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First Meals & More
Your Questions Answered
With 50 all-new “recipes to the rescue”
LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH,
MELBOURNE, DELHI
Project editor Helen Murray
contents
Recipe editor Norma MacMillan
US editors Shannon Beatty and Christy Lusiak foreword 6
Designer Jo Grey
Senior art editor Sarah Ponder
Design assistant and jacket designer 0-6 months:
Charlotte Seymour your new baby and you 8
Managing editors Esther Ripley and Penny Warren what you can expect 10
Managing art editors Marianne Markham and
the art of breastfeeding 12
Glenda Fisher
Senior production editor Jenny Woodcock a new mom’s diet 16
Senior production controller Wendy Penn beef, mushroom, and spinach stir-fry 18
Creative technical support Sonia Charbonnier chicken, avocado, and brown rice salad 20
Category publisher Peggy Vance
Recipe testing Caroline Stearns
annabel’s salmon stir-fry with noodles 21
Editorial consultant Karen Sullivan breastfeeding problems 22
Allergy consultant Dr. Adam Fox infused waters 26
Breastfeeding consultant Joanna Moorhead chicken quesadilla 28
Nutritional consultant Dr. Rosan Meyer
all about bottle-feeding 30
Pediatric consultant Dr. Su Laurent
Food styling Seiko Hatfield and Katie Giovanni weight worries 34
Home economist Carolyn Humphries your new baby’s health 36
Photographers Dave King and Michael Birt time for the first taste? 40
Photography art direction Carole Ash
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information
contained in this book is complete and accurate. However, 6-9 months:
neither the publisher nor the author are engaged in rendering
professional advice or services to the individual reader. The
ready for food 42
ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not what you can expect 44
intended as a substitute for consultation with your healthcare
provider. All matters regarding the health of you and your child beginning weaning 46
require medical supervision. Neither the publisher nor the author
accept any legal responsibility for any personal injury or other
carrot purée 50
damage or loss arising from the use or misuse of the information feeding basics 52
and advice in this book.
First American Edition, 2009
mostly milk 54
Published in the United States by DK Publishing understanding allergies 57
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
new tastes and textures 59
09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
YD030—April 2009 sole, sweet potato, and broccoli purée 63
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley Limited - All rights reserved creamy apple and oat purée 64
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part chicken and corn chowder 66
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means food from a jar 68
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise),
without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner balance and variety 70
and the above publisher of this book. feeding problems 72
Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited.
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
quick fruit purées 74
ISBN 978-0-7566-4284-6 sweet potato and squash purée 76
DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk part of the family 77
for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use.
For details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, 375 Hudson Street, beef, squash, and tomato purée 79
New York, New York 10014 or [email protected].
peach, apple, and pear purée 80
Printed and bound in China by Leo Paper Group
sophisticated tastes 82
Discover more at
www.dk.com cauliflower, potato, and cheese purée 84
food and health 85 broiled chicken yakitori 150
superfoods purée 87 fussy eaters 151
honey, oat, and raisin crisp 153
9-12 months: weighty issues 154
exploring new tastes 88 fruit and oat bars 157
what you can expect 90 a sweet tooth? 158
breast milk and more 92 blueberry-lime cheesecakes 160
fun with finger foods 94 your toddler’s health 162
oven-baked sweet potato wedges 96 mommy’s chicken soup 166
sandwich ideas 97 oatmeal raisin cookies 167
my first tomato sauce, with pasta special diets for toddlers 168
stars 98 vegetarian shepherd’s pie 170
your baby gourmet 100
banana and mango or peach 102 18-36 months:
chicken and apricot curry 103 eating with the family 172
babies on special diets 104 what you can expect 174
red lentils with carrot and tomato milk and other drinks 176
106 meals without tears 179
healthy family habits 108 hidden vegetable tomato sauce 183
fads and faves 110 funny-face hamburgers 184
salmon, carrots, and peas with maple-oat clusters 186
cheddar 112 healthy, but not boring 187
keeping your baby healthy 114 snacks and treats 189
peach melba popsicles 116 sandwiches for toddlers 191
healthy weight gain 117 mini-jam tarts 192
far-too-easy banana ice cream 119 out and about 194
parties and treats 120 apple bran muffins 196
ice cream birthday cake 122 tender chicken fingers 198
overweight children 199
12-18 months: food for well-being 201
toddlers on the move 124 super c smoothie 204
what you can expect 126 at the table 206
gentle weaning 128 time together 208
learning to love food 130 chicken sausage rolls 211
rainbow pasta 134 white chocolate crispie squares 212
independent eating 136 your sociable child 214
fish goujons 138 chicken meatballs with tomato
always on the go 140 sauce 216
cheese and ham pit-zas 142 cupcake caterpillar 218
packed lunch ideas 144
flavors from around the world 145 resources/consultants 220
pesto pasta with chicken and index 221
cherry tomatoes 147 about the author/acknowledgments
lasagna al forno 148 224
6 foreword

