BABY FEEDING GUIDE – FROM BIRTH TO PRE-SCHOOL!

Babies reach developmental milestones at their own pace, one baby step at a time. Use this feeding guide to help you navigate your baby’s nutrition from birth to preschool. It’s a simple way to help you start healthy so your baby stays healthy. Take it with you to the grocery store or keep it with you as a handy reference guide. If you have any questions speak to your healthcare professional. Once your baby is eating a variety of solid foods, you can offer small amounts of water in an

open cup to help develop drinking skills. Encourage your toddler to drink water on a regular basis. Drinking water keeps your little one hydrated and helps to prevent constipation^.

Your Baby

DevelopmentalMilestones^

• Starts to focus, follow objects, tries to mimic facial expressions• By around 2 months: Can lift head when on tummy or held at shoulder• By around 4 months: Can lift head and chest and support self on forearms when on tummy

• Rolls over from stomach to back• Holds head up • Sits up with support• Uses hands to reach and grasp

• Sits upright without support• Passes objects from one hand to the other

• Starts to crawl• May pull themself up to stand while holding something• Pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) develops, self-feeds finger foods

• Stands alone and begins to walk• Self-feeds easily with fingers• Begins to show interest in self-feeding with spoon

• Walks and runs• Can use spoon with some level of skill and drink from a cup• Copies the behaviour of adults and other children

Baby Talk (Hunger &

Fullness Cues)

• Increased arm and leg movement• Roots for nipple• Brings hands to face, and/or begins to suck on fist when hungry• Crying or fussing may be a late sign baby is very hungry• Spits out nipple, falls asleep or stops sucking when full

• Gazes intently at caregiver or, brings finger to mouth when hungry• Crying or fussing may be a late sign baby is very hungry• Socializes during feeding• May become distracted and notice surroundings or turns head away from breast or bottle when full

• Reaches for spoon/food when hungry• Clenches mouth or begins to play and pull away

from spoon when full• Loves to be included at the table for family meals

• Shows excitement and reaches for food when hungry• Can mash food with gums, later can bite and chew• Pushes food away when full• Begins to show likes and dislikes of certain foods

• Your toddler’s appetite will vary; trust his cues for hunger and fullness• Expresses desire for food with certain sounds/gestures – may even

start using words• Shakes head to say “no more” when full

• Your toddler’s appetite will vary; trust his cues for hunger and fullness.• Combines phrases with gestures such as “want that” and points to

food when hungry• Uses words like “all done” and “No!” when full• May play and throw food when full

Breast Milk or Iron-Fortified

Infant Formula

• Feed breast milk or infant formula on demand• For infants 0-3 wks:

8-10 feedings daily, 2-3 oz (60-100 ml) each

• For infants 4 wks-4 mths: 6-8 feedings daily,

4-5 oz (125-150 ml) each

• Feed breast milk or infant formula on demand• 4-6 feedings/day• 30-40 oz (900-1200 ml)/day

• Feed breast milk or infant formula on demand. After 6 months, if formula-feeding, consider introducing a 2nd stage formula that is calcium and iron enriched

• 3-5 feedings/day• 24-32 oz (720-960 ml)/day

• Feed breast milk or infant formula on demand. If formula-feeding, consider introducing a 2nd stage infant formula that is enriched with calcium and iron

• 8-9 months: 3-5 feedings/day • 9-12 months: 2-4 feedings/day • 24-32 oz (720-960 ml)/day∆

• Continue feeding breast milk for as long as you and your toddler wish to continue• 2-4 feedings daily• 750 ml maximum daily total milk intake♥

• Continue feeding breast milk for as long as you and your child wish to continue

Iron-Fortified Baby Cereal &

Other Grain Products

• Iron-fortified single-grain baby cereals such as: rice, oat, wheat• Gradually add iron-fortified baby cereal with new tastes

and textures• 5-15 ml (1-3 tsp∑) once a day increasing to 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp∑) twice daily

Tip: First foods should be iron-rich. At around 6 months of age, Canadian health experts recommend introducing meat, meat alternatives, and iron-fortified baby cereal.

