The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA), recommends breastfeeding mums need to eat an extra 2000kj a day on top of the recommended 8-10,000kj a day for a standard diet. Breastfeeding mums produce approximately 800ml of milk a day and the demands of producing that milk means that they need to keep an eye on their diet and make sure they are eating enough healthy foods to look after themselves as well as their baby.

The key to good nutrition for anyone is to eat foods from the five food groups every day. It is important for mum to keep up a good diet from these food groups:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt)
• Protein (meat, chicken, fish, nuts, eggs)
• Grains and cereals (bread, rice, pasta)

As well as eating a nutricious diet, a breastfeeding mother must make sure that her fluid intake is increased. As mentioned above, around 800ml of milk is made per day and baby drains that fluid from the mother’s body. She must replenish her breastmilk so therefore needs to increase her fluid intake to keep herself hydrated and her body producing milk for her baby. Whilst baby is breastfeeding mum is likely to become thirsty so it’s a good idea to have a glass of water with you whenever you are feeding your baby.

Women usually need about 46gm of protein a day, but this amount increases to about 67g for women who are breastfeeding because a lot of protein goes into the breast milk. Examples of foods high in protein are roasted chicken breast, ham, almonds, cheddar cheese and boiled eggs. These are great additions to your diet when breastfeeding.

Breastmilk also drains zinc and iodine from the mother’s supply, so it is important for any breastfeeding mother to increase her intake of both of these vital nutrients. High protein foods are also high in zinc and milk is a good source as well. These days you can buy iodised salt and adding this to your regular meals should be sufficient for breastfeeding mums.

If you feel like you’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals you can always take a specialised multivitamin designed for breastfeeding. Most of the time, these will be the ones you have already been taking during pregnancy, some examples are Elevit and Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Gold.

Most breastfeeding mums have the freedom to eat whatever foods they like without any problems. There are however a few guidelines that you might like to know about.

Caffeine becomes very diluted in the blood & is therefore not a problem by the time it gets into breastmilk. The recommendation is no more than four cups per day (this includes, tea, coffee and cola) as the cause for concern with caffeine is the fact that it is a diuretic and causes mum to lose fluid so you will need to drink a lot more non-caffeinated drinks if you choose to drink anything with caffeine during the day. Energy drinks are not recommended at all.

The most recent research says that one standard alcoholic drink is unlikely to harm your baby through breastmilk, any more than that passes through breastmilk in high quantities and can be dangerous to your baby. If you do choose to have a drink, it’s best to wait until baby is in bed for the night and is likely to have a longer stretch between feeds so the alcohol has time to diminish in your milk supply. It’s not all bad news though, if you want to go out for a night on the town and have a few drinks. You can till have a few drinks, all you need to do is “pump & dump”, i.e. express off the breastmilk and throw it away. All you need to remember is that the alcohol in your breastmilk will be similar to what’s in your blood, so if you are ready at 0.05 on a breath test, you will have a similar amount in your breastmilk.

Also, if you smoke, breastfeeding is a good reason to try to quit. Smoking can cause you to produce less milk and the chemicals in cigarettes is released through breastmilk.

Some mums find that there are certain foods that upset their baby’s stomachs. This doesn’t happen with all babies and it’s possible that you can eat all of your regular foods without any problems. However if you do notice that your baby is fussy or has an upset tummy you might need to think back to what you have been eating. Some of the following are known to cause problems for some babies:

• spicy foods
• chocolate
• broccoli
• cabbage
• brussels sprouts
• tomato
• oranges
• onions
• beans

One good thing to remember also is that the flavour of your breastmilk will change slightly with what you eat. It’s believed that babies who are breastfed will enjoy a more varied diet once they are weaned as they are used to a variety of flavours, where formula tastes the same every single time.

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Sometimes as a breastfeeding mum you feel like your supply is lacking, particularly of an evening after a long day. You don’t need to worry about your supply if you have some Lactation Cookies at hand.

The main ingredients of the lactation cookies are galactagogues (which are substances that promote lactation) and there are a few others that you can try independently or in combination with the cookies. The most common ones are asparagus, fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, blessed thistle flax, red raspberry tea and alfalfa.

