More than a decade ago, Nemours recognized that community-based prevention was critical to optimal child health and development. As one of the nation's leading pediatric care providers, our physicians were seeing increased numbers of young children with type 2 diabetes and hypertension resulting from obesity. Early childhood and health, from birth to age 5, form a critical developmental intersection,1 and we knew we had to act because current interventions were not focused on the early years.2 We also knew that children's habits develop early; they are influenced first by their families and then by other adults and, finally, by their environments.3 Sixty percent of children under age 5 spend significant time in early care and education (ECE) programs, with family child care providers or with other caregivers (family, friends, or neighbors).4
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