Feeding Infants 0-6 months old

What is responsive feeding? • Responding to an infants’ cues for hunger and satiety (fullness) • Hunger cues Wake and toss Suck on fist Cry and fuss • Satiety cues Sealing lips Decrease in sucking Turning away from bottle Spitting out nipple

What characterizes feedings for infants 0-4 months old? • “Suck-swallow-breathe” reflex • Exclusive diet of breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula • 6-10 feedings per day

What characterizes feedings for infants 4-6 months old? • More control over oral muscles • Can sit up and hold head unsupported • May begin consuming rice cereal in addition to bottle feedings • 6-7 feedings per day

What foods should not be offered to infants 0-6 months old? • Cow’s milk • Juice • “Table foods” – solid foods other than rice cereal

Why should solid foods not be introduced too early? • Choking risk • May not consume enough breast milk/formula • Digestive system not developed enough to handle solids • Increased risk of eczema, anemia and food allergies • Disrupted sleep

How much should an infant receive at each feeding? Age Amount (ml) Birth 60 ml 1 month 90 ml 2 months 120 ml 3 months 150 ml 4 months 5 months 180 ml 6 months 180ml Approximations of breast milk/formula amounts required per feeding based on standard pediatrician recommendations.

How can you tell if an infant is eating enough each day? • 6-7 wet diapers daily • Consistent weight gain • Wakes up to feed without prompting

How should you feed an infant? • Hold an infant at a 45 degree angle • Sit in a quiet place without distractions • Feed one infant at a time • Make eye contact • Be responsive to nonverbal cues

How can negative feeding experiences affect infants? • Bottle-propping and other negative early feeding experiences put infants at risk for Choking (aspiration)  Pneumonia Fluid in ears  Chronic ear infections Insecure attachment

Bottle-feeding an Infant Activity: Bottle-feeding an Infant See trainer’s guide for instructions

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