"Nutrition Counts," the pediatric portion of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's (MDPH) Nutrition Surveillance System, monitors and describes aspects of nutritional status among groups of young children in the state. This report presents cross-sectional data describing 5,176 infants and young children in Massachusetts. Of these, 3,181 attended Head Start programs throughout the state, and 1,995 attended private day care programs, public preschools, and public kindergartens in South and Central Berkshire Counties. Data describe these children's nutritional status (height, weight, iron status, and other measures) and Head Start households' participation in AFDC, Food Stamps, Medicaid, and the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children. FY90 Head Start results are also compared to FY89 and FY88 results. The most common nutrition-related problems among the Head Start sample were overweight, short stature, and probably iron deficiency anemia; of the other group, the problems were short stature in the public preschool group and overweight in the kindergarten group. Recommendations are offered to develop and implement interventions, increase participation in benefit programs, and improve understanding of the problem. The survey form is appended. Contains 14 references. (LB)