Feeding Infants in the CACFP

First…

Are you thinking of enrolling infants but don’t currently?

Contact your Specialist for training!

Do I Have to Feed Infants?

YES!

It’s a matter of civil rights.

Documentation

• Document infant meals:– Infant Formula and Food Notification Form– Itemized receipts or invoices– Feeding records – either:

• Infant menu (show all foods actually served) – templates for 3 age-appropriate groups (0-3mo; 4-7mo; 8-11mo)

• Individual feeding records

– Point-of-service meal counts• Count each meal on the point-of-service form after

each infant has been served all components

Infant Formula and Food Notification Form

Completing the bottom portion of the IFFN form with the parents

Do I Have to Buy Infant Formula?

YES!

Do I Have to Buy Infant Food?

Absolutely!

What do I buy?

Infant Formula

Almost any brand will do……

Infant Formula 0 through 11 months

HOWEVER: Do not serve infant formula with cereal mixed in (Not developmentally ready; Choking hazard)

Infant Foods

Any brand of packaged baby food “Homemade” purees

Non-Creditable Infant Foods

Simple Rules to Follow

Infant Feeding: Formula

• Buy, stock and offer at least one approved formula

• Get a signed Infant Formula and Food Notification Form for every infant– Do not claim an infant meal if parent provides

formula without IFFN on file

• Serve all infants (through 11 months) formula or breast milk– Feed on demand– Use meal pattern as a guide for amounts

• Transition to whole cow’s milk at 12-13 months

Infants 0 through 3 months

ONLYFormula or breast milk

on demand

Breast Feeding

• Breast feeding:– Claim meal if parent

brings breast milk and provider serves it

– Do not claim if mother breast feeds on-site

• Unless provider provides at least one other component

Infants 4 through 11 months

Mayintroduced to solid foods to

developmentally readyinfants

Infant Feeding: Foods

• Buy, stock and offer at least one approved formula• Buy, stock and offer creditable infant foods• Get a signed Infant Formula and Food Notification Form

for every infant– May not claim an infant meal if parent provides

formula without IFFN on file.• Serve all infants (4 through 11 months) food when

developmentally ready– Use meal pattern as a guide amounts– Feed infants on demand

Infant Feeding: Foods

• Parents may choose to bring some or all meal components– Do not solicit parents to bring food– Discourage parents from bringing food– Provider must provide the minimum portion of

at least one meal component in order to claim the meal

Infant Feeding: Foods

• Follow the meal pattern• Work with parents

– Explain CACFP meal pattern– Discuss development readiness– Coordinate to introduce foods at the same

time

Infant Feeding: Foods

Introducing table foods Only when infant is developmentally ready You must follow infant meal pattern

Infant cereal is required at breakfast and optional at lunch

Only bread and/or crackers are creditable at snack

Combination foods are not creditableo Spaghetti, Casseroles, etc.

CACFP Required Meal Pattern

Meal ComponentMin. Serving Size

0-3 mo. 4-7 mo. 8-11 mo.

Breakfast

Breast Milk or Formula 4-6 fl. oz. 4-8 fl. oz. 6-8 fl. oz.

Fruit/Vegetable* X X 1-4 tbsp.

Infant Cereal X 0-3 tbsp. 2-4 tbsp.

Lunch/Supper

Breast Milk or Formula 4-6 fl. oz. 4-8 fl. oz. 6-8 fl. oz.

Fruit/Vegetable* X 0-3 tbsp. 1-4 tbsp.

Infant Cereal** X 0-3 tbsp. 2-4 tbsp.

Meat/Alternate**

Meat, Poultry, Fish, Egg Yolk, Cooked Dry Beans/Peas Cheese Cottage Cheese

X X 1-4 tbsp. ½-2 oz. 1-4 oz.

PM Snack

Breast Milk or Formula 4-6 fl. oz. 4-8 fl. oz. 2-4 fl. oz.

(or) Juice

Not needed if breast milk or formula is servedX X 2-4 fl. oz.

Bread/Cracker X X0-½ slice, or 0-2 crackers

Infants 0 through 3 months

Only a USDA approved infant formula or

breast milk may be provided to infants.

Infants 4 through 7 months

Foods that may be introduced:

Iron-fortified infant cereal

Fruits and vegetables• Homemade purees• Jarred/packaged baby food

Infants 8 through 11 months

Foods that may be continued or introduced:

Iron-fortified infant cereal

Fruits and vegetables Meats / meat alternates Bread and/or crackers 100% juice

Meats must be single ingredient

Questions