Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 290 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES › Chapter 290-2 - FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES › Subject 290-2-3 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE LEARNING HOMES › Rule 290-2-3-.10 - Nutrition and Food Services

Current through Rules and Regulations
				filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Compliance with USDA Nutritional
				Guidelines. Meals and snacks with serving sizes dependent upon the age of the
				child shall meet nutritional guidelines as established by the United States
				Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals and snacks
				shall be varied daily, and additional servings of nutritious food shall be
				offered to children over and above the required daily minimum, if not
				contraindicated by special diet.
(2) Non-nutritional Food. Foods and drinks
				with little or no nutritional value, i.e., sweets, soft drinks, etc. shall be
				served only on special occasions and only in addition to the required
				nutritious meals and snacks. Powdered nonfat dry milk shall not be used except
				for cooking purposes.
(3) Feeding
				of Infants and Children. A signed written feeding plan for children less than
				one (1) year of age shall be obtained from Parent(s). Instructions from the
				Parent(s) shall be updated regularly as new foods are added or other dietary
				changes are made. The feeding plan shall be posted in the main child care area
				and must include the child's feeding schedule, the amount of formula or breast
				milk to be given, instructions for the introduction of solid foods, the amount
				of food to be given and notation of any type(s) of commercially premixed
				formula which may not be used in an emergency because of food allergies.
(a) Staff shall hold and feed infants less
				than six (6) months of age and older children who cannot hold their own bottles
				or sit alone. Baby bottles shall never be propped; the infant's head shall be
				elevated while feeding.
(b) Honey
				shall not be served to children less than one (1) year of age.
(c) Age-appropriate solid foods (including
				cereal) shall not be given to infants or children less than one (1) year of age
				until recommended as developmentally appropriate by the child's primary care
				physician and indicated in writing by the Parent(s). As soon as the feeding
				plan indicates that a child is ready for solid foods, the child shall be fed
				from individual spoons and individual containers or dishes. A child shall not
				be fed directly from the original baby food container if the contents are to be
				fed to the child at more than one (1) meal or to more than one (1)
				child.
(d) As soon as the child
				exhibits a desire to feed him/herself, the child shall be assisted and
				encouraged to use their fingers for self-feeding, eat with a spoon, and to
				drink from individual cups.
(e) The
				Home shall encourage and support breastfeeding. The Home shall have a
				designated area set aside for breastfeeding mothers to breastfeed.
(f) Food for infants or children less than
				one (1) year of age shall be cut into pieces one-quarter inch or smaller and
				food for toddlers shall be cut into pieces one-half inch or smaller to prevent
				choking.
(g) The Home shall ensure
				that children do not have excessive amounts of food in their mouths while
				eating and are chewing their food appropriately to prevent instances of
				choking. Children shall always be seated when eating and shall not be allowed
				to lie down or be put to sleep while food is present in their mouths.