1. Why can’t babies have solids before six months?

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 Loving Care: Birth to 6 Months (page 42) has lots of information on feeding your baby. Very young children do not need solid food before they are 6 months old because they get all the nutrition they need from breast milk (or formula). If they have solid food, they will be too full and won’t drink enough milk! (Reference: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/HealthyPeople/LovingCareBirthTo6Months.pdf )

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2. Is it ok to feed my 8-month-old baby one bottle of formula a day? (And the rest of time water and juice)

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Babies 6-8 months old require at least three servings of breast milk or formula every day. Replacing milk with water or juice fills your baby up and doesn’t provide them with the nutrients they need. (Reference: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/HealthyPeople/LovingCare6To12Months.pdf )

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3. How long should babies have baby food and cereal?

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Baby food and baby cereal are easy for young children to swallow. When your baby shows interest in other foods, start with small amounts and soft textures. Once young children are used to these foods, add more options to their diet. Your baby does not need to continue eating cereals and prepared baby food once he or she is able to eat solids.  Loving Care: 6 to 12 Months has more information about nutrition for your growing baby. (Reference: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/HealthyPeople/LovingCare6To12Months.pdf )

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4. When do I start cow’s milk and take them off breast milk or formula?

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When your baby is 1 year old, you may start giving whole cow’s milk (3.25%), with a balanced diet of solid foods (vegetables, fruits, and meats). Limit baby to 950 mL of cow’s milk per day. Remember that breast milk is still an important part of baby’s diet until he or she is 2 years or older. More than 950mL of cow’s milk can provide too many calories and may decrease baby’s appetite for other important foods. (Reference: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Why-Formula-Instead-of-Cows-Milk.aspx )

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5. What food should I start with?

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At six months old, your baby should start eating foods with iron like:

• Soft-cooked pureed, mashed, or finely chopped beef, chicken, or pork

• Well-cooked mashed eggs, tofu, lentils, or beans

• Iron-fortified infant cereals mixed with breast milk or infant formula

 

After baby is eating plenty of iron-rich foods, add foods like:

• Vegetables: Well-cooked mashed sweet potato and squash, soft-cooked pieces of broccoli and carrots 

• Fruit: Pieces of mango, pears, peaches, and bananas

• Full fat cheese and yogurt: Grated cheddar, mozzarella and Swiss, plain cottage cheese and plain yogurt

• Other grain products: Strips of whole grain toast, O shaped cereal, and well-cooked pasta

 

 (Reference: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/HealthyPeople/FeedingYourBaby.pdf )

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6. How do I make my own inexpensive baby food?

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There are many ways to make inexpensive baby food. At meal time you can mash or puree foods that you are eating to feed your child. Eat Right Ontario website is a great resource on homemade baby food. However, you should never make homemade infant formula for your baby. (Reference: https://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Breastfeeding/Infant-feeding/All-about-homemade-baby-food.aspx )

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7. When should I start giving my baby water?

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Babies who are breastfed do not need extra water. When your baby starts to eat other kinds of foods at six months old, you can offer water between meals and snacks. (Reference: http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/feeding_your_baby_in_the_first_year )

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8. Is my baby getting enough breast milk?

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After the first week of life, you can tell baby is getting enough to eat when they have six or more wet diapers in a 24-hour period; their poop is yellow, soft, and seedy; and baby is gaining weight. (Reference: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/HealthyPeople/BFI/BreastfeedingYourBaby.pdf )

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9. How can I increase my milk supply?

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Most mothers make enough milk for their babies, if babies are only drinking breast milk. However, if you do need to increase the amount of milk you are making, here are some suggestions: empty your breasts 8 to 12 times every day (by breastfeeding, pumping, or hand expressing milk); drink more water and less caffeine; and make sure baby is latching well. For more information on increasing your breast milk supply, please contact the breastfeeding clinic by calling The Moncton Hospital at 506-857-5111. (Reference: http://www.llli.org/docs/Tear-Off%20Sheets/english/10245_increasing_your_milk_supply.pdf )

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