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Infant Meal Requirements

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Claiming infants (0-12 months) is optional for agencies BUT at least one type of iron-fortified infant formula and infant

foods must still be offered to all infants

To claim a meal the infant must be offered all the required components

AND

Proper documentation must be maintained in order for the infant meals to be eligible

for reimbursement

Infants on the CACFP

Infant MUST be enrolledInfants must be offered the

CACFPInfant Formula Notification must

be completedInfant meal records must be

completed at the “point of service”

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Reimbursement Requirements

• Infant meals must be offered by all child care centers

• One type of iron-fortified infant formula must be offered by each center

• Parent may accept or decline formula

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Requirements for Feeding Infants

Infant Meal Notification Letter

A signed form must be on file for each child under 1 year old.

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INFANT MEAL

NOTIFICATION

LETTER

CACFP CHILD

PARTICIPATION FORM

Infant Meal Notification

• Choose the form that best fits your agency –One on file for every enrolled

infant• Keep completed copies on file

–Keeping all completed copies in one file, not individual infant files

• Do not need to update with changes

• Infants ages 8 through 11 months who are no longer following the Infant Meal Pattern and consuming all table foods, including whole fluid milk and/or adult cereals and foods for breakfast must have a signed medical statement on file stating these foods are appropriate

• Infant may be counted in the regular meal counts for the 1-12 year old children.

• Individual infant menu records need not be completed for these infants.

• However, the complete meal pattern must be met for each meal that is to be claimed.

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Table Foods for 8-11 month olds

Other Infant Feeding Scenarios

Infants 8-11 months consuming all table

foods and whole milk

• Okay if there is a statement from medical authority on file

Infant formula served to infants

13 months and older

• Not creditable• Do not claim unless

a statement from medical authority on file

Breast milk after

12 months

• Creditable

• Offer CACFP meal pattern for 1-12 year olds• Count in the regular meal counts and include on

production records • Do not complete infant meal records

Reminders

Full strength (100%) juice is reimbursable only at snack for 8 through 11 month old infants;

However, juice is NOT recommended to be served to infants under 12 months of age.

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Infant Meal Records

Individual infant menus are required to be completed for every meal to be claimed on the CACFP

Must be completed by at the time of the meal or snack service.

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Reminders

Meal pattern must be met to claim meal

Food components offered must be recorded to claim meal

The center must note which food(s) are provided by center/parent

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USDA CACFP Infant Meal Pattern

14Guidance Memorandum 12C

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Want more on infant feeding?

www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/feeding_infants.html

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