There are a few variations of this recipe across the internet and you can easily change it yourself to suit your tastes. Adding nuts or peanut butter or substituting sultanas for the choc chips are some great alternatives. It really is a versatile recipe and as long as you keep the galactagogues, the brewer’s yeast, oats and linseed (or flaxseed), then you’ll be fine.

Lots of women are concerned about sharing their lactation cookies with people that don't want to produce milk. Rest assured, that your husband and older children can happily eat them without concern of them starting to lactate. The galactagogues are fine for men and children and even non breastfeeding women to consume. In combination with the correct hormones they promote an increase in breast milk production, but won’t affect those that are not already lactating.

Ingredients:

• 60gm cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup wholemeal flour
• 1 & 1/2 cup white flour
• 2 tablespoon ground linseed meal
• 2 tablespoon linseed
• 4 tablespoons brewers yeast
• 3 cups oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180.
2. Cream together the butter and sugars.
3. Add eggs one at a time and mix well.
4. Add vanilla and mix to combine.
5. In a separate bowl, combine the flours, linseed meal, linseed and yeast.
6. Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients gradually, mixing to combine after a few spoonfuls.
7. Once combined add the oats and choc chips and any other ingredients you’ve chosen (ie nuts or sultanas).
8. Line a baking sheet with greasproof paper and drop tablespoons onto the baking sheet.
9. Bake for approximately 12 minutes, until the tops are nice and golden.

Note: A lot of people have problems finding the main ingredients, the best place to get brewer’s yeast and linseed meal are at a health food shop. The whole linseeds are easy to find in the supermarket in the health foods aisle.

If you’re like me and enjoy a glass of milk with your cookies. For breastfeeding mums, as well as the lactation cookie recipe, there is a simple recipe for a lactation milkshake that you might like to try. There's no documentation on why it works, but I believe it’s a combination of the fat & calcium in the milk and also the vitamins & minerals in the Activite (which is a chocolate drink mixer, found in the coffee aisle at the supermarket).

Ingredients:

• 1 cup skim milk powder
• 1 cup Activite
• 1 litre Milk

Method:

1. Mix all ingredients together until well combined and store in the fridge.
2. Drink one large glass in the morning then drink as required throughout the day.
3. Drink as required for three days to finish off the entire amount to get your milk flowing.

Please remember that neither the lactation cookie or milkshake recipes are a guarantee to increase your breastmilk production. The best way to increase your production is always more feeding, the more often baby feeds the better your supply.

If you have concerns about your milk supply, please see your doctor or early childhood nurse.

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Benefits of breast milk
• It’s free
• Sterile
• Always at the right temperature
• It’s easy for the baby to digest
• It’s packed full of antibodies that help protect against infections
• Breast fed babies are less likely to develop asthma and eczema
• Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop ovarian and breast cancers and osteoporosis
• Breastfeeding uses up about an extra 800 calories a day so it can help burn up some of the weight put on in pregnancy

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Type-1 diabetes is a major childhood health problem. According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures quoted recently, 20.9 children in every 100,000 develop it and there has been a 50% increase over the past decade in the incidence of the condition - in particular among the under-fives.

Unlike Type-2 diabetes - the version that develops gradually in an adult for lifestyle reasons - Type 1 attacks quickly, at times within 48 hours. Symptoms include acute dehydration and sudden, considerable weight loss (see footnote), and there’s a strong risk of coma if diagnosis and treatment aren’t swift enough. It develops when the body can no longer produce insulin, the hormone needed for cells to convert glucose to energy and is attributable to heredity and environment.

‘At-risk’ pregnant women include those who have been diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes or with partners or children who have developed the disease.

A major trial is under way in Australia testing the theory that young people with a genetic susceptibility to the disease contract it in the first six months of life through exposure to environmental factors possibly including cows’ milk protein and milk-based infant formula. Because of large molecules in the milk protein. There is not enough evidence yet to tell people at risk to avoid milk products that contain the suspected protein, hence the current trials. Mothers included in the trial are encouraged to breastfeed but when babies need supplement formula they’ll be divided into groups receiving typical and amended cows’milk formulas and the results tracked to see if the markers of diabetes develop. Future modification of cows’ milk in formula that would eradicate Type 1 depends on the results.

