Feeding Babies

Food information for babies and toddlers from birth to 2 years old includes information on breastfeeding and the benefits of breast milk, formula feeding, drinking plenty of fluids, starting solids, how to prevent choking, good nutrition and dietary variety, healthy eating habits, and meal ideas for babies and toddlers.

A baby needs enough food to grow, develop, sleep, and be happy.

baby feeding

Caring for a baby is very rewarding, although there is always a lot to do. Your baby depends on you for a healthy start in life.

These guidelines will help you choose healthy food for your baby and toddler.

  • Breast milk is best
  • If you are not breastfeeding, use an infant formula until baby is 12 months old
  • Give babies and toddlers plenty to drink
  • Start solid food when your baby is ready – at around 6 months old
  • Change the variety, texture and quantity of food as your baby grows
  • Healthy eating habits start early
  • Once your baby starts solids try to have some meals together as a family
  • Family mealtimes are important for the learning and development of your baby or toddler

 

Breast milk is best

Breast milk is specially made for your baby and is all your baby needs until they are around 6 months old. Breast milk:

  • Is the perfect food for your baby
  • Changes with your baby’s needs
  • Helps protect your baby against infection
  • Is cheap, safe, environmentally friendly and ready to use!

Young babies need to be fed often and on demand (when they are hungry).

Baby’s appetite, weight gain and lots of wet nappies tell you how much milk your baby needs. If your baby is hungry after feeding from one breast, then offer the other breast. After feeding on both breasts, begin the next feed on the breast used last.

You can express breast milk. For babies under 3 months, sterilise all equipment and containers. For babies over 3 months, thoroughly wash and rinse all equipment and containers.

You can store expressed breast milk in an airtight container with a sealed lid for:

  • 4 hours at room temperature (keep it cool in a damp towel)
  • 48 hours (2 days) in the fridge
  • 2 weeks in the freezer box in the fridge
  • 3–6 months in the separate freezer part of a fridge-freezer
  • 6 months in a separate chest freezer

Always store breast milk in the bottom half of the fridge or freezer and towards the back. Remember to put the date on the container, and use the oldest milk first.

A breastfed baby’s bowel motions are soft, a bright yellow colour and often very frequent – but each baby is different. Most breastfed babies don’t get constipated (when it’s difficult for them to pass the bowel motion), but some will have a bowel motion only every few days. Formula-fed babies have firmer and darker bowel motions than breastfed babies do.

 

Formula feeding

Infant formula is made for babies up to 12 months old who are not breastfed. There are many reasons why some mothers don’t breastfeed. Try to maintain some breastfeeding if possible.

Before buying formula, check the formula label for baby’s age and the ‘use-by’ date. Find a formula that suits your baby and keep to the same one.

Choose a cow’s milk-based formula. Soy or other infant formula should only be used under the direction of a health professional. Do not give baby condensed or evaporated milks.

Use breast milk or formula as the main drink until your baby is 12 months old. There is no need to change to a follow-on formula at 6 months, which is usually when baby will be ready to start solid food.

If baby is hungry and demands more, give more formula at each feed or add an extra feed. Do not make the formula stronger.

Preparing infant formula

  • Always wash and dry your hands before preparing bottle feeds
  • You must wash and sterilize all feeding equipment until baby is at least 3 months old (including any items used with breast milk). After 3 months, thorough washing and rinsing is enough
  • Make a fresh bottle of formula just before each feed
  • Follow the instructions on the formula can. Use the scoop provided with each can, and make sure the powder is a level scoop that is not packed down.
    In the first 3 months, use boiled, cooled water to make up formula (see the next section)
  • If you want to warm the formula, put the bottle in a bowl of warm water until it is warm enough
  • Microwaves can easily overheat the formula or heat it unevenly. If you do warm the formula in the microwave, shake the bottle and let it sit for 2–3 minutes. Shake again before testing that the formula’s temperature is right for baby
  • Before feeding baby, always check the formula’s temperature by putting some on the inside of your wrist. The formula should feel just warm
  • Throw out any remaining formula that your baby has not drunk

Preparing water for formula

  • From birth until baby is 3 months old, all water used for formula should be boiled and cooled on the day it is used
  • From 3 months of age you can use the town supply water from the cold tap to make baby’s formula. Run the tap for 10–15 seconds before you fill the bottle
  • If you are concerned about water quality, use boiled and cooled water until baby is 6 months old
  • Water from tanks or bore holes should be boiled until baby is 18 months old
  • When making up formula, pour the correct amount of water into the sterilized bottle before adding the powder. (Not all baby bottles have accurate volume lines on them).

