WEST CARLETON FAMILY HEALTH TEAM
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  • About
    • About Us
    • Our Vision
    • The Team
    • Latest News
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Policies
    • Current Status
  • Services
    • Our Services
    • Obstetrics
    • Mental Health Services
    • Nutrition Counselling
    • Uninsured Services
    • Weekend Urgent Care
  • Patients
    • Forms
    • New Patients
    • Preparing for your Appointment
  • Health Information
    • Do I Need to be Seen Today?
    • Patient Resources
    • Group Programs >
      • Cholesterol Group
      • Diabetes Group
    • Prenatal/Early Childhood Health
    • Immunizations
    • Lab and Imaging Locations
  • Patient Portal
    • WCFHT Health Portal
    • Patient Portal Info
    • External Patient Portals
  • Contact
baby at 6 months
Select any of the links listed below for information and local resources. Although we have taken care selecting this list, we cannot accept any responsibility for the content published by the authors. Please consult websites for up to date information.
Introducing Solid Foods to your baby
See our web-page on introducing solid foods.

Feeding Your Baby: A Guide to Help you Introduce Solid Foods

In April 2014, Health Canada, Dietitians of Canada, the Canadian Pediatric Society, and the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada together released 
updated guidelines for feeding infants aged 6-24 months.
Below is a summary of the key points regarding introducing solids to your baby. You will find new recommendations in bold.
  • The best time to introduce solids may be a few weeks before or after 6 months, based on the readiness of your baby and recommendations from you health care provider.
  • Breastfeeding (or formula feeding) is the primary source of calories and nutrition for babies, so don’t stop!
  • Daily Vitamin D supplement (400IU) is recommended for infants and young children who are breastfed ONLY.
  • Introduction of solid food at around 6 months of age (or 6 month corrected age*) is recommended.
  • The first foods introduced to your baby should be iron rich foods; well-cooked, pureed, minced, mashed, or shredded meat or poultry, low-mercury fish, single-grain iron fortified infant cereal (oatmeal, rice, or barley) and legumes (beans, lentils, and peas), tofu, or eggs. (NOTE: If your baby was born prematurely, speak to your doctor as they may need an iron supplement). After iron rich foods are introduced and your baby is eating them on a regular and daily basis, you can then introduce fruit, vegetables, grain products and dairy products (with the exception of milk)
  • There is no recommended order for introducing foods after iron rich foods are introduced.
  • Offer one new food at a time.
  • Wait 3-5 days between offering new foods.
  • Foods can be introduced using a variety of soft textures. *Past advice was to start your baby on pureed food, however, at 6 months of age, babies are able to handle a variety of textures.
  • Potentially allergenic foods should be part of the first foods offered to babies; this includes eggs, milk, peanuts, seafood, sesame, soy, tree nuts, and wheat. *Contrary to past advice, in order to decrease the likelihood that your baby will develop and allergy, introduce the above foods early (as recommended) and serve them often.
  • This applies to all babies, including those with a family history of allergies.
    If you have a strong family history of food allergies, talk to your health care provider about introducing potentially allergenic foods in a safe manner.
There are only 2 exceptions to the “try everything” approach:
  • MILK: homogenized milk can be introduced to breast or formula fed babies from 9-12 months.
  • HONEY: avoid honey and all products made with honey until at least one year of age due to risk of botulism.
Toss the sippy cup!
  • The use of sippy cups is no longer recommended.
  • The use of regular “open” cups (at 6+ months) is now the gold standard.
  • The reasoning is that “open” cups support the development of feeding skills.
*corrected age (used for premature babies) = actual age in weeks minus weeks premature.
​

More information about Introducing Solids
safety tips
Safety Tips: 1-2 years
Safety Tips: 2 years to kindergarten
  • Never use a baby walker. Walkers are dangerous and don’t help babies learn to walk.
  • Open doors cautiously. Babies can be hidden behind them. When you close a door, make sure baby’s fingers are not in the way.
  • Never leave your baby in the care of small children.
  • Keep unsteady furniture out of reach. It can be pulled over easily.
  • Due to the risk of suffocation, never use ribbons, chains or strings to attach a pacifier.
  • Beware of electrical outlets; all outlets should have a plastic cover.
  • Never leave baby alone in the bath. Not even for a few seconds.
  • Never leave baby near a fire, oven door, electric iron, kettle, or fan.
  • Keep the crib sides up. Baby can easily topple out at this age.
  • Never place baby’s highchair near a stove, electric appliance, plants, or in a high traffic area.
  • Keep babies away from stairs. Stairs are dangerous.
  • Unplug electric appliances when not in use and keep cords out of baby’s reach as they can bite them or trip over them.
  • Avoid play areas with sharp-edged tables and furniture, or cover table corners.
  • Avoid feeding infants hard-to-swallow foods such as nuts, raw carrots, orange segments, candies, chips, gum, grapes, raisins, and hot dogs, as these can choke a young child.
Information containing safety tips as above sourced from: Ontario Medical Association’s Committee on Accidental Injuries
Other Resources
Safe Sleep for your Baby
​Your baby's speech and language skills from birth to 30 months
Preschool Speech and Language Program
Child car seat safety
Well Baby Information: Rourke Baby Record
Swimming with your Baby – City of Ottawa classes
Teething
Treating Fever in Babies
Immunization schedule tool
WCFHT Workshop: Introducing Solid Foods
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Keep track of your child's vaccination history and upcoming immunizations in the Patient Portal
back to prenatal/early childhood health
West Carleton Family Health Team
119 Langstaff Drive, Carp, ON K0A 1L0
Phone: 613-839-3271​