Life with a New Baby
Give your new baby the best start he or she can have – make healthy choices for you and your baby.
Why?
Your most important job during the first few weeks of your baby’s life is learning to be a parent. Learn to take the best care of your baby, and find the time to take care of yourself.
How to Make Healthy Choices For Your New Baby
Taking care of a new baby can be a lot of work. To do it well you must protect your own health. Make sure you:
- Get enough rest
- Eat well
- Do gentle exercises to regain and maintain your strength (check with your midwife, nurse or doctor first).
Until 6 months, the best choice for your baby is your breast milk. If you choose not to breastfeed, then formula with added iron is the next best choice.
At about 6 months your baby will start to give you signs he or she is ready to try solid food. It is best to start with foods that have lots of iron like baby cereals with added iron or meat.
At around 10 months your baby will probably be ready for finger foods. Some foods are hard to handle when your baby is learning to chew and swallow. These foods may even cause your baby to choke.
DO NOT give your baby:
- Hotdog pieces
- Popcorn
- Candies
- Raw, hard vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- Chips
- Whole grapes
- Fish with bones
Your baby’s teeth started growing while you were pregnant and keep on developing even if you can’t see them. To keep baby’s teeth strong:
- DO NOT give him or her a bottle with milk or juice to sleep with.
- NEVER give your baby pop or other sugary drinks.
- DO clean baby’s gums with a soft toothbrush or damp cloth everyday.
Source: Health Canada. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2010©