Transcript Infant and Child Nutrition PP

Nutrition for Infants
and Toddlers
Janet Blair,
Healthy Start in Child Care
Perry County Health Department
Outline
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Feeding relationship
Development and feeding skills
Serving sizes
Potentially harmful foods
Good eating habits
Encouraging new foods
Picky eaters
Feeding Relationship
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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
Steps to a Positive Feeding
Relationship
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Observe and be
sensitive
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Hunger
Satiety
Food Preferences
Be positive
Make mealtime
pleasant by calming
the infant
Development of Feeding
Behaviors—0 - 3 months
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Reflexes
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Rooting, suck
Swallow reflex
Tonic neck reflex
Motor Development
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Poor head control
Secures milk with suckling pattern
Tongue projected during swallowing
Development of Feeding
Behaviors—4 - 6 months
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Reflexes
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Rooting, biting reflex fade
Tonic neck reflex fades
Motor Development
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Suck changes to mature suck
Sucking strength increases
Munching pattern begins
Grasps with palmer grasp
Brings object to mouth and bites
Development of Feeding
Behaviors—7 - 9 months
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Reflexes
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Gag reflex
Normal gag
Choking reflex can be inhibited
Motor Development
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Munching [solid foods]
Rotary chew
Sits alone
Voluntary release; resecure hold
Holds bottle alone
Develops pincer grasp
Development of Feeding
Behaviors—10 - 12 months
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Reflexes [continue to improve]
Motor Development
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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
Stages of Feeding
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0 to 4 months: Breastmilk and/or formula
4 to 6 months: Baby is ready for solid foods
when…
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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
Stages of Feeding [cont.]
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6 to 8 months
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First food =
iron-fortified
rice cereal
Vegetables then
Fruits
Fruit juice when
drinks from a
cup [limited
amount]
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8 to 12 months
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Strained meats
Egg yolks
Signs of Hunger in Infants
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Rooting reflex
Hand to mouth
activity
Small, fussing
sounds
Pre-cry facial
grimaces
Crying
Signs of Satiety in Infants
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Decreased interest in eating more
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Increased interest in environment
Avoid Propping a Bottle
Because…
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Choking—liquid
goes into lungs
Ear infections—
fluid enters the
middle ear and
cannot drain
properly
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No human
contact received,
which is
necessary to
make them feel
loved and secure
Increased risk of
dental problems
Toddler Stages
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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
Toddler Stages [cont.]
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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
Equipment Needed for Children
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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
Serving Sizes
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See handout
Foods to Avoid Before 1 Year
of Age
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Egg Whites
Cow’s milk
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Chocolate
Fish
Honey
Corn syrup
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!
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Building Good Eating Habits
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Offer a variety of
foods
Serve child-size
portions
Give choices
Let child decide
how much
Only one new food
per meal
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Offer nutritious
snacks b/twn meals
Serve foods with
different
characteristics
Allow time to eat
Be a good role
model
Make mealtime
pleasant
Mealtime Survival
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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
Why Encourage New Foods?
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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
Encouraging New Foods
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A taste is just a
taste
One step at a time
What goes in, may
come out
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Try again
Color makes a
difference
Serve an unfamiliar
food with a familiar
one
Capitalize on “food
tasting” peers
Be a role model
Strategy for Picky Eaters
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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
Strategy for Picky Eaters
[cont.]
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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
Summary
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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.
Presentation adapted from:
Wendy Compton, RD, LD
Thank you for your attention!
Any questions?