Disclosed is a method for providing sialic acid to a female, comprising administering sialic acid (for exampleN-acetylmannosamine, N-propanoylmannosamine, 2-keto-3-deoxynononic acid, N-glycolylneuraminic acid, 3&rsquo；sialyllactose, gangliosides, casein glycomacropeptide) to the female during at least one of the stages of preconception, pregnancy and lactation, wherein the sialic acid provides a developmental benefit to a fetus or child of the female.
