Infant & Young Child Feeding Siti Norjinah Moin Malaysian Breastfeeding Association

Give appropriate complementary foods to children between the age of 6 months to 3 years

Introduce complementary food to baby beginning at 6 months of age. Introduce complementary food to baby beginning at 6 months of age. Start complementary food with a few teaspoons and increase the amount gradually. Add breast milk to complementary foods (eg. breast milk mixed with rice porridge ).

Breastfeeding on demand should be continued until your baby is 2 years and beyond.

Give your child a variety of food like porridge, rice and tubers (e.g. potatoes, sweet potatoes).

Feed your child with enough food to meet the energy needs.

Generally, baby aged 6 to 8 months should be given ½ cup of thick rice porridge at each main meal. This should be increased gradually to 1 cup between the age of 9 to 11 months. Children 1 to 2 years should be given ½ cup of rice at main meals.

Gradually change food texture and preparation methods as the infant gets older. Adapting to the infant’s development and abilities

Add about ½ teaspoon of oil or butter or margerine in each main meal in a day (up to maximum of 2 teaspoons for the whole day ).

Encourage to prepare home-cook complementary food without adding salt, sugar or soy sauce.

Reduce salt and sauces added to foods prepared for toddlers Eat more home prepared foods, where you have more control over salt and sauces.

Increase the feeding frequency according to age. Give the following frequency of main meals according to age: 6– 8 month : 2 – 3 times a day 9 – 11 month : 3 – 4 times a day 1 – 2 years : 4 – 5 times a day

Practise responsive feeding, applying the principles of psycho-social care

During illness, give infants and young children more water and other fluids. Offer small but frequent meals

Encourage your child to eat variety of soft and appetizing food. During recovery, give extra food and encourage your child to eat more at each meal.

Increase the feeding frequency according to age as follows: AgeDaily Food Intake Snack Frequency 6-8 months2 – 3 times1 – 2 times 9-11 months 3 – 4 times1 – 2 times 1-3 years4 – 5 times1 – 2 times

Give infants and young children fresh home - prepared food, as much as possible. Serve blended, mashed and soft foods to your child at the age of 6 to 8 months.

Served chopped foods to your child at the age of 9 to 11 months. Healthy finger foods such as vegetables and fruits can also be given. Give your child family food at the age of 12 months.

Avoid giving cubes of food larger than ¼ inch (¼ thumb) and supervise your child during mealtimes to avoid choking.

Avoid giving egg white to babies aged below 1 year.

Breastfeed your child frequently and on demand as breast milk is rich in calcium and other nutrients.

Give about 3 cups (600ml) of milk with no added sugar everyday to non breastfed children above six months of age. Non breastfed children should be gradually weaned off bottle feeding after six months of age.

If milk and diary foods are not consumed give your child legumes (e.g. mung beans, red beans and dhall) everyday.

Give dark green leafy vegetables (e.g. spinach and mustard green) everyday. Add different coloured fruits and vegetables, whenever possible.

Avoid giving your child drinks with low nutrient value such as tea, coffee, sweetened condensed milk, syrup, cordials and carbonated drinks.

Limit fruit juice to ½ cup (100ml) a day to prevent him feel full and then may decrease the intake of more nutritious food.

-Consume more fresh foods and avoid high sugar or salt content processed foods -Avoid early introduction to sugar added -food and beverages. -Encourage healthier and nutrient dense snacks such as fresh fruits.

Gradually increase quantity of foods according to age

Feed your baby below 1 year and when he grows older, assist him at meal times Avoid giving complementary foods by using feeding bottle.

Be patient and take your time to feed your child. He should be encouraged and not forced to eat. Be aware of the sign of your child‘s hunger and fullness. Stop feeding when your child is full.

Create a fun environment and interact lovingly with your child during meal times. Teach good and proper oral hygiene habits such as brushing teeth daily.

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Breast Milk is the Best Milk Terima Kasih…