Breastfeeding can continue as long as you want. It is your choice when you stop breastfeeding. Every day that you breastfeed benefits your baby.

It is recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society and Health Canada that breast milk be the only food for babies 0-6 months old. You can continue to breastfeed your baby as long as you and your baby want to.

Your breast milk:

• changes as your baby develops in order to meet their needs
• rarely runs out; you produce it as your baby needs it
• is easier to digest than formula
• helps build your baby’s immune system which can protect them against infection
• is convenient and free with no bottles or nipples to sterilize
• can be pumped (expressed), stored, and fed to your baby by bottle at a later time.

Breastfeeding:

• can lower your baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, crib death)
• has been found to have a positive effect on children’s motor skills, problem solving skills, and social skills
• can decrease your baby’s chance of getting cavities, allergies, and asthma
• helps protect you and your baby from some types of cancers, including breast, cervix, ovarian, and some childhood cancers
• can decrease your feelings of stress and anxiety
• uses a lot of energy that burns calories and fat, and helps you lose weight after your baby is born
• is environmentally friendly; there are no cans or packaging needed
• can soothe your baby
• is free

Your baby’s brain is growing and developing from birth. Breastfeeding allows your child to be in the perfect position to see your eyes and face. This helps with attachment and helps your baby’s brain to develop.

Your baby’s brain will develop because of the experiences they have in their early years. Newborns experience the world through their five senses: touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste. Skin-to-skin contact while breastfeeding provides touch and smell experiences. Your baby is in a position during breastfeeding to hear your heart beat.

You can also pump your breast milk so that you can feed it to your baby by bottle later. Click here for more information on feeding breast milk from a bottle.

The amount your baby drinks at each feeding will gradually increase. If you are breastfeeding, your milk will continue to increase to meet your baby’s needs.

Babies who are breastfed should get a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU each day. This will prevent the vitamin D deficiency bone disease called rickets. If your baby was born prematurely, your doctor may recommend other vitamin or mineral supplements.

Breastfeeding does not come easy to all mothers. With each baby, breastfeeding can be different. It may take a while for both you and your baby to learn to breastfeed together.

Breastfeeding can be hard for some women. Sometimes it can be painful. This is often due to infections. Talk to your healthcare providers if you have any questions or concerns. You can also talk to a lactation consultant. Lactation consultants are trained to help women with breastfeeding concerns and questions. For more information, please contact the Saskatchewan Lactation Consultant Association at www.skslca.com/contact.html or find a lactation consultation near you at www.skslca.com/uploads/2/7/1/9/27194989/ibclcs_in_saskatchewan.docx.

If you have twins or multiples, please speak to a lactation consultant about breastfeeding your children. They can help you with advice about positioning as well as nutrition and getting enough fluids.

Some women are worried about having skin-to-skin contact with their babies. They may feel that they are doing something wrong or inappropriate. It is natural to have skin-to-skin contact with your baby. In fact, skin-to-skin contact is one of the best ways to support your baby’s growth and development.

It is common for new moms to feel a bit sore and tender after breastfeeding. You should not feel pinching, biting, or soreness that lasts the whole feeding. After breastfeeding, if your nipple looks flat, cracked, or is bleeding, this is not normal. Please see the links below for more information.

Click on each topic below to learn more about some common breastfeeding issues and strategies for dealing with them.

• Latching on
• Engorgement
• Plugged duct
• Mastitis
• Sore, cracked nipples
• Increasing breast milk supply

Your baby will swallow air while feeding and crying. It is important to help them burp up the air bubbles. You can do this in one of three ways.

• Hold them up against your chest so they are looking out over your shoulder. Rub or pat their back gently. Put a cloth over your shoulder in case milk comes up with the bubble.
• Hold them in a sitting position on your lap. Support their chin with one hand. Gently rub their back with the other hand.
• Hold them tummy down over your knees. Gently rub their back. If no bubbles come up in two or three minutes, put them down on their tummy for a minute or two and then try again.

Burp a breastfed baby when finished feeding on each breast. Try burping a bottle-fed baby after 30 mL (1 oz). Some babies stop sucking when they need to be burped. You will soon get to know what is best for your baby. If you do not burp your baby regularly, the gas can cause discomfort.

Cow’s milk-based, iron-fortified commercial formula provides the best alternative for infants who are not breastfed or who are being fed both formula and breast milk. Your baby will not need formula after they are 12 months old.

