My child just turned one: What nutrients do they need?

As your little one tries new foods and meets more of the world, a balanced diet provides the nutrients needed for normal growth, development and immune function

As toddlers explore new foods and flavours, a balanced diet provides essential nutrients to support their growth, development and normal immune function.

Published Oct 29, 2026, 04:00 AM

From the slides and swings at the neighbourhood playground to the shared toys and books at childcare, there is plenty for young children to discover as they enter their toddler years.

With every new experience comes more exposure to the world around them – including the germs they encounter along the way.

Between the ages of one and three, children’s immune systems are still developing , shaped in part by their interactions with microorganisms in the environment.

While parents cannot shield their little ones from every germ, everyday habits can help support their overall health. Alongside adequate sleep, active play and good hygiene, a balanced diet provides nutrients needed for normal immune function .

The toddler years also bring changes at mealtimes. As children move beyond their first birthday, they begin exploring a wider variety of foods – from fruits and vegetables to grains and protein-rich options.

What does gut health have to do with a toddler’s developing immunity?

When choosing what to feed a growing toddler, parents may naturally look for familiar nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals.

But supporting a child’s growth is not simply about packing as many nutrients as possible into their diet. It is also about understanding what their developing body needs at this stage.

One area researchers are studying is the gut, and its potential role in supporting the developing immune system. This has put the spotlight on ingredients such as milk oligosaccharides (MOs) that are derived from lactose.

MOs can serve as food for certain beneficial bacteria in the gut . Researchers are also studying how MOs may interact with the gut barrier and influence immune responses during early childhood.

This forms part of wider research into the relationship between the gut microbiome – the community of microorganisms living in the digestive tract – and immune development.

Probiotics are another commonly discussed part of the gut-health picture. These are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, may provide health benefits.

Certain strains have been studied for their potential effects on the balance of gut bacteria and digestive health , although the benefits can vary depending on the specific strain and formulation.

With high-protein diets and protein-enriched foods gaining popularity among health-conscious adults, it may be easy to assume that more protein is always better. But for growing toddlers, getting the right amount matters just as much as quality.

Protein remains essential for normal growth and development. However, research has linked excessive protein intake during early childhood with greater weight gain , highlighting the importance of providing high-quality protein in age-appropriate amounts.

For parents, the takeaway is a relatively simple one: rather than focusing on any single “star” ingredient, consider how a child’s overall diet provides an appropriate balance of nutrients to support their growth and development.

Nestle Nan Optipro 3 is a growing-up milk formulated for children from 12 months, with nutrients that complement a varied diet. PHOTO: NESTLE

Nestle Nan Optipro 3 is a growing-up milk formulated for children from 12 months, with nutrients that complement a varied diet.

What to look for when choosing growing-up formula milk

For parents considering growing-up formula milk, reading nutrition labels can help them understand how a formulation fits into their child’s overall nutritional needs.

For example, Nan Optipro 3 , formulated for children from 12 months, contains the proprietary 5-MO Complex, a blend of five milk oligosaccharides (MOs): 2’-FL, DFL, LNT, 3’-SL and 6’-SL.

It also contains Immunity Guardians, comprising iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamins A, B12, C and D, which together with the MOs, play various roles in supporting normal immune function.

Besides this, Nan Optipro 3 also contains optimised proteins and Bifidus BL probiotics to support growth and good gut health. Nan Optipro 3 contains no added sucrose.

Made in Singapore, Nan Optipro 3 undergoes more than 1,200 quality checks throughout the production process, according to the company, with quality and safety testing conducted at its Nestle Quality Assurance Centre.

As toddlers grow more independent, their nutritional needs continue to evolve.

No single ingredient can determine their immune health. What matters is the bigger picture: a varied diet, adequate sleep, physical activity and good hygiene that support healthy growth and development through the toddler years.

Find out how Nestle Nan Optipro 3 can help support your child’s immunity as part of a balanced diet.

