Nutrition matters for the early years - Health Promotion Agency

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A guide to weaning All the nourishment a baby needs during the first six months comes from either breast milk or infant formula milk. Based on current research, health experts recommend that babies should begin to take solid foods from six months to allow them to grow and develop - this process is called weaning. Weaning before six months is not recommended as babies’ digestive systems and kidneys are still developing. Weaning too soon may increase the risk of infections and allergies. The tables on the following pages outline the current recommendations for weaning. Foods to avoid giving to babies • Salt. Do not add any salt to foods for babies as their kidneys are not fully developed. You should also avoid foods that contain a lot of salt, eg packet soups, stock cubes, crisps, bacon, smoked meats. • Sugar. Do not add sugar to the foods or drinks you give a baby. Sugar could encourage a sweet tooth and lead to tooth decay when the first teeth start to come through. • Honey. Don’t give honey to a child under the age of one year, as it can contain a kind of bacteria which can produce toxins in the baby’s intestines and can cause a very serious illness (infant botulism). • Nuts. It is recommended that peanuts and products containing them are not provided. This is to protect children who may be at risk of peanut allergy. Whole nuts should never be given to children under the age of five because of the risk of choking. Weaning before six months Weaning before six months is not recommended; however, childcare providers will obviously have to follow the parents’ wishes about weaning their children. If the parents of a baby in your care are determined to wean before six months, there are a number of other foods that should be avoided in addition to the list above. • Foods which contain gluten, eg wheat flour, bread, breakfast cereals made from wheat, rusks, spaghetti or other pastas (eg tinned pasta in tomato sauce). • Nuts and seeds. • Eggs. • Cow’s milk, either as a drink or mixed with food. • Fish and shellfish. 8
• Citrus fruits, including citrus fruit juices, eg orange juice. • Soft and unpasteurised cheeses. • Tofu, Quorn, soya protein. More detailed guidance on weaning can be found in the HPA leaflet Weaning made easy: moving from milk to family meals. This leaflet is aimed at parents but childcare providers working with young babies will also find the information useful. You can download the leaflet from the publications section of our website www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk or ask for a copy from the Central Health Promotion Resource Service of your Health and Social Services Board. 9
Page 1 and 2: Nutrition matters for the early yea
Page 3: Foreword What we eat can play a cri
Page 6 and 7: Why good nutrition is important Goo
Page 10 and 11: Weaning: from 6 months Texture: Fir
Page 12 and 13: From 9 months Texture: During this
Page 14 and 15: Drinks for babies up to 12 months o
Page 16 and 17: Food group: Fruit and vegetables Wh
Page 18 and 19: Food group: Meat, fish and alternat
Page 20 and 21: Snacks Young children need snacks b
Page 22 and 23: Meal ideas To ensure that children
Page 24 and 25: Dessert ideas include: • Chopped
Page 26 and 27: • Child-sized cutlery and crocker
Page 28 and 29: • Chinese people generally exclud
Page 30 and 31: Rewards and celebrations Rewards fo
Page 32 and 33: Preparing a nutrition policy A nutr
Page 34 and 35: Nutrition checklist This checklist
Page 36 and 37: YES NO COMMENTS Milk and milk produ
Page 38 and 39: Contacts for more information Enqui
Page 40 and 41: Acknowledgements The HPA would like

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