Abstract: A method for determining the effect of critical glyconutrient dietary supplements in premature and term infants on growth, health, and brain function during early childhood development is described. The method comprises determining a critical target nutrient profile in typical samples of preterm and mother's milk, developing a supplement of the missing critical target nutrients to simulate mother's milk, performing an evaluation of early child development by correlating physiologic brain function with cognitive/behavioral brain function in low birth weight premature and term infants, assessing family influence and home environment on developmental outcome on infants under treatment, and comparing term siblings of low birth weight premature vs. term babies. A composition having the critical nutrients, an algorithm for screening and treatment, and a useful kit for employing the above are also described.