Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants - Statement of the Joint Working Group: Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada and Health Canada

Our mission is to help the people of Canada maintain and improve their health.

Health Canada

This publication is also available on Internet at the following address: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Published by authority of the Minister of Health

Également disponible en français sous le titre La nutrition du nourrisson né à terme et en santé

No changes permitted. Photocopy permission not required.

This publication can be made available in/on computer diskette/large print/audio-cassette/ braille upon request.

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2005
Cat. H44-76/2005E-PDF
ISBN 0662-38147-5

Suggested citation: Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada and Health Canada. Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Ottawa, 2005.

Working group members:

Canadian Paediatric Society - Dr. Stanley Zlotkin, Department of Paediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto

Dietitians of Canada - Donna Secker, Clinical Dietitian, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Health Canada - Louise Aubrey, Marie Labrèche, Rosemary Sloan, Christina Zehaluk, Ottawa

2005 edits:

Canadian Paediatric Society Nutrition Committee members including Dietitians of Canada and Health Canada Liaison members.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Summary of Principles and Recommendations (Recommendations 1, 10, 22, 23, 30, 43 and 44 updated 2005)

Introduction

Breastfeeding (Recommendations 1 and 10 updated 2005)

Benefits of breastfeeding to infants in Canada

(i) Reduced incidence of infection

(ii) Prevention of SIDS

(iii) Prevention of allergies

(iv) Enhanced cognitive development

Maintenance of acceptable growth

Factors influencing initiation and duration of breastfeeding

1. Maternal lifestyle
2. Shortened postpartum length of stay
3. "Top-up" feeds
4. Smoking

Potential contraindications to breastfeeding

1. Drugs
2. Alcohol
3. Environmental contaminants
4. Maternal infections

Vitamin/Mineral supplementation of breastfed infants

1. Vitamin D (Updated 2005)

Alternate Milks

Infant formulas

1. Cow's milk protein-based formulas
2. Soy protein-based formulas

Specialized infant formulas

1. Lactose-free, cow's milk protein-based formulas
2. Protein hydrolysate formulas

"Follow-up" formulas

Homemade evaporated milk formulas

Other alternate milks

1. Pasteurized cow's milk
2. Goat's milk
3. Soy, rice and other vegetarian beverages

Unresolved issues in the composition of infant formulas

1. Fatty acids
2. Nucleotides
3. Level of iron fortification
4. Phyto-oestrogens

Other Fluids in Infant Feeding

1. Water
1. Tap water
2. Well water
3. Commercially bottled non-carbonated water
4. Home water treatment equipment
2. Fruit juices
3. Other beverages
4. Herbal teas

Transition to Solid Foods (Recommendations 22 and 23 updated 2005)

1. Age of introduction (Updated 2005)
2. First foods (Updated 2005)
3. Table foods
4. Home-prepared foods
5. Commercial baby foods

Safety Issues Around Feeding

1. Infant botulism
2. Salmonellosis
3. Choking and aspiration
   1. Supervision
   2. Unsafe foods

Nutrition in the Second Year

1. Small, frequent feedings
2. Variety

Other Issues in Infant Nutrition (Recommendations 30, 43, 44 updated 2005)

1. Food allergies
2. Colic
3. Constipation
4. Dietary fat
5. Dental caries
6. Gastroenteritis
7. Diabetes
8. Iron deficiency anemia (Updated 2005)
9. Vegetarian diets

References