Infant Nutrition

Question 1

What are the phases of growth and how are they led?

Answer 1

Infant - nutrition led
Child - growth hormone led
Pubertal - sex steroid led

Question 2

What is energy needed for in an infant?

Answer 2

Physical activity
Thermogenesis
Tissue maintenance
Growth

Question 3

What are the risks to infants regarding nutrition?

Answer 3

Infants can become malnourished rapidly
Dependent on carer
Low stores - fat and protein
High demands for growth and maintenance

Question 4

Breast milk benefits

Answer 4

Nutritionally best for full term babies
Improves cognitive development
Reduces infection
Suckling bonding
Tailor-made passive immunity (not HIV)
Increased development of infants active immunity
Increased development of infant's gut mucosa
Decreased risk of breast cancer

Question 5

Negative side to breast milk

Answer 5

No vitamin K
Sore boobs/nipples
Painful

Question 6

Formula milk benefits

Answer 6

Accurate feed volumes
Provides vitamin K
Less jaundice
No transfer of BBVs/drugs
High antigen load

Question 7

Formula milk negatives

Answer 7

No anti-infection properties
Risk of contamination
Expensive

Question 8

What different kind of formulas do you get?

Answer 8

Cows milk
Specialised formula
Pre-term formula
Nutrient dense

Question 9

What kind of formula do you give if there’s a cow milk allergy?

Answer 9

Nutramigen - extensively hydrolysed protein feeds

Alfamino - amino acid-based feeds

Question 10

Lactose free milks

Answer 10

Lactose intolerance
Reduced levels of the enzyme
Post-gastroenteritis

Question 11

Weaning

Answer 11

Nutritional and developmental changes – encourages tongue and jaw movements in preparation for speech and social interaction
Starts at around 5-6 months
Smooth pureed fruit, veg, meat
Finger foods from 6-7 months
Cup from 7 months

Question 12

What are the unicef baby friendly steps?

Answer 12

Have a written breast-feeding policy – all staff aware
Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy
Inform all pregnant women about the benefits/management of breast feeding
Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth
Show mothers how to breastfeed/maintain lactation if away from their baby
Don’t give newborns food or other drinks unless medically indicated
Practise rooming in – allow mothers and infants to remain together 24h/day
Encourage breast-feeding on demand
Give no artificial teats, pacifiers (dummies)
Direct mothers to breast-feeding support groups when discharged