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Baby and child nutrition

Milk feeding

The Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding. However, bottle feeding is still common in the UK, so we also work to ensure the best possible outcomes for babies who are not breastfed.

If you are bottle feeding, you should be shown how to sterilise equipment and prepare feeds safely. If you haven’t been shown, please ask. Even if you think you know, check with a midwife or health visitor, as advice may have changed. You should also receive support with feeding techniques to ensure a positive experience for both you and your baby.

You may find the health visitors community groups helpful.

Introducing your baby to solid foods

Introducing your baby to solid foods, also known as weaning, should start when they are around six months old. This is an important step in their development and can be a fun way to explore new flavours and textures together. It is essential to introduce a healthy diet from the start.

Breast milk or first infant formula will still provide energy and important nutrients throughout your baby’s first year.

From six months, begin introducing a variety of foods, including:

  • vegetables and fruits
  • starchy foods like potato, bread, rice, and pasta
  • protein foods like meat, fish, well-cooked eggs, beans, and pulses
  • pasteurised dairy foods such as plain full-fat yogurt

Choose foods with no added sugar or sweeteners, and do not add them to your baby’s food. Avoid foods with added salt and do not add salt to your baby’s food.

Remember, your baby’s tummy is small, so they only need small amounts of food at a time.

Useful links

Drinks and cups for babies and toddlers

If you’re bottle feeding, it’s a good idea to introduce a cup instead of a bottle from around six months. By the time your baby is one, they should stop using bottles with teats. This will help prevent the habit of comfort sucking on a bottle.

Reflux and colic

How to help if your baby has reflux

Reflux is when your baby spits up the milk they have swallowed. It’s natural to worry when your baby brings up their feeds or is sick, but reflux is very common. It often starts in the first eight weeks and usually goes away by the time your baby is one year old.

Colic

Colic is when a baby cries excessively or frequently due to tummy pain, often caused by wind. It is a common problem that affects up to one in five babies. Colic usually begins when a baby is a few weeks old and tends to stop by four months, or by six months at the latest. Caring for a colicky baby can be frustrating and distressing, but the problem will pass and is usually nothing to worry about.

Preventing obesity

Research shows that children who maintain a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, and better able to learn. They are also more self-confident and less likely to experience low self-esteem or be bullied. Additionally, they are much less likely to face health problems later in life.

Your child grows and develops quickly in their first few years. However, their tummy is still small, so their food and drink need to provide all the energy and nutrients they need in a small amount, without too much salt and sugar, which can harm their health both now and in the future.

Vitamins

Children, just like adults, can benefit from extra vitamins for their wellbeing, growth, and development. While a healthy, varied diet is important, babies from six months and young children may not get enough vitamins from food alone, especially vitamins A, C, and D. It is recommended to give vitamin drops daily from six months to five years of age, and for some babies, from birth.

Healthy start

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be eligible for help to buy healthy food and milk. See healthy start (opens in new window) for more information.

Page last reviewed: January 30, 2025
Next review due: January 30, 2026

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