New Zealand researchers are trying to determine whether a specific cows’ milk protein, A1 beta casein, is associated with the rise in Type-1 diabetes and apart from macromolecule (large milk molecules) investigations, Australian researchers are also checking a link with rotavirus, which causes severe gastroenteritis in children.

Footnote: Type-1 diabetes symptoms: extreme thirst, frequent urinating, drowsiness or lethergy, increased appetite, sudden weight loss, sugar in urine, fruity breath odour, vision changes, heavy or laboured breathing, stupor or unconsciousness.

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If you choose not to breastfeed, or you cannot breastfeed, or if you decide to discontinue breastfeeding within the first twelve months, this will not make you a negligent mother. Just as breastfeeding does not make you a good mother, bottlefeeding does not make you a bad one.

If you are bottlefeeding, you must decide which formula is best for your baby. Often your paediatrician, midwife or doctor may advise you. If either you or your partner have a history of milk allergies, be sure to mention this to your doctor. Many children do have an intolerance or allergy to lactose, the protein in milk from a dairy source. This factor will influence the type of formula your paediatrician, midwife or doctor recommends. Soya-based formulas are available as an alternative to dairy.

Formulas today have properties closely matched to those of breast milk, including the delicate balance and quantities of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Cow’s milk and baby formula are not the same. Formula is designed for a baby’s digestive system and cow’s milk is not. Cow’s milk is not suitable for children less than one year old. For more specific information regarding the different manufacturers of formula, check with your paediatrician, doctor or midwife.    

For bottle feeding you will need:

• between two and six bottles
• teats with the right flow-rate for your baby’s age
• bottle caps
• bottle/teat brush
• sterilising equipment
• insulated cool bag for outings

Preparing a bottle

Boil water and allow to cool for 45 minutes.

Wash your hands then following the instructions on your chosen formula, measure out the correct amount using a sterilised knife to level the scoops and tip into a sterilised bottle. Add the cooled water to the required level, fit together the teat, locking ring and cap, and screw onto the bottle, careful not to over-tighten. A little air is needed to encourage milk flow as your baby suckles. The bottle can be used immediately or stored for up to 24 hours in the fridge.

Hygiene is most important when bottlefeeding as bacteria thrive in warm conditions. Your baby’s immune system is still undeveloped and vulnerable. After every feed, you will need to wash and sterilise every little bit of equipment. Firstly, wash the equipment in hot soapy water, using a bottlebrush to get rid of any residue, paying particular attention to the teat holes. Then rinse the equipment well to get rid of any detergent residue. Now you can sterilise. This can be done one of three ways.

• You can boil it for 10 minutes then allow it to cool before using it
• Immerse it for an hour in a plastic-covered container with sterilising fluid (always read all instructions)
• Use a steam steriliser, either one that is self-heating or one that can be used in a microwave

When you are feeding by bottle, take time to sit and hold your baby. This prevents your child becoming too attached to the bottle and you remain in control of the feeding.

Avoid bottle-feeding your baby when it is lying completely flat as swallowing may allow fluid to enter the middle ear and cause ear infections.

For this same reason, do not put your baby to bed with a bottle. Furthermore, oral hygiene is compromised when a child falls asleep with the bottle in its mouth. Sugar in the formula collects in the baby’s mouth and coats the teeth which can cause tooth decay.

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The breast is an amazingly efficient organ. Your body has been preparing for lactation since shortly after conception and some women can express breastmilk from the midpoint of pregnancy.

Milk is made from water, protein and milk sugar (lactose) in your blood. It is produced in the clusters of milk glands called alveoli and moves to the nipple through ducts. When your baby first suckles, the stimulation sends messages to your brain and the pituitary gland at the base of your brain releases two hormones called prolactin and oxytocin.

Prolactin stimulates the alveoli to produce milk and oxytocin stimulates the alveoli to contract and squeeze the milk out into the milk ducts. This is known as the “let-down reflex”. Babies use their tongues and jaws to squeeze the milk out by compressing the breast tissue.

