How you feed your child from the very first weeks and months and years of life, will shape their relationship to the wonderful rituals of eating for a lifetime.

If you have any questions about breast feeding contact your public health nurse (link to service directory) or about  nutrition, phone your area's nutritionist (link to service directory)

Information on healthy eating can also be found at Canada's Food Guide.

Is my baby getting enough from  breast milk?   
Breastmilk is the best food for your baby from birth to 6 months. Babies are getting enough to eat if they have 5 or more wet diapers a day. All breastfed babies need a daily supplement of 400 IU of Vitamin D. For more information on breastfeeding click here.

When is my baby ready for solids?  
When babies can hold their heads up, open their mouths when they see food coming, and close their mouth around a spoon and  swallow, they are ready for their first solid foods.  For more information on introducing solids click here.

How can I feed my finicky toddler?   
As a parent, your role is deciding what to offer and when to offer it. Your child chooses how much to eat, and whether she eats. She knows when she is hungry and when she is full. For more information on feeding toddlers click here.

How you feed your child from the very first weeks and months and years of life, will shape their relationship to the wonderful rituals of eating for a lifetime.

If you have any questions about breast feeding contact your public health nurse (link to service directory) or about  nutrition, phone your area's nutritionist.

Information on healthy eating can also be found at: Canada's Food Guide

Your Child’s Eating

How you feed your child from the very first weeks, months and years of life will shape their relationship to the wonderful rituals of eating for a lifetime.

Breastmilk: Feeding infants (0-6 months)

• Breastmilk is the best milk for the first two years and beyond. Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Click on link for more information on feeding infants.

Introducing solid foods (6 months)

• To begin eating solid foods your baby must first be able to sit up and control his head.  You will know he is ready when he can also follow a spoon with his eyes, open his mouth when the spoon is near, close it around the spoon and swallow.  This usually happens at about six months of age. Click on link for more information about introducing solid foods.

Feeding Toddlers: Sharing Responsibility for Food Tasks (Toddlers and Preschool)

• As a parent you are responsible for providing a variety of healthy foods at regular meal and snack times.  Your toddler or preschooler chooses how much to eat and whether to eat the foods you provide.  Click on the link for more information about feeding toddlers and preschoolers.

Breastfeeding

Breastmilk is the best milk for the first two years and beyond.  Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months to give your baby the best start.

Newborns will feed 8 or more times a day.  They are done eating when they appear satisfied and content, you will hear them swallow when feeding.
Click here for information on breastfeeding

Health Canada recommends that all breastfed babies be given a daily supplement of Vitamin D.

If, for some reason, breastfeeding is not an option for you, the next choice is a commercial formula.

Babies Best Chance “Your Baby”

“Caring For Kids” Breastfeeding

Vitamin D

Our best source of Vitamin D is the sun!  When our skin is exposed to the sun we produce Vitamin D.  Vitamin D is important for growing strong bones and teeth, and general development.  Babies need Vitamin D because the sun is not strong enough to produce Vitamin D in this area between October and March each year.  We also recommend that babies not be exposed to the sun without sunscreen to protect their skin from harmful rays. This important SunSmart advice limits Vitamin D production. 

To ensure that babies are getting enough Vitamin D, Health Canada recommends that all breastfed infants be given a supplement of 400IU of Vitamin D a day from birth.  For more information talk to your Public Health Nurse

Breastmilk Substitutes

Breastmilk is the best milk for the first two years and beyond.  If, for some reason, you do not breastfeed, a commercial formula is the next choice.  Talk to your careprovider or Public Health Nurse about choosing a suitable product.  Babies who are not breastfed need to have an iron-fortified formula from birth.

Click here for more information on choosing or preparing/storing formula.