Preparing Food For and Feeding Babies

Know the nutritional needs of babies under twelve months.

Where possible, breast milk provides the necessary nutrients for babies under 6 months. If this is not possible then babies need carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in alternatives provided.

Learners are not expected to have an in-depth knowledge of nutrients. Some examples of foods for children over 6 months and how they meet their nutritional needs may include:

• pureed fruit and vegetables - vitamins, calcium, iron, fibre
• wheat based foods e.g. mashed breakfast cereal - fibre, vitamins, carbohydrate
• pasta - fibre, carbohydrate
• pureed or cubed meat, fish or other alternatives - protein, iron
• milk and other dairy products - protein, calcium, vitamin

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1
  Outline the nutritional needs of babies:
  a) under 6 months (before weaning)
  b) 6 months to twelve months (after weaning).
• 1.2
  Give examples of foods suitable for babies:
  a) under 6 months (before weaning)
  b) 6 months to twelve months (after weaning)
• 1.3
  State how different foods meet babies’ nutritional needs.

Know how to prepare and feed babies formula food.

To make this learning outcome meaningful learners could demonstrate their knowledge by preparing formula food for a young child. This will include knowing the equipment they need to use, following instructions and knowing why this is important, demonstrating their knowledge of hygiene when preparing formula food.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1
  Give examples of formula food that may be given to babies under 6 months.
• 2.2
  List equipment required to prepare and feed formula to babies under 6 months.
• 2.3
  State the importance of following manufacturer’s instructions when mixing formula feed.
• 2.4
  Outline actions that should be taken to ensure formula food is prepared hygienically.

Know how to prepare and feed babies their first solid foods.

As with learning outcome 2 it may be appropriate for learners to demonstrate their understanding through practical application. They could identify examples of foods appropriate for first solid foods, demonstrate hygienic practices by preparing a solid food meal using appropriate equipment and following instructions where appropriate. 

They should then be able to state when babies should be given solid foods. These may include when the baby:

• begins to digest foods effectively e.g. a very young baby cannot digest starch
• can swallow and chew 
• shows signs of being hungry and restless after a good milk feed

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1
  State when babies should be given first solid foods.
• 3.2
  Give examples of foods that may be suitable as first solids for babies.
• 3.3
  Outline the actions required for the hygienic preparation of a solid food meal for babies.
• 3.4
  Give examples of equipment and methods used to feed solid foods to babies.