Feeding your Infant

1
Feeding your Infant

• Birth to 1 year of age

2
The American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends

• Exclusive Breastfeeding
  for the first 6 months after
  
  birth.
• Continue for at least 12
  months, and thereafter
  as long as mutually
  desired.

3
AAP recommends

• Infants who are not breastfed or are partially
  breastfed should receive an iron-fortified
  formula from birth to 12 months.

4
The first 4-6 months of age your baby only needs

• Lots of love
• Breastmilk
• Or formula

5
Your infant may be ready for solids when he can

• Sit with support
• Have good head and neck control
• Open mouth lean forward to show interest
• Turn head to indicate he is full
• Transfer food to back of tongue to swallow
• Begin chewing movements

6
Starting solids

• It is best to start with single grained cereal,
  like rice.
• Always feed solid foods from
  a spoon.
• Wait until at least 6 months
  to add other foods.

7
Beyond cereal

• Add plain pureed fruits and vegetables one at a
  time.
• Wait 3-5 days between introducing new foods.
• Juice should be offered
  in a cup only.
• Your infant may need a
  fluoride supplement.

8
What cup should my infant use?

• Use a regular cup at home.
• Avoid sippy cups with a small spout.
• Dont allow your baby to carry sippy cup around.

9
Your infant may be ready for first finger foods
when he can

• Sit independently and maintain balance
• Reach and grasp objects
  with a palmar grasp

10
Your infant may be ready for the addition of
smaller, soft finger foods when he can

• Pick up objects between his thumb and finger

11
Your infant may be ready to transition to
soft table foods when he can

• Use a munching type chewing
  (up down, some diagonal)
• Manipulate tongue and food easier
• (Caution Avoid
  foods which may
  cause
  choking)

12
The addition of protein foods

• Wait to add meats until 8 or 9 months.
• Egg yolks can be given at 9 months.
• Yogurt and cheese can also be introduced.

13
Once your baby turns one he can

• Get off the bottle.
• Drink whole milk from a cup.
• Have eggs, citrus juices,
  peanut butter and honey.
  (if no history of allergies)
  
• Transition to family foods.

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Summary

• Breastfeeding or formula is recommended for the
  first full year of life.
• Before beginning solids watch for signs that your
  infant is ready (usually 5-6 mo.)
• Gradually introduce other foods as your infant
  seems ready.
• Avoid egg white, citrus, peanut butter honey
  until 1 year.

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Other Resources

• www.aap.org American Academy of Pediatrics
• www.gerber.com describes feeding and food
  readiness by phases newborn, head up, sitter,
  crawler, beginning to walk
• www.cheerios.com click on First Finger Food for
  good finger food ideas

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• AAP policy statement on Breastfeeding and the Use
  of Human Milk
• AAP policy statement on Use Misuse of Fruit
  juice in Pediatrics
• AAP policy statement on Iron-fortification of
  Infant formulas
• ADA FITS (Jan 2004 supplement 1)
• Nutrition interventions for CSHCN
• WIC Infant Feeding Class, November 2003
• http//depts.washington.edu/growing/Feed/Develop.h
  tm
• Infant Feeding Guide