Plain cow’s milk, evaporated milk, or homemade infant formulas will not meet your baby’s nutritional needs. Homemade formula increases the risk of illness, due to contamination by bacteria. Health Canada, the Canadian Paediatric Society, and Dietitians of Canada do not recommend the use of homemade formula.

A mother should not breastfeed if they:

• are living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
• have herpes lesions on both breasts
• have a severe illness that prevents them from caring for their child

If a new mother has HIV, the Government of Saskatchewan will provide free formula until the baby is one year old. To access this program, please call:

If you choose to formula feed your baby, your first step is choosing a formula. Choose a formula that is cow’s milk-based. Infant formula is sold in three forms:

• Liquid ready-to-use
• Liquid concentrate
• Powdered

Liquid ready-to-use formulas are the easiest to use and are sterile. If you plan to use liquid concentrate or powdered formulas, make sure that you are mixing them with sterilized water. Always read the instructions so that you are mixing the formula properly. This will help you make sure that your baby is getting the nutrients and calories they need. Click here for information about warming formula.

Hold your baby in the same position you would if you were breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact is important when your baby is young. Always hold your young baby when you are feeding them. When your child wants to hold the bottle and feed themself, make sure they are in their high chair. You will need to burp your baby after they eat.

You will need to burp your baby after they eat.

For babies who are sensitive to cow’s milk, your doctor or dietitian will recommend a specialized formula. It is often not necessary to use a soy or lactose-free formula. Always talk to your healthcare provider before switching formulas.

The amount your baby drinks at each feeding will gradually increase. If you have concerns about how much your baby is drinking, be sure to contact your healthcare provider.

If you are choosing to breastfeed and formula feed your baby, there are a few things you should know.

• The amount of breast milk you make will decrease.
• Your baby’s stomach might get irritated if you switch back and forth.
• You will need to supplement your baby with 400 IU of vitamin D every day

• Do not give babies juice or pop.
• Juice and pop contain a lot of sugar. Even 100% fruit juice is high in sugar.
• Sugary drinks can cause dental cavities. When you eat sugar, the sugar is changed to an acid by bacteria that is in your mouth. The acid dissolves the outer part of the teeth, called enamel. Holes in your teeth’s enamel are called cavities.
• Juice and pop can also lower your baby’s appetite for healthy foods. Juice can also cause diarrhea.
• Cavities, lowered appetite, and diarrhea can happen even if you dilute the juice with water.
• If you choose to give your baby juice, make sure it is pasteurized. Pasteurization is a process that kills microbes (like bacteria) that can make your baby sick.

• Do not give a child of any age energy drinks.
• Your baby only needs breast milk or formula until they are six months old.
• Pasteurized cow’s milk, milk products (cheese and yogurt), or goat’s milk are not meant for babies until they are at least nine months old. If possible do not introduce this until your child is 12 months old.
• Do not feed your child (of any age) unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization is a process that gets rid of microbes, like bacteria, that are present in the milk.
• Soy milk, rice milk, nut milk (like almond and cashew), coconut milk, and other milk substitutes should not be given to babies or toddlers. These do not have the nutrients and fat that your baby needs. If your child is not breastfeeding and is unable to tolerate cow’s milk formula, talk to your healthcare provider about alternatives.
• Honey should not be given to babies until they are at least 2 years old. Honey can cause botulism (pop up) in young children. Botulism is caused by bacteria and can cause death. Image of honey container with an x through it.

Breastfeeding can continue as long as you wish. Breastfeeding for longer than six months can be healthy for both you and your baby and is recommended by Health Canada.

For you, breastfeeding may help prevent certain types of cancer. It also can help you continue to bond with your child.

If you are breastfeeding, your child continues to need more vitamin D until you transition your child to cow’s milk (whole or 3%). Continue to supplement 400 IU of vitamin D to their diet. It is important to give vitamin D so your child does not develop rickets.

Until you transition your child to cow’s milk (whole or 3%), your child continues to need more vitamin D. Continue to supplement 400 IU of vitamin D to their diet. It is important to give vitamin D so your child does not develop rickets.

• Plugged duct
• Mastitis
• Sore, cracked nipples
• Increasing breast milk supply

Cow’s milk-based, iron-fortified commercial formula provides the best alternative for infants who are not breastfed or who are being fed both formula and breast milk. Your baby will not need formula after they are 12 months old.

