Feeding Infants 0-6 months old

• 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 is responsive feeding?

• “Suck-swallow-breathe” reflex

• Exclusive diet of breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula

• 6-10 feedings per day

What characterizes feedings for infants 0-4 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 characterizes feedings for infants 4-6 months old?

• Cow’s milk

• Juice

• “Table foods” – solid foods other than rice cereal

What foods should not be offered to infants 0-6 months old?

• 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

Why should solid foods not be introduced too early?

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 150 ml

5 months 180 ml

6 months 180ml

Approximations of breast milk/formula amounts required per feeding based on standard pediatrician recommendations.

• 6-7 wet diapers daily

• Consistent weight gain

• Wakes up to feed without prompting

How can you tell if an infant is eating enough each day?

• 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 should you feed an infant?

• Bottle-propping and other negative early feeding experiences put infants at risk for

• Choking (aspiration) Pneumonia

• Fluid in ears Chronic ear

infections

• Insecure attachment

How can negative feeding experiences affect infants?

Activity:

Bottle-feeding an Infant

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