Fetal and Perinatal Period
The development of the fetus is closely related to the physical health, mental well-being, nutritional status, and living environment of the mother. Fetal health is primarily achieved through maternal health care during pregnancy.
Prevention of Genetic Diseases and Congenital Malformations
Genetic counseling and pre-marital health screenings for both partners are highly recommended and widely promoted. Consanguineous marriages are discouraged. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals such as lead, benzene, mercury, and pesticides. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are considered detrimental. Women of childbearing age with chronic conditions such as heart and kidney diseases, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or tuberculosis should consult their doctors regarding pregnancy and the safe use of medications during this period. High-risk pregnancies require regular prenatal checkups and closer supervision. If any abnormalities are observed, medical consultation should occur promptly.
Ensuring Adequate Nutrition
In the later stages of pregnancy, essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin D are required in greater amounts. Over-nutrition, however, should be avoided, as excessive fetal weight can complicate delivery and have long-term health implications for the child into adulthood.
Infection Prevention
This includes measures taken during pregnancy and delivery. Pregnant women, particularly in the early stages, should minimize the risk of infections caused by Toxoplasma, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus, as these can result in fetal malformations or intrauterine growth restriction. During delivery, infections from the birth canal should be prevented to protect the newborn.
Provision of a Healthy Living Environment
Pregnant women benefit from a pollutant-free environment, balanced work-rest schedules, and reduced mental stress and psychological burdens.
Prevention of Pregnancy Complications
The risks of miscarriage, preterm labor, and abnormal delivery need to be mitigated, with enhanced follow-up care for high-risk pregnancies.
Close Monitoring of High-Risk Newborns
Special monitoring and proactive care are necessary for newborns from high-risk pregnancies, including those who are premature or have low birth weights, as well as newborns at risk of asphyxia, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, or intracranial hemorrhage.
Neonatal Period
The neonatal period, particularly the first week after birth, is marked by the highest rates of morbidity and mortality. Approximately two-thirds of infant deaths occur in the neonatal period, and nearly 70% of neonatal deaths happen within the first week. Neonatal care is therefore a critical focus in pediatric health care, with the care provided during the first week being of utmost importance.
Care Practices
After delivery, mucus in the newborn's oral cavity should be cleaned promptly to ensure airway patency. Sterile techniques should be used to clamp and cut the umbilical cord, while noting the Apgar score, temperature, breathing, heart rate, weight, and length at birth. Vaccinations against tuberculosis (BCG) and hepatitis B are part of standard neonatal care. Clothing made of soft cotton and daily bathing help maintain skin hygiene. Proper umbilical cord care reduces the risk of infection, and the use of hydrophobic protective ointments can prevent diaper rash or skin erosion in the diaper area. Supine sleeping positions are advised to minimize the risk of suffocation. Interaction and physical touch by parents encourage emotional bonding during the early stages. The World Health Organization highly recommends "kangaroo care" for preterm infants—a method involving skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the infant—which has been shown to support growth and development. This approach is also beneficial for full-term infants. Excessive exposure to visitors should be minimized.
Thermal Regulation
Since the external environment is significantly colder than the mother's uterus, keeping the newborn warm is crucial. Maintaining an ambient temperature of 20–22°C and a humidity level of around 55% is ideal, particularly during winter and spring. Seasonal adjustments to clothing and bedding are necessary to keep the newborn's body temperature stable.
Nutrition
Early breastfeeding initiation is encouraged, as early sucking stimulates milk production and increases breastfeeding prevalence. Term newborns should receive a daily supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D, starting within days after birth, to prevent deficiencies. Attention should also be given to preventing hemorrhagic conditions associated with vitamin K deficiency. Breastfeeding mothers are advised to avoid medications that can be transmitted through breast milk and harm the infant.
Newborn Screening for Diseases
Genetic and metabolic disorders, such as phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism, should be screened for shortly after birth. Recently, newborn hearing screenings have been implemented nationwide to identify hearing impairments early and prevent language development delays. Developmental dysplasia of the hip and congenital heart disease screenings are also increasingly recommended. In some regions, screening programs for conditions such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are offered. Advances in tandem mass spectrometry technology have enabled the screening of dozens of metabolic disorders in certain areas.
