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Infant Nutrition

Healthy foods for your baby

Session 2: Feeding Your Baby Infant-1 year

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Project Sponsors

• USDA project funded through the Food Stamp Program

• School District of Philadelphia • Nutrition Center, Department of Biology at

Drexel University

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Feeding the Newborn

• Breast milk or Iron-fortified formula provides total nutrition until 4 months

→Breast milk is best but Iron-fortified formula is a good 2nd choice

→No water, juice or cereal until 4 months!

Source: “Feeding Your Baby” Philadelphia Health Department

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Benefits of Breastfeeding

• Inexpensive

• Quick

• Complete nutrition

– vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antibodies

• Burns 500 calories per feeding

Source: www.saferchild.org

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What to Know About Breastfeeding

• Additional calories are needed – About 500 extra calories per day

depending on mother’s fat stores

• Milk content depends on mom’s intake and body stores of vitamins/minerals

Source: La Leche League International

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Making Nutritious Milk

• Eat 5 servings of fruit/vegetables daily• Eat at least 3 servings calcium rich foods• Different grains (wheat, rice, corn, barley)

preferably whole• Protein foods from animal sources and/or

plant sources• Small quantities of fats, preferably

vegetable oils

Source: La Leche International

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Benefits of Iron Fortified Formulas

• Nutritious alternative to breast milk.

• More freedom and flexibility for the mother

• Easier to feed the baby in public

• Other family members can feed the baby

Source: www.vahealth.org

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Dos of Bottle Feeding

• Do use mixed formula within 2 days

• Do wash bottle with hot soapy water after each use

• Do throw out any unused formula within 1 hour after feeding

• Do toss out mixed formula that has been at room temperature for more than 1 hour

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Don’ts of Bottle Feeding

• Don’t leave the bottle in baby’s mouth while sleeping

• Don’t give cows milk to baby before 12 months

• Don’t put cereal in bottle• Don’t give baby expired formula• Don’t microwave baby formula

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

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Why can’t infants drink cow’s milk?

Question:

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• Your baby’s digestive system doesn’t contain the enzyme to digest cow’s milk

• It can cause intestinal bleeding

• It contains incomplete nutrition

Answer

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Feeding Infants 4-6 months• Breast milk and formula provide

main source of nutrition

• Cereal (rice) can be eaten in bowl with baby spoon

• Add vegetables (cooked, soft, mashed) if baby tolerates cereal

• Introduce new foods one at a time

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

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Oh Honey…

• No honey until baby is 12 months old

• Why?– Infant Botulism: a food borne illness

causing symptoms such as constipation, weakness and decreased ability to move which can lead to death.

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Question:

How do you know your baby is ready for cereal?

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Answer:

• Baby sits up with some support

• Holds up his head by himself

• Does not push food out of his mouth with his tongue

• Reaches out to grab your food and other things

Source: “Feeding Your Baby” Philadelphia Health Department

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Feeding Infants 7-9 months•Breast milk and formula

•Cooked or soft vegetables

• Cooked or soft fruit

•Well-cooked, strained or finely mashed meats

•Egg yolk

•Finger foods

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Question:

How do I know when my baby is ready to use a sippy cup?

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Answer:

When the baby is able to sit up and hold objects on his own.

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Finger Foods

• Dry cereal• Pancakes or French toast cut into strips• Cooked rice and chopped noodles• Banana cut into small pieces • Cooked fruit or chopped canned fruit or

vegetables To prevent choking, give your baby foods

that soften in the mouth and cannot be swallowed in chunks.

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Feeding Infants10-12months

• Breast milk and/or Formula given in sippy cup

• Water, 100% fruit juice in sippy cup– Don’t give high sugar drinks

• Chopped or soft table foods

Source: “Feeding Your Baby” Philadelphia Health Department

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Feeding Baby Puzzles

0-12 4-6 6-7 7-8 9-10 10-12

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Feeding Baby Puzzles

0-12

Breast milkIron fortified formula

4-6

Baby cerealfrom spoon

6-7

1st strainedvegetablesthenfruit

7-8

Minced meatEgg yolkDry toast

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Feeding Baby Puzzles

9-10

Finger foodsToast squaresCheeriosSippy cup

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Feeds selfChopped table foodPlain yogurt

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Remember…

• No cows milk before 12 months

• No cereal in baby bottle

• Cooked and/or soft foods are best

• No water, juice or cereal until 4 months

• No honey before 12 months

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Questions?