Infancy
Rose Delia P. Ocariza, RN, MAN
Learning Outcomes:
• Identify the nutritional requirements for
infants
• Come up with their own versions of
complimentary foods for infants are both
nutritious and affordable
• Nutrient needs change throughout
life depending on rates of growth,
activity and other factors.
• Nutrient varies from individual to
individual
• The first year of life is a time of
phenomenal growth and
development
• Early nutrition affects later
development and early feeding
sets the stage for eating habits
that will influence nutrition status
for a lifetime.
Infant
• Not more than 12
months of age
• Weighs 2.7 – 3.2 kg (6-7
lbs)
• 48-50 cm length
• Average Head
circumference 35 cm
• Skin is moist, elastic and
not wrinkled
Nutritional Requirements:
1. Calories:
- High calories needed because the
proportionately larger skin surface
leads to larger heat loss
- Rapid rate of growth needs
considerably storage of energy
- Inactive infants show excessive weight
gain
- Needs increase from month to month
- At birth 350 to 500 calories
- 120 calories /kg of body weight (2-
7months
- 100 calories/ kg (7 – 12 months)
Nutritional Requirements:
2. Proteins
- 1.5-2.5 g/ kg (0-6 mos)
- 1.5-2 g/kg ( 6-12 mos)
- Sources: Milk from mother, cow and goat
- Protein of milk contains all the amino acids
essential for growth
- 1 ½ ounce of cow’s milk per lb weight = 1.5
g of protein / lb = 1/10 of the body weight
- An excess of protein is well –tolerated
- Protein in brAlpha –lactalbumin can easily
be digested
- Lactoferin is another protein indirectly
benefits iron nutrition and antibacterial
agent
Nutritional Requirements:
3. Fats
-whole cow’s milk contains: fatty
acids, linoleic acid and
arachidonic acid
- Low fat milk no problem for a
short period of time
- Vegetable oils: corn, soybean,
and cotton seed are good
sources
- 3%- 5%
- Fat restrictions larger amount of
protein and sugar is required for
energy
Nutritional Requirements:
4. Carbohydrates
- 1 oz / 10 oz of milk is
prescribed = 1% of body
weight
- Later in the first year starch
cereal is advised
- -Carbohydrates in milk
formula is reduced
Nutritional Requirements:
5. Minerals
- Compared with the needs of adults , all
vitamins and minerals are required
proportionately in greater amounts by the
infant
- 1st 4 months liberal status of iron of the
healthy infant may suffice for the rapidly
expanding blood circulation
- Iron-rich foods needed to prevent anemia
- Give egg yolk, fortified cereals, vegetables
and fruits to prevent deficiency
Nutritional Requirements:
6. Vitamins
- well-nourished nursing moms
provides nutritious milk for infants
except Vit. C and D
- Tomato and orange juice is advised
- Vit. B6 deficient causes convulsions
- 60-100 mcg of Vit. B 6 is needed
- Infants with higher dose (2K iu) of
Vit. D achieve less growth
- Mineral Calcium for bone growth
- Breastmilk is low in sodium
- Supplements of iron, Vit. D and
fluoride after 6 months
Nutritional Requirements:
7. Water
- 2.5 oz /lb of water /lb of BW
- Water balance is more
disturbed that of an adult
because of the large fluid
losses through the skin and
respiration needed for
elimination
Feeding the Infant
1. Breastfeeding
-Physiologic and psychologic
value for both mother and
infant
-Generally meets infant nutrients
-Provides immunity
-Reduces infection
-Easily digested
- Non-allergenic
- Mother hasten the return of
uterus to normal size
Contraindicated:
• Syphillis
• DM
• AIDS
• Severe acute infection
• Under emotional and mental stress
• Metabolic abnormalities
• Severe prematurity of the newborn
Bottle Feeding:
• May meet the needs of a
working mother
• Formula must be prepared
under clean conditions and
sterilized
• Only if BF is contraindicated
• Costly
• Associated with infantile
obesity or protein calorie
malnutrition plus
Mixed Feeding:
• Combination of BF and
bottle feeding
• Given due to insufficient
mother’s milk
• Complement feeding or
supplemental
• Not encouraged may
lead to lactation failure.
Formula Preparation:
2 Methods:
1. Aseptic Method
-equipment and ingredients are
sterilized separately for 25
minutes
-Funnel the sterile formula into
sterile bottles, nippled, and
then capped.
2. Terminal Method
-poured into clean but
unsterilized bottles & are
sterilized together
Feeding Time:
- Baby weighing 2.5 to 2.7 kg feeds q 3 hrs
- 3.6 to 4kg feeds q 4 hrs
- 2 -month-old baby sleeps through the night after 10 pm
- 2-3 mos of age , a baby is on a 4-5 feeding schedule
1. Beware of baby dinners or
creamed products that
contains nutritionally
incomplete refined starches
2. Drain off syrup from canned
fruits before serving
3. Watch number of egg yolks
per week ( 3-4 are a lot)
4. If okay with the doctor, give
the baby 2% low-fat milk
instead of whole milk.
To help infants eat better
Lugaw- good for the baby
Added:
a. Banana
b. Eggs, fish, meat, liver, mungo,
soybeans, garbanzos and peanuts
are good body-builders
c. Green, leafy, and vegetables like
kamote tops, kangkong,
malunggay, petsay,carrot, and
squash contain vit and minerals
d. Other vegetables like abitsuwelas,
sitaw, and potatoes
e. Other cereals like oatmeal, biscuits,
and boiled root crops like mashed
kamote, gabi,etc for energy
Supplementary Foods:
1. Second month
- Rice water, vegetable water, or kalamansi juice
2. Fourth Month
-Scraped banana or papaya or thin lugaw or commercial cereal pop like Cerelac or Ceresoy
- Iron-rich foods like egg yolk, liver, meat, fish, and poultry must be gradually introduced when
iron stores are low
3. 5th -6th month
-full diet : pureed meat, egg, fruit, vegetables, and cereals can be introduced
-Weaning, high calorie-high protein supplements
- Teething begins, chewy foods such as crackers and biskotso
4. 7th – 8th Month
-soft cooked egg with rice porridge, soft cooked rice with boiled fish, mungo, and leafy
vegetables, misua soup with beaten egg, peanut-banana mash, kamote cubes in meat broth,
and mashed liver in green leafy vegetables.
5. 9th- 12th month
- Whole tender foods or foods chopped coarsely are given
Tips on Giving New Foods:
- 3rd month test his/ her readiness to accept new foods by placing a tsp between
lips
- Start a new food with ½ tsp on 1st day
- Never start two new foods at the same time
- Show pleasure in giving new food
- Give water in between feeds
- 7th month teach him to drink water in a cup
- Give finely chopped foods, during teething give him biskotso or any hard toast
- Offer bland foods to baby
- Handle foods properly
- Feed fresh cooked foods or fruits
- Divide recommended amount of supplementary foods into several feedings
during the day
Easy to Prepare Foods:
Common Disorders:
1. Diarrhea
2. Vomiting
3. Allergy
4. Constipation
5. Colic
Indication of Good Nutrition
1. Weight gain
2. Length
3. Behavioral development
0-1 month (suckles and smiles)
2-3 months vocalizes and controls head
4-5 (controls hand and rolls over)
6-7 months (sits briefly and crawls)
8-9 (grasps and pulls)
10-11 ( walks with support and stands alone)
12 (starts to walk alone)
Indication of Good Nutrition
• Bowel movement (normal without green or
red streaks)
• Sleeping habits regular
• Tooth formation- average
• Motor coordination –developing
• Muscles- firm and well-formed with moderate
subcutaneous fat