foreword
As parents, we all worry about
whether we’re raising our children
the right way. It’s really hard to
know what is best: Is it OK to give
an occasional bottle if you’re
breastfeeding your baby? At what
age should you introduce solid
food? When is the right time to give
your baby a cup? How do you
know when your little one is ready
for finger foods?

I have written this book to guide

you through each stage of feeding
your baby and toddler, up to three
years of age, by answering all of
the common questions that concern
parents. Whatever the problems you may encounter along the way,
they are sure to be shared with other moms and dads. Reading this
book will give you insight into what to expect, as well as lots of tips
and advice on how to cope with all kinds of feeding issues.

Right from the start, breastfeeding can be a challenge and it can

be easy to give up—especially in those often difficult first few
days. However, with the right advice, you will soon find that
breastfeeding is much easier and more enjoyable than you
ever imagined, so persevere!
 foreword 7

Introducing a baby to solid food is a confusing time due to so much

conflicting advice. I find that parents are often so worried about
food allergies that they keep their babies on very restricted diets of
fruits and vegetables, because they’re concerned about introducing
foods such as eggs, fish, and meat. However, babies will not thrive
on low-calorie, restricted diets—they need iron from red meat,
essential fatty acids from oily fish and, unlike adults, they need
more fat and less fiber in their diets. The advice I give in this book
is based on the latest medical research from top experts. I want to
give moms and dads the confidence to know that they are giving
their babies the food they need to grow and develop.

Since I lost my first child Natasha twenty years ago, I have devoted
my life to researching child nutrition. I have written 17 books and I
work with the top experts in the field of child nutrition. With the
knowledge I have gained over the years, I find ways to encourage
children to eat the foods that are good for them by including them
in tasty recipes, which are easy to prepare. Combining my own
experiences as a mom of three with the latest scientific research, I
hope that this book will help to guide you through your baby’s first
few years, and give you the peace of mind to know that you are
giving your child the very best start in life.
chapter 1

0-6 months:
your new baby and you
10

0-6 months:
what you can expect
Your new baby will gradually settle into a routine of feeding and
sleeping, growing more alert and investigating her world as she
stays awake for longer periods. Your baby will grow more in this
period than at any other time in her life. Settle in and enjoy the
process of bonding.
 what you can expect 11

Q Why is it so important to breastfeed Q Is milk all my baby needs

for the first few days? for the first six months?

A While the longer you breastfeed your baby, the A Breast milk and/or formula milk
greater the benefits, you’ll be giving your baby a are perfectly designed to be a
better start even if you can manage it just for a few complete food for babies, providing
days. Breast milk is designed to provide complete them with nutrients, such as protein,
nourishment for a baby for at least six months after fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and
birth. Before milk is produced, a mother’s breasts minerals, calories, as well as liquid to
produces colostrum, a deep-yellow liquid containing keep them hydrated. In the case of
high levels of protein, nutrients, and antibodies. A breast milk, your baby will get some
newborn baby who feeds on colostrum in the first additional benefits, such as antibodies
few days of life is better able to resist the bacteria against infections, as well as
and viruses that cause illness. Your milk, which hormones, EFAs (essential fatty acids),
begins to flow a few days after childbirth when enzymes, and living cells which fight
your hormones change, is a blue-white color with a infection. If you are bottle-feeding,
thin consistency and provides the perfect balance EFAs and other elements, such as
of nutrients for your baby. Some moms are alarmed probiotics, may also be added to your
that it looks “weak” or even “skimmed” next to the baby’s formula to ensure your baby’s
rich, yellowy color of formula milk, but it is important health. At present, the WHO (World
to remember that it’s been designed this way for a Health Organization) recommends
reason, and provides easily digestible nutrients exclusive breastfeeding for six months,
that are just right for a baby. but you may feel that your baby is
ready for solids a little earlier than this

