CACFP
Infant Meals Training
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Child Nutrition
Handouts
Obligation to Provide Infant Meals
Infant Meal Pattern
CACFP Daily Infant Meal Record
CACFP Weekly Infant Meal Record
Feeding the Infant
Infant Menu Activity Sheets
Providing Care for Infants
 If you provide care for infants:
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They must be enrolled and;
You must have an Obligation to Provide Infant Meals form on file.
 Centers participating in the CACFP and caring for infants must
offer formula to infants less than one year of age.
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USDA-Approved Infant Formula List:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/Regs-Policy/infantmeals/FormulaList.htm
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WIC participants are NOT required to provide supplemental infant
formula they receive to the center.
 When solid foods are added to the meal pattern, the center
must also offer these.
Obligation to
Provide Infant
Meals form
Infant Meals Form – 5 Steps
1. Center indicates on the Obligation to Provide Infants Meals
Form the type of iron-fortified formula that will be provided;
2. Center gives form to all parents/guardians of infants;
3. Parents decide who (center or parents) will provide
formula/food;
4. Parents return the completed, signed and dated form;
5. The center also signs and dates the form. At this point, the
center must provide formula/food if parents select this
choice.
Infant Formula

Infant Formula (USDA definition)
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
Any iron-fortified infant formula, including soy-based, intended for
dietary use solely as a food for normal, healthy infants served in
liquid state according to manufacturer’s recommended dilution.
Special Infant Formula
–
Infant formula labeled low-iron or those specifically formulated for
infants with digestive or absorptive problems do not meet the infant
meal pattern requirement, and therefore, would require a Special
Dietary Needs Form in order for the center to serve/claim
reimbursement for those meals.
Breast Milk
 Breast milk is the best
source of food for a infant’s
first year of life;
 Supporting a breastfeeding
mother helps to sustain the
duration of breastfeeding;
 Safe and sanitary handling is
important for breast milk as
well as formula.
Feeding the Infant
8 through
11 months
4 through
7 months
Birth through
3 months
Infants Age:
When Infants Can:
- Only suck and swallow
Serve:
LIQUIDS ONLY
-Breast milk
-Infant formula with iron
-Draw in upper or lower lip as spoon is removed from mouth
-Move tongue up and down
-Sit up with support
-Swallow semi-solid foods without choking
-Open the mouth when they see food
-Drink from a cup with help with spilling
ADD SEMISOLID FOODS
-Move tongue from side to side
-Begin spoon feeding themselves with a spoon
-Begin to chew and have some teeth
-Begin to hold food and use their fingers to feed themselves
-Drink from a cup with help, with less spilling
ADD MODIFIED TABLE FOOD
-Infant cereal with iron
-Strained vegetables*
-Strained fruit*
*May be started later in the age range
-Mashed or diced soft fruit
-Mashed or soft cooked vegetables
-Strained meat/poultry or mashed egg yolk
-Mashed cooked beans or peas
-Cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese strips
-Crackers or pieces of soft bread
-Breast milk or iron-fortified formula in a cup
Birth through 3 Months

Meal Pattern
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The only meal component that is required to be offered is breast
milk or iron-fortified formula.
Birth through 3 Months

Reimbursable Meals
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
The center is reimbursed for feeding infants aged birth through 3
months regardless of the source of the formula (parent-provided or
center-provided);
The center can also be reimbursed for feeding infants when the
mother provides breast milk.
Non-Reimbursable Meals
–
If the mother comes to breastfeed her child, the meal is NOT
reimbursable when no other foods are required at this age.
4 through 7 Months

Meal Pattern
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For infants 4 - 7 months old, breast milk or iron-fortified formula is
required for each meal;
Developmental readiness determines the types and textures of foods
to be offered, as well as the feeding style.
When the infant is developmentally ready:
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•
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Infant Cereal should be added to Breakfast;
Infant Cereal AND Fruit and/or Vegetable should be added to
Lunch/Supper.
Infant cereal is any iron-fortified dry cereal specially formulated for
and generally recognized as cereal for infants that is routinely mixed
with breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula prior to
consumption.
4 through 7 Months

