Feeding Infants in the CACFP

First… Are you thinking of enrolling infants but don’t currently? Contact your Specialist for training!

Do I Have to Feed Infants? YES! It’s a matter of civil rights.

Documentation Document infant meals: –Infant Formula and Food Notification Form –Itemized receipts or invoices –Feeding records – either: Infant menu (show all foods actually served) – templates for 3 age-appropriate groups (0-3mo; 4-7mo; 8-11mo) Individual feeding records –Point-of-service meal counts Count each meal on the point-of-service form after each infant has been served all components

Infant Formula and Food Notification Form

Completing the bottom portion of the IFFN form with the parents

Do I Have to Buy Infant Formula? YES!

Do I Have to Buy Infant Food? Absolutely!

What do I buy?

Infant Formula Almost any brand will do……

Infant Formula 0 through 11 months HOWEVER: Do not serve infant formula with cereal mixed in (Not developmentally ready; Choking hazard)

Infant Foods  Any brand of packaged baby food  “Homemade” purees

Non-Creditable Infant Foods

Simple Rules to Follow

Infant Feeding: Formula Buy, stock and offer at least one approved formula Get a signed Infant Formula and Food Notification Form for every infant –Do not claim an infant meal if parent provides formula without IFFN on file Serve all infants (through 11 months) formula or breast milk –Feed on demand –Use meal pattern as a guide for amounts Transition to whole cow’s milk at months

Infants 0 through 3 months ONLY Formula or breast milk on demand

Breast Feeding Breast feeding: –Claim meal if parent brings breast milk and provider serves it –Do not claim if mother breast feeds on-site Unless provider provides at least one other component

Infants 4 through 11 months May introduced to solid foods to developmentally ready infants

Infant Feeding: Foods Buy, stock and offer at least one approved formula Buy, stock and offer creditable infant foods Get a signed Infant Formula and Food Notification Form for every infant –May not claim an infant meal if parent provides formula without IFFN on file. Serve all infants (4 through 11 months) food when developmentally ready –Use meal pattern as a guide amounts –Feed infants on demand

Infant Feeding: Foods Parents may choose to bring some or all meal components –Do not solicit parents to bring food –Discourage parents from bringing food –Provider must provide the minimum portion of at least one meal component in order to claim the meal

Infant Feeding: Foods Follow the meal pattern Work with parents –Explain CACFP meal pattern –Discuss development readiness –Coordinate to introduce foods at the same time

Infant Feeding: Foods  Introducing table foods  Only when infant is developmentally ready  You must follow infant meal pattern  Infant cereal is required at breakfast and optional at lunch  Only bread and/or crackers are creditable at snack  Combination foods are not creditable o Spaghetti, Casseroles, etc.

CACFP Required Meal Pattern Meal Component Min. Serving Size 0-3 mo.4-7 mo.8-11 mo. Breakfast Breast Milk or Formula4-6 fl. oz. 4-8 fl. oz. 6-8 fl. oz. Fruit/Vegetable*XX1-4 tbsp. Infant CerealX0-3 tbsp.2-4 tbsp. Lunch/Supper Breast Milk or Formula4-6 fl. oz. 4-8 fl. oz. 6-8 fl. oz. Fruit/Vegetable*X0-3 tbsp.1-4 tbsp. Infant Cereal**X0-3 tbsp.2-4 tbsp. Meat/Alternate**  Meat, Poultry, Fish, Egg Yolk, Cooked Dry Beans/Peas  Cheese  Cottage Cheese XX  1-4 tbsp.  ½-2 oz.  1-4 oz. PM Snack Breast Milk or Formula4-6 fl. oz. 4-8 fl. oz.2-4 fl. oz. (or) Juice Not needed if breast milk or formula is served XX2-4 fl. oz. Bread/CrackerXX 0-½ slice, or 0-2 crackers

Infants 0 through 3 months Only a USDA approved infant formula or breast milk may be provided to infants.

Infants 4 through 7 months Foods that may be introduced:  Iron-fortified infant cereal  Fruits and vegetables Homemade purees Jarred/packaged baby food

Infants 8 through 11 months Foods that may be continued or introduced:  Iron-fortified infant cereal  Fruits and vegetables  Meats / meat alternates  Bread and/or crackers  100% juice Meats must be single ingredient

Questions