What to know
States and communities can promote and support early child nutrition (ECN) in early care and education settings in many ways. ECN includes breastfeeding support, responsive feeding, and opportunities for children to eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods.
Early child nutrition best practices
ECE programs can support early child nutrition by:
- Providing breastfeeding support.
- Using responsive feeding, which means feeding infants and children when they show signs of hunger.
- Giving children opportunities to eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods.
To support early child nutrition in ECE programs, states and communities can ensure that these programs include high-impact obesity prevention standards in their policies and practices. Examples of these standards are:
- Encourage and support breastfeeding and feeding of breast milk by making arrangements for mothers to feed their children on-site.
- Feed infants on cue.
- Serve small-sized, age-appropriate portions.
- Serve fruits of several varieties, especially whole fruits.
- Serve vegetables, especially dark green, orange, and deep yellow vegetables, as well as root vegetables such as potatoes and viandas.
- Avoid sugar, including concentrated sweets such as candy, sodas, sweetened drinks, fruit nectars, and flavored milk.
Learn more by reviewing the High-Impact Obesity Prevention Standards.
Benefits
Early child nutrition practices are important for the healthy growth and development of infants, toddlers, and young children. When ECE programs support breastfeeding, children are likely to be breastfed longer. Although many infants start breastfeeding, only 1 in 4 is exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, despite recommendations.
Early child nutrition best practices can also help children recognize signs of hunger and fullness and establish healthy eating patterns.