• Iron-fortified multiple-grain baby cereals • 8-9 months: 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp∑) 2x/day• 9-12 months: 60-90 ml (4-6 tbsp∑) 2x/day

Tip: Finger Foods are fun and important for encouraging self-feeding. Offer your baby iron-fortified puffed rice baby cereal, whole grain toast cut into small pieces or strips, pasta, or teething biscuits. Let baby decide how much to eat from the foods offered.

• Continue with iron-fortified multiple-grain baby and toddler cereals and other grain products

This is what 1 toddler serving of Grain Products looks likeΩ:• 60 – 90+ ml (4-6+ tbsp)∑ iron-fortified multiple grain toddler cereal• ¼-½ slice of whole grain bread (18 g)• ¼ bagel (23 g)• 15-60ml (1-4 tbsp) whole grain brown rice, quinoa, or bulgur• 15-60ml (1-4 tbsp) cooked whole grain pasta or couscous

3 Food Guide servings of Grain Products per day.This is what 1 food guide serving looks likeΩ:• 1 slice (35 g) of whole grain bread• ½ whole grain bagel (45 g) • 125 ml (½ cup) cooked oats, whole grain brown rice, quinoa, or bulgur• 125 ml (½ cup) cooked whole grain pasta or couscous

Meat & Alternatives

• Purees of cooked meat, poultry, or fish• Tofu, legumes (egs. chickpeas, lentils, and kidney beans), well cooked and mashed• Eggs, hard boiled and mashed with water or scrambled • 15-45 ml (1-3 tbsp) /day

Important: Be sure to cook all meat, eggs, poultry, and fish well

• Offer a variety of iron-rich foods to baby• Progress from thicker purees to minced or finely chopped soft meat, fish, legumes, poultry, tofu and eggs• 8-9 months: 15-45 ml (1-3 tbsp) /day• 9-12 months: 30-45 ml (2-3 tbsp) 2x/day

• Continue with minced or diced cooked tender meat and alternativesThis is what 1 toddler serving of Meat or Alternatives looks likeΩ:• 15-60 ml (1-4 tbsp) fish, poultry, or lean meat• 30-45 ml (2-3 tbsp) pureed legumes• 1 egg

Important: Offer iron-rich foods at every meal

1 Food Guide Serving of Meat or Alternatives per day.This is what 1 food guide serving looks likeΩ:• 125 ml (½ cup) cooked fish, poultry, or lean meat• 175 ml (¾ cup) cooked beans, lentils, or tofu• 2 eggs• 30 ml (2 tbsp) peanut butter

Vegetables & Fruits

• Pureed, cooked vegetables & fruits• Soft ripe fresh fruit, mashed• Fruit: 30-45 ml (2-3 tbsp) 3x/day • Veg: 30-45 ml ( 2-3 tbsp) 3x/day

Tip: Pair foods high in vitamin C, such as mango, citrus fruits, strawberries, tomato products, avocado or broccoli, with iron-rich foods to boost iron absorption.

• Mashed or soft bite-sized pieces of cooked vegetables and fruits • Peeled and finely chopped soft fruit and grated raw vegetables• Fruit: 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp) 3x/day• Veg: 8-9 months: 30-45 ml (2-3 tbsp) 2x/day• Veg: 9-12 months: 45-60 ml (3-4 tbsp) 2x/day

Tip: Offering baby a variety of textures including chopped, minced, and grated foods helps with the development of oral motor skills and may increase the acceptance of foods.