Plain cow’s milk, evaporated milk, or homemade infant formulas will not meet your baby’s nutritional needs. Homemade formula increases the risk of illness, due to contamination by bacteria. Health Canada, the Canadian Paediatric Society, and Dietitians of Canada do not recommend the use of homemade formula.

A mother should not breastfeed if she:

• is HIV infected
• has herpes lesions on both breasts
• has a severe illness that prevents her from caring for her child

If a new mother has HIV, the Government of Saskatchewan will provide free formula until the baby is one year old. To access this program, please call:

If you choose to formula feed your baby, your first step is choosing a formula. Choose a formula that is cow’s milk-based. Infant formula is sold in three forms:

• Liquid ready-to-use
• Liquid concentrate
• Powdered

Liquid ready-to-use formulas are the easiest to use and are sterile. If you plan to use liquid concentrate or powdered formulas, make sure that you are mixing them with sterilized water. Always read the instructions so that you are mixing the formula properly. This will make sure that your baby is getting the nutrients and calories she needs. Click here for information about warming formula.

Hold your child in the same position you would if you were breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact is also important when your child is young. Always hold your child when you are feeding him. When your child wants to hold the bottle and feed himself, make sure he is in his high chair.

You will need to burp your baby after he eats.

For babies who are sensitive to cow’s milk, your doctor or dietitian will recommend a specialized formula. It is often not necessary to use a soy or lactose-free formula. Always talk to your healthcare provider before switching formulas.

The amount your baby drinks at each feeding will gradually increase. If you have concerns about how much your baby is drinking, be sure to contact your healthcare provider.

If you are choosing to breastfeed and formula feed your baby, there are a few things you should know.

• The amount of breast milk you make will decrease.
• Your baby’s stomach might get irritated.
• You will need to supplement your baby with 400 IU of Vitamin D every day.

Your baby may be ready to try solid foods when he is six months old. You can tell that your baby is ready when he:

• can sit up and lean forward without your support
• can hold food in his mouth without pushing it out with his tongue right away
• can control his head movement
• shows interest in the food you are eating
• opens his mouth when he sees food coming toward him
• lets you know when he is full by turning his head away from you or leaning away from you
• picks up food and tries to put it in his mouth

Continue to breastfeed or formula feed while introducing solid food. This way, you can make sure your baby is getting all the nutrients and calories they need.

Start with foods that contain iron like meat and alternatives, and iron-fortified infant cereals. Meat and alternatives include meat, eggs, tofu, beans, and lentils. Iron from meat is better absorbed in the body than iron from plants.

It is also important to feed your baby food that has a high amount of Vitamin C. This includes oranges and tomatoes.

You can choose to buy prepared baby food from the store. You can offer your baby the foods that your family is eating, as long as the texture is modified appropriately. Family foods can be offered to babe, as long as the texture is modified appropriately. Puree, mash, and chop foods to make them the right texture for your baby. You can use a fork, potato masher, sieve, or blender. Avoid adding extra salt, sugar, or fat to your baby’s food.

Start with single foods and avoid mixtures of foods if possible. Wait about 2-4 days before trying new foods. If your baby develops an allergic reaction, it is easier to know which food caused the reaction. For more information, see Food Allergies.

Wait until your baby is at least nine months old before introducing pasteurized cow’s milk and alternatives such as yogurt, cottage cheese, and other cheeses. At this time, give your baby whole or 3% milk until they are two years old. Milk will help support growth and brain development.

Low-fat dairy is not recommended until your child is older than two years of age. Low-fat dairy products are low in iron and also lower the amount of iron they will absorb from other foods.

Other healthy foods include soft vegetables and fruits. Actual vegetables and fruits should be offered instead of juice.

Feeding your baby juice is not recommended. Juice is not healthy for babies. It can also reduce their appetite for more nutritious foods such as breast milk, formula, or solid foods, and cause diarrhea.

Juice and pop contain a lot of sugar. Even 100% fruit juice is high in sugar.

Sugary drinks can cause dental cavities. When you eat sugar, the sugar is changed to an acid by bacteria that is in your mouth. The acid dissolves the outer part of the teeth, called enamel. Holes in your teeth’s enamel are called cavities.

Juice and pop can also lower your baby’s appetite for healthy foods. Juice can also cause diarrhea.

Cavities, lowered appetite, and diarrhea can happen even if you dilute the juice with water.

Some families decide to feed their children vegetarian or vegan diets for cultural, religious or lifestyle reasons. If your child is less than two years old, they might not get all of the nutrition they need on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Therefore, your child may need additional supplements. Talk to your healthcare provider before introducing a toddler to a vegetarian or vegan diet. For more information, please click here.

