Feeding Infants and Children: A signed written

Feeding Infants and Children: A signed written feeding plan for children less than one (1) year of age shall be obtained from Parent(s). Instructions from the parent(s) shall be updated 2x annually or as new foods are added, or as other dietary changes are made. The feeding plan shall be posted in the child's assigned room and must include the child's feeding schedule, the amount of formula or breast milk to be given, instructions for the introduction of solid foods, the amount of food to be given and notation of any type(s) of commercially premixed formula which may not be used in an emergency because of food allergies. 1. Employees shall wash their hands prior to preparing or serving food. 2. Center personnel shall hold and feed infants less than six (6) months of age and older children/infants who require assistance with feeding. Baby bottles shall never be propped; the infant's . head shall be elevated while feeding. 3. Honey shall not be served to children less than one (1) year of age. 4. Age-appropriate solid foods (including cereal) shall not be given to infants or children less than one (1) year of age until recommended as developmentally appropriate by the child’s primary care physician and indicated in writing by the Parent(s). As soon as the feeding plan indicates that a child is ready for solid foods, the child shall be fed from individual spoons and individual containers or dishes. A child shall not be fed directly from the original baby food container if the contents are to be fed to the child at more than one (1) meal. 5. As soon as the child exhibits a desire to feed him/herself, the child shall be assisted and encouraged to use their fingers for self-feeding, eat with a spoon, and drink from individual cups. 6. The Center shall encourage and support breastfeeding. Centers shall have a designated area set aside for breastfeeding mothers to breastfeed. 7. Food for infants or children less than one (1) year of age shall be cut into pieces one-quarter inch or smaller, and food for toddlers shall be cut into pieces one-half inch or smaller to prevent choking. 8. Center Personnel shall ensure that children do not have excessive amounts of food in their mouths while eating and are chewing their food appropriately to prevent instances of choking. 9. Children shall always be seated when eating and shall not be allowed to lie down or be put to sleep while food is present in their mouths.