(NITS) Nutrition for the Infant and Toddler Stage Module Overview

Nutrition for the Infant and Toddler Stage Module Overview

Introduction

Nutrition Infant Toddler Image Reads: It's never too early to set the stage for healthy eating habits. Even in infancy, feeding choices can have a lifetime impact on health and weight.The breastfeeding debate has been a hot topic in the parenting world for quite a while. Even though commercially produced formula is made to mimic breast milk, some believe there is no substitute. The debate also expands into the feeding schedule and types of food introduced. Although a baby's digestive system can only process certain foods at certain ages, many parents and doctors argue this theory. We know that nutrition changes with age. Babies begin eating soft foods because they have few or no teeth. As babies grow teeth, they are able to chew different types of food. Then, as we age and enjoy life, we start to lose our teeth again and return to that same soft food stage. It is interesting how that cycle works. We will examine the specific needs of infants and toddlers more closely in this module.

 

Essential Questions

  • Why does a pregnant mom need to know about breastfeeding?
  • What are some benefits and disadvantages of breastfeeding for the mother?
  • What are the key nutrient differences between human milk and commercially prepared infant formula?
  • Why does an infant need breast milk/formula and food?
  • Why is it important to know the development of the infant digestive system in relation to the infant feeding schedule?
  • Is there a difference between commercial baby food and food produced at home? If so, what?

 

Key Terms

  1. Breast Milk - Milk that is produced by a mother of a newborn and delivered through the breast
  2. American Academy of Pediatrics - (AAP) A medical organization that desires optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults
  3. Colostrum - Form of nutrient rich breast milk produced late in the pregnancy that is expelled after the baby is born
  4. Sterilize - To make free from bacteria or other living organisms
  5. Infancy - The first stage of life, 0-1 years old
  6. Table Food - Food in its natural state that has not been modified by cutting or mashing
  7. Toddler - A child in the second stage of life, ages 1-2 years old
  8. Choking - The obstruction of air from the airway to the lungs

 

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