It is important to make sure that your child sits while eating. Sitting reduces the risk of choking. Include your child in family meals to build family connections and healthy eating habits.

• Do not give a child of any age energy drinks.
• Cooked eggs are safe for your baby. The yolk should be cooked well and not runny.
• Raw eggs in raw cookie dough or cake batter can make your child sick. Bake anything that has eggs in it thoroughly before giving it to a child.
• Fish is safe if it is broken into small pieces. Be sure that all bones are removed.
• Peanuts are small and can lead to risk of choking for babies.
• Peanut butter can stick in your child’s mouth. Spread peanut butter thinly on crackers or bread to make it safer and easier to swallow.
• Remove pits or large seeds from fruit. Cut grapes in halves or quarters and remove seeds.
• Cut wieners lengthwise then in small pieces.
• Unpasteurized honey is not recommended until your baby is at least two years old. Pasteurized honey can be given after one year. Do not feed honey to a baby who is under the age of one year. This can cause botulism.
• The following are choking hazards for your baby. Avoid them until your child is at least four years old:
  • raisins, gum, hard candies, marshmallows
  • popcorn, nuts, sunflower seeds
  • any food with toothpicks or skewers

It is safe to introduce most foods during your baby’s first year. This includes foods like peanuts, fish, and egg whites. Introducing these foods earlier than 12-24 months of age might lower the chance of your baby being allergic to them. Offer new foods every 2-4 days and watch for signs of an allergic reaction.

Possible signs of an allergic reaction

• hives, skin redness, or rash
• swelling of the face, tongue, or lips
• vomiting
• diarrhea or blood in bowel movement (poop)
• coughing or wheezing
• difficulty breathing
• loss of consciousness

If you or another family member has a serious allergy to any food, talk to your healthcare provider before introducing these foods to your child.

Include your baby in family mealtimes.

Encourage self-feeding. At this stage, your baby will be using their hands to eat, not utensils. Learning how to eat is a messy process.

Learning to eat or trying new foods includes:

• seeing what they eat
• looking at food
• smelling food
• tasting and spitting out food
• tasting and swallowing food
• eating one bite and stopping
• changing their mind about what they like

Let your baby touch the food in the dish or spoon.

Feed your baby food that has a variety of textures, such as bananas, minced meat, bread crusts, and grated cheese.

Feed your baby at their own pace. Do not try to make them go faster or slower than they want.

Make sure you are watching to see if your child is swallowing food before feeding them more.

Stop feeding your baby when they show you that they are full (e.g., turn their head away).

Be patient when offering new foods. It may take many attempts before your baby may like a new food.

Use a regular open-top cup to help your baby develop drinking skills. Your child should only be drinking water, breast milk, and/or formula. Put a small amount of water in the bottom of the cup. Your baby will need your help with the cup until they are more independent.

• Do not give babies juice or pop.
• Juice and pop contain a lot of sugar. Even 100% fruit juice is high in sugar.
• Sugary drinks can cause dental cavities. When you eat sugar, the sugar is changed to an acid by bacteria that is in your mouth. The acid dissolves the outer part of the teeth, called enamel. Holes in your teeth’s enamel are called cavities.
• Juice and pop can also lower your baby’s appetite for healthy foods. Juice can also cause diarrhea.
• Cavities, lowered appetite, and diarrhea can happen even if you dilute the juice with water.
• If you choose to give your baby juice, make sure it is pasteurized. Pasteurization is a process that kills microbes (like bacteria) that can make your baby sick.

• Do not give a child of any age energy drinks.
• Your baby only needs breast milk or formula until they are six months old.
• Pasteurized cow’s milk, milk products (cheese and yogurt), or goat’s milk are not meant for babies until they are at least nine months old. If possible, do not introduce these products until your child is 12 months old.
• Do not feed your child (of any age) unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization is a process that gets rid of microbes, like bacteria, that are present in the milk.
• Soy milk, rice milk, nut milk (like almond and cashew), coconut milk, and other milk substitutes should not be given to babies or toddlers. These do not have the nutrients and fat that your baby needs. If your child is not breastfeeding and is unable to tolerate cow’s milk formula, talk to your healthcare provider about alternatives.
• Honey should not be given to babies until they are at least 2 years old. Honey can cause botulism (pop up) in young children. Botulism is caused by bacteria and can cause death. Image of honey container with an x through it.

