CNM CNM Infant & Toddler Nutrition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Iron-fortified single-grain infant cereal is often recommended as an early first food primarily because:
- Infants' iron stores from birth deplete around 6 months and dietary iron becomes critical (Correct answer)
- It is the easiest texture for infants to manage
- Pediatricians require it before any other solid foods can be introduced
- It contains the most calories per serving of any first food
Correct answer: Infants' iron stores from birth deplete around 6 months and dietary iron becomes critical
Breast milk is low in iron, and fetal iron stores decline around 6 months, making iron-rich first foods essential to prevent anemia.
Question 2: Cow's milk should NOT be introduced as a primary drink before age 12 months because:
- It can cause intestinal bleeding and lacks adequate iron and other nutrients for infants under 12 months (Correct answer)
- Infants are always allergic to cow's milk proteins
- It causes obesity in infants
- It has too many calories compared to breast milk
Correct answer: It can cause intestinal bleeding and lacks adequate iron and other nutrients for infants under 12 months
Cow's milk protein can irritate the infant gut causing occult blood loss, and its nutrient profile does not meet infant needs.
Question 3: A toddler consistently refuses vegetables. Which evidence-based strategy should a CNM try first?
- Continue offering a variety of vegetables in different forms without forcing, as repeated neutral exposure increases acceptance (Correct answer)
- Blend vegetables into sweet foods so the toddler does not notice them
- Eliminate vegetables temporarily and reintroduce after a month
- Use rewards only when the child finishes all vegetables on the plate
Correct answer: Continue offering a variety of vegetables in different forms without forcing, as repeated neutral exposure increases acceptance
Research shows that repeated neutral exposure without pressure is the most effective long-term strategy for expanding toddler food acceptance.
Question 4: What is 'baby-led weaning' (BLW)?
- An approach where infants self-feed soft, appropriately sized finger foods instead of spoon-fed purees (Correct answer)
- A method of weaning infants from breastfeeding at 6 months
- Letting babies set their own weaning schedule from formula
- A feeding approach used only for premature infants
Correct answer: An approach where infants self-feed soft, appropriately sized finger foods instead of spoon-fed purees
Baby-led weaning skips purees and lets infants explore and self-feed age-appropriate soft foods, supporting motor development and hunger cue recognition.
Question 5: Which nutrient is most commonly deficient in toddlers who drink excessive amounts of cow's milk?
- Iron (Correct answer)
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
- Potassium
Correct answer: Iron
Excessive milk consumption fills toddlers up and displaces iron-rich solid foods, leading to iron-deficiency anemia.
Question 6: When introducing potentially allergenic foods (like peanuts) to an infant, current US guidance recommends:
- Early introduction around 4–6 months for high-risk infants and by 6 months for most, to reduce allergy risk (Correct answer)
- Waiting until after age 2 to minimize allergy risk
- Avoiding all tree nuts and peanuts until age 3
- Consulting an allergist before introducing any common allergen
Correct answer: Early introduction around 4–6 months for high-risk infants and by 6 months for most, to reduce allergy risk
The LEAP study and subsequent AAP guidelines support early introduction of allergenic foods to reduce the likelihood of developing food allergies.
CNM CNM Infant & Toddler Nutrition 2
Iron-fortified single-grain infant cereal is often recommended as an early first food primarily because: