Poor nutrition is a weak foundation for a nation with big dreams What babies and young children eat is important for their development. If we measure their height and weight as they grow up, we can see if they are on the right track. This information helps to identify children at risk of delayed development and other health problems so that health workers and caregivers can give those children appropriate responses. Interventions in early life, ideally before a child’s second birthday, are considered to be the best investment for the individual and even the country. Research has shown that when a child is stunted (short for their age) at the beginning of their life, they will be more susceptible to disease as adults. There is also evidence that they will earn less than their non-stunted peers. In South Africa, surveys estimate that one in four (27%) children younger than five years suffer from stunting.