It is your job as a parent to be a good role model by eating healthy foods and offering healthy foods to your child. It is also your responsibility to determine where your child will eat, for example at the kitchen table, and when the child will eat. It is important to have a regular schedule for meals and snacks.

It is your child’s job to decide how much to eat, what they will eat, and if they will eat at all.

It can be hard for some parents to trust their child to determine how much and if they will eat. However, children have a natural ability to determine how much food they need. If they are given healthy foods, they eat as much as they need to grow.

If children are taught that they need to ‘clean their plates’ or ‘have two more bites’, their natural body cues for hunger and fullness do not work as well.

If your child is growing well, they are getting the right amount of food that they need.

• Do not give a child of any age energy drinks.
• Cooked eggs are safe for your baby. The yolk should be cooked well and not runny.
• Raw eggs in raw cookie dough or cake batter can make your child sick. Bake anything that has eggs in it thoroughly before giving it to a child.
• Fish is safe if it is broken into small pieces. Be sure that all bones are removed.
• Peanuts are small and can lead to risk of choking for babies.
• Peanut butter can stick in your child’s mouth. Spread peanut butter thinly on crackers or bread to make it safer and easier to swallow.
• Remove pits or large seeds from fruit. Cut grapes in halves or quarters and remove seeds.
• Cut wieners lengthwise then in small pieces.
• Unpasteurized honey is not recommended until your baby is at least two years old. Pasteurized honey can be given after one year. Do not feed honey to a baby who is under the age of one year. This can cause botulism.
• The following are choking hazards for your baby. Avoid them until your child is at least four years old:
  • raisins, gum, hard candies, marshmallows
  • popcorn, nuts, sunflower seeds
  • any food with toothpicks or skewers

It is safe to introduce most foods during your baby’s first year. This includes foods like peanuts, fish, and egg whites. Introducing these foods earlier than 12-24 months of age might lower the chance of your baby being allergic to them. Offer new foods every 2-4 days and watch for signs of an allergic reaction.

If your child has any symptoms of an allergic reaction, take him immediately to the nearest emergency room or healthcare provider.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:

• hives, skin redness, or rash
• swelling of the face, tongue, or lips
• vomiting
• diarrhea, or blood in bowel movement
• coughing or wheezing
• difficulty breathing
• loss of consciousness

If you or another family member has a serious allergy to any food, talk to your healthcare provider before introducing these foods to your child.

Vegetables and fruit are important to stay healthy. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre. They can help to protect your child from getting sick. They will also help your child be healthy later in life.

The amount of vegetables and fruits increases as your child gets older.

Remember to avoid giving children juice. Juice has a lot of sugar in it and can lead to dental cavities. It can lower your child’s appetite for other foods.

Meat and alternatives are important for your child to stay healthy. Meat and alternatives provide protein to help build, maintain, and repair muscles throughout the body. Muscles and organs (such as your heart) are made of protein. Meat and alternatives also provide iron, which is important for carrying oxygen in the body.

Some parents choose to raise their children as vegetarians or vegans for religious, cultural or lifestyle reasons. Your child may choose not to eat meats as they get older. Talk to your healthcare provider or a dietitian to make sure your child is getting the calories, vitamins, minerals, and fat that they need for growth and development.

Grain products are important to stay healthy. Grain products, like some cereals, are often fortified with folic acid, folate, and/or vitamin B12. These help your child’s brain and nervous system to develop. Grains are also a source of fibre, which helps your child have a healthy digestion system.

Grains can also give your child’s body energy to be active throughout the day. However, in order to provide the nutrition your child needs, be sure to also provide other sources of energy. These sources include lean meats, fish, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

The amount of grains increases as the child gets older.

Choose grain products made from whole grains (e.g., whole wheat, oats, barely) rather than white flour when you can.

Products such as cakes and cookies can be high in sugar, unhealthy fat, and sodium. Avoid these as much as possible. These should not be considered a serving of grains.

Milk and alternatives are important for your child to stay healthy. They are a great source of calcium and vitamin D, which is important to building strong and healthy bones.

Until your child is two years old, give them whole milk (3% or whole).

Some parents choose to raise their children as vegans for religious, cultural, or lifestyle reasons. Your child may choose not to eat meats as they get older. Talk to your healthcare provider or a dietitian to make sure your child is getting the calories, vitamins, minerals, and fat that they need for growth and development.