当您的宝宝尝试新食物、接触更多世界时，均衡的饮食能够提供正常生长发育和免疫功能所需的营养。

幼儿在探索新食物和口味的过程中，均衡的饮食可以提供必需的营养，以支持他们的生长发育和正常的免疫功能。

发布于 2026 年 10 月 29 日 上午 4:00

从社区游乐场的滑梯和秋千，到托儿所共享的玩具和书籍，幼儿时期有很多东西值得孩子们去探索。

每一次新的体验都会让他们更多地接触到周围的世界——包括他们在此过程中遇到的细菌。

一岁到三岁之间，儿童的免疫系统仍在发育，部分原因是他们与环境中的微生物相互作用。

虽然父母无法完全保护孩子免受所有病菌侵害，但日常习惯可以帮助他们保持整体健康。除了充足的睡眠、积极的玩耍和良好的卫生习惯外，均衡的饮食也能提供维持正常免疫功能所需的营养。

幼儿时期，孩子的用餐习惯也会发生变化。过了一周岁之后，他们开始尝试更多种类的食物——从水果蔬菜到谷物和富含蛋白质的食物。

肠道健康与幼儿免疫系统的发育有何关系？

在选择给正在成长的幼儿喂食什么时，父母自然会寻找熟悉的营养成分，例如蛋白质、维生素和矿物质。

但促进儿童成长并非仅仅是在饮食中尽可能多地摄入营养，更重要的是了解他们发育阶段的身体真正需要什么。

研究人员正在研究的一个领域是肠道及其在支持免疫系统发育中的潜在作用。这使得乳糖衍生的成分，例如乳低聚糖（MOs），成为关注的焦点。

寡糖可以作为肠道中某些有益菌的食物。研究人员还在研究寡糖如何与肠道屏障相互作用，以及如何影响幼儿时期的免疫反应。

这是对肠道微生物群（生活在消化道中的微生物群落）与免疫发育之间关系的更广泛研究的一部分。

益生菌是肠道健康领域另一个常被提及的组成部分。它们是活的微生物，当摄入足够量时，可能对健康有益。

一些菌株已被研究用于评估其对肠道菌群平衡和消化健康的潜在影响，尽管其益处会因具体菌株和配方而异。

随着高蛋白饮食和富含蛋白质的食品在注重健康的成年人中越来越受欢迎，人们很容易认为蛋白质越多越好。但对于正在成长的幼儿来说，摄入适量的蛋白质与蛋白质的质量同样重要。

蛋白质对正常的生长发育至关重要。然而，研究表明，幼儿时期摄入过多的蛋白质与体重增加有关，这凸显了提供适龄高质量蛋白质的重要​​性。

对于家长来说，其中的道理相对简单：与其关注任何单一的“明星”成分，不如考虑孩子的整体饮食如何提供适当的营养平衡，以支持他们的生长发育。

雀巢能恩优护3是专为12个月以上婴幼儿配制的成长奶粉，富含多种营养成分，可与均衡膳食相辅相成。图片：雀巢

雀巢能恩优护3是专为12个月以上的儿童配制的成长奶粉，富含多种营养成分，可补充多样化的饮食。

选择成长配方奶粉时应该注意什么

对于考虑给孩子喂配方奶的父母来说，阅读营养标签可以帮助他们了解配方奶如何满足孩子的整体营养需求。

例如，专为 12 个月以上的儿童配制的 Nan Optipro 3 含有专有的 5-MO 复合物，它是五种牛奶低聚糖 (MO) 的混合物：2'-FL、DFL、LNT、3'-SL 和 6'-SL。

它还含有免疫守护者，包括铁、锌、叶酸和维生素 A、B12、C 和 D，这些成分与 MO 一起在支持正常免疫功能方面发挥着各种作用。

此外，Nan Optipro 3 还含有优化蛋白质和双歧杆菌 BL 益生菌，有助于促进生长发育和肠道健康。Nan Optipro 3 不添加蔗糖。

据该公司称，产自新加坡的 Nan Optipro 3 在整个生产过程中要经过 1200 多项质量检查，质量和安全测试在其雀巢质量保证中心进行。

随着幼儿逐渐变得独立，他们的营养需求也在不断变化。

没有哪一种单一成分能够决定幼儿的免疫健康。重要的是整体健康：均衡的饮食、充足的睡眠、适量的运动和良好的卫生习惯，这些都能促进幼儿时期的健康成长和发育。

了解雀巢能恩Optipro 3如何作为均衡饮食的一部分，帮助增强孩子的免疫力。