The first milk, called colostrum, is often clear or slightly white- blue in colour. It is thin in consistency and packed full of antibodies to naturally immunise your baby. Your true milk will appear after a couple of days. Although human milk is rich in protein and fats, it is thinner than cow's milk and resembles skimmed milk rather than wholemilk. It tastes very sweet.

Breast milk comes out of several holes within the nipple, not just the one and it is common for one breast to produce much more milk than the other.

Getting started

All breasts function the same way. Small nipples are as capable of feeding as large ones and it doesn’t matter whether you have small, compact breasts or large voluptuous ones. The milk is produced in deeply buried glands, not in the surrounding fatty tissue.

The best way to prepare breasts for breastfeeding is to stimulate the nipples with sexual foreplay and sucking. Sex also releases oxytocin that helps in the production and release of milk.

Breastfeeding is not always straightforward. In many cases the baby will instinctively latch on to the breast without delay, though many first-time mothers find the first few days and even weeks worrying, strange, uncomfortable and excruciatingly painful. First experiences for most women fall somewhere in-between.

Don’t give up before you and your baby have had a chance to get passed the initial stage. Nature designed mothers to have milk-producing breasts, and babies are born with two reflexes common to all mammals, sucking and rooting. Rooting is your baby’s instinctual search for the nipple displayed by rolling or swaying head movements with an open mouth. Even if you are able to manage a couple of weeks of breastfeeding, it will be greatly beneficial to your baby’s long-term wellbeing.

It is likely your first attempts will be with a midwife present. Don’t be shy to ask questions and to seek any direction you may need.

The key to successful breastfeeding begins with positioning so make sure you are comfortable and can sit without having to get up for at least 30-45 minutes. You may choose to start by sitting in a chair or in bed using pillows to raise your baby to a height where its body and head are in line with your breast. Many mothers find lying on their sides easy. Ideally, position yourself so that you can hold your baby with one arm and have the other free. You may choose to have your baby firmly wrapped so that its head is supported and its hands can’t get in the way. Or you may prefer your baby unwrapped and close with its chest to your chest.  

Try these:

Position your baby on your forearm, its head in the crook of your arm. Support her bottom with your other hand. Pull your baby in close to you, belly to belly, its ear, shoulder and hip in a straight line.
Place your baby on a pillow, tucked close to your side. Rest your arm on a pillow, to bring your baby’s mouth up to your breast. Support your baby’s head with your hand. This positioning is useful for women who have had caesareans.

Lie on the side you will be feeding from. Place your head on a pillow and draw your baby in close to you, using your arm to support its bottom. Use your other hand to bring the breast up to your baby’s mouth. This is also useful for mothers who have had caesarean delivery or if you want to rest while feeding.

Ask your midwife or health visitor to show you different positions and variations.

• It’s best not to wash your breasts before feeding. Babies are attracted to the natural scent of your breast.
• To make it easier, free the whole breast area of loose clothing and blankets.
• Place your baby so that the cheek is next to your breast, facing the breast, with its nose opposite the nipple.
• It’s a baby-to-breast action rather than a breast-to-baby action.
• Support your breast from underneath but do not distort the curve of your breast. Your thumb and forefingers should be parallel to your baby’s mouth.
• Place the index and middle finger of the other hand on either side of your areola (the dark ring surrounding your nipple) and gently squeeze to press this area forward.
• With your nipple, touch your baby’s upper lip or stroke the side of your baby’s cheek nearest to your breast to encourage your baby to turn its head and open its mouth.
• Your baby needs to suck on breast tissue, not chew on the end of the nipple. The nipple and as much of the areola should be deep in its mouth to the back of the throat. The jaws press on the areola to pump the milk.
• If the areola is showing more than just a little carefully release the suction by slipping a finger gently into the corners of its mouth and pressing on your breast until you baby lets go. Wait until its mouth is wide open again and try putting the whole of the areola inside.
• Your baby should suck hard and rhythmically, defining the difference between sucking and feeding. Babies like to suck, but it is important they are swallowing. Gently stroking your baby’s throat can encourage swallowing.
• When finished with one breast, place your little finger in your baby’s mouth and again push down gently on the lower jaw to break the suction. This avoids painful pulling on your nipple.
• Offer the second breast that your baby may or may not want.

