HealthLink: Improvements needed in meeting infant feeding recommendations
The January 2004 supplement to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association features the results of the “Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study” (FITS). The nine reports offer a wealth of information on feeding practices, nutrient intakes, meal, snack and beverage patterns and food transitions among infants and toddlers four to 24 months old in the United States. The analysis by Briefel et al. conducted to assess adherence to infant feeding recommendations indicates that improvements are needed. Most parents and caregivers can benefit from guidance about the importance of breastfeeding through the first year and the introduction of micronutrient-rich first solid foods such as iron-rich infant cereals, iron fortified grain products, meats, soft fruits and cooked vegetables in place of energy-dense but micronutrient-poor items.
Recent data from The Longitudinal Study of Child Development in Quebec (LSCDQ 1998-2002)also support the need for interventions to improve adherence to infant feeding recommendations in Canada, especially among families with lower socio economic status (Public Health Nutr, 2003; 6(8):773-83).
Analysis of dietary intakes from a national random sample of over 3000 infants and toddlers in the FITS study revealed that about 76% were fully or partly breastfed at birth. This percentage declined to 30% at 6 months and 16% at 12 months. Almost all of the exclusively breastfed infants were under 6 months. The average duration of breastfeeding was 5.5 months. In Canada, results from the LSCDQ indicate that 72% of Quebec newborns were breastfed at birth in 1998. Only 6% of Quebec infants were exclusively breastfed at 4 months of age (Can J Public Health, 2003; 94(4):300-5).
In the FITS study, about two-thirds of infants were introduced to complementary foods between 4 and 6 months. Infant cereal was introduced on average at 4.6 months of age, but as early as one week and as late as 15 months. Only about 12% of 7- to 8-month-olds consumed separate servings of meats and about 43% consumed mixed baby food dishes. About 27% of 9- to 11-month-olds consumed no separate servings of vegetables in a day. About 25% of 7- to 18-month-olds consumed no separate servings of fruit in a day. Among 9- to 11-month-old infants about 10% consumed French fries and/or sweetened beverages on any given day.
CONSUMER TIPS:
1. Breastfeed as long as possible throughout the first year of life, at least for 4 to 6 months*.
2. Introduce iron-rich infant cereals (between 4 to 6 months) and meats (between 6 to 9 months) to provide the iron that your baby needs for healthy development.
3. Offer a healthy variety of other nutrient rich foods such as soft fruits, cooked vegetables, soft cheeses, and fortified grain products.
* Note: Health Canada is currently revising the recommendations related to the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin D supplementation for breastfed infants.
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