Infants: Understanding The Feeding Relationship

If you could be a crayon, what color would you be?

Food and You

Attitudes toward food develop early in life Food choices impact long term health Eating habits are linked to chronic diseases

Feeding Conveys

Feelings of Caregiver

Think about the last time you fed a baby.

What kind of feelings did you communicate?

Developmental MilestonesIn Feeding

Attachment Trust Exploration Independence

Bottle Feeding Techniques

Always hold baby Support head Tip bottle so milk fills nipple Wait for baby to stop eating to burp

What kinds of things upset or distract babies during

feeding

How does a baby tell you“ I am full! ”

Breast-Fed Babies

Advantages of Breast Feeding

Right balance of nutrients Immune factors Special bonding with Mom Recommended by doctors Less likely to develop food allergies

Tips to SupportBreast-Feeding Moms

Make infant’s last feeding 1-1½ hours before Mom

arrives.

Provide a comfortable place for nursing.

Food Safety and Infant Feeding

Always wash your handsand the infant’s

BEFORE and AFTER feeding.

Keeping Breast Milk Safe Refrigerate at 40F, up to 48 hours from the time it was collected. Frozen breast milk will keep up to 3 months. Do not allow to sit out at room temperature.

Keeping Breast Milk Safe Store milk in sterilized bottles or nursing bags. Ask Mom to label each container with child’s name, date, and time collected. Do not warm in microwave.

Keeping Breast Milk Safe Thaw frozen milk under warm running water. Shake to mix. Use thawed breast milk within 24 hours. Do not refreeze thawed milk. Discard unused milk.

Keeping Infant Formula Safe Store bottles in refrigerator at 40F or lower. Formula will keep up to 48 hours. Do not allow to sit out at room temperature.

Keeping Infant Formula Safe Warm under running water. Do not warm in microwave. Discard unused milk.

Child Care Providers make a

BIG differencein the lives of babies in their

care!