Meal Pattern
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The “0s” indicate the component is determined by development
readiness; a portion size not listing “0” as a measurement indicates
the component is REQUIRED.
4 through 7 Months

Reimbursable Meals
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Meals for infants 4 - 7 months old are reimbursable if the parent
provides breast milk, the center provides formula or the parent
provides the formula. As foods are added, these must be provided
by the center.
If the mother comes to breastfeed her child, the meal IS
reimbursable IF another meal component is provided by the center.
•
•

Infant Cereal at Breakfast;
Infant Cereal AND/OR Fruit and/or Vegetable at Lunch/Supper.
Non-Reimbursable Meals
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If the mother comes to breastfeed her child, the meal is NOT
reimbursable if NO other meal component is provided by the center.
8 through 11 Months

Meal Pattern
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For infants 8 - 11 months old, breast milk or iron-fortified formula is
required for each meal; in addition:
•
Infant Cereal AND a Fruit and/or Vegetable is required at Breakfast;
•
Infant Cereal OR a Meat/Meat Alternate AND a Fruit and/or Vegetable is
required at Lunch/Supper.
When the child is developmentally ready:
•
Bread or Crackers can be served as part of a Snack.
8 through 11 Months

Reimbursable Meals
–

Breakfast, lunch and supper are reimbursable regardless of who or
how the breast milk or infant formula is provided because all of the
additional components are required.
Non-Reimbursable Meal
–
The only possible non-reimbursable meal at this age is Snack.
EXPLAIN!
Claiming Meals Summary

Birth through 3 Months
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
Infants can only be on breast milk or infant formula (no solid foods);
Meals can be claimed when the child care center feeds the infant
parent-provided formula, center-provided formula or parentprovided breast milk;
If the parent feeds the infant, the meal cannot be claimed.
4 through 11 Months
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Centers are required to provide at least one of the components in at
least the minimum quantity specified in the meal pattern in order for
the meal to be reimbursable;
Centers cannot request or require the parent to bring food or
formula for their infant; however, the parent may voluntarily provide
some meal components.
Recordkeeping

3 Key Points:
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Meals must be claimed in the free, reduced or paid category;
Menus must be individualized for each infant, based on their
Obligation to Provide Infants Meals form;
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•
•
•
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A state-approved Infant Meal Record (daily or weekly) form must
record the amount of breast milk or infant formula and food offered,
demonstrating that the meal pattern was met;
Infants eat at different times and can be fed on demand;
Infant meals should be recorded at the time they are fed; and
These meal records must be kept on file at the center.
Point-of-service must be documented.
Infant Meal Records
Infant Meal Records

Two state-approved records:
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Daily Record: One per day for multiple infants
Weekly Record: One per week for one infant
Record the infant’s name, date of birth (age) and week of the
menu;
Record the specific food item and the amount offered at
each meal;
Count and record the number of reimbursable meals that
met the meal pattern at the bottom of the page;
Maintain infant meal records at the center as documentation
that reimbursable meals were served.
Is it Reimbursable?

Reimbursable Food Components
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Foods that meet the meal pattern components and are found in the
Infant Feeding Guide:
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•
•
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Iron-fortified formula;
Iron-fortified cereal;
Plain vegetables and fruits; and
Plain meats.
Is it Reimbursable?

