Pregnant Women

• Follow the Food Guide Pyramid, taking into account increased needs for pregnancy
• Take prenatal vitamin/mineral supplement as prescribed
• Limit intake of cariogenic foods, especially as between-meal snacks

Birth to One Year

• Avoid allowing infants to sleep or nap with a bottle
• Avoid excessive consumption of juice
• Eliminate dipping pacifiers in sweetened foods

One to Two Years

• Avoid frequent consumption of juice or other sweet drinks in a bottle or sippy cup
• Encourage weaning from a bottle to a cup
• Continue avoidance of taking the bottle to bed
• Promote "tooth-safe" foods for snacks
• Foster routine eating patterns and following the Food Guide Pyramid

Two to Five Years

• Discourage slowly eaten, sweet foods, such as candy, lollipops, or suckers.
• Promote "tooth-safe" foods for snacks
• Encourage eating at meals following the Food Guide Pyramid

See also:
     Oral Health Head Start Bulletin #71