WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2: Sixth Year Report

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is one of USDA's nutrition assistance programs. WIC safeguards the health of pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children from low-income households who are at nutritional risk. The WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 (WIC ITFPS-2), also known as the "Feeding My Baby Study," is the only national study to capture data on caregivers and their children over the first nine years of the child's life after enrollment in WIC, regardless of their continued participation in the program.

This report, the seventh in the series generated from this study, focuses on children's dietary intake patterns, eating behaviors, and weight status during the child's 6th year, after WIC eligibility has ended. The report also explores whether patterns of WIC participation in early childhood are associated with dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes after WIC eligibility ends.

Key Findings

• Consistent 5-year participation in WIC is associated with better overall diet quality at age 6 compared to participation during only the first year of life.
• Longer participation in WIC is associated with lower saturated fat intake at age 6.
• At age 6, study children consumed recommended amounts of macronutrients but had inadequate intake of certain micronutrients, including vitamin E, calcium, and vitamin D.
• Usual intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein foods, and grains among study participants was consistent with that of a national sample but lower than recommended by the DGA.