Infant Model Classroom training video 5 Feeding

Summary

Tracey Cheney, the VP of Education and Compliance, shares her 25 years of experience in infant care. The video emphasizes the importance of engaging parents and teachers in the feeding process, making the most of caregiving routines for teachable moments. It outlines the process of introducing new foods with parental consent, starting the day with a conversation to plan feeding and napping schedules, and using the Infant Daily Log for record-keeping. The script details the feeding practices, including bottle feeding at the parent's specified temperature, never reheating bottles, and feeding infants in appropriate environments. It also discusses the transition to sippy cups and finger foods around six to nine months, and the progression of feeding skills from being fed to self-feeding, with the support of teachers and parents.

Takeaways

• 👶 Feeding infants involves careful planning and coordination between teachers and parents.
• 👀 Teachers should make eye contact and engage with the infant while feeding to ensure a nurturing environment.
• 🗣️ Communication with parents about new foods and feeding schedules is crucial for consistency and safety.
• 📋 The Infant Daily Log is essential for recording all feedings and naps, helping to keep track of each child's needs throughout the day.
• 🤝 Morning check-ins with parents set the tone for the day and help plan the baby's feeding and napping schedules.
• 🍼 Bottles should be heated to the parent's specified temperature, and bottle feeding practices must follow strict guidelines, including not using microwaves.
• 🧼 After feeding, bottles are rinsed and returned to diaper bags for parents to clean at home. Bottles must not be reheated.
• 👶 Babies unable to hold their bottles should be held during feeding, while those who can hold bottles can be fed in highchairs or infant seats.
• 🍽️ Introducing infants to different textures early on helps them transition to finger foods and self-feeding.
• 🥄 Teachers assist infants with finger feeding and using utensils as they grow, ensuring food is cut into small, chewable pieces.

Q & A

Who is Tracey Cheney and what is her role?

Tracey Cheney is the VP of Education and Compliance, and she has had the pleasure of working with Mary Ann for over 25 years.

What is the importance of making eye contact while feeding a baby in a classroom setting?

Making eye contact while feeding a baby is important because it allows the teacher to engage with the child and observe the other children in the classroom, creating a nurturing and attentive environment.

Why is it necessary to consult with parents before introducing new foods to a child?

Consulting with parents before introducing new foods ensures that the child's dietary preferences and restrictions are respected, and it helps in maintaining open communication with parents about their child's eating habits.

What is the significance of engaging parents in a conversation at the beginning of the day?

Engaging parents in a conversation at arrival time sets the tone for the day and helps in gathering crucial information about the baby's feeding and napping schedules, which is essential for planning and providing appropriate care.

What is the purpose of the infant daily log and how is it used?

The infant daily log is a form used by infant teachers to record all of the babies' feedings and naps throughout the day. It is a go-to resource for teachers and is also communicated to parents at departure time to give them a clear picture of their child's day.

Why is it required to fill out the infant daily log in its entirety each day?

The infant daily log must be filled out in its entirety each day as it is a requirement by DCYF licensing regulations, ensuring that all necessary information about the child's day is documented and communicated.

How should breast milk be stored and labeled in the classroom?

Breast milk should be stored in either the refrigerator or freezer and marked with the child's name and date to ensure proper identification and safety.

What are the guidelines for bottle feeding babies in the classroom?

Babies are fed bottles at the temperature specified by the parent, with a minimum of four bottles brought in per day. Bottles should be heated in a bottle warmer, not a microwave, and must be shaken before checking the fluid temperature. Bottles should never be reheated and are not to be fed with food or medications.

Why are bottles not given to children in certain pieces of equipment like exersaucers or swings?

Bottles are not given to children in exersaucers, swings, Bumbo seats, or any other piece of equipment except a high chair or infancy chair to ensure the child's safety and to promote proper feeding habits.

How does the introduction of textures and finger foods help infants transition to more advanced feeding stages?

Introducing infants to different textures and finger foods early on helps them transition more easily to more advanced feeding stages, such as self-feeding and using utensils, by familiarizing them with various consistencies and types of food.

What is the recommended age to start transitioning children to a sippy cup according to the American Academy of Pediatrics?

The recommended age to start transitioning children to a sippy cup is approximately six to nine months, as per the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Outlines

00:00

🍼 Infant Care and Feeding Protocols

Tracey Cheney, VP of Education and Compliance, discusses the importance of caregiving routines and teachable moments in infant care. Emphasizes the need for teacher engagement during feeding and the process of introducing new foods with parental consent. Details the daily communication with parents about feeding and napping schedules, and the use of the Infant Daily Log for recording and sharing information. Outlines the feeding schedules, the importance of proper bottle feeding techniques, and the transition to sippy cups and finger foods as the child develops.

