... 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