Community Nutrition Update: Infants

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Community Nutrition UpdateInfants

• Betty Izumi
• OSU Extension, Clackamas County

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Outline

• Breast milk vs. infant formula
• Introducing solid foods
• Feeding infants safely
• Fruit juice debate
• Introducing fluid cow milk

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Breastfeeding

• Benefits to mother and child
• WIC gives extra food to breastfeeding mothers
• How can we help new mothers?
• encouragement
• education

Breastfeeding is BEST during the first year of
life.
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Formula Feeding

• WIC infant formula package
• less food for moms and their families
• Mead Johnson formula can size changes
• one less can per month issued through WIC
• Enfamil Lipil and Similac Advance
• addition of two fatty acids ARA DHA
• mixed study results
• higher costs

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Introducing Solid Foods

• Supplement - NOT replacement for breast milk or
  formula.
• Introduce when developmentally ready
• sit up with support, hold head steady, draw in
  lower lip
• infants reach age 4 to 6 months
• Timing
• risks to early and late introduction
• order of food groups

Developmental readiness, NOT age, determines when
to introduce solid foods.
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Feeding Baby Safely

• Guard against choking hazards
• hot dogs, soft bread, grapes, hard candies
• Beware these ingredients
• honey, salt, sugar
• home cooked beets, carrots, spinach, turnips,
  collards
• Prevent food borne illnesses
• no unpasteurized fruit juices

Feeding foods safely is the Number 1 priority.
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Homemade Baby Food

• Homemade baby foods are popular
• Food safety is critical
• preparation and storage
• What are the pros and cons of feeding baby
  homemade baby foods vs. commercial?

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Comparing Costs
Product 4 oz Homemade Commercial
Sweet potato 0.33 0.44
Carrot 0.12 0.44
Sliced peaches 0.34 0.44
What is the cost of convenience? How much is your
time worth?
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Food Allergies

• Result in immunologic reactions
• Caused by common foods
• eggs, milk, peanut, soy, wheat, fish, tree nuts,
  shellfish
• Lead to
• diarrhea, vomiting, wheezing, anaphylactic shock,
  abdominal pain, gas, hives, skin rashes
• Can be avoided (at least in part)
• slowly introduce new foods
• delay introduction of common food allergens until
  at least 1 year of age, longer depending on
  allergen

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Fruit Juice

• Too much of a good thing?
• Nutrient density and displacement of nutrients
• Diarrhea
• Dental cavities
• Know the limits
• ? 8 oz diluted 100 fruit juice (4 oz fruit juice
  and 4 oz water)

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Feeding Infants Cow Milk

• Not recommended during the first year.
• Fluid cow milk consumption can lead to
• GI bleeding
• Iron deficiency
• Displacement of nutrients
• Other dairy products ? at 8 months
• Yogurt and cheese

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Conclusion

• Breastfeeding is best for infants and should be
  avidly supported by nutrition educators.
• Developmental readiness determines when to
  introduce solid foods.
• Feeding infants safely should be a top priority.
• App 10-24-02