THE ROLE OF NURSING IN INFANT FOOD INTRODUCTION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHILD HEALTH

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the role of nursing in infant food introduction and its implications for child health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), complementary feeding should begin at six months, while breastfeeding should continue until two years or beyond. Nursing plays a crucial role in this process by guiding families in making appropriate food choices, thereby promoting healthy development and disease prevention. An Integrative Review methodology was used, with searches conducted in the BVS, SciELO, and Lilacs databases, based on the guiding question: “What is the role of nursing in infant food introduction and its implications for child health?” After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, nine articles were analyzed. The results showed that nurses play a central role in nutritional education, especially during childcare consultations, offering guidance on food textures, schedules, and avoiding ultra-processed foods. Factors such as low education levels hinder the process, emphasizing the importance of the nurse’s educational role. It was concluded that the active presence of nurses directly contributes to child health, although specific studies on this topic are still scarce, highlighting the need for further research and strategies to strengthen this role.