Have you decided to feed your child a vegetarian or vegan diet for cultural, religious, or lifestyle reasons? It is important to make sure that they are getting the calories and nutrients they need to grow.

If your child is less than two years old, they might not get all of the nutrition they need on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Therefore, your child may need additional supplements. Talk to your healthcare provider before introducing a toddler to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

If your child does not eat meat, they must get protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 from other foods. If your child does not eat or drink milk products, they will need to get calcium and vitamin D from other food sources. These nutrients have important roles in their body.

Well-planned vegetarian diets can be made healthy for your child. Ask your doctor for a referral to see a registered dietitian. The dietitian will help make sure your child is meeting their nutritional needs while following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Newborns are born with iron in their bodies. Babies also get iron from breast milk and formula. The iron that they had at birth starts to run out when they are six months old. Because of this, babies around 7-12 months of age start to need iron from food that they eat. Iron is an important mineral because it carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. It helps build red blood cells in the body. It helps the brain develop. Iron also helps all the cells in the body work.

You can get iron through food. The main sources of iron in foods are red meat, fish, chicken, and iron-fortified infant cereal. Iron is also found in lentils, dried beans, green leafy vegetables, and eggs yolks.

Cow’s milk contains very little iron. Once you switch to cow’s milk, your child must get iron from other foods to help them be healthy.

Vitamin C will help your child absorb iron. Good sources of vitamin C include cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, oranges, cantaloupe, kiwi, bananas, strawberries, and green, yellow, and red peppers.

If your child does not get enough iron, they will develop anemia. Anemia is a medical condition where you don’t have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in your blood. The symptoms of anemia in young children include fussy behaviours, irritability, difficulty learning, being tired and/or weak, not gaining a lot of weight, and less interest in eating.

It is your job as a parent to be a good role model by eating healthy foods and offering healthy foods to your child. It is also your responsibility to determine where your child will eat, for example at the kitchen table, and when the child will eat. It is important to have a regular schedule for meals and snacks.

It is your child’s job to decide how much to eat, what they will eat, and if they will eat at all.

It can be hard for some parents to trust their child to determine how much and if they will eat. However, children have a natural ability to determine how much food they need. If they are given healthy foods, they eat as much as they need to grow.

If children are taught that they need to ‘clean their plates’ or ‘have two more bites’, their natural body cues for hunger and fullness do not work as well.

If your child is growing well, they are getting the right amount of food that they need.

• Do not give a child of any age energy drinks.
• Cooked eggs are safe for your baby. The yolk should be cooked well and not runny.
• Raw eggs in raw cookie dough or cake batter can make your child sick. Bake anything that has eggs in it thoroughly before giving it to a child.
• Fish is safe if it is broken into small pieces. Be sure that all bones are removed.
• Peanuts are small and can lead to risk of choking for babies.
• Peanut butter can stick in your child’s mouth. Spread peanut butter thinly on crackers or bread to make it safer and easier to swallow.
• Remove pits or large seeds from fruit. Cut grapes in halves or quarters and remove seeds.
• Cut wieners lengthwise then in small pieces.
• Unpasteurized honey is not recommended until your baby is at least two years old. Pasteurized honey can be given after one year. Do not feed honey to a baby who is under the age of one year. This can cause botulism.
• The following are choking hazards for your baby. Avoid them until your child is at least four years old:
  • raisins, gum, hard candies, marshmallows
  • popcorn, nuts, sunflower seeds
  • any food with toothpicks or skewers

It is safe to introduce most foods during your baby’s first year. This includes foods like peanuts, fish, and egg whites. Introducing these foods earlier than 12-24 months of age might lower the chance of your baby being allergic to them. Offer new foods every 2-4 days and watch for signs of an allergic reaction.

If your child has any symptoms of an allergic reaction, take him immediately to the nearest emergency room or healthcare provider.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:

• hives, skin redness, or rash
• swelling of the face, tongue, or lips
• vomiting
• diarrhea, or blood in bowel movement
• coughing or wheezing
• difficulty breathing
• loss of consciousness

If you or another family member has a serious allergy to any food, talk to your healthcare provider before introducing these foods to your child.

Vegetables and fruit are important to stay healthy. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre. They can help to protect your child from getting sick. They will also help your child be healthy later in life.

Remember to avoid giving children juice. Juice has a lot of sugar in it and can lead to dental cavities. It can lower your child’s appetite for other foods.

