The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension sponsors "NU for Families" month during November to help promote strong families. We hope you can use the information in this newsletter to help families in the upcoming month of November and throughout the year. For more information on building strong families, visit: http://nuforfamilies.unl.edu If you aren't involved in some aspect of infant feeding (parent, grandparent, early childcare professionals, educator, health professional, etc.) please share this information with someone who is. If adults grew as rapidly as a newborn, an adult who currently weighs 130 pounds would tip the scales at almost 400 pounds in just a year! Babies usually triple their birthweight the first year. Nutritious and safely handled food, served in an age-appropriate way, is so important. Please help spread the word!

The African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," could describe feeding a baby today. With an increasing number of homes where both parents work or the household is headed by a single parent, the number of people helping with childcare can approach village-like proportions. Baby sitters, older brothers and sisters, grandparents and other relatives, neighbors and daycare providers all may take a turn.

Unfortunately, the number of beliefs about feeding babies may equal the number of caregivers! Many of the feeding practices formerly used with children are no longer recommended for today's infants. A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education showed that over time, mothers received conflicting and sometimes inaccurate information, particularly from relatives and friends (Source: Carruth BR, Skinner JD. Mothers' sources of information about feeding their children ages 2 months to 54 months. JNE 2001;33:143-147).

A parent may advise someone else on how much, what and when to feed an infant child. But, the following 14 important feeding practices may not be mentioned. Assuring infants receive adequate nutrients, served in a safe and age-appropriate way, during their first year is essential to their growth and development.

1. Wash Hands. It's important to wash your hands before preparing food or formula for a baby -- or others, for that matter! According to a Penn State University study of mothers with infants less than 4 months old:

• 32% said they don't wash their hands after changing their baby's diaper;
• about 15% said they don't wash their hands after using the bathroom;
• about 10% don't wash their hands after handling raw meat;
• about 41% don't wash their hands after petting animals; and
• about 5% don't wash their hands after gardening or working with soil.

2. Breast Is Best But Bottle Is OK. Whenever possible, breast milk is best during the first year of life. If breast-feeding isn't possible, an iron-fortified infant formula is an acceptable choice. Specialized formulas are available if an infant is allergic to regular infant formulas. The baby's pediatrician can advise on the best choice. Proper formula dilution, mixing and storage are very important; follow directions carefully.

3. Heat Bottles Carefully. Do not heat baby bottles in the microwave. Microwaves can heat unevenly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that children’s mouths and throats can be severely burned by bottles heated in the microwave.

Although some babies will drink a bottle straight from the refrigerator, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises most babies prefer milk warmed to room temperature. Warm the bottle by holding it under a running hot-water faucet or putting it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. Shake well and test milk temperature (see below) to make sure it's not too hot before feeding.

Test the temperature of milk by putting several drops on your wrist. When you can barely feel the temperature on your skin, the milk is ready for the baby.

Do not save milk from a used bottle to use at another feeding; dispose of it instead. Refrigerate opened cans of ready-to-feed or liquid concentrate formula. Use within 24 hours after opening or follow the directions on the label.

4. How-To's On Cow's Milk. Avoid serving regular cow's milk until infants are 1-year-old. Before then, infants may experience an allergic reaction, stomachache and low blood iron. When you begin serving regular cow's milk, serve whole milk. It's recommended children drink whole milk until age 2 as reduced-fat or no-fat milk doesn't have enough fat and calories for a growing baby. Don't switch to a lower fat milk until the baby's doctor recommends this change.

5. Nix Mixing Cereal And Formula In The Bottle. Do not serve cereal mixed with formula from a bottle. There's no proof this practice helps babies sleep better through the night. Plus, there is a possibility of a baby choking when served cereal from a bottle. Also, a baby tends to fill up after eating a certain volume of food. Putting cereal in the milk may give a baby too much cereal and not enough milk. This could lead to a lowered nutritional intake.

6. Hold Baby When Bottle-Feeding. Babies who are put to bed with a bottle are more likely to have cavities. There is also a possibility of choking.

7. Limit Juice. Serve only 100 percent juice and in small quantities so it doesn't interfere with the infant eating other nutritious foods. AAP recommends giving juice only to infants who are approximately 6 months or older and who can drink from a cup. AAP recommends offering no more than a TOTAL of 4 to 6 ounces of juice a day to infants. (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juice in Pediatrics. J Pediatr. 2001;107:1210-1213)

8. Hold Off On The Honey And Corn Syrup. Do not serve infants honey or corn syrup during the first year of life. These foods may contain botulism spores that could cause illness or death in infants. They do not cause problems for older children and adults.

9. Slow Down On Adding Solids. Not all babies are ready to begin eating solids at the same time. AAP recommends breast milk or a prepared iron-fortified infant formula be the only nutrient fed to infants until 4 to 6 months of age. As a general reference on this topic, you may wish to read "Introducing Solid Foods to Babies," by Darlene Martin Pohlman at: ianrpubs.unl.edu/foods/g962.htm. A baby's physician can advise the best time to start a particular infant on solids.

