Nursery World - A Unique Child: Nutrition

How can nurseries meet the nutritional needs of babies when they move from breast milk or infant formula to complementary foods? In the first of two articles on weaning, Nicole Weinstein looks at the introduction of solid food at six months old.

The first year of life is a critical time for good nutrition. Children are developing at a rapid rate and they need enough calories and nutrients to sustain their rapid growth and development, stay healthy and fight infections. Moving on from breast milk or infant formula to the introduction of complementary foods is a big transition for many - and especially first-time - parents. It is a time when they may experience mixed emotions of excitement, anxiety, or even a sense of loss that their baby is growing up and will not physically rely on them for nutritional needs. Working closely with parents and offering them guidance on suitable first foods to introduce, and sharing recipes or supporting them with any concerns about the first stages of weaning is therefore vital during this stage of their child's development.

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