Meat and alternatives are important for your child to stay healthy. Meat and alternatives provide protein to help build, maintain, and repair muscles throughout the body. Muscles and organs (such as your heart) are made of protein. Meat and alternatives also provide iron, which is important for carrying oxygen in the body.

Some parents choose to raise their children as vegetarians or vegans for religious, cultural, or lifestyle reasons. Your child may choose not to eat meats as they get older. Talk to your healthcare provider or a dietitian to make sure your child is getting the calories, vitamins, minerals, and fat that they need for growth and development.

Grain products are important to stay healthy. Grain products, like some cereals, are often fortified with folic acid, folate, and/or vitamin B12. These help your child’s brain and nervous system to develop. Grains are also a source of fibre, which helps your child have a healthy digestion system.

Grains can also give your child’s body energy to be active throughout the day. However, in order to provide the nutrition your child needs, be sure to also provide other sources of energy. These sources include lean meats, fish, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Choose grain products made from whole grains (e.g., whole wheat, oats, barely) rather than white flour when you can.

Products such as cakes and cookies can be high in sugar, unhealthy fat, and sodium. Avoid these as much as possible. These should not be considered a serving of grains.

Milk and alternatives are important for your child to stay healthy. They are a great source of calcium and vitamin D, which is important to building strong and healthy bones.

Until your child is two years old, give them whole milk (3% or whole).

Some parents choose to raise their children as vegans for religious, cultural, or lifestyle reasons. Your child may choose not to eat meats as they get older. Talk to your healthcare provider or a dietitian to make sure your child is getting the calories, vitamins, minerals, and fat that they need for growth and development.

Have you decided to feed your child a vegetarian or vegan diet for cultural, religious, or lifestyle reasons? It is important to make sure that they are getting the calories and nutrients they need to grow.

If your child is less than two years old, they might not get all of the nutrition they need on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Therefore, your child may need additional supplements. Talk to your healthcare provider before introducing a toddler to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

If your child does not eat meat, they must get protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 from other foods. If your child does not eat or drink milk products, they will need to get calcium and vitamin D from other food sources. These nutrients have important roles in their body.

Well-planned vegetarian diets can be made healthy for your child. Ask your doctor for a referral to see a registered dietitian. The dietitian will help make sure your child is meeting their nutritional needs while following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Iron is an important mineral because it carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. It helps build red blood cells in the body. It helps the brain develop. Iron also helps all the cells in the body work.

If your child does not get enough iron, they will develop anemia. Anemia is a medical condition where you don’t have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in your blood. The symptoms of anemia in young children include fussy behaviours, irritability, difficulty learning, tired, weak, not gaining a lot of weight, and less interest in eating.

Newborns are born with iron in their bodies. Babies also get iron from breast milk and formula. The iron that they had at birth starts to run out when they are six months old. Because of this, children start to need iron from food that they eat.

You can get iron through food. The main sources of iron in foods are red meat, fish, and chicken, iron-fortified infant cereal. Iron is also found in lentils, dried beans, green leafy vegetables, and eggs yolks.

Cow’s milk contains very little iron. Once you switch to cow’s milk, your child must get iron from other foods to help them be healthy.

Vitamin C will help your child absorb iron. Good sources of vitamin C include cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, oranges, cantaloupe, kiwi, bananas, strawberries, and green, yellow, and red peppers.

It is your job as a parent to be a good role model by eating healthy foods and offering healthy foods to your child. It is also your responsibility to determine where your child will eat, for example at the kitchen table, and when the child will eat. It is important to have a regular schedule for meals and snacks.

It is your child’s job to decide how much to eat, what they will eat, and if they will eat at all.

It can be hard for some parents to trust their child to determine how much and if they will eat. However, children have a natural ability to determine how much food they need. If they are given healthy foods, they eat as much as they need to grow.

If children are taught that they need to ‘clean their plates’ or ‘have two more bites’, their natural body cues for hunger and fullness do not work as well.

If your child is growing well, they are getting the right amount of food that they need.

Water is the healthiest drink for your active child. Encourage your child to satisfy their thirst with water. Aim for your child to have 480 mL (2 cups) a day.

Offer your child actual vegetables and fruit rather than fruit juice. Fruits and vegetables have lower levels of sugar than juice (e.g., an apple vs. apple juice). If you do offer juice, limit it to 120 mL (1/2 cup) of 100% fruit juice a day. Drinks labeled as fruit drink, fruit punch, or fruit beverage may not contain any real fruit at all. Avoid these drinks.

