Breaking the cycle of poverty and inequity starts at the very beginning. The 1,000 days between pregnancy and a child’s 2nd birthday set the foundation for all the days that follow. While the medical, public health, and social support communities in the United States know which interventions are most critical to support the health and well-being of vulnerable families, a clear, unifying plan for policy, systems, and environmental change to improve nutrition security has been elusive. Now more than ever – in the face of persistent racial health disparities, an ongoing pandemic and its economic fallout, we must unify around early childhood nutrition to make a significant impact on maternal and child health.
About | AJPH Series | Media Assets | Contextual Research | Advocacy Agenda | Lived Experiences
ABOUT
Our nation has one of the highest infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates of any wealthy country, with notable disparities along racial and ethnic lines. We also rank among the worst of our peers on key child health metrics: 1 in 10 babies is born too early, 1 in 6 babies is never breastfed, and 1 in 8 toddlers is overweight.
Unfortunately, the medical and public health communities in the United States have been unable to reach consensus about when and which interventions are most critical to support the health and well-being of vulnerable families. This has led to misinformation, confusion, and a lack of a clear, unifying plan for policy, systems, and environmental change to improve nutrition security.
This American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) series with 1,000 Days, an Initiative of FHI Solutions, begins to present the state of the science, research needs, and a policy agenda for optimal maternal and child nutrition in the United States. Never before has a journal series brought together papers on these topics during pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, and early childhood. Learn more here.
ajph series
The full Nutrition in the First 1000 Days American Journal of Public Health series is now live. Below find a list of all the articles included within the series and additional materials.
Nutrition in the First 1000 Days
1000 Days of Good Nutrition: In the United States or Abroad, It Is About Equity, Evidence, and Leadership, Shawn K. Baker, MPH
The USDA’s Actions to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security During the First 1000 Days, Sara N. Bleich, PhD, and Stacy Dean, MPP
Leveraging Federal, State, and Facility-Level Early Care and Education Systems and Providers Toward Optimal Child Nutrition in the First 1000 Days, Carrie A. Dooyema, MPH, MSN, RN, Kelly Hall, MPH, Alison Tovar, PhD, MPH,Katherine W. Bauer, PhD, MS, Amy Lowry-Warnock, MPA, and Heidi M. Blanck, PhD, MS
The First 1000 Days—A Missed Opportunity for Pediatricians, Kofi Essel, MD, MPH
Improving Nutrition in the First 1000 Days in the United States: A Federal Perspective, Heather C. Hamner, PhD, MS, MPH, Jennifer M. Nelson, MD, MPH, Andrea J. Sharma, PhD, MPH, Maria Elena D. Jefferds, PhD, Carrie Dooyema, RN, MPH, MSN, Rafael Flores-Ayala, DrPH, MApStat, Andrew A. Bremer, MD, PhD, Ashley J. Vargas, RDN, PhD, MPH, Kellie O. Casavale, RD, PhD, Janet M. de Jesus, RD, MS, Eve E. Stoody, PhD, Kelley S. Scanlon, RD, PhD, and Cria G. Perrine, PhD
Effects of Sugary Drink Countermarketing Videos on Caregivers’ Attitudes and Intentions to Serve Fruit Drinks and Toddler Milks to Young Children, Jennifer L. Harris, PhD, MBA, Lindsay Phaneuf, MPH, and Frances Fleming-Milici, PhD
Iron Deficiency in the United States: Limitations in Guidelines, Data, and Monitoring of Disparities, Maria Elena D. Jefferds, PhD, Zuguo Mei, MD, MPH, Yaw Addo, PhD, MS, Heather C. Hamner, PhD, MS, MPH, Cria G. Perrine, PhD, Rafael Flores-Ayala, DrPH, Christine M. Pfeiffer, PhD, and Andrea J. Sharma, PhD, MPH
Opportunities to Strengthen Women’s Nutrition Within Maternal Health Service Delivery: Reflections From Global Health Implementation, Justine A. Kavle, PhD, MPH
To Protect Young Children’s Health, Limit Marketing and Ubiquity of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages, James Krieger, MD, MPH, and Nicholas Freudenberg, DrPH
Breast Milk Feeding of Infants at Birth Among People With Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy: SET-NET, 5 States, March 29, 2020–December 31, 2020, Elizabeth L. Lewis, MPH, Ashley N. Smoots, MPH, Kate R. Woodworth, MD, MPH, Emily O’Malley Olsen, PhD, MSPH, Nicole M. Roth, MPH, Mahsa Yazdy, PhD, MPH, Hanna Shephard, MPH, Lindsey Sizemore, MPH, Heather Wingate, MPH, Paula Dzimira, MPH, Bethany Reynolds, MPH, Mamie Lush, MA, Erika L. Fuchs, PhD, MPH, Kristen Ojo, MHS, Sam Siebman, MPH, Aron J. Hall, DVM, MSPH, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, MD, Cria Perrine, PhD, Jason Hsia, PhD, Sascha Ellington, PhD, Van T. Tong, MPH, and Suzanne M. Gilboa, PhD
Barriers to Providing Lactation Services and Support to Families in Appalachia: A Mixed-Methods Study With Lactation Professionals and Supporters, Emily R. Seiger, BS, Heather M. Wasser, PhD, MPH, RD, Stephanie A. Hutchinson, MBA, BS, IBCLC, Grace Foster, BSPH, Ruwaydah Sideek, BSPH, and Stephanie L. Martin, PhD, Med
