Section 110-300-0285 - Infant and toddler nutrition and feeding(1) An early learning provider must have and follow written policies on providing, preparing, and storing breast milk or infant formula and food.(2) After consulting a parent or guardian, an early learning provider must implement a feeding plan for infants and toddlers that includes:(a) A plan to support the needs of a breastfeeding mother and infant by:(i) Providing an area for mothers to breastfeed their infants; and(ii) Providing educational materials and resources to support breastfeeding mothers.(b) Feeding infants and toddlers when hungry according to their nutritional and developmental needs, unless medically directed;(c) Serving only breast milk or infant formula to an infant, unless the child's health care provider offers a written order stating otherwise; and(d) When bottle feeding, an early learning provider must: (i) Test the temperature of bottle contents before feeding to avoid scalding or burning the child's mouth;(ii) Hold infants and, when developmentally appropriate, toddlers to make eye contact and talk to them;(iii) Stop feeding the infant or toddler when they shows signs of fullness; and(iv) Not allow infants or toddlers to be propped with bottles or given a bottle or cup when lying down.(e) Transitioning a child to a cup only when developmentally appropriate;(f) Introducing age-appropriate solid foods no sooner than four months of age, based on an infant's ability to sit with support, hold their head steady, close their lips over a spoon, and show signs of hunger and being full, unless identified in written food plan pursuant to WAC 110-300-0190 or written medical approval;(g) Not adding food, medication, or sweeteners to the contents of a bottle unless a health care provider gives written consent;(h) Not serving 100 percent juice or any sweetened beverages (for example, juice drinks, sports drinks, or tea) to infants less than 12 months old, unless a health care provider gives written consent, and helping prevent tooth decay by only offering juice to children older than 12 months from a cup;(i) Increasing the texture of the food from strained, to mashed, to soft table foods as a child's development and skills progress between six and 12 months of age. Soft foods offered to older infants should be cut into pieces one-quarter inch or smaller to prevent choking;(j) Allowing older infants or toddlers to self-feed soft foods from developmentally appropriate eating equipment;(k) Placing infants or toddlers who can sit up on their own in high chairs or at an appropriate child-size table and chairs when feeding solid foods or liquids from a cup, and having an early learning provider sit with and observe each child eating. If high chairs are used, each high chair must: (i) Have a base that is wider than the seat;(ii) Have a safety device, used each time a child is seated, that prevents the child from climbing or sliding down the chair;(iii) Be free of cracks and tears; and(iv) Have a washable surface.(l) Not leaving infants or toddlers more than 15 minutes in high chairs waiting for meal or snack time, and removing a child as soon as possible once they finish eating;(m) Preventing infants or toddlers from sharing the same dish or utensil;(n) Not serving any uneaten food from the serving container after the intended meal; and(o) Not serving food to infants or toddlers using polystyrene foam (styrofoam) cups, bowls, or plates.Wash. Admin. Code § 110-300-0285
WSR 18-15-001, recodified as § 110-300-0285, filed 7/5/18, effective 7/5/18Amended by WSR 24-19-056, Filed 9/13/2024, effective 10/14/2024Statutory Authority: RCW 43.215.070, 43.215.201 and chapter 42.56 RCW. WSR 18-14-079, § 170-300-0285, filed 6/30/18, effective 8/1/19.