Infant Nutrition Lecture Notes

Key Points

Infant Weight Gain
- Initial weight loss after birth.
- Back to birth weight by ~1 week.
- Double birth weight by 4-6 months.
- Triple birth weight by 12 months.
Feeding Guidelines
- Only breast milk or formula for the first year.
- No cow's milk until 12 months.
- Supplemental water or other fluids: Not recommended for the first 6 months unless ordered by a provider.
- Avoid propped bottles to reduce the risk of choking, ear infections, and tooth decay.

Introduce solids at 4-6 months (when baby has good head control and can sit unsupported).
Recommended first solid: Iron-fortified rice cereal (easily digested, nutrient-rich, low allergy risk).
Avoid Choking Hazards: hot dogs, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, raw vegetables, whole grapes, hard/sticky candy, popcorn, chewing gum.

Breast Milk:
- Room temperature: up to 4 hours
- Refrigerator: up to 4 days
- Freezer: up to 6 months
- Deep freezer: up to 12 months
- Do not refreeze thawed breast milk.
- No microwaving (destroys nutrients, creates hotspots).
- Discard unused milk remaining in bottle.
Formula:
- Follow exact water amount on label.
- Use within 2 hours of preparation or refrigerate up to 24 hours.
- Do not freeze or microwave.
- Discard unused formula remaining in the bottle.

An infant’s weight will approximately triple by how many months of age?
- 12 months.
Cow’s milk should not be given to an infant until how many months of age?
- 12 months.
How many milliliters per day of supplemental water should be provided to a 4-month-old baby?
- None, unless specifically ordered by a provider.
Breast milk left in the bottle after a feeding can be refrigerated for later use. True or False?
- False.
Prepared formula can be refrigerated for up to how many hours?
- 24 hours.

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