Try not to get discouraged if this all seems difficult. It may take some time for both of you to get used to it. Some babies are natural suckers. Others need encouragement. Breastfed babies do not suck continuously through a feeding. They tend to enjoy bursts of sucking, then stop for a while before starting again. This is normal.Your baby will let you know when it is ready to feed.

Your baby may stir in its sleep, the eyelids may flutter open and shut, or it may suck in its fingers. If any of these messages are unnoticed, your baby will probably cry.

A midwife or visiting health practitioner should see both you and your baby, two to four days after the birth. All babies should be seen again at one week and one month.

It’s a good idea to record your first attempts to breastfeed detailing the following:
time of day you begin feeding

• duration on each breast
• position of baby on breast
• number of wet and soiled nappies

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An issue of much contention is whether to feed your baby by breast or bottle. In recent years there has been increasing pressure and demands on women to breastfeed. In an ideal world all mothers would breastfeed and there are many obvious physical and emotional advantages for both the mother and baby. No manufacturer has yet been able to invent anything better than an approximation of healthy human milk. A mother's own milk adapts to her baby's individual nutritional requirements.
Healthy human milk contains the delicate balance and quantities of proteins, fats and carbohydrates necessary for your baby's development.
However for many legitimate reasons a mother may be unable to breastfeed her infant.

Breastfeeding is thought to decrease your baby’s risk of:

• diarrhoea
• respiratory infection
• middle ear infection
• meningitis
• botulism
• urinary tract infection
• necrotizing enterocolitis
• sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• diabetes
• Crohn’s disease
• ulcerative colitis
• lymphoma
• allergies and food sensitivities
• There is also evidence to suggest that breastfeeding enhances your baby’s eyesight, speech, intelligence and brain development. Your baby's brain development continues at a rapid rate for about three years after birth so it is vital that the mother's milk is healthy and contains the appropriate balance of essential fatty acids and zinc. Since healthy breast milk is undoubtedly the best source of these nutrients many professionals emphasise the importance of breastfeeding for as long as possible. Some professionals believe that your baby is the best judge as to when to stop breastfeeding.

Physical benefits for the mother are abundant during post partum recovery. One reason for this is that the hormone oxytocin, responsible for the "let-down reflex" during breastfeeding, also encourages the contraction of the uterus following childbirth. This "clamping action" aids the reduction of blood loss post delivery.
Breastfeeding is also known to assist weight loss following childbirth and is believed to reduce risks of future osteoporosis, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. (See information on right).Furthermore there is evidence to suggest that babies who are breastfed develop a deep and lasting bond with their mother.Some women cannot, or choose not, to breastfeed. While professionals encourage women to breastfeed their newborn there are some medical circumstances that may compromise the efficient production of healthy milk. If you have any concerns about your medical history and how it may affect your ability to breastfeed, consult your doctor or medical professional. Financial hardship may necessitate a mother having to work while her infant is in care making it difficult to regularly breastfeed. Single mothers living alone and needing to bring in an income may often find themselves without the option of breastfeeding. In more recent years many women in careers have found it necessary to maintain a balance between motherhood and work and have chosen bottlefeeding, or a combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding, to accommodate this.

Living in a multi-cultural society it is important to acknowledge the varying pressures facing women which may affect their decisions in feeding their infants. Cultural influences can be significant and complex factors and what may seem normal in one society may be viewed as extreme in another. In some cases a woman may have a partner who does not like her feeding by breast in front of other people and hence there is pressure to conform. It is important that we are tolerant of other people's circumstances and choices. For a woman who meets obstacles to breastfeeding, it pays to look on the positive side. Feelings of guilt and stress are not conducive to you and your baby's health. As it is, new mothers face a lot of new challenges. At the end of the day, being relaxed and happy in your environment with your baby will have a positive effect on both of you.

Bottlefeeding, whether it be with breastmilk or formula, brings with it the opportunity and flexibility for your friends, family and partner to share the pleasure of feeding your baby. Using a bottle allows you to know exactly how much you are feeding your newborn and also provides the flexibility of your feeding environment. If you are not breastfeeding for whatever reason, bottlefeeding alone can bring some advantages. These may include less emphasis on dietary requirements, the absence of mastitis, cracked nipples and leaking breasts, and may allow older siblings to feel involved. Some fathers love and look forward to the opportunity to feed their baby.

