Chapter 13: Growth, Development & Nutrition

Growth, Development & Nutrition summary explores the fundamental principles of growth, development, and nutrition that form the basis of pediatric nursing care in the Canadian context. It begins by differentiating key concepts, defining growth as a measurable increase in physical size (height, weight, and head circumference) and development as the progressive acquisition of function and skills, distinguishing both from maturation. The text details the predictable directional patterns of physical development, specifically the cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) and proximodistal (center-to-periphery) trends, and explains how nurses utilize standardized growth charts and developmental screening tools like the Nipissing District Developmental Screen to identify variations from the norm. A significant portion of the chapter integrates major developmental theories to guide holistic care, including Erikson’s psychosocial stages (such as Trust vs. Mistrust and Autonomy vs. Shame), Piaget’s cognitive development phases (Sensorimotor through Formal Operations), Kohlberg’s moral development, and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The summary highlights the critical role of the family in child health, examining diverse family structures—including nuclear, extended, lone-parent, blended, and LGBTQ2 families—and analyzes how social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, poverty, and culture, impact developmental outcomes. Nutritional needs are broken down by age group, emphasizing breastfeeding as the gold standard for infants, the timing for introducing iron-rich solids, and management strategies for toddler physiological anorexia and picky eating. It further addresses adolescent nutritional challenges, including obesity, body image concerns, and the risks of fad diets. The chapter also covers oral health, tracking the eruption of deciduous and permanent teeth and providing guidance on preventing nursing bottle caries and fluorosis. Finally, the text underscores the importance of play (parallel, cooperative, and therapeutic) as a developmental engine and outlines safety recommendations regarding screen time, travel, and injury prevention.