A Story About
Feeding Babies
Key Messages
• Breastmilk is best for all babies. Healthy babies require only
breastmilk for the first 6 months of life, they do not need
any other form of liquid or solid food.
• Early introduction of food:
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can cause diarrhoea
has no benefits on growth
displaces breastmilk intake
can cause food allergies
can contribute to iron deficiency anaemia in the infant.
• 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 delays.
Birth – 6 months
From birth to about 6 months
Breastmilk only is best for babies
Birth – 6 months
Key Messages:
•From about six months infants should be developmentally ready to start having foods.
•By 6 months breastmilk alone is no longer enough for babies; solid foods should be
introduced in addition to breastmilk.
•Foods should be soft and mashed with expressed breastmilk or clean water (boiled then
cooled).
•Breastmilk and clean water (boiled then cooled) should be the only fluids given to
baby. Baby should be given a cup to drink from.
•Always wash your hands before preparing baby’s food and feeding baby. Keep dogs
away from baby’s food.
•Do not add sugar, salt or flavourings to foods.
•Ideally savoury foods (eg vegetables) should be introduced before sweet foods
(eg fruits).
•Start foods one at a time, try a new food every few days.
•Infants should be eating 2-3 times a day in addition to breastfeeding.
6 - 8 months
First foods for babies
about 6-8 months old
At about 6 months babies can do
these things and they are ready to
start eating foods
Baby can sit with
support on a lap and
hold head up
Clean water (boiled then
cooled) in a cup
Do not add
salt or sugar
to baby’s food
or drink
Cereals, rice & noodles
Soft, mashed foods
Breastmilk
Store and bush
vegetable
Store and bush
meat
Store and bush
fruit
Baby opens mouth
when food is given
Baby watches,
gets excited and
tries to grab food
from you
Cereals made with expressed
breast milk or clean water
(boiled then cooled)
6 - 8 months
Key Messages:
• Infants need lumpy foods by 10 months. If the introduction of lumpy
foods is delayed beyond 10 months it may increase the risk of feeding
and speech difficulties later on.
•
Babies should be given food 3-4 times a day plus additional snacks 1-2
times a day.
• Breastmilk and clean water (boiled then cooled) should be the only
fluids given to baby. Give baby a cup to drink from.
• Cow’s milk can be used on cereals but should not be given as a drink.
• Always wash your hands before preparing baby’s food and feeding baby. Keep
dogs away from baby’s food.
•
Eggs and milk-based products (eg yoghurt, cheese and custard) can be introduced
if there is no history of food allergies in the family.
•
If there is a history of allergies in the family; eggs,cheese, yoghurt, custard, fish
and wheat should not be introduced until the baby is older than 12 months.
• Smooth peanut butter can be given to babies if there is no family history of food
allergies. If there is a history of allergies, peanuts and peanut products should be
avoided until after 3 years. Peanut allergen can be found in breastmilk and if there
is a family history of the peanut allergy, breastfeeding mothers should avoid
eating peanuts.
8 months – 1 year
Foods for babies
8 months to 1 year old
From 8 months to 1 year old
babies can do most of these
things and they are ready to
eat more foods
Baby can sit up
Start with soft lumpy foods
Clean water (boiled
then cooled) in a cup
Do not add
salt or sugar
to baby’s
food or drink
Baby can bite,
chew and munch
Bread,damper,
cereals,rice &noodle
Breastmilk
Store and bush
vegetable
Store and bush
meat
Move to harder foods
that babies can pick up
themselves
Store and bush
fruit
Yoghurt,cheese
& custard
Baby can put a spoon
in and out of mouth
and hold food
Baby can drink
from a cup but is
still messy
Baby can stand up and
hold onto something
Eggs and smooth
peanut butter
Cereals made with expressed
breastmilk, clean water
(boiled then cooled) or
cow’s milk
8 months – 1 year
Key Messages:
• At 1 year babies should be eating the same foods that the
family is eating. This should include a wide variety of
foods from all food groups.
• Babies should be given 3-4 meals plus 1-2 snacks per day.
• Breast feeding should continue.
• 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 baby’s food and
feeding baby. Keep dogs away from baby’s food.