Q How often do babies need to be fed? (see pages 40-41). If this is the case,
speak to your doctor
A Your baby’s appetite and needs will change
constantly as she grows and develops, and it is
important that she is fed when she is hungry. At the your baby’s tummy
outset, you may be feeding your newborn every Your baby’s tummy is smaller than you
two hours or so, but it is almost impossible to may think. At birth, it’s roughly the size
overfeed a breastfed baby. For the first month of life, of a chickpea, growing to the size of a
your baby needs between 8 and 12 feeds every day. cherry in the first week. By four weeks,
As she grows and begins to take more at feeding her tummy will be the size of a walnut,
time, she will go a little longer—sometimes up to and it remains much the same until she
three or four hours—between feeds. As you get to is six months old, when, in most cases,
know your new baby, you’ll recognize her signs of her tummy will be the size of her fist.
hunger, and know when she needs to be fed.
12 0–6 months

the art of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding offers a magical opportunity to develop a close,
intimate bond with your new baby, and gives him the best possible
start to life. Your breast milk provides all of the ingredients he
needs for optimum health, growth, and development, and has
plenty of benefits for you, too.

Q What are the advantages their immune system). Breast milk also reduces the
risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other tummy
of breastfeeding?
disorders, and promotes growth. There is a
A Breast milk provides a perfect start reduced risk of childhood diabetes in breastfed
for your baby, affecting health and babies, and they are considerably less likely to
development on many different levels. become obese or develop heart disease in later life.
For one thing, the composition of Research suggests breastfeeding exclusively for six
breast milk changes constantly, to allow months may protect against allergies, asthma, and
for your baby’s individual growth and eczema. There is also a reduced risk of SIDS
changing nutritional needs. Research (sudden infant death syndrome): research has
has found that breastfed babies have found that of every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 took
fewer incidences of vomiting, place in breastfed babies. The emotional benefits
diarrhea, gastroenteritis, as well as are well-documented—breastfed babies enjoy a
other infections and illnesses (it is warm, bonding, and emotional relationship with
especially important for premature their mothers. Finally, breast milk is convenient—
babies to be breastfed as it strengthens it’s sterile, needs no preparation, and it’s free.

did you know ...

that breastfeeding has benefits for you too? Women who breastfeed
reduce their risk of developing breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers—
by as much as 25 percent for breast cancer. The risk of osteo-
porosis and rheumatoid arthritis is reduced significantly, too. It is also
easier to shed pregnancy weight, because breastfeeding burns on
average 300–500 calories a day.
 the art of breastfeeding 13

