Health
Routine health monitoring, vaccines and timely care during illness. In Turkey, vaccines follow the Ministry of Health Expanded Programme on Immunization.
Early years · 0–2
The first 1,000 days: a science-based “early years” guide.
From pregnancy to the second birthday, a child’s brain develops faster than at any other time. This guide turns the WHO and UNICEF Nurturing Care framework into a Turkey-adapted, fully cited and actionable structure for families. The goal is not isolated tips but the whole: health, nutrition, care, safety and learning.
Reviewed by Scientific Board Last reviewed: 2026-05-30 WHO · UNICEF · NHS · AAP
This page is educational and does not replace diagnosis, treatment or emergency evaluation. For vaccine and supplement dosing, follow the Turkish Ministry of Health recommendations and your pediatrician.
The 5 components of nurturing care
WHO · UNICEFThe Nurturing Care framework (WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank) addresses the early years across five interconnected domains. This is the spine of this guide.
Nutrition
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, then safe complementary feeding and responsive feeding. Growth is tracked with WHO 2006 standards and Neyzi 2008 for Turkey.
Responsive caregiving
Reading and responding to a baby’s cues consistently and warmly. Attachment, talking and eye contact build the foundation of brain development.
Safety and security
Safe sleep (on the back, separate cot), injury prevention (falls, drowning, poisoning, burns) and a proper car seat. A safe environment lowers stress.
Early learning
Play, talking and shared books support developmental milestones. Interaction matters more than expensive toys.
Early-years topic map
10These topics are the core of the leading international authorities. Live links go to related tools and content on the platform; the rest are on the publishing roadmap.
How we differ from tracker apps
UNICEF’s free apps (Bebbo / Merhaba Bebek) are strong at tracking growth, vaccines and milestones; we recommend and cite them. Child Growth adds a clinical-scientific layer on top of that foundation:
- Adult height prediction: not one percentile, but five methods read together.
- AI bone age + Greulich-Pyle second-opinion comparison.
- Child-athlete development, maturation and bio-banding.
- Clinician, coach and federation workflows + PDF reports.
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Download the Child Growth Tracking Guide for free
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Evidence base
Sources and references
This page is built on guidance from the leading international child-health authorities and reviewed by our Scientific Board.
- 1WHO / UNICEF·Nurturing care for early childhood development
The 5-component framework this guide is built on.
- 2WHO·Child growth standards (0–5 years)
International growth reference for monitoring.
- 3NHS·Start for Life — Baby
Feeding, safe sleep, vaccines and development.
- 4AAP·HealthyChildren.org — Ages & Stages
American Academy of Pediatrics, family-facing guidance.
- 5UNICEF·Parenting — early childhood development
See also the Bebbo / Merhaba Bebek parenting app.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the first 1,000 days so important?
From pregnancy to the second birthday the brain develops faster than at any other time. Nutrition, loving care, safety and stimulation in these years build the long-term foundation for health and learning.
Which source should I follow for the vaccine schedule?
In Turkey, vaccines follow the Ministry of Health Expanded Programme on Immunization. International sources give context, but the applied schedule and doses come from the Ministry of Health and your pediatrician.
When should complementary feeding (weaning) start?
WHO and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, then introducing safe complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding. Ask your pediatrician about timing and method.
Does this page replace a tracker app?
No. We recommend free tracker apps such as UNICEF’s Bebbo / Merhaba Bebek. Child Growth adds a clinical-scientific layer on top — adult height prediction, bone age and child-athlete development.
Who prepares this content?
Content is prepared under the Child Growth Scientific Board, edited by Prof. Dr. Bülent Bayraktar, based on WHO, UNICEF, NHS and AAP sources, and updated regularly.