Why does eating well matter in the first year of life?
Babies do amazing things in their first year of life. They grow, develop, learn to move and make sounds, their immune system develops and they move from breast milk as their sole source of nutrition to eating a mixed and varied diet.
In the first 6 months of life babies need only their mother’s milk: this will provide all they need to grow and develop and stay well.
At about 6 months of age babies need to start having some food to complement breastmilk, and by 7 months all babies should be eating a variety of foods at 3 meals a day. The sorts of foods – and the amounts of foods – that will give babies of 7 months to 1 year all the nutrients they need can be seen in our food photos.
Where can I find out more information about eating well in the first year of life?
Food photographs
We have put together some photographs to show you the sorts of foods, and amounts of foods, that, along with the breast milk (or formula milk) they will be still be getting, meet the nutritional needs of babies between 7-9 months and 10-12 months of age. We have included the recipes for the examples we give as well so you can see how easy it is to make tasty food for babies and the sorts of finger foods you might want to try alongside these foods to get them eating independently.
These photographs are included in a book which also provides information about eating well for this age group.