Drinks such as Kool-Aid®, iced tea, pop, slushes, sport drinks, or other fruit drinks are high in sugar. High-sugar foods and drinks have no nutritional value and will reduce your child’s appetite for more healthy foods. For some children, high-sugar foods may cause unhealthy weight gain.

If your child eats and drinks lots of sweets, they will likely eat less of other foods that are needed to be healthy. Children need your help to limit sweet drinks. A high sugar intake is also the cause for many dental cavities. Sugar from sugary drinks stays on the teeth. This provides a setting for the growth of the bacteria that causes cavities.

Eating crisp or fibrous foods, like celery, can get some of the sugar off of your child’s teeth.

Offer your child small portions, with second helpings if they ask for them. Remember the portion size guide: 15 mL (1 tbsp.) of each food per year of age.

Try to choose healthy snacks like fruit, vegetables, or cooked eggs. This reduces the chance of cavities and other problems associated with too many sweets or high-fat foods.

Avoid using food as a reward for good behaviour. It can create a dependence on food for emotional rather than physical needs.

Consider if your child’s request for a snack is an actual need for food or because they are bored. What they may really want is to play a game or have time alone with you.

Eating when concentrating on another activity, such as watching TV, may lead to over/under eating. Discourage this practice.

Children naturally like nutritious foods in all the food groups. Consider your child’s food preferences when preparing meals. For example, carrots do not need to be cooked. Your preschooler may prefer them raw and cut in sticks. Children tend to prefer bright, colourful food selections in separate portions – not mixed together. Serve cooked foods warm, but not hot, because a child’s mouth is much more sensitive than an adults’.

Let your child help plan and prepare the family’s meals. They are more likely to eat foods they helped choose and prepare.

There are foods that parents dislike and choose not to eat. Children are no different. Forcing your child to eat everything on their plate prevents them from learning to listen to their body and stop eating when they are full. If your child forces themself to ignore their body’s feeling of fullness, they may develop weight control problems later in life.

Offer new foods casually. Don’t make a big deal out of this. Let your child decide for themself whether they try the new food. Encourage, but do not force, them to try one bite. Reinforce the idea that it is fun to try something new. Your child quickly learns that being fussy about food can give them a lot of attention.

Parents sometimes find that children snack so much that they are not hungry at mealtime. This is not a problem if the snacks are healthy foods.

The snack could be part of a meal the child didn’t eat or the meal that is still to come. Your child’s stomach is small. If they are very active, they will need to eat often to meet all their energy needs.

If you provide a cheerful, relaxed, and casual atmosphere that is free of stress, your child will learn to enjoy eating. If a power struggle develops over food, no one wins. Remember that your child is trying to become independent.

The most important influence on your child’s food habits is your example. Children learn most by imitation. If you eat and enjoy nutritious foods, they will too.

Eating too much sugar can lower a child’s appetite. As a result, your child will likely eat less of other foods needed to be healthy. Children need your help to limit sweet treats.

Drinks such as Kool-Aid®, iced tea, pop, slushes, or fruit juice are high in sugar. Limit 100% fruit juice to 120 mL (1/2 cup) a day, and offer only after meals rather than in between meals. Do not offer other high-sugar drinks. Like other high-sugar foods, they have no nutritional value and will reduce your child’s appetite for more healthy foods.

A high sugar intake is also the cause of many dental cavities. Sticky, sugary snack foods stay on the teeth. This provides a setting for the growth of the bacteria that causes cavities. Limit sweets to mealtimes, rather than eating sweets throughout the day. Crisp or fibrous foods help clean off the teeth.

Eating too much salt will affect children’s blood pressure. Too much salt can put your child at risk for chronic diseases later in life.

The eating habits that your child has now will affect their eating habits later in life.

Now that your child is eating what the rest of the family is eating, it is important to continue to limit salt in foods.

Compare labels and buy foods with lower salt. Salt is called sodium on labels. Choose foods that the Nutrition Fact Table states have a serving size less than 15% DV (daily value) for sodium, or look at two different products (e.g., crackers) and choose the one with less sodium per serving size.

More research is needed to understand the effect of caffeine on young children’s bodies. Caffeine can make a child sleepless, restless, and irritable.

In early childhood, young children develop taste habits or preferences. Foods that contain caffeine may become a taste habit. It is difficult to change a habit once it is formed.

Cocoa, coffee, tea, and chocolate bars contain caffeine. It is a good idea to limit these items. Many of the foods and drinks that have caffeine in them also have sugar (e.g., pop).