How to feed infants and toddlers

Good nutritional status of infants and children can satisfy growth, avoid nutrient deficiencies and benefit children’s neuropsychological development. Proper nutrition and feeding practices are of great importance to promote healthy child development. International infant and young child feeding challenges: 10.29 million deaths/year in children under 5 years of age, 60% directly or indirectly caused by malnutrition. 2/3 occur within 1 year of age and are related to inappropriate feeding practices (especially in developing countries). The current situation of infant and young child feeding in China: 1) At least 30% of infants and young children in the liquid food stage are unable to breastfeed, and 80%-90% of infants and young children in the breastfeeding stage do not switch to formula feeding in a timely and correct manner. (2) “Fresh milk” feeding was used before 2 years of age. (3) 80%-90% of infants and toddlers did not receive correct and continuous feeding of pureed foods and did not experience the early stimulation of “teething foods” during the pureed food phase. (4) They do not experience the practice of eating behaviors such as “holding” and “eating”. 5) The incidence of nutritional problems such as low nutritional intensity, low density, narrow nutritional spectrum, growth retardation, obesity, and deviations in eating behavior were high. (6) Nearly 80-90% of infants and children in the solid food stage do not have access to appropriate specialized food. Compared with the international reference curve and our well-nourished population, growth and development begin to decline from 4 months after birth until adolescence.