Nutritional Needs Amount of food depends on: Size Size How fast infant is growing How fast infant is growing Heredity Heredity Level of activity Level of activity Heath Heath
No Solids before 6 Months Because… No Solids before 6 Months Because… Can’t swallow well – tongue thrust reflex Can’t swallow well – tongue thrust reflex Digestive system immature Digestive system immature Missing enzymes to digest foods Missing enzymes to digest foods Can cause allergies and intolerances Can cause allergies and intolerances
No Solids before 6 Months Because Can have too many calories and cause weight gain Can have too many calories and cause weight gain Can have too much sodium or sugar Can have too much sodium or sugar Doesn’t give the warm closeness of holding Doesn’t give the warm closeness of holding
After 6 months… Cereal 1 st Start with “soupy” cereal made with breastmilk or formula Start with “soupy” cereal made with breastmilk or formula Give extra water to help digest cereal Give extra water to help digest cereal Use a plastic coated spoon Use a plastic coated spoon
Introducing New Foods Introduce 1 food at a time Introduce 1 food at a time Wait 4 to 5 days before adding a different kind Wait 4 to 5 days before adding a different kind Check for intolerance to food Check for intolerance to food Start with just a bite or two of new food Start with just a bite or two of new food
Intolerance of Foods Fussiness Fussiness Rash Rash Upset stomach Upset stomach Loose stools Loose stools Mucous in stools Mucous in stools
Processed or Homemade? Can make your own or buy jars of baby food Put into a dish amount baby will eat, don’t feed some then put it in refrigerator Bacteria from saliva will grow in unused food
Weaning Breastfeed or bottle feed for 12 months Breastfeed or bottle feed for 12 months No cows milk first 12 months No cows milk first 12 months Can try drinking from a cup at 6 months Can try drinking from a cup at 6 months Gets much better at it by 12 months Gets much better at it by 12 months Sipper cups are helpful Sipper cups are helpful
Feeding Schedules Some like smaller, more frequent meals Some like smaller, more frequent meals Others more food less often Others more food less often At the end of first year growth rate slows, appetite will decrease At the end of first year growth rate slows, appetite will decrease Some days a baby may be hungrier than others Some days a baby may be hungrier than others
Finger Foods Pincer Grasp Pincer Grasp They can feed themselves cheerios by 8 months They can feed themselves cheerios by 8 months End of 1 st year can be eating many of these foods End of 1 st year can be eating many of these foods which ones wouldn't be good? which ones wouldn't be good?
Now it’s your turn… Choose one person to write the group answers Choose one person to write the group answers As a group, in 3 minutes come up with a list of foods that babies shouldn’t have because they can cause choking. Candy for the group with the most correct answers As a group, in 3 minutes come up with a list of foods that babies shouldn’t have because they can cause choking. Candy for the group with the most correct answers
Did you have? Raw carrots/vegetables Raw carrots/vegetables Corn Corn Raisins Raisins Grapes Grapes Round sliced hotdogs Round sliced hotdogs Nuts Nuts Pretzels Pretzels Peanut butter Peanut butter Popcorn Popcorn Berries Berries hard candy hard candy
Name two items you should never give a baby Candy for the group(s) that get both substances Candy for the group(s) that get both substances
Did you get it? Depressants Alcohol Stimulants Caffeine
Foods infants shouldn’t have very much of? The group with the best list gets a prize The group with the best list gets a prize
Check your list Cake Candy Cookies Salty crackers Artificially flavored fruit drinks Soft drinks Fruit juice Ice cream Yeast
Take good care of me, I’m precious