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Nutrition & Oral Health

Nutrition

Problem 

Signs

... if an infant/child experiences any of the following signs, it should be considered a red flag:

 

0-6 months

  • Typical weight gain guidelines not met:

    • 0-3 months, 4-8 oz (140-227g)/week

    • 3-6 months, 3-5 oz (85-142g)/week

    • Birth weight is expected to be regained by 10 days of age

  • Crosses 2 percentile ranks on the growth chart

  • Sudden and rapid weight loss or gain

  • Diet includes anything other than breastmilk or iron fortified infant formula

  • Breastmilk or formula is not being fed on demand

  • Using softened, distilled or unsterilized water to make formula

  • Infant formula is not stored or prepared correctly

  • Formula fed baby is not held during feeding to ensure safety and promote bonding

  • Pablum is offered in a bottle

  • Honey is given under one year

  • Sudden decrease in wet and soiled diapers

  • Consistent green watery stool

  • Hard pellet like stool

  • Urine has a fishy smell

  • Urine or stool has blood in it

6-9 Months

  • Birth weight not doubled by six months

  • Crosses 2 percentile ranks on the growth chart

  • Typical weight gain guidelines not met - 1.5 – 3 oz (42-85 g)/week

  • Complementary foods have not been introduced

  • Drinking cow’s milk

  • Drinking fruit juice/drinks or soft drinks

  • Pablum is offered in a bottle

  • Highly allergenic foods are offered (egg white, nuts, sesame, peanuts, shellfish)

  • Honey is given under one year

  • Formula fed baby is not held during feeding to ensure infant and mother/caregiver bonding

  • Sudden decrease in wet and soiled diapers

  • Consistent green watery stool

  • Hard pellet like stool

  • Urine has a fishy smell

  • Urine or stool has blood in it

9-12 Months

  • Crosses 2 percentile ranks on the growth chart

  • Birth weight not tripled by 1 year old

  • Typical weight gain guidelines not met - 1.5-3 oz (42-85 g)/week

  • Baby is drinking lower fat milk (skim, 1%, 2%), unpasteurized milk, goat’s milk or soy/rice milks

  • Drinking more than 4 oz (½ cup) of diluted fruit juice per day

  • Consuming fruit drinks or soft drinks

  • Honey is given under one year

  • Formula fed baby is not held during feeding to ensure safety and promote bonding

  • Still eating only pureed food

  • Eating highly allergic foods (egg white, nuts, sesame, peanut, shellfish)

  • Sudden decrease in wet and soiled diapers

  • Consistent green watery stool

  • Hard pellet like stool

  • Urine has a fishy smell

  • Urine or stool has blood in it

12-24 Months

  • Crosses 2 percentile ranks on the growth chart

  • Birth weight not tripled by 12 months

  • Not eating a variety of foods

  • Refuses mashed or chopped foods

  • Still eating pureed food

  • Drinking lower fat milk (skim, 1%, 2%), unpasteurized milk, goat’s milk or soy/rice drinks

  • Drinking more than 4-6 oz (½-¾ cup) per day of diluted fruit juice

  • Consuming fruit drinks or soft drinks

  • Drinking less than 12 oz (1 ½ cups) or more than 20 oz (2 ½ cups) milk/day

  • Not self-feeding

  • Consuming nuts, peanuts, shellfish or sesame

  • Not consuming snacks between meals

  • Not supervised while eating

  • Food allergy symptoms or reactions (e.g., diarrhea, vomiting, hives, swelling of tissues, anaphylaxis, etc.)

Toddlers 2-3 Years

  • Crosses 2 percentile ranks on the growth chart

  • Not eating a variety of foods.

  • Drinking more than 6 oz (¾ cup) of juice per day

  • Consuming fruit drinks or soft drinks

  • Drinking less than 12 oz (1 ½ cups) or more than 20 oz (2 ½ cups) milk/day

  • Still drinking from a bottle

  • Parents/guardians restrict intake or demand increased food consumption

  • Food is used as a reward or punishment

  • Not self-feeding

  • Food allergy symptoms or reactions (e.g., diarrhea, vomiting, hives, swelling of tissues, anaphylaxis, etc.)

Preschooler 3-6 Years

  • Not eating a variety of foods

  • Drinking less than 16 oz (2 cups) or more than 24 oz (3 cups) of milk per day

  • Drinking more than 6 oz (¾ cup) of juice per day

  • Consuming fruit drinks or soft drinks

  • Still being spoon-fed

  • Still drinking from a bottle

  • Does not eat at regular times throughout the day (breakfast, lunch, and supper and 2-3 between meal snacks)

  • Parents/guardians restrict intake or demand increased food consumption

  • Family is experiencing problems around feeding – mealtimes are unpleasant

  • Food is used as a reward or punishment

Having concerns about a child's development?

Having difficulty coping? Need some advice?

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