Last Reviewed: March 2017
Help Your Baby be a Healthy Eater
Raising a healthy eater - Do's and Don'ts
Help your baby be a healthy eater.
Have pleasant family meals:
What to Do:
- Bring your baby to the table to join in at family mealtimes.
- Talk to your baby quietly and encourage him while he's eating.
- Eat at the table, away from toys and the television.
- Be patient with new foods.
- Know that you may need to try giving new foods many times on different days.
- Always stay with your baby when he eats.
- Be a role model by eating the same foods as your baby.
Let your baby:
- Touch his food with his hands.
- Feed himself with his fingers or a spoon when he's able.
- Decide how much to eat.
If your baby doesn't seem hungry...
- Some days your baby may seem hungrier and may want more food than you offer. Offer her more food on these days.
- Try not to restrict the amount you give her to eat when she seems hungry.
- It's normal for babies to eat different amounts of food each day.
If your baby is still hungry after a meal...
- Some days your baby may seem hungrier and may want more food than you offer. Offer her more food on these days.
- Try not trestrict the amount you give her to eat when she seems hungry.
- it's normal for babies to eat different amounts of food each day.
You can help your baby have a pleasant mealtime if you avoid:
- Pressuring your baby to eat more than he wants or use games to get him to eat.
- Forcing food into your baby's mouth.
- Using food as a reward or a punishment.
- Pressuring your baby to eat because this can make him refuse food even more.
You and your baby's responsibilities:
- You are responsible for:
- Giving your baby healthy food that's the right texture, temperature and portion size for him
- Deciding where your baby will eat
- Your baby is responsible for:
- Deciding if he wants to eat
- Deciding how much to eat
Spend time together as a family, eating and playing together is important for your children's growth and development.
For more information:
Region of Peel - Public Health
905-799-7700
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
to speak with a Public Health Nurse
Caledon residents call free of charge at 905-584-2216
Baby's First Foods