Babies should not be left lying with a bottle to suck on because of the risk of choking and ear problems. Also, if they fall asleep with milk in their mouths, the milk can damage their teeth.

 

Babies and toddlers need plenty to drink

Formula-fed babies may also need boiled, cooled water. Toddlers should be offered drinks throughout the day. Healthy babies who are drinking enough will usually have 6 or more very wet nappies a day.

Best drinks for babies and toddlers are:

  • From 0 to 6 months – breast milk (or formula if breast milk is unavailable)
  • From 6 to 12 months – breast milk (or formula) and water
  • From 1 to 2 years – breast milk, whole cow’s milk (dark blue lid) and water

Your baby or toddler may need extra drinks:

  • When the weather is very hot
  • If they have a temperature and are feverish
  • If they are vomiting or have diarrhea

If your baby is unwell for 24 hours, continue to give breast milk or formula but see your doctor.

  • Water from tanks or bore holes should be boiled until baby is 18 months old
  • Do not offer drinks containing natural or added sugar, such as fruit juice, cordial, fizzy drinks, or flavoured milks. These can damage teeth and cause the baby or toddler to develop a taste for sweetened foods
  • Never give babies and toddlers tea, coffee, alcohol, smart or energy drinks or other adult drinks

 

Starting Solids

Offer solids when your baby is most relaxed and happy. Give the milk feed first (until 8–9 months old) and offer solids as a ‘top up’. Try 1⁄2–2 teaspoons first and gradually increase the amount until baby is having about 3–4 teaspoons at a meal.

Hold baby while you feed them or sit them in a baby high chair. Use a small teaspoon and put the food in the middle of their tongue. Throw out any uneaten food left on baby’s plate.

Try one new food every 2–4 days. If they don’t like the food the first time, wait a few days and try again with a smaller amount. It might take up to 15 tries!

Preparing baby’s food

Always wash and dry your hands before preparing baby’s food. Use a clean plate (or bowl) and spoon. Don’t share the spoon with your baby – you may pass germs to your baby if you do.

Remove the skins and seeds from fruit and vegetables before you cook or purée them. To pure baby’s food, use a blender or push food through a fine sieve.

Babies like the plain taste of milk, so first foods also need to be plain. Don’t add salt, sugar, honey, sweeteners, soy sauce, cream, butter or margarine to your baby’s food.

Use expressed milk or formula to make food runny enough for your baby to swallow. Home-made foods can be frozen in ice cube trays and used in the next 3–4 weeks.

Canned and bottled commercial baby foods have been specially made to meet your baby’s needs. When buying baby food, check that it is right for your baby’s stage. Always follow the storage instructions on the jar or can.

Babies should be at least 12 months old before they eat honey. Honey may contain bacteria that can make young babies sick. Toddlers, children and adults have more developed digestive systems, which can kill the bacteria.

Teething

You can make rusks at home or buy teething biscuits or a teething ring to help your baby with teething and learning how to chew and bite.

Start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first tooth comes through the gums. Buy a soft, small-headed brush and use a small smear of standard-strength fluoride toothpaste. Children’s toothpastes are not recommended if they have less fluoride than adult toothpastes. Fluoride and regular brushing keep teeth healthy. Brush baby’s teeth twice a day – in the morning after breakfast and at night before bed.

Allergies

Delaying the introduction of solid food until your baby is ready for it and continuing to breastfeed while you introduce solids – may help prevent allergic reactions to some foods. At around 6 months, once baby is ready for solids, try new foods one at a time every 2–4 days. If you suspect an allergy or have a strong family history of allergies, talk to your doctor.