10. Make The Proper Introductions. When introducing new foods, try only one at a time and start with single-ingredient foods. Avoid serving mixed ingredient foods until each food has been given separately so you can tell if a baby is allergic to a specific food. Begin by serving about 1 to 2 tablespoons and then increase the amount as baby wants more. Wait a week before trying another new food so you can tell if there are any allergic reactions to it.

Iron-fortified rice cereal is usually the first cereal offered, as babies are least likely to be allergic to it. It's frequently recommended to continue fortified baby cereal through the first year of life.

Infants may be allergic to egg whites; wait until about 12 months before offering this food. They may be able to tolerate egg yolks around 8 months. Follow guidelines given by the baby's physician.

11. Serve Solids Safely. Transfer an amount you feel baby will eat from the baby food jar to a dish. Throw away any food left uneaten in the dish. Avoid feeding directly from the baby food jar. Bacteria from a baby's mouth can grow and multiply in the food before it is served again. Too many bacteria can make a baby sick. Refrigerate food remaining in the jar and use within 1 to 2 days after opening, unless directed otherwise by the baby's healthcare provider.

Check that the safety button in the lid of a baby food jar is down and that the lid "pops" when you open it. Do not use the food otherwise. Do not use food from jars with rusty lids, either.

12. Microwave Carefully. Do not heat baby foods in their original containers in the microwave. The heat is uneven and can produce "hot spots" that can scald a baby's mouth and throat. Also, the food in the jar may "blow up" in your microwave. Baby foods can be served cold, at room temperature or warmed.

To safely heat baby foods in the microwave:

1. Spoon a portion from the container into a microwave-safe dish.

2. Heat for a few seconds until food reaches a lukewarm temperature, stir and let stand a short time. Stirring prevents "hot spots" in the food that can burn the baby's mouth.

3. Taste before feeding the baby. USE A CLEAN SPOON TO FEED BABY and throw away any leftovers or uneaten portions.

14. Check For These Chokers. Avoid serving foods that may choke an infant, such as nuts and seeds, raw carrots and celery, whole kernel corn, raisins, large chunks of meat or cheese, popcorn, chips, pretzels, adult dry cereal, grapes, berries, cherries, unpeeled fruits and vegetables, hard candies, pickles, hot dogs, marshmallows (regular or miniature), and peanut butter. In general, avoid foods that are round and firm, sticky or cut in large chunks.

As infants grow into toddlers, they can begin eating these foods if cut into small pieces. Laurel Branen and Janice Fletcher (Feeding Young Children in Group Settings, University of Idaho -- http://agweb.ag.uidaho.edu/feeding) advise foods should be no larger than 1/4 inch for toddlers and 1/2 inch for preschoolers.)

For more information on feeding babies beyond the first year, read "Feeding Children Ages 2 to 5" by Darlene Martin Pohlman at ianrpubs.unl.edu/foods/g1364.htm

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Pyramid Power: The Food Guide Game
Pyramid Power has received awards from the American Dietetic Association and the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Use Pyramid Power to teach youth and adults how to eat healthy according to the Food Guide Pyramid.

Don't Get Bugged by a Foodborne Illness (game)
Use this game to help youth and adults understand and use recommended food safety practices. Don't Get Bugged received an award from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

COOK IT QUICK! Online Tips and Recipes
Cook It Quick offers tips on "Mix and Match" Meals; Cook Once, Eat Twice; Time-Saving Kitchen Tools and much more! PLUS, access online thousands of recipes. Sign up in the yellow box on the Cook It Quick site to receive e-mail updates when new information is added.

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ABOUT FOOD REFLECTIONS FOOD REFLECTIONS is a FREE monthly e-mail newsletter and is also archived on the Internet lancaster.unl.edu/food/archives.htm.  FOOD REFLECTIONS provides a "how-to" message on food, nutrition, or food safety for health professionals, educators, and consumers. Author: FOOD REFLECTIONS is written by Alice Henneman, MS, RD, LMNT, Extension Educator and is archived on the Internet by Donna Weber, Extension Assistant. Permission To Copy: You may reproduce FOOD REFLECTIONS for educational purposes but not for sales purposes. Please credit as follows: FOOD REFLECTIONS Newsletter, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County (lancaster.unl.edu/food/foodtalk.htm) E-Mail Subscription: To receive FOOD REFLECTIONS by e-mail, visit our Web site at lancaster.unl.edu/food/foodtalk.htm Endorsement Policy: Use of commercial and trade names does not imply approval or constitute endorsement by the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County. Nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned. Contacting Us: Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Send to: ahenneman1@unl.edu For More Information: For personalized answers to your food, nutrition, and food safety questions, contact your nearest Cooperative Extension office. Extension offices are located throughout the United States: For the nearest Nebraska office, click here: http://ianrwww.unl.edu/ianr/coopext/countyoffices.html To locate an Extension office in another state, click here: http://lancaster.unl.edu/office/locate.htm

 

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