FAQ 1. What does TIFS stand for? The Infant Feeding Series 2. Why is the TIFS Curriculum important? One in three children in Michigan is overweight, and Michigan is ranked as one of the top five states in the nation for obesity. Early intervention with infants in delaying the early introduction of solid foods until four to six months of age, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), is an important first step in developing healthy eating patterns and reducing the later risk of overweight. The TIFS Curriculum seeks to inform mothers the importance of delaying the early introduction of solid foods. 3. Who can use the TIFS Curriculum? The TIFS Curriculum was originally designed for implementation in existing community programs. The TIFS Curriculum can be used by health professionals and paraprofessionals to help mothers learn about delaying the early introduction of solid foods to infants. 4. What areas does the TIFS curriculum cover? The TIFS curriculum covers three themes that emerged from the Focus Group Study: Maternal Knowledge about Infant Feeding Maternal Perceptions of the Applicability of Infant Feeding Guidelines Pertinent Issues Regarding Infant Feeding and Applicability of Guidelines 5. Is the TIFS Curriculum culturally appropriate for different racial and ethnic groups? Yes! The TIFS Curriculum was developed with research involving African American and white mothers. An effort was made to address African American cultural beliefs surrounding infant feeding. Photographs used in the curriculum represent a variety of racial and ethnic populations. 6. When will the TIFS curriculum be available? The TIFS curriculum will be available by the end of 2007 on the TIFS website. 7. Where can I get the TIFS curriculum? The TIFS Curriculum will be available in PDF format from the TIFS website Curriculum page. 8. Who can I contact for more information about infant feeding? There are many resources available about infant feeding and nutrition. TIFS researchers recommend visiting the following websites: USDA Food and Nutrition Center, Infant Nutrition Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Works, Infant Feeding and Nutrition Also, the USDA Food and Nutrition Center has compiled a list of infant feeding and nutrition resources available in PDF format. This list, published in July, 2006, can be found here.