EPA and ARA, vitamins A, C and D and iron.
Our expertise therefore allows us to develop a wide range of products. In the future, Laïta plans to target allergies more specifically and develop an HA (hypo-allergenic) formula.
Laïta Nutrition helps you develop products for infant development over the first 1,000 days
To support your infant nutrition projects, Laïta Nutrition has developed technical expertise in infant formula formulations and processes.
We have acquired expertise in complex nutritional formulations thanks to our customised development methodology and dedicated R&D team. We can therefore provide advice and manage the development of infant nutrition products to support all stages of infant development. This expertise enables us to offer products in powdered or liquid forms.
Our wide range of pilot and industrial technologies and our technical expertise allow us to produce models and product prototypes. Our production facilities guarantee optimal quality in compliance with international food safety standards. Lastly, our mastery of highly specific processes allows us to ensure the traceability and food safety of products: Laïta Nutrition factories are FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001 certified!
Laita Nutrition has integrated its expertise to meet highly technical market requirements for the development of FSMPs and in response to infant nutrition needs. Our adaptability and expertise make us an ideal partner for your projects.
[1] Global Data, 2020