05:03

🥣 Transitioning Infants to Solid Foods

This paragraph focuses on the progression of feeding infants as they develop, starting with bottle feeding while being held, moving to self-feeding with a bottle, and eventually transitioning to solid foods. It covers the steps for introducing finger foods and the support provided by teachers during meal times. Highlights the importance of hygiene and food safety, including the cleaning of feeding equipment and the disposal of opened baby food. Describes the natural progression of feeding development, from being fed to self-feeding, and the various seating options used as the child grows.

Keywords

💡Infant Feeding

Infant feeding refers to the process of providing food to infants to support their growth and development. In the context of the video, it is a central theme as it discusses various aspects of feeding infants, including the importance of engaging teachers, observing children, and partnering with parents to ensure proper nutrition and development.

💡Caregiving Routines

Caregiving routines are the regular activities that caregivers perform to ensure the well-being of infants, such as feeding, changing diapers, and putting them to sleep. The video emphasizes the significance of these routines and how they can be utilized as teachable moments for infants.

💡Parental Partnership

Parental partnership is the collaborative relationship between caregivers and parents to make decisions about the child's diet and development. The video highlights the importance of involving parents in the process, discussing food choices, schedules, and facilitating the next steps in the child's growth.

💡Infant Daily Log

The Infant Daily Log is a form used by infant teachers to record all the feedings and naps of the babies throughout the day. It is a crucial tool for planning the baby's day and is required by DCYF licensing regulations. The video mentions that this log must be filled out entirely each day and is shared with parents to provide a clear picture of their child's day.

💡Bottle Feeding

Bottle feeding is the practice of giving infants milk or formula from a bottle. The video provides detailed instructions on how to properly bottle feed infants, including the temperature of the milk, the use of a bottle warmer, and the importance of not reheating bottles, which is a regulatory requirement.

💡Developmental Age

Developmental age refers to the stage of growth and development that an infant has reached. The video stresses the importance of feeding methods that are appropriate for the infant's developmental age, such as holding the bottle for infants who cannot hold it themselves or allowing them to hold the bottle if they are capable.

💡Food Introduction

Food introduction involves the process of gradually giving infants new types of food to expand their diet and support their nutritional needs. The video emphasizes the importance of getting parent permission before introducing any new foods and discusses the transition to sippy cups and finger foods as the infant grows.

💡Temperature Control

Temperature control is the regulation of the temperature of the milk or food given to infants to ensure it is safe and comfortable for consumption. The video specifies that bottles should not be heated in a microwave and must be tested for temperature on the caregiver's wrist before feeding.

💡Teachable Moments

Teachable moments are opportunities within regular activities to provide learning experiences. In the video, these moments are identified during caregiving routines such as feeding, where teachers can engage with the infants and observe other children, promoting social and developmental learning.

💡Nutritional Transition

Nutritional transition refers to the process of moving an infant from one type of feeding or food to another as they grow and develop. The video discusses the transition from bottle feeding to using a sippy cup and the introduction of finger foods, which is a critical part of an infant's nutritional development.

💡Regulations and Policies

Regulations and policies are the rules and guidelines that must be followed to ensure the safety and well-being of infants. The video mentions specific regulations, such as not reheating bottles and the requirement for the Infant Daily Log, which are in place to protect the health and development of the infants.

Highlights

Tracey Cheney, VP of education and compliance, has over 25 years of experience working with Mary Ann.

Infant teachers should engage with babies during feeding, making eye contact, and observing other children.

New foods should not be introduced to children without discussing with parents first.

Parents play a key role in decision-making about their child's diet and partnering with them is crucial.

Engaging parents in conversation upon arrival helps set the tone for the day and aids in planning feeding and napping schedules.

The infant daily log records all feedings and naps and is filled out daily as per DCYF licensing regulations.

Each infant has an individually labeled basket detailing their food, and breast milk is stored with name and date labels.

Parents must provide a minimum of four bottles per day, and bottles are heated in a bottle warmer, not a microwave.

Bottles are not fed with food or medications, and a burp cloth is used to protect clothing.

After feeding, the teacher will rinse the bottle and return it to the diaper bag; bottles are not reheated.

Infants are fed in a manner appropriate to their developmental age, and teachers hold them if they can't hold the bottle themselves.

Bottles are not given in exersaucers, swings, Bumbo seats, or propped in cribs, and children are not forced to eat or drink.

Infants should be introduced to different textures early to transition to finger foods more easily.