1 year and older
Foods for babies
1 year and older
At 1 year babies can have
family foods and can do
most of these things
Clean water and
cow’s milk in a cup
Baby can eat by
themselves and use
a cup
Do not add
salt or sugar
to baby’s
food or drink
Breastmilk
Baby wants food
others are eating
Bread,damper,
cereals,rice &noodles
Store and bush
vegetable
Store and bush
meat
Babies can have the same
healthy foods that the
family is eating
Store and bush
fruit
Yoghurt,cheese
milk & custard
Baby may be able
to walk and is
very independent
and busy
Eggs and smooth
peanut butter
Baby likes to play
with foods
Cereals made with
cow’s milk
1 year and older
Key Messages:
•
Breastmilk, clean water and cow’s milk (when baby is over 1 year) are the best
drinks for babies and children.
• Cups are best for baby to drink out of and can be introduced at about 6 months.
• Feeding bottles are not recommended because they can:
ƒ cause infections in babies because they are hard to clean
ƒ reduce the duration of breastfeeding.
•
The best cup to start with should:
ƒ have handles for ease of gripping
ƒ be unbreakable
ƒ be able to be tilted up to get liquid from the bottom without tipping the child’s head
back
ƒ have a graded or rolled lip for stability
ƒ be easy to clean
• Low fat milk and soy milk should not be given to babies until they are 2 years or
older
The best drinks for babies
Over 1 year old
Birth to about
6 months old
6 months to
1 year old
+
+
Breastmilk
Breastmilk
Breastmilk Only
+
Clean water (boiled
then cooled) in a cup
Clean water in a cup
Full cream cow’s milk in a cup
Key Messages:
• A number of food and drinks are unsuitable for babies and
should be avoided or given only in small amounts. Examples
include: lollies, soft drinks, chips, ice-creams, cordial, pizza,
fruit juice, tea, chocolate, pies, donuts, fried foods and sugar.
Excessive consumption of these products can lead to tooth
decay and malnutrition.
• Whole fruits should be encouraged for babies and children instead
of fruit juice. Excess fruit juice consumption can cause growth
failure, decreased appetite, diarrhoea, tooth decay and obesity.
• Do not give nuts, bubble gum, lollies and frankfurters/sausages to
children under 5 years as they may cause choking.
• Honey contains the spores of Clostridium Botulinum which can
make babies very sick. Honey should not be given until children are
2 years old.
• Babies and children need to be supervised at all times when they are
eating to prevent choking.
Snacks for babies & young children
After 8 months
After 1 year
Too much of these foods is not good for babies or children
These foods are dangerous Babies should not
for children under 5 years, have honey until
they could choke.
they are 2 years
old. It can make
them sick.
Key Messages:
• 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 are high in the NT.
• Tea has little or no nutritional value and often has
sugar added to it which can increase the risk of tooth
decay.
• Breastmilk, clean water and cow’s milk (over 1 year)
are the best drinks for infants and children.
Tea
Tea
Babies should not have tea it can make their blood weak
Iced
tea
Tea
Tea
Tea
These drinks are best
for baby
Breastmilk
Clean water and cow’s milk in a cup (for babies over 1 year)
Key Messages:
• Learning to eat takes time, try new foods every few days.
• Babies need to have food more often than adults to help them grow.
• Continue breastfeeding for a least one year and preferably beyond.
• Wash hands before preparing baby’s food and keep dogs away.
• 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 times are periods of love and learning.
• It is good for baby to have their own bowl and spoon.
• It is important to supervise children at meal times.
• Playtime is important, try these things to help your baby develop:
ƒ 0-6 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
ƒ 6-12 months: give your child clean, safe household things to handle; respond to
their sounds and tell them names of things and places
ƒ 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 child’s attempt to talk and answer their
questions, teach them stories, songs and games.
Feeding babies should be fun for
everyone
Family meal times should be fun
for everyone. The whole family can
help baby learn to eat
Feed baby in a place with not
too much noise or things that
will disrupt the baby’s eating
Playtime is important to
help babies grow
Give babies food when they
are hungry. Don’t force feed
them when they are full
Eat lots of healthy food yourself
Baby will learn from you
Breastmilk and good food gives a healthy start to life!
Acknowledgements:
This resource was developed by the NT Department of Health and
Community Services as part of the Infant Feeding Guidelines Project 2005
and was funded by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in the
Department of Health and Ageing
Thank you to the following people and organisations for their assistance;
• The remote NT community members who provided advice on content and layout
• NT Public Health Nutritionists, Strong Women Workers, Aboriginal Health
Worker Nutrition Advisors and Indigenous Nutrition Promotion Officers
•Tropical Public Health Unit in Cairns for the use of the Growing Strong Manual
graphics
• Julie Haysom for the illustrations
•The NT IFG steering committee and the regional advisory committee members
For Further information contact your local nutritionist
November 2005