What Will It Take to Improve Breastfeeding Outcomes in the United States Without Leaving Anyone Behind? Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, PhD
How to Collectively Move Forward to Achieve Optimal Nutritional Status During the First 1000 Days, Ruth Petersen, MD, MPH
Focusing on Maternal Nutrition to Improve the Health and Well-Being of Pregnant Women in the United States, Usha Ramakrishnan, PhD
Nutrition in the 1000-Day Window: Biden–Harris Administration Setting the Foundation for the Health of Our Nation, Susan Rice, PhD, White House Domestic Policy Advisor
Diagnosing Racism in Public Health: The Turnkey to Effective Interventions, Ricardo J. Salvador, PhD
From Evidence to Action: Uniting Around Nutrition in the 1000-Day Window, Blythe Thomas, BS
Additional Resources
The 1,000-Day Window: How Can We Improve Nutrition? [infographic]
Video Interview with Heather Hamner, Senior Health Scientist, CDC/DNPAO
Q&A with Dr. Kofi Essel: AJPH Special Series on Nutrition in the 1,000-Day Window
Media Assets
Social Media
Hashtags: #First1000Days
Social Handles: @1000Days, @AMJPublicHealth
JUST LAUNCHED: Special series in @AMJPublicHealth that identifies opportunities to unlock untapped potential of the #First1000Days by closing data gaps, enhancing programs, strengthening policies & uniting around this powerful window of growth. Find all the papers here: https://bit.ly/3zj5KMC
Out now – the #First1000Days @ajph series which focuses exclusively on this critical time for brain development & when good nutrition has the greatest influence on future health. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3zj5KMC
Now more than ever – in the face of persistent racial health disparities, an ongoing pandemic and its economic fallout – we must unify around early childhood nutrition to make an impact on maternal and child health. Learn about the #First1000Days series. https://adobe.ly/3d5fJ0n
To break the cycle of poverty & inequity, the US must prioritize nutrition for families in their 1,000-day window. WHAT: Original research, systematic reviews, essays & editorials WHERE: @AMJPublicHealth WHEN: Now live! View the series: https://bit.ly/3zj5KMC
Social Media Graphics
#First1000Days Twitter Chat
1,000 Days and the American Journal of Public Health are hosting a Twitter Chat to celebrate the release of the Nutrition in the First 1000 Days series and highlight this critical period of time for health and development in the United States.
Host: @1000Days, @AMJPublicHealth
When: Wednesday, November 2, 12pm EST
Primary Hashtag: #First1000Days
Full list of Twitter Chat questions available here.
Newsletter Copy
A new series in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) identifies that nutrition during the 1,000-day window (from pregnancy to the baby’s second birthday) is untapped potential to improve the health of families. On the heels of the White House hunger conference, more than 15 authors have penned 70 pages of analytical essays, original research and editorials about the pivotal role of nutrition during pregnancy, infancy and toddlerhood. View the series here and please help raise awareness about these issues by accessing this communications toolkit with downloadable graphics and social media copy. Join the conversation with authors during a Tweet chat co-hosted by 1,000 Days and AJPH Wednesday, November 2 at noon ET.
COntextual Research
Effective interventions to address maternal and child malnutrition: an update of the evidence, The Lancet (May 2021)
Advocacy for Improving Nutrition in the First 1000 Days to Support Childhood Development and Adult Health, Pediatrics (February 2018)
First 1,000 Days: The Critical Window to Ensure Children Survive and Thrive, UNICEF (May 2017)
Improved nutrition in the first 1,000 days and adult human capital and health, American Journal of Human Biology (December 2016)
Factors Affecting Early Childhood Growth and Development: Golden 1,000 Days, Journal of Advanced Practices in Nursing (November 2015)
Advocacy Agenda
Find our 1,000 Days' advocacy agenda here.
lived Experiences
“I am raising two grandsons and without WIC the boys would not have many of the nourishing products that WIC supplies them. I am a single person and already live well below the poverty level. Please fully fund the WIC program as it is a needed nutrition program for so many.” Theresa
“The WIC program is the only reason I breastfed and continue to breastfeed my son who is now 16 months. If it wasn't for them, I would've quit after the first 2 weeks because it was so painful. With all the guidance and support I got from the WIC program, I was able to master the art of breastfeeding.” Gina
“I went to a citywide baby shower event and visited a booth with a large banner that said ‘breastfeeding support," but at the booth they were handing out free formula samples for ‘supplementing.’” Glenna
"As a working mother, it's hard to qualify for any assistance. This is the one program that guarantees my child gets additional good nutrition. Food is so expensive that, if not for WIC and its wonderful counselors, my struggle would be a lot bigger." Desiree