Complementary Feeding: Hygiene and Safety

Behavior: Mother or caregiver practices good hygiene and safe food preparation.

• One of the causes of high rates of malnutrition among children 6 to 24 months is the introduction of pathogens in contaminated feeding bottles and foods. Feeding bottles should never be used to give liquids to a child because they are hard to keep clean and can cause diarrhea. Infants should be given liquids from a small cup or bowl.
• Contamination is also the result of poor basic hygiene, sanitation, and methods of food preparation. The mother or caregiver should wash her hands and the child's hands before feeding with soap and water and use clean utensils and bowls or dishes to avoid introducing dirt and germs that might cause diarrhea and other infections. She should serve food immediately after preparation.