Diet

• Breast feed your baby on demand. Do not use your breast as a pacifier. Is your baby really hungry or does he have a wet or dirty diaper, need to burp, need a change in position, or need some cuddle time?
• Mix the infant's formula as directed by the manufacturer.
• Do not encourage the infant to finish all the formula in the bottle when he is content with less. This encourages overeating.
• Do not add butter, margarine or vegetable oils to baby foods or soft table foods.
• Do not add sugar and syrups to baby foods or soft table foods as this increases calories and promotes "sweet" consumption preferences.
• Limit juice to 4 oz. per day or less.
• Feed toddlers with 3 scheduled meals and 2-3 scheduled snacks without grazing in between.
• No infant feeders.
• Wean from the bottle by 1 year of age.
• Introduce a cup at about 6 months of age.
• Feed plain vegetables, plain fruits, and meats. Avoid baby desserts (puddings, cobblers) and combination vegetable, starch and meat dinners.
• Do not use food as a reward.
• Do not put infant to bed with a bottle.
• Eliminate night-time feeds in older infants with good growth.
• Have parents and caregivers act as role models.