• Continue with mashed or soft bite-sized pieces of cooked vegetables or grated raw vegetables

• Soft, peeled, seeded and diced fresh fruit or canned fruit packed in water or juice

This is what 1 toddler serving of Fruits and/or Vegetables looks likeΩ:• ½ medium vegetable or fruit• 30-60ml (2-4 tbsp) fresh, cooked, frozen, or canned vegetables or fruit• 30-60ml (1⁄8-¼ cup) 100% juice

4 Food Guide Servings of Fruits and/or Vegetables per day.This is what 1 food guide serving looks likeΩ:• 1 medium vegetable or fruit• 125 ml (½ cup) fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables or fruit• 125 ml (½ cup) 100% juice

Milk & Alternatives • Milk products like grated cheese and yogurt can be introduced around 6 months of age • Keep breast milk or formula as the main milk source and save whole (3.25% M.F) cow’s milk for after 9-12 months of age

• Continue to offer milk products such as plain yogurt (3.25% M.F. or higher), cottage cheese or grated cheese• 15-30 ml (1-2 tbsp) /day• Whole (3.25% M.F.) cow’s milk can be introduced at 9-12 months

• Start with 1-2 oz (30-60 ml) and gradually increase.• 500-750 ml/day maximum∆

• Plain yogurt (3.25% or higher M.F.), cottage cheese or grated cheese This is what 1 toddler serving of Milk or Alternatives looks likeΩ:• 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp) of yogurt or cottage cheese• 60-125 ml (¼-½ cup) Whole (3.25% M.F.) cow’s milk• 15-25 g (½-1 oz) grated cheese• 750 ml maximum total milk♥

2 Food Guide Servings of Milk or Alternatives per day.This is what 1 Food Guide Serving looks likeΩ:• 250 ml (1 cup) milk• 175 ml (¾ cup) yogurt or cottage cheese• 50 g (1 ½ oz) cheese

Good To Try

NESTLÉ® GOOD START® ProbioticTM

with Omega 3&6

If an alternative to breast milk is required.

NESTLÉ® GOOD START® ProbioticTM

with Omega 3&6

If an alternative to breast milk is required.

NESTLÉ® GOOD START® 2 ProbioticTM

with Omega 3&6

If an alternative to breast milk is required.

NESTLÉ® GERBER®

Baby Cereal – Rice(Starter Stage)

NESTLÉ GERBER®

Baby Cereal – Wheat, Yogurt, Apple, Pear & Banana

NESTLÉ® GERBER® Puffs

NESTLÉ® GERBER® Yogurt Melts™

Strawberry

NESTLÉ® GERBER®

Lil’Crunchies® Veggie Dip

NESTLÉ® GERBER®

Toddler Cereal – Cherries& Berries 5 Grain

NESTLÉ® GERBER® Lil’Whoos™

Multigrain Veggie

NESTLÉ® GERBER® Lil’Entrées® selections

Healthy Tips & Recommendations

A daily supplement of 400 IU vitamin D is recommended for infants who are breastfed or receiving breast milk from birth up until 1 year. For toddlers who continue to consume breast milk or who do not consume cow’s milk, provide a daily vitamin D supplement until they are 2 years of age (when young children are getting their daily recommended intake from a variety of sources~).

Probiotics are part of what gives breast milk its naturally protective qualities. GOOD START Probiotic contains B. lactis, a probiotic that contributes to baby’s healthy digestive tract flora.**

Mix fruit and vegetable purees with your NESTLÉ GERBER Baby Cereal to enhance iron absorption and expand tastes and textures. Each serving of NESTLÉ GERBER Baby Cereal provides 100% of the daily value of iron babies need.Υ

Choose snacks with appropriate sizes and textures for baby to help with sensory development and self-feeding. Snacks like NESTLÉ GERBER Puffs are a nutritious snack option that have a unique star shape and ridges, making them easy for baby to pick up and great for sensory development.

Offer iron-rich foods at every meal by 1 year of age. Each servingof NESTLÉ GERBER Toddler Cereal provides 100% of the daily value of iron toddlers need.Υ

Following Canada’s Food Guide (www.hc-sc.gc.ca) helps your toddler grow and thrive. Be sure to establish a regular schedule of meals and snacks while encouraging family meals as often as you can.