Q Should I be demand-feeding my baby? brainy babies

A In the early days, it’s a good idea to feed as Breastfed infants develop higher IQs
often as your baby wants, simply because your and have improved brain and nervous
body has to adjust the amount of milk produced to system development—to the extent that
ensure that your baby gets what he needs. After a breastfeeding is considered by many as
few weeks, you can choose to continue to feed the fourth trimester. Also, the way babies
upon demand, or set up a routine. There are suck on the breast promotes development
benefits for both approaches, and you’ll need to of facial structure, enhancing speech.
decide what works best for you.
Some childcare experts believe that feeding on
demand prevents any problems with milk supply,
and also encourages emotional security, because
Q How will I know if my baby
is getting enough milk?
you are meeting your baby’s needs as and when
he needs you to—teaching him trust. It is also now A This is a concern that plagues many
believed that babies who are fed when they are new moms. Unlike the contents of a
hungry learn to recognize hunger “cues,” and bottle, breasts do not supply a “set”
develop a habit of eating to these cues, which is an amount of milk per feed and do, in fact,
important step in preventing obesity. adapt constantly to provide your baby
Some women, however, prefer to feed babies with exactly the right amount she
according to the clock—often every three or four needs, according to her demands.
hours. When babies cry between feeds, they are There is an element of trust necessary
soothed, but not with milk. This can make life easier, here—believing that your baby is
knowing when you’ll be sitting down for a feed, and getting what she needs. If your baby is
when you have a little more time. Some women don’t a healthy color, putting on weight, alert
enjoy breastfeeding in public, and this approach and looking around when she is awake,
means that you can schedule trips between feeds. and has regular wet and dirty diapers,
There’s no reason, however, why you can’t adapt she’ll be getting enough. If, after losing
things to include a little of both approaches. For a little weight in the first few days
example, you may wish to feed on demand (which is entirely normal), your baby
throughout the day, and then wake your baby puts on weight slowly but surely, all is
before you go to bed to fill up his tummy, and give well. Breastfed babies do tend to gain
you a little more sleep. You may also want to feed weight more slowly than their bottle-fed
before setting out on a long journey, or to fall in peers, but this is simply a natural
with a family routine. That doesn’t mean you are process. Your doctor usually plots your
ignoring his requests for food, but that you are baby’s growth on percentile charts in
rescheduling the feeds a little to avoid having to her Child Health Record book (see
breastfeed at times that are less convenient. page 34)—talk to her if you’re worried.
14 0–6 months

Q Will it confuse my baby to Q Is it necessary to feed from both

have a bottle from time to time? breasts during every feed?

A Many breastfeeding experts believe A The most important thing is to ensure that your
that offering a bottle will cause “nipple baby gets both types of milk produced by your
confusion,” mainly because different breasts—the thirst-quenching foremilk, and the
types of sucking are involved. Sucking more calorific and nutritious hind milk. If your baby
from a bottle requires less effort from flits from one breast to the other, without emptying
babies, and they can quite easily either, she may not be getting enough of the latter. In
become accustomed to getting milk the early weeks, before the demand for your milk
more quickly and efficiently. However, has been established by your baby, your breasts will
if you can establish a successful overproduce quite substantially. A little baby may
pattern of breastfeeding over the first well be full after emptying the contents of one breast,
six weeks, your baby will develop the in which case, it’s fine to stop. However, do move her
skills he needs to continue, and on to the other breast for your next feed, to avoid
shouldn’t find it too daunting to becoming engorged, and to ensure that your body
switch back and forth. In order to begins to make the correct amount of milk to meet
keep up the supply, which is your baby’s needs. Within a few weeks you should
based on your baby’s demands, be producing the right amount for your baby, and
it’s a good idea to avoid she will be able to manage both breasts in a sitting.
supplementing with
formula milk too often.
Q How long should my baby feed on
each breast?
Q Is it OK to drink a little A It’s obviously difficult to work out whether your
alcohol if I’m breastfeeding?
baby has actually managed to get both fore- and
A Alcohol enters your milk in much the hind milk, because you can’t see what is going on.
same way that it does your bloodstream. A good feed normally lasts about 20 to 30 minutes.
Within about 20 minutes of drinking, If he’s “snacking,” falling asleep on the breast, or
it will appear in your milk. If you are losing concentration and looking around instead,
feeling tipsy, you can expect your baby he probably isn’t getting all of what he needs. It
to feel pretty much the same. If you do may well be that he isn’t particularly hungry, and
want a couple of drinks, it’s best to you’ll be better off trying again later. If you are
have them after you’ve breastfed, demand breastfeeding, which means feeding
giving your body a chance to clear your baby when he is hungry rather than to a set
the alcohol before the next feed. No schedule (see page 13), you might need to urge
more than one or two units a week is him to finish a feed properly, or return to the same
recommended for breastfeeding moms. breast until he has emptied it.
 the art of breastfeeding 15

