Symptoms of Allergies and Irritants

Allergies and irritants can cause skin conditions, like eczema or hives. Here’s a guide to a few of the most common conditions and what you can do to manage them. Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) appears as dry, scaly skin or small red bumps that can become inflamed when scratched. A huge range of irritants …

Staying Healthy in Child Care

The spread of infectious disease can be prevented and the three most important ways to do this are: Washing and drying hands thoroughly – A person can show no signs of an illness and an infection can still spread. Washing and drying hands thoroughly dilutes, loosens and rinses off germs Exclusion of sick children and …

6 Month Baby Food – First Tastes

Starting your baby on solid food is an important stage in their development, but there is more to it than just making sure they’re getting all the nutrients they need – it’s also about teaching them to accept and enjoy new foods and textures! What to Expect During Weaning Stage 1 At around 6 months …

7+ Month Old Baby Food: Feeding for 7-9 Months

Although they may not have many teeth (or any teeth at all), babies can chew with their gums. It’s great to offer little ones lots of new tastes without overwhelming them. The earlier they get used to different tastes, the less likely they are to become a fussy eater. What to Expect During Continued Weaning …

Stage 3: 10 – 12 Months

From first foods to first steps, your baby’s first 12 months are full of exciting milestones – including starting to bite and chew their way through family meal times! Weaning stage 3 The third stage of weaning is a time for exploration and independence. By their first birthday your baby will be ready to eat …

Storing and Reheating Foods

Food safety for babies is essential. Here are a few simple – but important – steps to storing and reheating foods to help keep your growing baby’s food safe. Keeping Food Safe A baby’s immune system is still developing, which means they’re more likely to become ill from food poisoning. In Australia, some of the …

Food Preparation

Processed Versus Homemade Foods Processed and homemade foods can both have a place in your baby’s diet. However, homemade food is preferable in place of package or processed food. While these need to meet stringent quality control standards for preparation, hygiene and nutrition and can be very convenient for busy parents and when away from …

Equipment for Weaning

Starting your baby on solid foods (also known as ‘weaning’) is an exciting time – but don’t feel you have to go out and buy all the different weaning products on the market. Here are some ideas to help you decide what you may actually need! Food for baby Homemade baby food – made from …

The Role of Milk During Weaning

Milk When Introducing Solids Breast milk or formula should still be your baby’s main source of nutrition until 12 months of age as the nutrients that the milk contains helps to support healthy growth and development Solid foods are ‘complementary foods’. They should complement rather than substitute feeds as the energy your baby gets from …

Vegetarian Weaning

Vegetarian parents may want their children to follow their diet. With some planning, babies can be successfully weaned onto a vegetarian diet that provides all the nutrients they need for growth and development. However strict vegan diets are not generally recommended for infants. Tips For Vegetarian Weaning To make sure your little one gets all …

Weaning Nutrition – Five Food Groups

When starting to introduce solids into your baby’s diet (also known as weaning), making healthy choices for baby nutrition is important. This will help give them the right start by including a range of foods from the five core food groups. From around 6 months of age, babies start to need more energy and nutrients …

Nutrition – Vitamins and Minerals

When it’s time to start introducing your baby to solid foods it’s important to know which foods contain the essential vitamins and minerals they need for healthy growth and development. Introducing solid foods at around 6 months of age (also known as weaning), is important as it’s a time when your baby is beginning to …

Weaning Nutrition – Macronutrients

Macronutrients form an important part of your baby’s diet – supplying energy and many of the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Food provides the energy and building blocks for a healthy body and mind – and understanding the nutrient content of baby’s first foods is important so they can get the …

When to Start Weaning

When your baby is around 6 months old there comes a point when breast milk or infant formula alone just can’t provide all the nutrients and energy they need – and it’s time to start introducing solid foods to their diet. Moving onto solid food Weaning is a funny term and can be taken to …

What is Weaning?

Weaning can be a confusing term – for some people it’s the time when breastfeeding is reduced, while others use it to describe the point when solid foods are first introduced into baby’s diet. What is weaning? Generally, weaning is taken to mean the point at which solid foods are introduced to in to a …

Baby Nutrition

Your Baby’s Nutritional Needs Babies go through a rapid period of growth after birth. In fact they usually double their length and triple in weight within the first twelve months of life so nutrition is very important. Remember to lead by example as babies tend to copy and learn from those around them. Age – …

Baby Food Allergy and Intolerance

Confused about the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance? Learn the difference between the two and some of their common food triggers. What are food allergies and intolerances? Most people are likely to know someone who has a food allergy or intolerance, but the terms can leave many people confused – particularly as …

Exercise for Mums

Benefits of exercise Helps you get back into shape after your baby is born Helps to improve sleep quality and mental well-being Raises your energy level making you less tired Build strong healthy bones, muscles and joints Can strengthen your core (abdominal muscles) Reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain …