Page 2 - Demo

Making Baby FoodOther than iron-fortified cereals, specialty infant or toddler processed meals and snacks are not necessary.Making your own baby food from family meals will help to develop your baby%u2019s taste preferences, even from thisyoung age. Mash some of your supper into a lumpy texture or offer small soft pieces for your child to pick up andput to their mouth.Tips for SuccessIt is not necessary for your child to have teeth. They can chew with their gums. %u2022 Keep offering a variety offoods in different textures from each of the food groups.Start mixed infant cereals after all single grains have been tried.Your child%u2019s taste buds are sensitive enough to enjoy food without adding fat, salt, or sugar but other herbsand spices may be appropriate.Encourage your child to drink from an open cup.Allow your child to decide how much to eat of what you offer them. Your baby will close their mouth, turn theirhead away or push food away when they are full. Never try to force a baby to eat.Although they continue to have breastmilk, tap water is an excellent thirst quencher. Babies that areintroduced to plain water will prefer to drink it.Between 9-12 months you can start giving pasteurized whole cow%u2019s milk in a cup (Homogenized, 3.25% M.F.).They don%u2019t need juice! Juice (even 100% unsweetened) and fruit flavoured beverages have a lot of sugar andshould be avoided. Fruit has more fibre and is a better choice than juice.For more about introducing solids see Feeding Your Baby: A guide to help you introduce solid foods and seethe Video: Learning to self feed - Unlock Food.Prevent ChokingBabies may love eating solid food, but do not feed them foods that are hard, small and round, or smooth andsticky. This includes foods such as raw carrots, hot dogs, whole grapes, hard candies, popcorn, peanuts, andsunflower seeds. Always supervise them when they are eating and include them in family mealtimes!Between six and nine months of age, keep offering iron rich foods. Along with these, you can offer vegetables,fruit, other grain products and pasteurized milk products like cheese and yogurt. Betweennine and 12 months, you can start giving pasteurized whole cow%u2019s milk in a cup (Homogenized, 3.25% M.F.).If you haven%u2019t taken an infant CPR & First Aid course yet, now is a great time. Call 211 to find out about classes inyour area or visit www.redcross.ca/what-we-do/first-aid-and-cpr or St John Ambulance Saving Lives at Work,Home and Play | St. John Ambulance (sja.ca)