In summary, don't consume;

• Raw, undercooked or tainted seafood

• Undercooked meat, poultry or eggs

• Seafood high in mercury

• Unpasteurized food (soft cheeses, such as brie, feta and blue cheese, unless they're pasteurized)

• Unwashed fruits and vegetables

• Too much caffeine/herbal tea

• Alcohol

It's important to continue to Have a healthy diet in pregnancy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Colostrum: your first milk...

• The fluid your breasts produce in the first few days after birth is called colostrum. It's thick and usually a golden yellow colour. It's a very concentrated food, so your baby will only need a small amount, about a teaspoonful, at each feed

• Your baby may want to feed quite often, perhaps every hour to begin with. They'll begin to have fewer, but longer feeds once your breasts start to produce more "mature" milk after a few days

Visit the First Steps Nutrition website for formula milk information.

If you are giving your baby a bottle feed, your health visitor will complete a bottle feeding assessment with you.

They will talk to you about:

• how to responsively feed your baby

• how to pace the bottle feeds 

• If you are giving your baby formula milk 

• talk to your health visitor about how to do this safely 

  
  

• You can telephone our Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line where you can speak to a health professional.

• Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Surrey Facebook page for top tips, videos and information.

  
  

For further information about formula milk, please visit the First Steps Nutrition website.

• In the first six months of life, infants can get all the fluid and nutrients they need from breastmilk or from correctly made up infant formula, and there is no need to introduce other foods before an infant’s gut and swallow reflexes are not fully ready

• Breastfeeding isn't always easy. Though 'Breastmilk is best' for babies, not everyone is able to, or wants to breastfeed. Support is available to help parents safely and responsively feed their babies, however they choose to do so

• You can continue breastfeeding for as long as you both want

• Parents may also decide they need to use formula on some occasions, while continuing to breastfeed. It is important to seek unbiased information on formula and other products that replace breastmilk

• "Follow-on" formula is not suitable for babies under 6 months, and you do not need to introduce it after 6 months

Your baby is not ready to start food just because they are:

• Chewing their fists

• Wanting extra milk feeds

• Waking up in the night more frequently

  
  

These are all normal developmental behaviours

Starting solids will not:

• Make your baby sleep longer or better

• Provide higher quality nutrition than breast/formula milk

• delaying the introduction of peanut and hen's eggs beyond 6 to 12 months may increase the risk of developing an allergy to these foods

• When you start introducing solid foods to your baby from around 6 months, introduce the foods that can trigger allergic reactions 1 at a time and in very small amounts so that you can spot any reaction.

• If your baby already has an allergy, such as a diagnosed food allergy or eczema, or if you have a family history of food allergies, eczema, asthma or hay fever, you may need to be particularly careful when introducing foods. Talk to your GP or health visitor first.

Foods that can trigger an allergic reaction can include:

• cows' milk

• eggs (eggs without a red lion stamp should not be eaten raw or lightly cooked)

• foods that contain gluten, including wheat, barley and rye

• nuts and peanuts (serve them crushed or ground)

• seeds (serve them crushed or ground)

• soya

• shellfish (do not serve raw or lightly cooked)

• fish

  
  

• These foods can be introduced from around 6 months as part of your baby's diet, just like any other foods.

• Once introduced and if tolerated, these foods should become part of your baby's usual diet to minimise the risk of allergy.

• Evidence has shown that delaying the introduction of peanut and hen's eggs beyond 6 to 12 months may increase the risk of developing an allergy to these foods.

• Lots of children outgrow their allergies to milk or eggs, but a peanut allergy is generally lifelong.

• If your child has a food allergy, read food labels carefully. Avoid foods if you're not sure whether they contain the food your child is allergic to.

Choking: what to do (click on the video link image for more information)

If you think your child is choking and cannot breathe properly:

• shout for help

• get them out of the high chair

• support their chest and chin with one hand and – with the heel of your hand – give 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades

• Highchair

• Bibs

• Spoons

• Ice cub trays

• Plastic/bamboo bowls

• Messy mats/place mat

• Cup/free flow beaker

• Baby wipes

• The government recommends all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day.

