Introduction to solids
Toddlers & the feeding relationship
Nutrition information in PG
Canada's Food Guide: Focus on Preschoolers
Canada's Food Guide
Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months to give your baby the best start on life. Breast milk has all the nutrition your baby needs for the first 6 months of life, and also helps protect your newborn from getting sick.
Health Canada recommends that from birth, all breastfed babies get a daily supplement of 400 IU of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D helps your baby to build strong bones and teeth. Sunlight is the main way that our bodies make Vitamin D. Living in the North and using sunscreen or shading and covering your baby to protect him from the dangers of too much sun, means he cannot count on the sun to make enough Vitamin D. This is why it is important to give Vitamin D drops every day until your baby is getting enough from the foods he eats everyday.
You can buy Vitamin D drops from the drug store to give to your breastfed baby. Always check the label to find out how to measure out the amount in the dropper that equals 400 IU. Continue giving it until your baby is getting 400 IU of Vitamin D from foods everyday.
Check with your health care provider about giving your baby a Vitamin D supplement.
For breastfeeding education and support: Lactation Consultant through the hospital at 565-2327 La Leche League at 964-0502 or 612-0085.
For nutrition handouts on breastfeeding: Northern Health's Community Nutrition Program at 565-7384.
For more information on Breast feeding: Baby's Best Chance resource booklet.
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Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months to give your baby the best start in life. You will know your baby is ready for solid foods when he can sit and hold his head up, can follow your finger or a spoon with his eyes, and does not push food out of his mouth with his tongue.
Iron becomes very important for your baby after 6 months. Continuing to breastfeed and introducing solid foods that are higher in iron like iron fortified single-grain cereals, finely minced meat moistened with meat juices, and mashed beans will help ensure that your baby grows well. Check with a nutrition professional about other foods you can introduce.
Call Northern Health's Community Nutrition Program at (250) 565-7384. If you have concerns about your baby's growth or development, call your doctor for help.
For more information on your baby's first foods, check out Baby's First Foods in the BC Health Files.
As your child grows from an infant to a toddler, he will begin to explore the world in many ways. Toddlers want to be independent, but still have a safe and comforting place to turn to when it gets scary. It's no different with food. A toddler will quickly learn that only he has control over what he eats, and no amount of pressure from mom or dad is going to change that! A great way to avoid fighting over food and eating is to observe a healthy feeding relationship. This means sharing the responsibility for healthy eating with your toddler.
As a parent, your role is what to offer, and when to offer it. You choose what foods are available, and make sure they are offered at regularly scheduled meal times.
Your child chooses how much, and whether he eats. He knows when he is hungry and when he is full. Giving your toddler healthy food and drink choices sets boundaries around what is offered and this will help your child learn to eat well.
Call Northern Health's Community Nutrition Program (250) 565-7384.
Download the BC Ministry of Health handout Feeding Your Toddler With Love and Good Food.
For more information on feedling your toddler, see Meal & Snack Ideas for your 1 to 3 year-old toddler in the BC Health Files.
If you are looking for general nutrition information, Northern Health's Community Nutrition Program (CNP) is a great place to start. Located at the Centre for Healthy Living on Deifenbaker Street, the CNP houses hundreds of nutrition pamphlets and handouts for the public. From Pregnancy to Seniors, from Allergies to Vegetarianism, the CNP is your source for reliable nutrition information. The CNP also houses a lending library of nutrition education kits available for loan free of charge for 1 - 2 weeks. Call the CNP for more information at 565-7384.
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