Neonatal Follow-Ups
Typically, two follow-up visits are conducted during the neonatal period. Additional visits may be necessary for high-risk infants or those showing abnormalities during health checks. These visits aim to detect and address any emerging health issues in a timely manner, while also offering guidance to parents on infant feeding and care practices.
Infancy
The infant stage is characterized by rapid physical growth, requiring a substantial intake of various nutrients to meet developmental needs. However, the immature digestive system of infants makes them prone to digestive issues and nutrition-related diseases.
Proper Feeding
The World Health Organization currently recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age. Breast milk is the most natural and suitable food for infant development. After six months, complementary foods should be introduced, beginning with iron-fortified rice cereal. Supplementary feeding is generally introduced gradually, starting with small amounts and progressing to larger portions, moving from thinner to thicker consistencies and from single to multiple food types. Vitamin D supplementation at 400 IU/day (10 μg/day) is recommended a few days after birth and for long-term use throughout childhood and adolescence. For full-term infants born at a normal birth weight, calcium in breast milk and formula is sufficient as long as vitamin D supplementation is ensured, making additional calcium supplementation unnecessary.
Routine Health Checkups
For infants under six months, monthly health checkups are recommended, while checkups every 2–3 months are suggested after six months. Growth charts should be routinely used to monitor growth and nutritional status, identifying and correcting deviations as needed. A hemoglobin test is generally advised at six months of age.
Vaccination and Infection Prevention
Completion of the basic vaccination schedule within the first year of life strengthens immunity against infectious diseases. Breastfeeding remains a key factor in enhancing immunity.
Development of Life Skills and Skill Promotion
This period involves fostering proper eating and sleeping habits. Face-to-face interaction between parents and infants, along with skin-to-skin contact, serves as a significant factor for early sensory and emotional development. Visual and auditory abilities, as well as motor skills, can be stimulated using colorful, sound-generating toys. Promoting independent activity, within safe limits, rather than prolonged carrying encourages skill development. Infant motor activity training can target milestones such as head lifting, prone support, independent sitting, and crawling, aligned with the developmental stage.
Toddler Period
The development of sensory capabilities and self-awareness during this stage makes toddlers curious about their environment and eager to mimic those around them. Toddlerhood is also a period of rapid psychosocial development.
Balanced Diet and Structured Routine
In addition to providing a rich, balanced diet to support physical growth, this period focuses on cultivating healthy eating behaviors and hygiene practices. Toddlers are encouraged to use utensils, eat at regular intervals, finish meals within 30 minutes, and avoid snacking or picky eating habits. Developing independence in daily activities, including sleeping, eating, bathing, toileting, playing, and participating in outdoor activities, promotes structured routines and the formation of positive life habits.
Language Development and Skill Building
Language development reaches a critical stage during this period. Parents are encouraged to engage with children through discussions, storytelling, and gameplay to support language skills. Opportunities for outdoor activity provide space for motor development. Psychological and behavioral growth also becomes a key focus, necessitating parental guidance and positive role modeling to cultivate healthy emotional and social behaviors.
Routine Health Checkups and Disease Prevention
Parents are supported in understanding the importance of growth charts to monitor the development of their children and to identify conditions such as obesity or malnutrition. Checkups every 3–6 months facilitate early detection and correction. Evaluations for conditions like iron-deficiency anemia, as well as eye and oral health assessments, are crucial. Vaccinations should be administered as scheduled, along with efforts to prevent accidental injuries, such as choking on foreign objects, burns, and falls.
Preschool Period
The preschool period involves rapid intellectual development, increasing independence, and expanding activity ranges. This stage plays a central role in shaping personality, making early education during this period especially significant. Attention should be paid to fostering learning habits, imagination, and critical thinking capacities to help preschoolers develop a positive psychological foundation.
Balanced Diet and Nutrition
A balanced and diverse diet is important for maintaining appetite, while dairy intake remains an essential source of nutrition during this stage. Since most preschool-aged children attend daycare or preschool, their daily meals typically include three main meals and 1–2 snacks. Ideally, high-quality proteins should make up half of the total protein intake.
