Quick Guide to Infant Feeding Methods

Tips to Guide Parents & Caregivers

• Guide caregivers to introduce solids in the way that is appropriate for the individual needs of the family (Komninou 2018).
  • Consider factors such as time, cost, access to food storage/ preparation areas, and cooking skills.
• Keep in mind: many caregivers may combine methods to implement what works best for them and their families. Support flexibility.
• Provide caregivers with access to food safety information and best practices to help prevent choking, for all types of feeding methods.
• Encourage caregivers to practice a responsive feeding approach. Help educate parents on common signs of hunger and fullness.
• Regardless of method, encourage consumption of a variety of nutrient dense complementary foods as recommended in the 2020-2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  • About 6 months old introduce:
    • Iron-rich foods (meats and seafood rich in heme iron, iron-fortified infant cereals)
    • Zinc-rich foods (meats, beans, fortified infant cereals)
    • A variety of foods from all food groups, knowing it may take up to 8-10 exposures for an infant to accept a new food

References

• Komninou S, et al. Differences in parental feeding styles and practices and toddler eating behaviour across complementary feeding methods: Managing expectations through consideration of effect size. Appetite. 2019 Jun 1;137:198-206 open_in_new
• USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. open_in_new