Complementary Feeding: Quantity and Frequency

Behavior: Mother or caregiver increases the amount of food and the number of feedings as the child ages and uses a separate bowl for the child. Mother continues frequent breastfeeding.

• As children grow, they need more food. As breastmilk intake decreases, complementary foods must meet a greater proportion of the energy requirements. Families need to give priority to the feeding of young children to ensure that they get enough food. One way to know children are getting enough food is to put their portions in separate bowls and to help them eat.
• Small children have very small stomachs. They need to be given small feeds frequently during the day. The appropriate number of feedings depends on the energy density of the local foods and the usual amounts consumed at each feeding. LINKAGES Bolivia program recommends complementary feeding 3 times per day for infants 6¬8 months, 4 times per day for infants 9¬11 months, and 5 times for children between 1¬2 years.