Feeding Babies
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHFeeding Babies
This information is about feeding babies from birth to early childhood.
Babies need good food to grow strong. Breastmilk only is ideal for the first 6 months and at around 6 months, babies need food in addition to breastmilk.
For advice on their child’s health and nutrition, parents and carers can visit their community health centre to talk with the doctors, nurses and health workers for more advice on their child’s health and nutrition.
These guidelines are based on the National Health and Medical Research Council Infant Feeding Guidelines 2012 (www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/the_guidelines/n566_infant_
feeding_summary_130808.pdf)
Birth to around 6 months
Breastmilk is best for all babies. Healthy babies need only breastmilk for the first 6 months of life;
they do not need any other drinks or solid food.
At around 6 months, babies need food as well as breastmilk, to grow strong.
Early introduction of food: Late introduction of food:
• can cause diarrhoea • results in weight loss
• has no benefit on growth • slows brain and body growth
• displaces breastmilk intake • reduces ability to fight infections
• can cause food allergies • contributes to iron deficiency anaemia
• can contribute to iron deficiency anaemia in
the infant • increases risk of food allergy
Dummies are not recommended for babies because they can interfere with breastfeeding, promote tooth and oral problems, increase the risk of infections, promote sleep disorders and cause speech and language delay.
Breastmilk only is best for babies
Birth to around 6 months
At around 6 months: First foods
At around six months babies are developmentally ready to start having foods.
Breastmilk alone is no longer enough for babies; solid foods need to be introduced in addition to breastmilk.
Start with iron-fortified baby rice cereal or wheat flake biscuits, mixed with clean water (boiled then cooled) or breastmilk, soft meats (cooked and mashed or minced) or fish.
A wide variety of other foods can then be given as baby learns to eat: vegetables, eggs, fruit, cheese and yoghurt.
Babies may take some time to accept new foods. Be patient and keep trying.
Foods should be cooked and/or well mashed with clean water (boiled then cooled) or expressed breastmilk.
Do not give baby lollies, sweet or fried fatty foods.
Do not add sugar, salt or flavourings to foods.
Babies at this age need to eat 2-3 times a day in addition to breastfeeding for healthy growth.
Breastmilk and clean water (boiled then cooled) are the only fluids baby needs. It is best for babies to drink from a cup at around 6 months.
Always wash your hands before preparing baby’s food and feeding baby. Keep dogs away from baby’s food.
First foods for babies at around 6 months
Cereals mixed with clean water (boiled then cooled) or expressed breastmilk
Soft, mashed foods
Breastmilk Iron rich cereals Store and bush
vegetables Store and bush
meats Store and bush
fruits
At around 6 months babies can do these things and are ready to start eating foods
Baby can sit with support on a lap and hold head up
Baby opens mouth when food is given
Baby watches, gets excited and tries to grab food from you
Meat & Vegetables Baby Food
Clean water to drink in a cup (boiled then cooled) Do not give cow’s milk as a drink
Do not add salt or sugar to baby’s food or drink
Fresh
FULL FAT FRESH MILK FROM THE FARM
Riceygrain
6 months to 1 year old: variety and texture
Give baby a wide variety of foods from these food groups so they learn to like them.
Babies need lumpy foods by 10 months. If lumpy foods are delayed beyond 10 months, it may increase the risk of feeding and speech difficulties later on.
From 6 months to 1 year babies grow very rapidly. Increase meals to 3 times a day and gradually increase the quantity of food as they grow.
Breastmilk and clean water (boiled then cooled) are the only drinks a baby needs. Give baby a cup to drink from.
Cow’s milk can be used on cereals but must not be given as a drink until 1 year.
Eggs and milk-based products (e.g. yoghurt, cheese and custard) can be added to diet.
Meat, fish, chicken, eggs and smooth peanut butter are good foods for iron.
Babies like to feed themselves. Give food in ‘finger-size’ chunks so they can help themselves.