It is essential that all bottlefeeding equipment is thoroughly sterilised after feeds. Also to be considered is an appropriate formula and teat size to ensure adequate flow.

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For some women expressing milk can be an effective way of planning ahead, however, for others it proves to be difficult and frustrating task.

There are two ways to express milk. They are:

• by hand
• by pump

By Hand

Expressing by hand is fairly easy and painless, but slow. Always wash your hands first and have a sterile bowl ready to encourage your milk flow, first warm your breasts with a warm, clean facecloth and gently massage the breast area toward the nipple, stimulating your nipples by rolling them between your finger and thumb. Squeeze the areola with both thumbs and forefingers and apply a little pressure. The milk should begin to spurt out.

By Pump

The breast pump is invaluable when you need to plan ahead or if you intend to supplement with formula. Pumps can vary in price; however, even the most basic inexpensive one will suffice. It is often possible to rent a pump if buying is not an option. Whatever the decision it is going to be considerably cheaper than buying formula.

Pumps can be manual or battery operated. A funnel forms a seal over the nipple and then you pump the milk out by suction. The milk collects in the bottle attached to the pump. It is important to sterilise the equipment before each use.

Storage

You can store expressed milk the same way as formula milk, in the fridge or freezer. Breastmilk keeps for approximately 24 hours in the fridge and up to six months in the freezer. Defrosted breast milk should be used within 12 hours.

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There are a lot of variables in how a mother chooses to feed her newborn. Much will depend on lifestyle and work commitments and whether or not your are breast or bottle feeding.

Most newborns, however, will feed an average of six to eight times in 24 hours.

In researching this topic you will find a lot of material referring to "demand" or "schedule" feeding. Demand feeding is feeding your baby by breast or bottle whenever it is hungry. This could be anywhere from every two to six hours. The alternative, scheduled feeding, is to feed at set intervals, usually about every four hours.

As a mother you will receive varying and conflicting advice about the two approaches. Most mothers opt for a compromise between the two approaches.

For those women who are able to have their babies close to them throughout the day, this makes demand feeding possible and some professionals would argue, more preferable.
Other women find it easier to extend the time between feeds to at least three hours calculated from the time of the first feed to the time of the subsequent feed.

Respected British childbirth educator Sheila Kitzinger says that the frequency of feeds for a newborn baby is more important than the length.
She maintains that the main nutritional content of breastmilk is obtained during the first five to seven minutes of feeding. She writes: "This is why many shorter feeds with the baby dropping off to sleep inbetween is for many mothers and babies the perfect style of (breast) feeding in these first few weeks".

Night Feeding

During a night time feed, some parents find it easier to avoid turning the main light on. Instead a nightlight can be used. It is likely your baby may need changing and for ease, it may be useful to dress your baby in pyjamas with a zip front or a nightgown to avoid having to fiddle with buttons in subdued lighting.

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During the first 14 weeks of life a baby’s digestive system is unable to process solid foods. The enzymes needed to break down non milk foods have not yet been fully developed and the immune system is still maturing to cope with new foods entering the infant digestive system.

Opinions vary as to when it is best to introduce solids and over the years attitudes have changed. Early last century babies were fed only milk foods for the first nine to twelve months then in the 70s parents were feeding solids to their newborns after only six weeks.

Today is widely accepted that there are no advantages in giving your baby solids any earlier than 14 weeks and the consensus is that breast milk or formula is the best diet for and infant’s first four to six months of life.

Feeding Pattern

Each baby’s feeding pattern is different and how individual babies adjust to being fed non-milk foods can vary considerably.

Parents often feel pressured to start babies on solids early in the belief that it will help develop good eating patterns and ensure healthy weight gain. However there is no real evidence to support these claims. On the contrary it is thought that giving your baby non-milk food before it is ready may cause colicky symptoms, lead to constipation or diarrhoea and in some cases cause problems for those babies with allergies or food intolerance.

