to source all the crucial vitamins and minerals your baby needs from different types of food, it’s still advisable to boost his diet with a few supplements. According to NHS guidelines, children between six months and five years will benefit from daily supplements of vitamins A, C and D. Vitamin D is particularly important and the NHS advice suggests that breastfed babies should receive supplements containing 8.5 to 10mcg of vitamin D from birth. For formula-fed babies, it isn’t necessary until they’re having less than 500ml/18fl oz of infant formula a day. Between the ages of one and four, children should be given a daily supplement of 10mcg of vitamin D.
Your health visitor can give advice on where to buy vitamin drops and who is eligible to receive them free of charge. It’s crucial to remember, though, that overdoing the vitamins can be harmful, so make sure you keep to the recommended daily doses. (Foods that contain too much of a particular vitamin should be avoided in your baby’s first year too – see here.)
ALLERGIES
I know that many new parents are concerned about allergies. Common allergy trigger foods include nuts and seeds; cow’s milk; fish and shellfish; wheat and eggs. Your baby could have a higher risk if you have a significant family history of food allergies or of atopic illnesses such as eczema, asthma and hay fever. If you think this genetic disposition applies to you, I would definitely advise having a discussion with your GP about how carefully to tread when beginning the weaning process with your little one with regards to introducing known allergens, especially peanuts, if there is a known allergy to other nuts or a family history of peanut allergy. It won’t necessarily follow that your baby will be allergic to these foods, but it is worth being extra careful. At six months, not before, you should introduce allergens slowly and one at a time until you are happy there’s no kind of reaction. On the bright side breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of allergies and babies often grow out of an allergy, although a peanut allergy is usually for life. Try to avoid experimenting by cutting out whole food groups unless advised by a medical professional such as a dietician.
FOOD-SPECIFIC DIETS
Vegetarian
I know many vegetarians who have successfully weaned their babies on a vegetarian diet. There are just a few things you need to keep in mind if you’re planning to do so. A vegetarian diet is often higher in fibre and contains less energy-dense foods. This means that young children may not have the appetite to eat enough to provide all the nutrients they need and so a little bit more planning can be required. To keep everything in check nutritionally, focus on giving your baby lots of variety, so things like dark green vegetables (e.g. Blueberry, Apple and Spinach purée – see here), beans and lentils (e.g. Squash and Red Lentil purée – see here) dairy and eggs (e.g. Tomato Quinoa Bowl – see here) and some dried fruit, too, such as apricots, figs and dates. It’s also helpful to know that vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron, so try to regularly include some fruit or veggies, in which it’s found in abundance.
Vegan
Weaning a baby on a vegan diet does require a little more planning but many of the points above still stand, and it is possible for a baby to get all the nutrients he needs from a balanced and varied diet. Energy density of food can be a concern as vegan food is often high in fibre but not very energy dense. Foods such as hummus, tahini, bananas, nut or seed butters (see here) dried fruit, nutritional yeast and fortified (unsweetened) milk make great additions but it does all come back to balance and variety. It is worth being aware of the key micronutrients mentioned here as well as vitamin B12 and iodine, and perhaps considering the supplements mentioned here, as well as seeking advice from a qualified dietician.
INTRODUCING FOODS GRADUALLY
According to NHS guidelines, there are some foods that should be avoided altogether for the first year of life for different reasons.
FOODS TO AVOID IN THE FIRST YEAR
Cow’s milk as a main milk feed
While cow’s milk can be given during weaning as part of a meal, it shouldn’t take the place of your baby’s usual milk during the first year as it doesn’t contain all the essential nutrients your baby needs for this important stage of development and for protection against illness. So stick to breast milk or formula for the first year. They contain all the essential nutrients your baby needs to grow properly. Should you choose to stop breast feeding, there is no advantage to moving to follow-on milks. From 12 months infants, provided they are healthy, should be eating a wide variety of foods and this will be their main source of nutrients. They should also be drinking around 400ml/14fl oz of whole animal milk (either cow, goat or sheep’s milk), or a suitable substitute.
Raw eggs and other uncooked foods
You can give your baby eggs, but ensure that both the white and yolk are cooked solid. Don’t forget, too, that some pre-packed foods contain raw eggs, so do read any labels carefully to avoid these. In general, any unpasteurized food should be avoided during the first year as it can cause food poisoning. Meat and fish should always be well cooked.
Low-fat foods
Low-fat products should be avoided during the first year as they will probably not be energy dense enough for your baby’s nutritional needs.
Fibrous foods
Foods that are too fibrous and limit the absorption of some minerals, such as bran-based cereals and breads, should be avoided during the first year. High-fibre foods, such as whole grains, should only be given in small quantities.
Whole nuts and seeds and other hard foods
The latest NHS advice is to avoid giving a baby under five any whole nuts to avoid choking. It’s also best to avoid giving young children chunks of hard food, such as apple or cheese, as these are also a potential choking hazard. Once your baby is six months old and you are sure there is no immediate family history of food allergies, or eczema, asthma or hay fever, then you can introduce some ground nuts or nut products like peanut butter into your baby’s diet, one by one, but take medical advice if you’re unsure.
Shellfish and certain other fish
The super omega-3 fats found in fish are very beneficial to health. But be wary of some fish. Shark, marlin and swordfish contain high traces of mercury, which can damage an immature nervous system, so avoid those completely. And shellfish carry a higher risk of food poisoning, so it’s best to steer clear of those, too, for the first year. There are plenty of other, safer fish options to try for the moment – just make sure to remove any bones!
Liver and liver products
Liver and liver products such as liver pâté should not be given during the first year as they contain high levels of vitamin A, which can be harmful to your baby. Once your baby is 12 months old you can give them up to once a week.
Early weaning
If parents choose to introduce food before six months, then they should also exclude wheat and gluten in cereal foods such as bread and pasta, as well as eggs, nuts, seeds, liver, fish, shellfish and cow’s milk or other dairy foods.