• Babies who are having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements. This is because formula is fortified with vitamins A, C and D and other nutrients.

• Babies who are being breastfed should be given a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself.

Where you can get baby vitamin drops

• Your health visitor can give you advice on vitamin drops and tell you where to get them.

You're entitled to FREE vitamin drops if you qualify for Healthy Start.

Healthy plate = balance and moderation;

• Add in starch

• Add in protein

• Avoid only wholegrain for the first 5 years

• Fruit & Veg

• Dairy

Top tips for getting started

• Offer small amounts, your baby's tummy is small

• It takes time, go at your baby's pace

• Be patient and keep offering a variety of foods

• Let your baby enjoy touching and holding the food

• Keep distractions to a minimum

• Show them how you eat

• Single vegetables and fruits are best to try first

  • Mashed or soft cooked sticks of vegetables or fruits (preferably not too sweet)

Baby-led approach

• Baby led weaning approaches skips the puree and mash stage and goes straight for 'finger foods'. ​

• When following this approach, baby is in (near)complete control and has the chance to choose what they want to pick up, explore and taste and importantly when they want to stop eating

• Baby led weaning exposes baby to a variety of textures and tastes from the beginning​

• No need to prepare any special foods when following this approach but family meals will need to be modified to reduce salt and sugar

Spoon-fed approach

• Spoon feeding approaches are where baby is given pureed or mashed foods from a spoon which is held and controlled by an adult

• Soft, mashed foods will be offered first from 6 months with the aim of gradually introducing lumpier and more textured foods as the months go on

• Provides your baby with the opportunity for them to hold their own spoon, or another spoon if you are feeding them

Teething

How to help your baby with teething and how to look after their teeth

• Baby teething symptoms

• Tips for helping your teething baby

• Looking after your baby's teeth

NHS dental care for children is free

• Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist

• The dentist can advise you on how to prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child's mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practice for the future

• When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying about future visits

• Take your child for regular dental check-ups as advised by the dentist

  
  

Find a dentist near you

If you would like to attend a face-to-face 'Introducing family foods workshop', please speak to your Health Visiting team or contact the  Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922.

Introducing family foods is a really important step in your baby’s development and it can be great fun to explore new flavours and textures together.

Children aged up to 3 years

• Start brushing your baby's teeth as soon as the first milk tooth breaks through (usually at around 6 months, but it can be earlier or later)

• Parents or carers should brush the teeth.

• Brush teeth twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste

• Brush last thing at night before bed and on 1 other occasion

• Use children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) unless a dentist advises family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride

• Use only a smear of toothpaste

• Make sure children don't eat or lick toothpaste from the tube

Common concerns

If you have any concerns about feeding your baby please contact your health visitor, attend a breastfeeding support group or telephone our advice line on 01883 340 922.

The following links cover a range of issues around continuing successful breastfeeding.

• Frequently asked questions 

• Translations and other languages for breast and bottle feeding mothers

• How to find resources in Braille

Download our leaflet about weaning your premature baby (PDF).

Bliss guide to help parents introduce their premature baby to solid foods.

You could also direct parents to the weaning information on our website (or tell them to search on the Bliss site for 'weaning').

Our microbiota perform numerous essential functions, such as protecting against harmful microorganisms and breaking down dietary fibre that humans cannot digest on their own. They also aid in the absorption of certain essential vitamins and can even influence your mental health.

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract hosts a complex and dynamic community of microorganisms, known as the gut microbiota, which significantly influences health. GI microbiota has a huge impact on gut integrity and overall health.

Various factors shape the development of the gut microbiota in infancy, with diet being a key determinant throughout life.

Intestinal bacteria are vital for maintaining immune and metabolic balance and for defending against pathogens. Disruptions in gut bacterial composition (dysbiosis) have been linked to the onset of numerous inflammatory diseases and infections.

But it's perfectly normal for toddlers to refuse to eat or even taste new foods.

• STAY – Stay with children when they’re eating – it’s the biggest thing you can do for them

• STILL – Get children to sit still – it can be a battle but it’s much safer