Routine Health Checkups and Disease Prevention
Health checkups are recommended every 6–12 months, using growth charts to assess nutritional status. Screening for iron-deficiency anemia should continue, alongside eye and dental care. Immunizations should be kept up to date, while efforts must be made to prevent accidental injuries such as drowning, trauma, accidental ingestion of harmful substances, and food poisoning.
Preschool Education
Preparing children for elementary school becomes a focus during the preschool years. Preschool education should not solely emphasize academic knowledge, nor should it involve teaching primary school curricula prematurely. Such practices can reduce learning efficiency and may discourage children by causing feelings of frustration. Education during this stage should emphasize learning through play while fostering imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Simultaneously, attention should be given to developing good study habits and promoting moral development.
School-Age Period
During the school-age period, children exhibit strong curiosity and a keen desire to acquire knowledge. This stage represents a critical window for learning. Providing suitable learning conditions, fostering good study habits, and emphasizing well-rounded education are key priorities. Encouraging physical exercise can not only strengthen physical health but also help cultivate perseverance and willpower. Properly structured daily routines and adequate nutrition also play an important role.
Enhanced Nutrition and Structured Daily Routines
By this stage, children's dietary patterns closely resemble those of adults. Balanced meals with a combination of both plant and animal-based foods, alongside sufficient intake of high-quality proteins, are essential. Foods rich in calcium are needed to support rapid physical growth, with a daily milk intake of 400–500 ml being recommended. As academic pressure increases, the importance of structured routines becomes more pronounced. Children at this age should ideally get 10 or more hours of sleep per night, engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, and limit screen time to no more than 2 hours per day.
Supportive Learning Environment and Good Study Habits
Communication between parents and teachers plays a crucial role in creating a positive learning environment and fostering children's interest in learning. Developing self-management skills is equally important, with minimal interference from parents in tasks children can handle on their own. Attention should be given to proper posture during reading and writing to prevent vision problems, such as myopia or strabismus.
Participation in Physical Activities to Build Immunity
Outdoor activities and sports should be actively encouraged to improve physical fitness and enhance the body’s ability to resist diseases.
Disease Screening and Accident Prevention
Apart from addressing nutritional issues like iron-deficiency anemia and obesity, attention should also focus on preventing common conditions such as refractive errors and dental caries. Monitoring children's mental and behavioral health is particularly important. Legal education, learning traffic rules, and understanding accident prevention measures contribute to reducing the likelihood of injuries.
Adolescence
Adolescence represents the second major growth spurt in physical development, during which secondary sexual characteristics appear, ultimately leading to full physical maturation and reproductive capability. The physical, physiological, biochemical, psychological, and behavioral changes during this stage are unparalleled in other life stages. While adolescents mature rapidly in physiological terms and are on the verge of adulthood, their psychological, behavioral, and social development often lags behind, giving rise to unique challenges during this phase.
Balanced Nutrition
Adolescence marks a peak period for physical development, making adequate nutrition critical. Sufficient energy, high-quality protein, trace nutrients, and vitamins must be ensured. With the rapid growth of the skeletal system, calcium requirements increase to approximately 1,000 mg per day, necessitating continued consumption of dairy products.
Regular Physical Activity
Adolescents require at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, including high-intensity exercises on three or more days each week, along with resistance exercises that enhance muscle strength and bone health. Screen time should be limited to two hours per day, and children and adolescents are encouraged to engage in more physical activity.
Emphasis on Mental Health Counseling
Adolescents undergo a "second phase of disobedience" due to the physiological and psychological changes of puberty. Parents and teachers must recognize and understand these characteristics while supporting and assisting adolescents. Harsh or authoritarian methods of education should be avoided. Open communication, guidance, and fostering a proper outlook on life and values are essential. Adolescents benefit from being guided to develop skills for managing stress and coping with setbacks. Helping young people identify and reject negative societal influences also contributes to improving their ability to discern right from wrong, take responsibility for their actions, and avoid harmful habits.
Appropriate Sex Education
Classroom education and exhibitions that explain human physiology and development provide adolescents with accurate understanding of sexual development. These efforts also aim at preventing early romantic relationships and premature sexual behavior.