Q If there are allergies in my family, is sterilizing bottles

it advisable to breastfeed?
It’s impossible to create a germ-free

A Unfortunately, if there is allergy (such as environment for your baby. However, warm
asthma, eczema, hayfever, or food allergies) in the milk is a perfect breeding ground for
family, the likelihood of a baby being “atopic” (the germs, so it’s important to sterilize the
inherited predisposition to allergies) is very high. bottles and teats you use for expressed
A huge amount of research has looked at ways of milk. In the first year, your baby will be at
minimizing the potential for “high risk” babies to her most vulnerable to germs, and carefully
develop allergies in later life, but very few factors washing bottles will not be enough.
have been shown to make any difference at all.
However, there is good evidence that exclusive
breastfeeding can help. Current advice is to aim to
breastfeed exclusively for six months, although it
Q Can I continue to breastfeed
when I return to work?
seems that it is the first four months that have the
biggest impact in preventing food allergies and A If you have access to a breast pump
eczema. If there is a strong family history of allergy at work, it may be possible to breastfeed
and you aren’t able to breastfeed exclusively for exclusively (you’ll need to refrigerate
this long, talk to your doctor, who may recommend the milk and keep it at the same, cool,
that you try a special hypoallergenic milk formula. temperature while you transport it
home). Before you return to work, you

Q Should I wake my baby for a late can freeze a supply of milk—it will last
about three months. You'll obviously
night feed before I go to bed?
need to top off this supply. If you’re able
A Personally, I think it’s OK to wake your baby. If to feed your baby before you go to
you don’t get much rest, you may find it hard to be work, immediately upon your return,
a good mother. I think there is more chance of your and perhaps again before bedtime or
baby starting to sleep through to a civilized hour if during the night, it is perfectly possible
woken and fed just before you go to bed. to breastfeed exclusively.
Some mothers who breastfeed part-

Q How long will expressed milk last? time, alongside bottle-feeding, find
that their babies are reluctant to go
A Expressed milk will last for about four hours back to the breast. However, if you can
at room temperature and, if you refrigerate it manage to offer the same feeds each
immediately after expressing, between 24 and 48 day—perhaps morning and evening—
hours. If you are taking expressed milk out with your baby will get used to the routine.
you, keep it in a cool bag with ice packs, and it Your breasts will also begin to produce
should last 24 hours or so. milk at the appropriate time.
16 0–6 months

a new mom’s diet

As a new mom, you’ll need to make sure that you get
plenty of fresh, wholesome food to keep your energy
levels high. Eating well also helps to ensure that your
breastfed baby will have a constant supply of good-
quality milk to keep him healthy and satisfied.

Q How many calories do I Q Which foods should I try to include in

need when I'm breastfeeding? my diet while breastfeeding and why?

A Most women need at least 2,200 A A balanced diet will help to ensure that your
calories per day to maintain a supply of baby gets the nutrients she needs from your milk,
good-quality milk, but if you are active, and that you stay healthy, relaxed, and full of energy.
over- or underweight, your needs may Aim for a diet that is high in unrefined
be different. Exclusive breastfeeding carbohydrates (whole-grain breads, pastas, cereals,
burns around 300–500 calories per day, brown rice, and grains), which will provide you with
and in most cases these need to be sustainable energy and fiber to encourage healthy
replaced. But listen to your body— digestion. Pulses like beans, peas, and chickpeas,
some days you may need to eat more. are an excellent source of healthy unrefined carbs,
fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein. Lentils and

Q Is it OK to diet while chickpeas, in particular, are rich in iron, which can

be low in breastfeeding moms. You’ll also find iron
breastfeeding?
in dried fruit, fish, and leafy greens, but red meat
A This is never a good idea; you need has the best and most easily absorbed form.
a balanced diet and adequate calories Essential fatty acids, found in oily fish, nuts, and
to produce enough good-quality milk for seeds, encourage optimum health for you, but
your baby. Also, toxins are stored in fat they’ll also help ensure that your baby grows and
cells in your body, and when you diet, develops properly—in particular, her brain and
these are released into your bloodstream nervous system. Fresh vegetables and fruit are
and into your milk, eventually reaching essential for the vitamins, minerals, and fiber they
your baby. While breastfeeding, you can offer. Finally, aim for four servings of calcium—
lose weight healthily (about 5lb/2kg a found in dairy products, soy, and leafy greens—and
month) by eating plenty of fresh, whole three or four servings of protein a day (in lean
foods and giving up refined goodies. meats, fish, pulses, eggs, seeds, nuts, and soy).