NHS Forth Valley

Introducing solid foods into your baby’s diet should begin at 6 months. Before then, your baby will be getting all the nutrition they require from their milk. Your Health Visitor or Family Nurse will talk you through weaning, and answer any questions you may have, as well as provide you with a copy of “Fun First Foods.”

Sometimes parents worry that their children are becoming “fussy” eaters or are not getting enough to eat. It is normal for babies and children to have much smaller portion sizes than parents expect. If you are concerned that your baby or child is not eating enough, try keeping a record of what they are eating and when. Over several days, it is likely you will notice they are getting everything that they need.

The following links provide further information for getting started with weaning, recipe ideas, and healthy snack and drink ideas.

Weaning

Snack ideas

NHS Forth Valley – Snack ideas for Under 5s
NHS Forth Valley (Childsmile) (Snack ideas for healthy children)
First Steps Nutrition – Eating well in the Early Years (Information about healthy snacks, portion sizes and packed lunches for 1-4 years)

Fussy eating

Drinks for babies/ children

NHS Forth Valley – Drinks for Babies and Young Children

Vitamin D

NHS Health Scotland – Vitamin D and You (Advice on why to give your baby vitamin D and where to obtain it from)

Dental Health

Looking after your baby or child’s teeth is important from birth, and a healthy diet, dental registration and asking your dentist to apply fluoride varnish once your child is aged 2, will help create a habit for healthy teeth for life. The following links provide further information on how best to look after your child’s dental health.

Behaviour

Your baby or child’s behaviour is your child communicating with you. This communication starts from birth, and is how your baby lets you know their needs. As your baby or child grows, this behaviour may feel more challenging, but is actually a positive sign of normal child development, and not a sign that you are doing something wrong.

The following links provide useful information on behaviour in babies and children. If you require further support or information, or are worried about your child’s behaviour, please speak to your Health Visitor or Family Nurse.

NHS Resources