In general though, knowing how many calories your child needs each day can help you plan your child's nutrition and make sure he is eating a healthy diet.

Being familiar with calorie requirements can also be helpful in evaluating children with failure to thrive, who are gaining weight well, and for children who are overweight.

For younger children, calorie recommendations and average energy needs depend on their age. Remember that these are just averages though, some children will require more calories and some will require less. The amount of calories that allows your child to grow normally is likely what is 'enough' for him.

In addition to age, for older children, calorie requirements are also determined by their sex, with boys, in general, requiring more calories than girls. Other factors include a child's size, body composition and level of activity. A very active teen at the top of the growth charts will likely need many more calories than a smaller and/or less active child.

Childhood Nutrition Links:

• Nutrition for Children: Proper nutrition in childhood can reinforce lifelong eating habits that contribute to your children's overall well being and help them to grow up to their full potential and a healthy life.
• Kids Eat Great: How to get kids to eat great and love it, with healthy eating habits for children of all ages, a nutrition newsletter, and tips for eating a healthy diet for kids and parents.

Also visit:
ADHD advice and information
Expert Pediatrician - child health and parenting advice
About Pediatrics - Expert Pediatric Parenting Advice
Father's First Year - read about Dr. Iannelli's new book