1 Infants: Understanding Growth and Development

2 If you could be a baby again you would…

3 Growth and Development: The First Year of Life  Time of rapid growth and development  Time to teach good eating habits  Time to develop positive feelings about food and caregivers  Most infants will triple their birth weight

4 Stages in Infant Development and Feeding Birth through 3 months  Breast milk OR  Iron-Fortified infant formula

5 Stages in Infant Development and Feeding 4 through 7 months  Breast milk OR  Iron-Fortified infant formula  Iron-Fortified infant cereal  Vegetables  Fruit

6 Stages in Infant Development and Feeding 8 through 11 months  Same as 4 through 7 months PLUS  Meat  Egg yolks

7 Infant Development and Feeding 11 months  Finger foods  Cup

8 Tips for Introduction of Solid Foods  Speak with parents/physician  Start slowly  Only 1 new food every 4-5 days  Hold baby during feeding  First food: Iron-Fortified infant rice cereal

9 Tips for Introduction of Solid Foods  Use single-ingredient foods  Read food labels  Avoid desserts  Avoid foods that can choke infants

10 Tips for Introduction of Solid Foods Always wash your hands and the infant’s hands BEFORE and AFTER feeding.

11  Wash hands  Listen for the “pop”  Remove food from jar  Throw away leftovers in dish  Refrigerate food left in jar Feeding Commercially Prepared Baby Food

12 Infant Feeding Jeopardy™ Knowledge Categories  CACFP Infant Meal Pattern  Introduction of Solid Foods  Using Commercially Prepared Food

13 Infant Feeding Jeopardy ™ CACFP Infant Meal Pattern Point ValueAnswer 103 Age Groups 204 months 30Iron-Fortified Infant Formula or Breast Milk 40Iron-Fortified Infant Dry Cereal 50100% Fruit Juice

14 Infant Feeding Jeopardy ™ Introduction of Solid foods Point ValueAnswer 10Iron-Fortified Infant Rice Cereal Teaspoons Days 40Combination Foods and Desserts 50Sugars, Honey, Salt, Modified Cornstarch, or Modified Tapioca Starch

15 Infant Feeding Jeopardy ™ Commercially Prepared Food Point ValueAnswer 10The “Pop” 20Wash Hands 30Dish for Serving 40Discard Leftovers Days

16 Dietary Guidelines for Infants  Build to a variety of foods  Watch for eating cues  Infants need fat in moderation  Infants need fiber in moderation

17 Dietary Guidelines for Infants  Infants need naturally occurring sugars in moderation  Infants need sodium in moderation  Choose foods with iron, zinc, and calcium

18 Child Care Providers Make a BIG Difference in the Health of Babies in their Care!