Why 1,000 days
From pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, the body and brain develop at extraordinary speed. Health, nutrition, responsive care, safety, and access to timely services during this period can influence survival, learning, and wellbeing long into the future.
A second birthday is not the end of a child’s development. The years that follow remain vital for language, movement, social and emotional growth, protection, nutrition, and preparation for school. We treat the first 1,000 days as the foundation within a broader early childhood journey through age five.
Women need respectful care, useful information, nutrition, safety, and timely support before and after birth. Newborns need warmth, feeding support, early recognition of danger signs, and responsive care. Young children need nourishing food, play, communication, protection, and consistent care. Families need services they can reach, trust, and afford.
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