Infant Nutrition Flashcards
What is the usual weight and length for full term infants?
weigh 2500-3800 grams (5.5-8.5 lbs)
length 47-54 centimeters (18.5-21.5 inches)
88% of babies in the US are full-term
What issues affect infant mortality rates?
access to healthcare SES of families and women medical interventions teenage pregnancy rates availability of abortion services failure to prevent preterm and low-birth-weight births
What concepts underscore the commitment of resources to infants?
recognizes that birth weight is important for long-term health outcomes and that prevention and treatment for at-risk infants are investments in the future
What are major reflexes found in newborns?
babinski, blink, moro, palmar, rooting, sucking, stepping, withdrawl
What are the role of reflexes in newborns?
To protect them
What direction is muscle development and control in?
top-down and central to peripheral
How does motor development impact an infant’s ability to feed?
ex) able to sit in a high chair, head control, balance
changes amount of calories expended
What is sensorimotor development?
an early learning system in which the infant’s senses and motor skills provide input to the CNS
How long does it take for the infant GI tract to mature?
up to 6 months - considerable variation
How does the digestive system develop?
- third trimester - fetus swallows amniotic fluid - stimulates intestine lining to grow and mature
- at birth - gut is functional, doesn’t have the same level of digestive enzymes or rate of emptying
- through early infancy - improved coordination of peristalsis
What conditions may reflect the immaturity of the gut?
colic, gastroesophageal reflux, unexplained diarrhea, constipation
*don’t interfere with ability to absorb nutrients and usually doesn’t hinder growth
What factors influence the rate of food passage through colon?
osmolarity of food and liquids
colon bacterial flora
water and fluid balance in the body
Where do energy and nutrient recommendations for infants come from?
Dietary Reference Intakes
What are the average caloric needs for infants?
birth-6 months: 108 cal/kg of body weight
6-12 months: 98 cal/kg of body weight
range is quite broad
What factors account for the range of calorie needs?
weight, growth rate, sleep/wake cycle, temperature and climate, physical activity, metabolic response to food, health status and recovery from illness
What are the recommended protein intakes for infants?
birth-6 months: 2.2g/kg of body weight
6-12 months: 1.6g/kg body weight
vary for the same reasons as calories
When might protein intake be inadequate or excessive?
formula made incorrectly, baby cereal added to formula, consume more formula than recommended for age
What are the recommended fat intakes for infants?
no specific recommendations
restriction isn’t recommended - cholesterol is needed for brain development
What complicates fat requirements?
differences in digestion and transport of fats based on fatty acid chain length (long-chain are more difficult to utilize)
What do infants use fats for?
supply energy to liver, brain, muscles (heart)
essential fatty acids are substrates for hormones, steroids, endocrine, and neuroactive compounds in the brain
Why are sufficient amounts of CHO so important?
glucose is the primary body fuel for metabolism
if glucose is inadequate, the body will convert amino acids into glucose for energy
then amino acids aren’t available for growth
What is the DRI for fluoride?
> 6 months: 0.1 mg/day
7-12 months: 0.5 mg/day
breastfed infants may need a supplement
What is the recommendation for Vitamin D?
400 IU daily
supplement of EBF or PBF
What is the recommendation for sodium?
0-5 months: 120 mg
6-12 months: 200 mg
*rec based on breast milk content
*don’t need salt added to foods
What are typical gains in weight during infancy?
0-3 months: 600-900g/month (1.3-2 lbs)
3-6 months: 450-630g/month (1-1.4 lbs)
6-12 months: 300-390g/month (0.7-0.9 lbs)
doubles at 4-5 months, triples at 1 year
What are typical gains in height during infancy?
0-3 months: 30mm (1.2 in)
3-6 months: 20mm (0.8 in)
6-12 months: 14mm (0.6 in)