Indiana Administrative Code
Title 470 - DIVISION OF FAMILY RESOURCES
Article 3 - CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
Rule 4.7 - Child Care Centers; Licensing
Section 4.7-140 - Toddler feeding

(a) The center shall provide food that meets the dietary needs of each toddler as based on the National Research Council-Recommended Daily Dietary Allowance (NRC-RDA).

(b) Caregivers shall wash their hands before feeding of toddlers.

(c) Caregivers shall assist and assure that each toddler washes their hands before each meal.

(d) Caregivers shall feed toddlers in their own room.

(e) Tables and chairs of appropriate height and size, high chairs with a broad base, or feeding tables shall be provided according to the age and development of the child.

(f) Caregivers shall always use safety belts for securing the children when the children are in high chairs and feeding tables.

(g) Caregivers shall remove children from their chair after eating.

(h) Caregivers shall provide a clean sanitized training cup for each child who is old enough and ready to drink from it. Caregivers must cover unused refrigerated training cups.

(i) Caregivers shall allow and encourage children to feed themselves. Caregivers shall maintain supportive help to children for as long as they need such help.

(j) Staff shall serve and have food ready to eat before calling children to meals so they do not have to wait.

(k) Caregivers must provide appropriate size eating utensils.

(l) When a child is able and seems ready to adjust to eating with others at a table, he or she may be placed at a child's table.

(m) At all meals, adults shall be seated at each table to supervise.

(n) Water shall be offered between meals and snacks to each toddler.

(o) Food must be cut up in no larger than one-half (1/2) inch cubes.