Important to know: At around 6 months, your baby will be ready to start solid foods. Start with iron-rich foods such as meat, meat alternatives and iron-fortified baby cereal. The introduction of solid foods should be a steady progression moving first from single-ingredient purees to richer tastes and lumpier textures. Wait 2 days before introducing each new food to help you recognize if a new food is causing an allergic reaction. Encourage self-feeding by offering safe finger foods such as soft cooked vegetables or grated cheese from around 6 months.

Developing independence and a healthy appetite: Make family meal times fun by offering a variety of healthy foods from all food groups and let your toddler decide how much he wishes to eat. Generally 1-2 year olds can only eat ¼ to ½ of an adult portion. Begin by offering small portions and let your child ask for more. It is normal for your little one’s appetite to go up and down. Keep offering new foods; it may take up to 10 tries before a new food is accepted. Trust your toddler to know when they are hungry or not hungry and try not to worry about individual meals but rather the “big picture” of your toddler developing good eating habits.

Time for milk? Pasteurized homogenized whole (3.25% M.F.) cow’s milk♦ can be introduced between 9 to 12 months of age, once your baby is eating a variety of iron-rich foods such as meat, eggs, tofu, legumes and iron-fortified baby cereals. Start with 1-2 oz (30-60 ml) of cow’s milk and gradually increase as the volume of breast milk or infant formula decreases. Offer cow’s milk in an open cup and continue breastfeeding or formula-feeding on demand. Continue breastfeeding for as long as you and your toddler wish to continue. Offer toddlers older than 12 months at least 500 ml and no more than 750 ml of total milk per day ∆. Infants and toddlers who are consuming breast milk should receive a daily supplement of 10 µg (400 IU) vitamin D.

Visit nestle-baby.ca for great articles on baby and toddler nutrition, and to learn more about the full line of Nestlé® Infant and Toddler nutrition products to nourish your child at every stage

TM

Nutrition Guide

birth+supported

sitter sitter crawler toddler preschooler

birth+supported

sitter sitter crawler toddler preschooler

0+ 4 months +6 months + 8 months + 12 months +

24 months +

†

IMPORTANT:

CHOKING HAZARDS –Always supervise your child at all times during meals and snacks. A child who is choking may not be able to make a noise or attract attention

INFANT BOTULISM – Wait until 1 year of age before introducing your baby to honey.

† Developing eating habits for a healthy diet.^ Sacks, Diane, ed. The Canadian Paediatric Society: Guide to Caring for Your Child from Birth to Age Five. Mississauga: John Wiley & Sons, Canada, 2009.

♦ Before 2 years of age, skimmed or partly skimmed (1% or 2% M.F.) milk is not recommended. ∆ Serving recommendations include milk from all sources: breast milk, iron-fortified infant formula, whole cow’s milk.** There are 130 million B. lactis in 100 ml (3 fl. oz.) ~ All breastfed or partially breastfed, full term infants in Canada should receive a vitamin D supplement of 10 ug (400 IU). After 1 year, all children should

have a daily intake of 15 ug (600 IU) of vitamin D. Speak to your health care provider about additional good sources of vitamin D in your family’s diet.∑ Cereal measurements refer to dry cereal before preparation.

Υ Based on % Daily Value for iron; each 5 tbsp serving contains 7 mg of iron (100% of the Daily Value) for children less than 2 years old. ♥ A toddler should not consume more than 750 ml (24 oz) of breast milk, formula, or whole cow’s milk per day, as excess dairy can suppress appetite and replace iron-rich foods,

which can lead to iron deficiency anemiaΩ Serving guidelines and sizes follow recommendations from Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide, 2007. Preschooler’s (24 months +) follow Canada’s Food Guide recommendations for 2- 3 years. There are currently no formal Food Guide recommendations for toddlers

under 2 years, but these serving recommendations stated for Toddlers (12 months+) follow the principles for 24+ months to offer a variety of nutritious foods at this stage. Examples for smaller portions outlined in this Guide can help you decide how much to offer your toddler.

Basic measurementsTeaspoon (tsp) = 5mlTablespoon (tbsp) = 15ml Ounce (oz) = 30 mlCup = 250 ml

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