Dietary Counseling
For infants and older children, limit the number of eating and drinking occasions that contain sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Infants
- Strongly promote breastfeeding.
- Infants should be held when feeding.
- Avoid propping the bottle in crib or car seat, etc.
- Fill bottle with only breast milk or formula.
- Juice should not be introduced to infants less than 1 year of age (unless clinically indicated).
Older Children
- Establish regular meal times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Limit snacks to once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
- Only give milk or water between meals.
- Restrict fruit juice to 4 ounces per day at regular meal times.
- Avoid snacks that contain added sugar.
- Prepare healthy snacks such as cheese, fresh fruit, and vegetables.
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References
Heyman MB, Abrams SA, Fruit Juice in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Current Recommendations. AAP SECTION ON GASTROENTEROLOGY, HEPATOLOGY, AND NUTRITION, COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION. Pediatrics. 2017: 139(6).