10
Healthy Babies
Activity
Ensuring your baby gets the
best possible start in life is
essential for all new parents.
Here are some tips to help
you both on your way.
Introducing baby to
solid foods
If you’re thinking of
introducing solid foods
discuss it with your health
visitor or children’s centre. It
is recommended that parents
wait until baby is six months
old before introducing solid
food. Baby should be able to:
• Stay in an upright
sitting position
• Co-ordinate hand and mouth
movements so they can
look at their food
• Be able to swallow food.
Choose foods that are low
in sugar and salt, such as
breadsticks, rice cakes, fruit
or cooled steamed vegetables.
Limit the amount of sugary
foods you give baby to look
after his/her health and teeth.
Drinks
Water and milk are the
healthiest choices for baby.
Try to avoid offering sugary
drinks and if you do, limit these
to meal times.
0-6months: feeding bottles
should only be used for
expressed milk, infant formula
or cooled boiled water.
6-12months: drinks should
be offered in a non-valved,
free-flowing cup. Avoid
adding sugar or honey to
weaning foods or drinks.
ne year onwards: discourage
O
feeding from a bottle.
Oxfordshire’s children’s centres
and health visitors are able
to offer specific parenting
programmes around healthy
eating, physical activity and
emotional health.
Nappy sack safety
Nappy sacks have caused
infant deaths both locally and
nationally. They are easy for
babies (especially those aged
under six months) to grasp
and put in their mouth for
exploration, increasing the risk
of suffocation.
To prevent suffocation danger:
•S
tore nappy sacks away
from the changing area, out
of the reach of baby
•O
nly remove the nappy sack
from the pack when you are
ready to use it.
The Royal Society for
Prevention of Accidents is
working to ensure bags are
produced with safety holes in
the bottom of t