Early Life Nutrition
Taking care of your baby’s health and nutrition can be a challenge for new parents, so we’ve created this baby timeline as a general guide to take you through some key stages of your baby’s first year.
Discover when you can introduce solids, including iron-rich foods into your baby’s diet. You’ll also find out what foods you should include in your diet when breastfeeding to help support your baby’s growth and development.
In the first precious year of your child’s life, Nutricia offers expertise, support and advice to help support your baby’s progress
Please note: This website contains information of a general nature only and is not a substitute for advice from your health professional.You should always check with your healthcare professional before relying on any information posted on this site.
Baby
0-3 months
Benefits of breast milk
Nutritionally complete, breast milk is the only food a baby needs until around six months. It can also help create a special bond between you and your baby.
Find out more at: Ministry of Health
Did you know?
Prolactin (the hormone that tells the breast to make milk) is highest at night, so feeding your baby at night is very important for your milk supply.
Deborah, Registered Nurse
Nutrition and the Immune System
Breast milk delivers important antibodies that build your baby’s immune system.
Gut micro flora during breast feeding
A key benefit of breast feeding is that it helps establish and improve your baby’s gut micro flora.
Find out more at: Ministry of Health
Did you know?
It takes three weeks to establish your milk supply. Once it's established your breast milk will be made as required to suit your baby. It will also change to match their needs as they grow.
Deborah, Registered Nurse
Nutrition and the Immune System
Gut micro flora helps to develop and strengthen your child's immune system.
Iodine when breast feeding
By consuming enough iodine when breast feeding, you can help support the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system.
150µg is recommended daily when breast feeding
Did you know?
Babies are completely dependent on milk as a source of iodine, and need around 90 to 100µg of iodine per day. Babies use this iodine to build their own reserves of thyroid hormones.
Find out more at: NHMRC Nutrient Reference Values for ANZ
Christine, Registered Dietitian
Folic acid when breast feeding
It’s important that you get enough folic acid when you’re breast feeding, as this supports your baby’s normal growth and development.
500µg per day
Find out more at: NHMRC Nutrient Reference Values for ANZ
3-6 months
Vitamin D for newborns
Vitamin D is important for normal bone structure and if you're breastfeeding. If you're concerned about your vitamin D level, please consult your healthcare professional.
5µg/200IU with an upper limit of 3200IU/80ug
Did you know?
Exposure to the sun for 30 minutes before 10am or after 4pm is considered safe for most people and may help with vitamin D status.
Read more at: SunSmart
Deborah, Registered Nurse
Introduction of solids
In New Zealand it's currently recommended that solids are introduced at around six months old. This is necessary to meet your child's nutritional and developmental needs. A wide variety of food - with an appropriate range of texture and consistency - should be introduced so that, by 12 months, your child is consuming the same food as the rest of the family.
Find out more at: Ministry of Health
Nutrition and the Immune System
Many experts believe that introducing your baby to all sorts of solid foods can help support your child's developing immune system.
Iron-rich first foods
First foods should be iron-rich to replace your baby’s iron stores. This can help your baby to form blood cells and transports oxygen around their body. Examples of iron-rich foods are pureed meats, poultry and fish, and iron-enriched infant cereals.
A baby between 6-24 months needs a higher iron intake than a grown man due to rapid brain growth.
9mg per day
Did you know?
A full term infant whose mother has good iron stores is considered to have enough iron to last until 6 months of age when solid foods are started.
Find out more at: NHMRC Nutrient Reference Values for ANZ
Sue, Nutritionist
6-12 months
Introduction of Nuts
Nuts can be a choking hazard for small children due to their size and consistency. As such, they shouldn’t be given to children under three. However, you can offer nut pastes and nut spreads from around six months.
Find out more at: Ministry of Health
Did you know?
The peanut is technically a legume.
Christine, Registered Dietitian
Cows' milk - safe usage
While you shouldn’t give your baby cows’ milk before the age of one, it can be used as an ingredient in cooked foods. Until your baby’s first birthday, use breast milk, a scientifically formulated breast milk substitute (infant or follow-on formula), or boiled water in their cereal.
Breast milk while introducing solids
Solid food will not fulfil your child’s full nutritional needs, so you’ll need to continue breast feeding or using a scientifically formulated breast milk substitute (infant or follow-on formula) in this phase.
Continuation of breast feeding at this stage will support the progression of your child's immune system.
Introduction of water
If required, at six months of age you can start giving your baby cooled, boiled tap water.
Did you know?
Most exclusively breast fed infants do not require additional fluids.
Deborah, Registered Nurse
Vitamin C while introducing solids
Vitamin C can help your baby absorb iron* from food sources. Your child should be encouraged to eat fresh fruit to meet their daily vitamin C requirements. At this age, drinking fruit juice is not recommended.
* Non-haem iron (from plant sources) absorption is enhanced by the presence of vitamin C (Nutrition Guidelines NZ) .
Nutrition and the Immune System
Vitamin C can be used as a booster for a child's immune system.
