Nutrition for Infants and Toddlers

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. 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 Stages of Feeding [cont.]

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. 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 Avoid Propping a Bottle Because…

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. 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 Building Good Eating Habits

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

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?