Non-reimbursable Food Items
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Foods that do not meet the USDA requirement for any component in
the meal pattern; foods that should not be served, even as an
“extra”.
•
•
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When water is the first ingredient
Infant food dinners (e.g., vegetable turkey and barley, herbed chicken and pasta)
Infant food desserts or smoothies
Infant cereals with fruit
Grain products that are not made with enriched grains
Whole milk
Meat sticks
Honey
Egg whites
Grapes
Infant Formula
Reimbursable
Milk-based iron-fortified
infant formulas
Non-Reimbursable
Cow’s milk
Soy-based iron-fortified
infant formulas
Evaporated milk
Goat’s milk
Sweetened condensed milk
Dry/powdered milk
Infant Cereal
Reimbursable
USDA-approved iron-fortified,
dry cereal made especially for
infants
Non-Reimbursable
Infant cereals containing fruit
Commercially jarred
infant cereals (wet)
Adult ready-to-eat or
cooked breakfast cereal
Fruit and/or Vegetable
Reimbursable
Plain fruits and vegetables
– Fruit and/or vegetable listed
as first ingredient
– Combination fruits and/or
vegetables
• E.g. Peas and carrots
Non-Reimbursable
Dinners
Jarred cereal with fruit
Products with DESSERT or
PUDDING on the label
Fruit juice
Meat/Meat Alternate
Reimbursable
Plain, strained baby food
– Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb,
Veal, Ham, Meat with Gravy
Non-Reimbursable
Dinners
Meat sticks “finger sticks”
Commercial fish sticks,
breaded or battered fish or
seafood products
Yogurt
Nuts, seeds
Nut or seed butters
Cheese food or cheese spread
Grains/Breads
Reimbursable
Bread
Biscuits
Bagels, plain
English muffins
Pita breads
Rolls
Soft tortillas
Cracker-type products
Zwieback toast
Teething biscuits
Non-Reimbursable
Pancakes/Waffles
Hard pretzels
Items made with whole eggs
Ready-to-eat adult cereals
High calorie, low calorie
density foods
Croutons
Granola bars
Transitional Feeding
 Breast milk/Infant formula
Whole milk
 Pasteurized whole milk is required after 12 months of age, up
to the age of 2
– After 13 months of age, infant formula is no longer a reimbursable
component unless a special dietary needs form is on file;
– Breast milk is a substitute for cow’s milk in the meal pattern for
children; no special dietary needs form is required if parents request
that the center continue feeding their babies breast milk after 12
months of age.
Food Safety
 Food safety is critical in child care!
– Infants are particularly sensitive to food borne illness;
– Common symptoms of food borne illness (nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea) .
 3 Main Considerations:
– Hand washing;
– Food service - keep foods safe to eat;
– Temperature control – keep hot foods HOT and cold foods COLD.
Food Service Safety Tips
 Wash hands before preparing or feeding foods;
 Use clean utensils;
 Check that the safety button on the lid of a baby food jar is
down and “pops” when opened;
 Transfer baby food to a dish – DON’T serve baby food from
the jar – and discard leftovers from the dish;
 Refrigerate leftover food in the jar – label with the date and
discard 2 days after opening; and
 Discard formula or breast milk left in a bottle after feeding.
Testing Your Knowledge
Question #1:
Can you choose not to serve infants because it’s too “difficult”?
No, CACFP sponsors are required to serve infants in their care.
Question #2:
A mother and child participate in WIC and receive supplemental formula; are
they required to bring formula to the center?
No, the center needs to provide the formula.
Testing Your Knowledge
Question #3:
A parent mixes cereal and formula in a bottle and brings it to the center; can
this be claimed for reimbursement?
No, a special dietary needs form is needed to claim
formula mixed with cereal.
Question #4:
Are meals served to a child who just turned one year old reimbursable if they
contain infant formula?
Yes, for a period of one month. After the 13th month, a Special Dietary
Needs Form will be needed in order to substitute formula for fluid milk.
Testing Your Knowledge
Question #5:
If a physician prescribes whole cow’s milk as a substitute for breast milk or
formula for an infant under 12 months of age, are meals reimbursable?
Yes, only with a Special Dietary Needs Form can the meal pattern be
modified.
Question #6:
Must all infants be fed during the period identified as meal time in their
Center Site Application?
No, infants should be fed on demand.
Testing Your Knowledge:
CACFP Infant Menu Activity
Resources
WV Leap of Taste
www.wvleapoftaste.com
Special Dietary Needs
OCN CACFP Forms-All Years
Feeding the Infant
OCN CACFP Forms-All Years
USDA-Approved Infant Formula List
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/Regs-Policy/infantmeals/FormulaList.htm
National Food Service Management Institute
http://www.nfsmi.org/
Feeding Infants: A Guide for Use in the Child Nutrition Programs
http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/feeding_infants.html
Any Questions?
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Child Nutrition
Building 6, Room 248
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0330
(304) 558-2708
http://wvde.state.wv.us/nutrition/