Child Nutrition Requirements Calculator

Child Nutrition: A Foundation for Health

Proper nutrition during childhood is critical for healthy growth and development. This calculator helps you determine the specific nutritional requirements for your child based on their age, gender, weight, height, and activity level.

Using the latest scientific formulas and Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), our tool provides personalized recommendations for calories, macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals tailored to your child's unique needs.

Nutrition Calculator

Enter age between 0-18 years

3D Child Body Visualization

This visualization adapts to your child's measurements

Pregnancy Nutrition Calculator

Calculate nutrient needs during different pregnancy trimesters.

Breastfeeding Nutrition Calculator

Determine nutrient and calorie needs during lactation.

Teen Nutrition Requirements Calculator

Determine nutrient needs during adolescent growth periods.

Vegetarian Iron Needs Calculator

Calculate iron requirements for vegetarians and plan sources.

Vegan B12 Requirements Calculator

Determine B12 supplementation needs for vegans.

Diabetes Carb Counting Calculator

Track carbohydrates and calculate insulin needs for diabetics.

Renal Diet Nutrient Calculator

Calculate appropriate nutrients for kidney disease patients.

Post-Surgery Nutrition Calculator

Determine optimal nutrition for recovery after surgery.

Theory Behind the Calculations

Energy Requirements

Energy requirements for children vary by age, gender, weight, height, and activity level. The calculator uses the following evidence-based approaches:

Simplified Approach (by age and weight)

  • Infants: 100 cal/kg/day
  • 1-3 years: 80 kcal/kg/day
  • 4-5 years: 70 kcal/kg/day
  • 6-8 years: 60-65 kcal/kg/day
  • 9+ years: 35-45 kcal/kg/day

Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) Formulas

For more precise calculations in older children, we use the following EER formulas:

Males (3-8 yr):
EER = 88.5 - (61.9 × age [yr]) + PA × [(26.7 × weight [kg]) + (903 × height [m])] + 20

Males (9-18 yr):
EER = 88.5 - (61.9 × age [yr]) + PA × [(26.7 × weight [kg]) + (903 × height [m])] + 25

Females (3-8 yr):
EER = 135.3 - (30.8 × age [yr]) + PA × [(10.0 × weight [kg]) + (934 × height [m])] + 20

Females (9-18 yr):
EER = 135.3 - (30.8 × age [yr]) + PA × [(10.0 × weight [kg]) + (934 × height [m])] + 25

Where PA is the Physical Activity coefficient:

Activity Level Males Females
Sedentary 1.00 1.00
Low Active 1.13 1.16
Active 1.26 1.31
Very Active 1.42 1.56

Water Requirements

Proper hydration is crucial for children's health. Water requirements are calculated using the 4-2-1 rule:

  • 4 ml/kg/hr for the first 10 kg of weight
  • 40 ml/hr + 2 ml/kg/hr for kg 10 to 20
  • 60 ml/hr + 1 ml/kg for every kg >20

The daily requirement is calculated by multiplying the hourly rate by 24 hours.

Macronutrient Requirements

Macronutrients are distributed according to the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDRs) for children:

Macronutrient Age 1-3 years Age 4-18 years
Carbohydrates 45-65% of calories 45-65% of calories
Protein 5-20% of calories 10-30% of calories
Fat 30-40% of calories 25-35% of calories

The calculator uses these ranges to determine appropriate macronutrient distributions based on the child's age and caloric needs.

Important Notes

  • The calculator provides general guidelines and should not replace professional medical advice.
  • Individual children may have different needs based on their health status, growth rate, and other factors.
  • Vitamin and mineral recommendations are based on Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) established by health authorities.
  • Regular monitoring of growth and development by healthcare professionals is essential.

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)

The following tables provide the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and Adequate Intakes (AIs) for children of different age groups. These values form the basis for the nutrition recommendations in our calculator.

Macronutrient Requirements

Age Group Carbohydrate (g/d) Protein (g/d) Fat Fiber (g/d) Water (L/d)
1-3 years 130 13 30-40% of calories 19* 1.3*
4-8 years 130 19 25-35% of calories 25* 1.7*
Boys 9-13 years 130 34 25-35% of calories 31* 2.4*
Girls 9-13 years 130 34 25-35% of calories 26* 2.1*
Boys 14-18 years 130 52 25-35% of calories 38* 3.3*
Girls 14-18 years 130 46 25-35% of calories 26* 2.3*

* Indicates Adequate Intake (AI) rather than RDA

Selected Vitamin Requirements

Age Group Vitamin A (μg/d) Vitamin C (mg/d) Vitamin D (μg/d) Vitamin E (mg/d) Folate (μg/d)
1-3 years 300 15 15* 6 150
4-8 years 400 25 15* 7 200
Boys 9-13 years 600 45 15* 11 300
Girls 9-13 years 600 45 15* 11 300
Boys 14-18 years 900 75 15* 15 400
Girls 14-18 years 700 65 15* 15 400

* Indicates Adequate Intake (AI) rather than RDA

Selected Mineral Requirements

Age Group Calcium (mg/d) Iron (mg/d) Zinc (mg/d) Potassium (g/d) Sodium (g/d)
1-3 years 700* 7 3 3.0* 1.0*
4-8 years 1000* 10 5 3.8* 1.2*
Boys 9-13 years 1300* 8 8 4.5* 1.5*
Girls 9-13 years 1300* 8 8 4.5* 1.5*
Boys 14-18 years 1300* 11 11 4.7* 1.5*
Girls 14-18 years 1300* 15 9 4.7* 1.5*

* Indicates Adequate Intake (AI) rather than RDA