1. Nutrition for Infants and Toddlers
Janet Blair,
Healthy Start in Child Care
Perry County Health Department

2. Outline Feeding relationship Development and feeding skills
Serving sizes
Potentially harmful foods
Good eating habits
Encouraging new foods
Picky eaters

3. Feeding Relationship
Interactions and communication between a caregiver and infant during feeding
Influences the infant’s ability to progress in feeding skills and eat a nutritionally adequate diet

4. Steps to a Positive Feeding Relationship
Observe and be sensitive
Hunger
Satiety
Food Preferences
Be positive
Make mealtime pleasant by calming the infant

5. Development of Feeding Behaviors—0 - 3 months
Reflexes
Rooting, suck
Swallow reflex
Tonic neck reflex
Motor Development
Poor head control
Secures milk with suckling pattern
Tongue projected during swallowing

6. Development of Feeding Behaviors—4 - 6 months
Reflexes
Rooting, biting reflex fade
Tonic neck reflex fades
Motor Development
Suck changes to mature suck
Sucking strength increases
Munching pattern begins
Grasps with palmer grasp
Brings object to mouth and bites

7. Development of Feeding Behaviors—7 - 9 months
Reflexes
Gag reflex
Normal gag
Choking reflex can be inhibited
Motor Development
Munching [solid foods]
Rotary chew
Sits alone
Voluntary release; resecure hold
Holds bottle alone
Develops pincer grasp

8. Development of Feeding Behaviors—10 - 12 months
Reflexes [continue to improve]
Motor Development
Reaches for spoon
Bites nipples, spoons, and crunchy foods
Grasps items and brings to mouth
Drink from a cup [that is held]
Tongue is used to lick food morsels off lip
Finger feeds with pincer grasp

9. Stages of Feeding 0 to 4 months: Breastmilk and/or formula
4 to 6 months: Baby is ready for solid foods when…
Birth wt has doubled
Can control head and neck
Sits up with some support
Can turn head/close mouth to show being full
Interest in your food when you eat

10. Stages of Feeding [cont.]
6 to 8 months
First food = iron-fortified rice cereal
Vegetables then Fruits
Fruit juice when drinks from a cup [limited amount]
8 to 12 months
Strained meats
Egg yolks

11. Signs of Hunger in Infants
Rooting reflex
Hand to mouth activity
Small, fussing sounds
Pre-cry facial grimaces
Crying

12. Signs of Satiety in Infants
Decreased interest in eating more
Increased interest in environment

13. Avoid Propping a Bottle Because…
Choking—liquid goes into lungs
Ear infections—fluid enters the middle ear and cannot drain properly
No human contact received, which is necessary to make them feel loved and secure
Increased risk of dental problems

14. Toddler Stages Sense of self: loves to say “no”
Verbal Expression: when and what he/she likes to eat
Freedom to explore and security of limits: interested in playing rather than eating

15. Toddler Stages [cont.]
Refining motor control [easily frustrated]: needs set up for success in feeding
Neophobic: refuses new food at least once
Short attention span: may not sit through long meal

16. Equipment Needed for Children
Chairs/Table: ht should be appropriate
Plates: child-size; unbreakable
Utensils: short handles, blunt tips or tines; rounded spoons and knives [not disposable]
Glasses: broad bases; small enough for small hands to hold them
Serving spoons: small enough for child to handle
Special eating equipment if needed

17. Serving Sizes
See handout

18. Foods to Avoid Before 1 Year of Age
Egg Whites
Cow’s milk
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Chocolate
Fish
Honey
Corn syrup

19. Choking Hazards Hot dogs Peanuts Popcorn
Raisins [and other dried fruit]
Grapes
Peanut butter
Small pieces of raw vegetables
***Always make sure child is seated when eating anything!

20. Building Good Eating Habits
Offer a variety of foods
Serve child-size portions
Give choices
Let child decide how much
Only one new food per meal
Offer nutritious snacks b/twn meals
Serve foods with different characteristics
Allow time to eat
Be a good role model
Make mealtime pleasant

21. Mealtime Survival Let children know the type of behavior expected
Quiet time before meals
Respect preferences but no short-order cook
Allow children to help with food prep
Serve small portions
Serve food easy for children to manage
Acknowledge desirable behavior
Do not make dessert a reward

22. Why Encourage New Foods?

23. Each of the 5 food groups provides different nutrients
Some foods within each food group are better sources of a nutrient
Child’s nutrition status, growth, and health are influenced by his/her diet
Nutrition education research suggests that 4 and 5 year olds start to develop their adult food prefs

24. Encouraging New Foods Try again A taste is just a taste
Color makes a difference
Serve an unfamiliar food with a familiar one
Capitalize on “food tasting” peers
Be a role model
A taste is just a taste
One step at a time
What goes in, may come out

25. Strategy for Picky Eaters
Let child grow it
Let child help select food at grocery
Let child help prepare food
Try serving it in different ways
Let child dip it
Serve food when child is hungry

26. Strategy for Picky Eaters [cont.]
Seat child next to another child who loves veggies
Eat it yourself with enjoyment
Offer new foods several times
Won’t eat veggies? Offer fruits high in Vitamin A and C

27. Summary Children need to feel secure and loved.
Children have different nutrition needs at different ages for healthy growth and development.
Be aware of the amounts and types of foods offered at certain ages. Some foods are not appropriate for children under one year.
Offer new foods and instill healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.
Do not be a short-order cook for picky eaters.

28. Presentation adapted from: Wendy Compton, RD, LD

29. Thank you for your attention!
Any questions?