Cow & Gate

As soon as your baby’s first tooth appears, you can clean gently with a small toothbrush. It is recommended that toothpaste should not be used until your baby is at least 18 months old.

Yes! You might find your baby will want to feed himself from around now. It can be a little messy but it will encourage your baby to explore new tastes and textures. Getting to grips with finger food can help develop your baby’s independence and hand-eye co-ordination… although it’ll take a little while to master. Stay very close when your baby is eating and make sure he doesn’t bite off more than he can chew. Other suitable finger foods to try at this stage include:

• Sticks of cooked vegetables e.g. carrot, turnip
• Pieces of soft fruit (remove any seeds)
• Fingers of bread / toast
• Rice cakes
• Cheese cubes

By the time your baby reaches 6 months of age, his natural store of iron has become depleted, so it’s really important to provide iron rich foods in your baby’s diet in order to ensure your baby is getting enough iron. A follow on milk, such as Cow & Gate Step Up is an excellent source of iron and provides 25 times more iron than cows’ milk and extra vitamin C to help absorb that iron more efficiently.

Babies are born with a preference for sweet tasting foods, however it is important for a baby not to further develop a “sweet tooth”. Try to avoid sweet foods as much as possible, instead give your baby plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Exposing your baby to these tastes can also help to establish a real love of fruit and veg, so your baby gets into the habit of enjoying healthy food (and making a healthier diet more likely in later life).

Breast milk or formula milk provides all the iron your baby requires for the first 6 months of life. When your baby reaches 6 months, it is important to include iron rich foods in his diet to ensure healthy growth and development. Some excellent sources of iron include:

• Meat, chicken, fish
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Beans
• Eggs
• Fortified breakfast cereals
• Follow on milks eg Cow & Gate Step Up

Remember: absorption of iron from these foods can be improved if you give vitamin C rich foods (such as fruit, fruit juice or lightly cooked vegetables) with them.

Never give you baby tea or coffee as they reduce iron absorption. Instead give him cooled, boiled water, baby fruit juice or milk.

If your baby is constipated, he will pass small, hard motions and may be uncomfortable when passing them. Some tips to prevent constipation include:

• Make sure he is having enough to drink e.g. breastmilk or infant milk, cooled, boiled water or well diluted pure baby juice.
• Gradually increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in his diet
• Talk to your Public Health Nurse for advice if your baby is still constipated

As your baby’s chewing skills develop from around seven months, he is getting ready for more textured foods. Not all babies develop this skill at the same time though. Persevere and be patient - try mincing food rather than pureeing, eventually mashing it with a fork to get just the right consistency.

If your baby still refuses lumpy foods, try switching between Cow & Gate recipes designed for Stage 1 and 2 which may help make the transition from smooth to lumpy foods smoother.