Always wash your hands before preparing baby’s food and feeding baby. Keep dogs away from baby’s food.
Always supervise child as they eat, eat with them so they learn from you.
Foods for older babies 6 months to 1 year old
Cereals mixed with clean water (boiled then cooled) or
expressed breast milk or cow’s milk
Start with soft lumpy foods
Breastmilk Clean water to drink in a cup (boiled then cooled)
Do not give cow’s milk as a drink Do not add salt or sugar to baby’s food or drink
Iron enriched cereals,
bread, damper, rice. Store and bush
vegetables Store and bush
meats Store and bush
fruits
From 6 months to 1 year old babies can do most of these things and they are ready to eat more foods
Baby can sit up
Baby can drink from a cup but is still messy
Baby can stand up and hold onto something Baby can bite, chew and munch
Baby can put a spoon in and out of mouth and hold food
Move to chunkier foods that baby can pick up
Yoghurt, cheese and custard
Eggs and smooth peanut butter
Fresh
FULL FAT FRESH MILK FR OM THE FARM
Smooth Peanut
Bu tter Meat & Vegetables
Baby Food CUSTARD
Riceygrain
1 year and older: Family foods
By 1 year toddlers can eat the same foods that the family is eating. Include a wide variety of foods from all food groups.
Toddlers need 3 meals plus 1 to 2 snacks per day.
Chop food into small chunks that toddler can pick up in their fingers Breastfeeding can continue, as long as desired.
As well as breastmilk and clean water, cow’s milk (including UHT and powdered) can now be given as a drink in a cup.
Always wash your hands before preparing food. Keep dogs away from toddlers food.
Foods for toddlers 1 year and older
Cereals made with cow’s milk
Baby can have the same healthy foods that the family is eating
Breastmilk Clean water or cow’s milk to drink in a cup
Do not add salt or sugar to baby’s food or drink
Iron enriched cereals,
bread, damper, rice. Store and bush
vegetables Store and bush
meats Store and bush
fruits
By 1 year toddlers can have family foods and can do most of these things
Eat by themselves and use a cup
May be able to walk and is very independent and busy
Likes to play with foods Wants food others are eating
Yoghurt, cheese and custard
Eggs and smooth peanut butter
Fresh
FULL FA T FRESH MILK FROM THE FARM
Smooth Peanut Bu tter Meat & Vegetables
Baby Food
Fresh FULL FAT FRESH MILK FROM THE FARM
Chop into small pieces
CUSTARD
Best drinks for babies and young children
Breastmilk and clean water are the best drinks for babies less than 1 year.
At 1 year of age, toddlers can have cow’s milk (liquid or powdered) to drink. Low fat milk and soy milk are not recommended until after 2 years of age.
Give fresh fruit not fruit juice. Fruit juice consumption can contribute to growth faltering, decreased appetite, diarrhoea, tooth decay and obesity.
Do not give tea to children. Tea contains chemicals called tannins, which reduce the absorption of iron, and can lead to anaemia. The rates of anaemia in children are high in the NT. Tea has little or no nutritional value and often has sugar added to it.
Cups are best for baby and toddlers to drink from and can be introduced at around 6 months.
Feeding bottles are not recommended because they can:
• cause infections in babies because they are hard to clean
• reduce the duration of breastfeeding.
The best cup to start with should:
• have handles for ease of gripping
• be unbreakable
• be easy to clean.
Best drinks for babies and young children
Birth to around 6 months old 6 months to 1 year old Over 1 year old
Breastmilk only
Do not give cow’s milk
Breastmilk and clean water in a cup
Full cream cow’s milk in a cup
Do not give babies and young children
Tea
tea, it can make their blood weak
Sweet tea, fruit juice and soft drinks
can cause tooth decay Give whole fruit instead of fruit juice
Breastmilk and clean water (boiled then cooled) in a cup
Fresh
FULL FAT FRESH MILK FROM THE FARM
Fresh
FULL FAT FRESH MILK FROM THE FARM
ICED TEA
Snacks for babies and young children
Good snack choices for children include: soft fruits (fresh, canned or frozen) or cooked vegetable sticks; iron enriched bread, toast or crumpets; rusks; full-cream plain yoghurt, custard or cheese;
boiled egg and small strips of soft meat or chicken.