Many experts believe that in most cases breast milk provides all the nutrition a growing baby needs and by introducing solid foods you are effectively replacing this superior food source (even if partially) and therefore unnecessarily altering your baby’s nutritional intake.

Your Baby’s Evolving Diet

Your baby’s diet will be forever evolving and babies quickly develop individual tastes. The advantage of preparing your own food for your infant is that you know exactly what is in it. Finding out what suits your baby’s needs may be a process of trial and error. The best advice is to be relaxed and flexible and be guided by your baby’s response.

Mashed food is ideal as it is easier for your baby to eat and there is no danger of choking. Mixing mashed food with your baby’s usual milk is also a good idea.

Here are some simple and nutritious ideas of what to give your infant when first introducing solid foods. Food should be served at room temperature.

Mashed Avocado

Highly nutritious. However if your baby produces green vomit is may be too rich and you are best to wait a few weeks before re introducing.

Mashed Banana

Choose ripe bananas. This fruit is binding and may cause constipation. If this is the case stop for a while then re-introduce.

Vegetables

Carrot, pumpkin and potato are good foods for mashing either combined or separately. Others include broccoli, spinach, sweet potato and courgette.
Vegetables are best steamed to retain the nutritional goodness.

Rice Cereal

A good mineral source and wheat-free. Mix two teaspoons of rice cereal with 30 mls of either expressed breast milk, boiled water or formula. This will taste similar to milk but will present a different texture.

Commercial Baby Foods

While there are many commercial baby foods available be sure to read the labels to identify the contents and follow instructions on storing, preparation and age category. Some prepared foods contain added levels of salt and sugar that are not needed in an infant’s diet.

Feeding

To begin, offer your baby one or two teaspoons of solid food once a day ideally at lunchtime. Many parents offer food at the same time as giving milk for convenience. Whether to give solid food or milk first is often a topic of endless discussion but it is likely that your baby will probably want milk first because that is the usual routine. Do what is easiest for you and your baby.

Sit your baby comfortably on your lap or in a portable chair. Take a small amount of food of the tip of a soft feeding spoon and place it in your baby’s mouth towards the rear of the tongue to encourage swallowing. Try to create a relaxed and happy atmosphere so that food times are a pleasant experience for you both and not distressing wrangles.

Discovering strange and new food tastes and textures is an important experience in your child’s development – try to make it fun for both of you.

It is highly likely that your baby will cry, turn away or refuse the food. Rather than forcing your baby to eat be realistic and try again later.
First attempts will often be messy with most of the food ending up on you. Try and see the humorous side and remember your parents did the same for you.

Finishing with a breast/bottle can be comforting before your baby naps.

Possible Outcomes

If your baby seems to love eating, three or four tablespoons of food a day supplemented with breast or bottle milk is adequate.

If your baby refuses to eat solids don’t worry. Try introducing different foods over the next few weeks. If there is no progress, leave it a month then try again.

If your baby likes some foods and not others stick to the favourites. Be sure not to reward your baby with sweetened foods as the reward system has been proven to encourage poor eating habits that can remain throughout life.

Some babies are finger food babies and refuse to eat until such time they are able to feed themselves at around five/six months. While most of it may end up on the floor some babies become enthusiastic eaters when left alone.

Foods to Avoid

Research has provided valuable information on what foods are suitable and not suitable for infants. Some foods are commonly associated with allergic reactions while others may cause choking or be difficult for an infant to digest. For these reasons it is recommended that the following foods should not be given to infants aged 4-6 months and caution should be used thereafter:

• Unmodified cow’s milk
• Egg yolk and whites
• Dairy products such as yoghurt and cheese
• Hard chunks of non-pureed food
• Wheat based foods including wheat cereals and breads
• Meat and fish
• Citrus foods
• Spices
• Added sugar or salt
• Processed snacks including biscuits, chocolates, crisps
• Peanuts and peanut oils
• Strawberries

Sugar-free fruit juices may be given occasionally after five months but should be diluted by adding seven parts water to one part of juice. But be aware that even sugar-free drinks are still high in fructose – a natural fruit sugar and can become addictive and harm dental development. If your baby likes water it is best not to introduce juice until later years.

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