High-DHA Foods for Toddlers

The necessity for a high concentration of DHA in a young child's diet is proven. Young children who don't get enough DHA are at high risk of developing cognitive delays, attention disorders, and mental retardation. However, children who receive large amounts of DHA during fetal development, infancy, and toddlerhood have higher IQs, better attention spans, and heightened visual acuity.

While the food industry focuses mostly on the need for DHA in infants, toddlers also have require this brain-building omega-3 fat so that they can have the best possible start in life. DHA-fortified foods for toddlers are harder to come by than baby foods, and most toddlers no longer eat pureed vegetables and infant cereals, preferring "grown up" foods instead. Worse still, most commercial fish oil supplements are recommended only for children over three years of age-- presenting a challenge to parents concerned about their toddlers' low intake of omega-3 fats.

Extended breastfeeding is one of the most crucial aspects of maintaining sufficient amounts of DHA in your toddler's diet. Breastfeeding until age two or three is often recommended by pediatricians because it provides a number of otherwise-unavailable nutritional benefits, including high amounts of DHA. However, since most toddlers have already been weaned from the breast or only nurse rarely, other dietary sources of DHA are important.

Commercially available milk and soymilk products, such as Silk Plus Omega-3 soymilk and Horizon Organic with Omega-3, contain relatively large amounts of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids. After a toddler is weaned from breastfeeding or DHA-enhanced formula, these can be nutritious additions to his diet, and can provide many of the minerals and fatty acids that might otherwise be lacking.

DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in yogurts, including those manufactured with toddlers' nutrition in mind, as well as those created for a general consumer audience. Stonyfield's YoBaby line of enhanced yogurts are made with the nutritional needs of toddlers in mind, and contain added calcium, vitamins, and DHA to support growing brains and bodies. Additionally, Breyer's (yes, the ice cream company) makes a delicious all-natural yogurt that contains added DHA.

Natural, healthy sources of omega-3 fats include egg yolks, fish, seeds, and nuts. Because many predator fish like tuna contain high levels of mercury, it may be wise to limit your toddler's intake of them and instead focus on salmon and other low-risk fish sources of DHA. Seeds, nuts, and eggs may also present an allergy risk for some toddlers, so talk to your child's pediatrician if you intend to use them as a primary source of omega-3 fats like DHA.

If, despite your best attempts to include sufficient DHA in your toddler's diet, you are unable to get him to eat or tolerate these foods, there are a few omega-3 supplements available just for toddlers aged 1-3. Spectrum Organics is one brand that makes a pleasant-tasting chewable DHA supplement for toddlers. Although fish-oil based, it is molecularly distilled to eliminate the risk of mercury content in the capsule.

As always, check with your toddler's pediatrican before making an abrupt change to his diet or giving him a new supplement. A pediatrician familiar with your child's needs will likely be able to make recommendations based on your own unique situation. With a willingness to adapt and try new foods, you can guarantee your toddler the best possible start by giving him foods or supplements containing DHA.