Children may cry for foods they like but some foods are not suitable. Examples include: lollies, soft drinks, chips, ice-creams, cordial, pizza, fruit juice, tea, chocolate, pies, donuts, fried foods and sugar. Excessive consumption of these foods can lead to tooth decay and malnutrition.
Do not give hard foods (like nuts or raw carrot), sticky foods (like bubble gum or lollies) or fra nkfurters/sausages to children under 3 years as they may cause choking.
Do not give honey to children under 1 year of age as it can make them very sick*.
* Honey can be contaminated with harmful bacteria that cause botulism.
Babies do not yet have the natural defences to protect them.
Riceygrain
Snacks for babies and young children
These are good food and drink choices for snacks
These foods are not good for babies or children These foods can be dangerous for children under 3 years, as they can make them choke
Do not give honey to children under 1 year of age as it can make them very sick
After 1 year
Fresh
FULL FAT FRESH MILK FROM THE FARM Smooth
Peanut Bu tter
CUSTARD
300ML
750ML
Learning to eat takes time
Babies may take some time to accept new foods, be patient and keep trying.
Introduce a new food up to 10 times for baby to learn to like it.
Babies need to have food more often than adults to help them grow. Make sure young children eat at least 3 times every day.
Feed babies slowly and patiently, encouraging them to eat. Don’t force them, feed them in a quiet place so they are not distracted. And remember, feeding is a time of learning.
It is good for baby to have their own bowl and spoon, they like to feed themselves. Don’t worry about the mess.
Babies and children need to be supervised at all times when they are eating to prevent choking.
Always wash your hands before preparing food and feeding babies and young children. Keep dogs away from baby’s food.
Always wash your hands before making baby’s food
Give babies food when they are hungry, don’t force feed them when they are full
TELEVISION
Feed baby in a quiet place without things that will disrupt the baby’s eating.
Help baby to feed themselves.
Learning to eat takes time
Playtime is important
Try these things to help your baby develop:
Birth to 6 months
Provide ways for your child to see, hear, feel and move; have large colourful things for your child to reach for; talk to your child using gestures. Spend time talking and playing with your baby and have fun.
6 to 12 months
Give your child clean, safe household things to handle; respond to their sounds and tell them names of things and places. Read to your child, talk to them about the pictures in books.
1 year and over
Give your child things to stack and to put into containers; play games which involve naming, counting and comparing things; ask your child simple questions; respond to your childs attempt to talk and answer their questions, teach them stories, songs and games.
Families as First Teachers have resources for fun learning games.
(www.education.nt.gov.au/parents-community/early-childhood-services/families-as-first-teachers- program)
Playtime with your baby is important
Give your child safe household things to play with
Have large colourful things for your child to reach for
Give your child things they can hear, see and feel.
Talk to your baby about
things you see and do
together.
Family mealtimes
The whole family can help baby learn to eat.
Babies learn by watching you.
Make family meal times enjoyable for everyone.
Eat healthy foods so your baby learns to enjoy them too.
Breastfeeding mothers
Mothers who are breastfeeding need to eat good food and drink plenty of fluids, particularly water.
Eating well during breastfeeding will help provide mothers and babies with the right nutrition.
It is best for breastfeeding mothers to avoid alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs. Alcohol, cigarettes and other harmful drugs can pass to baby in breastmilk.
SMOKES
Nicotine
Nicotine BEER
BEER
Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs
Breastfeeding mothers
Eat good food, drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and get some exercise and rest every day
Enjoy mealtimes together
as a family
Department of Health
Nutrition and Physical Activity Strategy Unit
PO Box 40596, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0811 Updated 2019
NTGovHealth
www.health.nt.gov,au nt_health_