 

Start solid food when your baby is ready – at around 6 months old

Breast milk (or infant formula) gives babies all the nutrients they need up to around 6 months old. From 6 months babies start to need food as it provides extra sources of nutrients, such as iron. Also, babies have usually grown and developed enough to start eating solid food. Breast milk (or infant formula) is still very important.

Use the following information as a guide.

Your baby is ready to start solids if they:

  • Can hold their head up
  • Sit with less help
  • Often put their hands in their mouth
  • Easily open their mouth when the spoon touches their lip or as food
    approaches
  • Can keep food in their mouth and then swallow it, instead of spitting the food out
  • Show signs of chewing movements

Fluids

Offer milk (breast milk or formula) before solids.

Foods – plain, soft, smooth
The best foods when your baby is starting on solids are:

  • Iron-fortified infant cereal/baby rice
  • Cooked and puréed beef, lamb, pork, chicken or fish, or vegetarian alternatives such as puréed legumes*
  • Puréed fruit without skins, pips or seeds – apple, pear, mango. Cook to soften if needed
  • Cooked and puréed vegetables without skins − kūmara, kamokamo, pumpkin, potato, cassava, tapioca
  • Puréed, plain cooked rice or congee
  • Bought baby food, which is at the right stage for your baby

* Legumes include cooked dried peas, beans or lentils.

 

Between 8 and 12 months

Start introducing more textures and ‘lumpy’ foods.

Your baby is ready for more textures and lumpy foods if they:

  • Are learning to crawl and may pull
    themselves up to stand
  • Can bite well and can chew soft lumps
  • Are interested in a range of foods and textures
  • Need some help to eat

Fluids

  • Offer solids before milk (breast milk or formula)
  • Offer water if needed

Foods

  • Try mashed vegetables mixed with minced or finely chopped tender cooked meat, chicken, kai moana, egg or slightly mashed cooked legumes*. You could also add chopped up noodles or pasta or whole rice
  • Add chopped soft fruit to yoghurt or custard
  • Offer breakfast cereal – porridge, wheat biscuits and infant muesli
  • Introduce slightly firmer finger foods such as:soft ripe fruit or soft cooked
    • vegetables such as kiwifruit or kūmara
    • finely grated raw carrot and apple
    • toast fingers
    • puffed crispbread

* Legumes include cooked dried peas, beans or lentils.

 

From 12 months

If your toddler shows the signs listed below, start giving them small amounts of the same food the rest of your family eats. Your toddler is ready to try many different spoon and finger foods.

Milk is still important in your toddler’s diet, but needs to be balanced with the amount of solid food that your toddler eats. See the Fluids section below.

Your toddler is ready for many different spoon and finger foods if they:

  • Can easily use their hands and fingers to feed themselves
  • Can hold a cup with two hands and drink from it
  • Has molar teeth starting to appear (the larger teeth at the back of the mouth, which are used to chew and grind food)
  • Can bite through a variety of different foods and chew well

Fluids

Offer milk or water between meals. You may choose to continue breastfeeding and/or offer up to 2 cups (500 ml) of whole milk (dark blue lid) a day. The more breast milk your toddler has, the less whole milk they need.

Foods

  • Breads – pita, rēwena, chapatti, buns, rolls – cut to a size that your toddler can easily hold and eat
  • Small sandwiches with thinly sliced fillings or a thin layer of easy-to-spread ingredients (eg, yeast-based spread)
  • Soft pieces of vegetables and fruit, including new ones (cook or finely grate if raw)
  • Finely chopped salad vegetables – lettuce, cucumber
  • Yoghurt and slices of cheese
  • Tender, finely chopped lean meat, chicken, seafood and egg
  • Soft, slightly mashed, cooked dried peas, beans or lentils
  • A variety of cereals (remove very hard foods like whole nuts or hard dried fruit)

Babies and toddlers need three small meals a day and small healthy snacks between meals. They have small stomachs and use lots of energy.