Steps to Prevent Stunting from the First Thousand Days of Life

Stunting is a condition in which a child is shorter than the standard for their age due to chronic malnutrition and recurrent infections, especially during the first thousand days of life, which is from pregnancy until the child is two years old. Stunting affects not only height but also brain development and the child’s future health.

Prevention begins during pregnancy with regular prenatal checkups, balanced nutrition, and taking iron supplement tablets as recommended. After the baby is born, breastfeed exclusively for six months, then continue with nutritious complementary foods (MPASI) rich in animal protein such as eggs, fish, chicken, and meat, while continuing to breastfeed until two years of age.

Regularly taking your child to a posyandu (community health post) or health facility to be weighed and have their length or height measured every month is very important. The growth chart in the KIA (Maternal and Child Health) book helps detect when a child’s weight or height is not increasing as expected. Complete your child’s immunizations, keep the environment clean, and make handwashing with soap a habit.

If your child’s weight does not increase for two consecutive months or their growth chart is declining, consult a pediatrician immediately.