At six to nine months, the lead teacher discusses transitioning the child to a sippy cup with the parent.

Babies typically begin self-feeding with assistance and learning to use a spoon during lunch and snacks.

Parents are encouraged to send in the exact amount of food needed for the day to avoid discarding uneaten food.

A natural progression for learning to eat includes being fed while held, holding the bottle, eating baby food, finger foods, and using a spoon.

Children are taught to eat in a highchair, sassy seat, and eventually at the table in a chair.

Transcripts

hi my name is Tracey Cheney and I'm the

VP of education and compliance I have

had the pleasure of working with Mary

Ann for over 25 years there is a lot to

think about when feeding infants the

teachers and infant spend a lot of their

time and caregiving routines such as

feeding changing diapers sleeping we

want to be sure that we are making the

most of those times and taking advantage

of teachable moments for example when a

baby is being fed a bottle the teacher

should be engaged making eye contact

while also observing the other children

in the classroom we never offer a child

a new food until we have talked with the

parent such as a cheerio new type of jar

food or finger food we talked with

parents about what the children eat and

their schedule and we also help

facilitate next steps as the baby grows

and develops parents play a key role in

making decisions about what their child

eats and it's important to partner with

the parents let's talk about how to

start the day it is crucial to engage

the parent in a conversation at arrival

time in the morning this could be as

simple as saying good morning asking how

everyone is doing and asking what time

the baby got up and was fed this all

sets the tone for the day as you plan

the baby's feeding and napping schedules

without this information planning for

the day is more of a guess

something we want to avoid when caring

for children after receiving the

information it is recorded on the form

called the infant daily log this log is

the infant teachers go to form

throughout the day because it is here

that all of the babies feedings and naps

are recorded a new log is created at the

beginning of each month and is kept in a

confidential binder at the teachers area

the infant daily log must be filled out

in entirety each day and it is required

by DCYF licensing regulations this

information is also communicated to the

parent at departure time

that the parent has a clear picture of

how their child's day was this is also

recorded in tadpoles there are three

schedules for feeding please see our

policy on feeding infants to keep your

classroom organized each infant has an

individually labeled basket that details

what the child eats if a child is

drinking breast milk that will be kept

in either the refrigerator or freezer

and will be marked with the child's name

and date the next thing to consider is

bottle feeding babies are fed bottles at

the temperature parent specifies cold

warm room temperature parents must bring

in a minimum of four bottles per day if

food is to be served warm according to

the parents preference the bottle will

be heated to a warm temperature in a

bottle warmer not a microwave all

bottles will be shaken before the fluid

temperature is checked liquid must first

be tested on the teachers risk to ensure

the contents are a suitable temperature

we do not feed bottles with food or

medications in them be sure to use a

burp cloth to protect your clothing from

the occasional spit up after feeding the

child the teacher will empty and rinse

out the bottle even if there is formula

milk remaining and return the bottle to

the proper diaper bag bottles are sent

home each day to be cleaned by the

parents bottles must never be reheated

per regulations the best way to feed an

infant is the one that is most

appropriate to their developmental age

for example babies who are unable to

hold their own bottles will always be

held by a teacher while being fed if the

baby is able to hold the bottle the

child can be given the bottle in an

infancy or highchair bottles will not be

given to children in exersaucer 'z

swings Bumbo seats or any other piece of

equipment except a high chair or infancy

bottles are also never to be propped

given in a crib and a child is never

forced to eat or drink

it's important to introduce infants to

textures early on so they can transition

more easily to finger foods with this in

mind bottle should be fed to a baby

after the food unless a parent specifies

please remember that we always get

parent permission prior to introducing

any new foods at approximately six to

nine months as recommended by American

Academy of Pediatrics the infant lead

teacher will talk with the parent about

transitioning the child onto a sippy cup

at this age babies also typically begin

finger feeding themselves lunch and

snacks with the assistance of a teacher

unless food is baby food jar consistency

it should be cut into very small

chewable pieces when items such as

bottles or spoons fall from the

highchair we wash them and give them

back teachers should assist parents with

gathering food items at the end of the

day keep in mind any open baby food is

not sent home nor is any food that is

provided by dr. daycare we encourage

parents to send in the amount of food

the child will need for the day to avoid

discarding opened uneaten food you will

typically see this type of natural

progression for learning to eat being

fed a bottle while being held holding

your own bottle in a highchair or infant

bouncy chair being fed baby food cereal

in a highchair by a teacher

eating finger foods in a highchair with

support of a teacher also being taught

how to use a spoon eating in a highchair

eating in a sassy seat clip-on chair at

the table eating in a chair at the table