Hello!
Your baby is now 3 months old. Every day your baby discovers new things in the world around them, and you are probably learning lots of new things too!
This week we’ll be talking about when to introduce solid foods, home safety, and a few nutritional tips for parents. |
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During the first 6 months of life, your baby needs only breastmilk (human milk), or infant formula.
Introducing any solid food before 6 months does not benefit your baby. Some people think their baby will sleep longer at night if they have solid foods before the age of 6 months. This isn’t true. Waking at night is a normal part of a baby’s development.
If you feed your baby solid foods before they are 6 months old, they are at risk of undernutrition and choking. Breastmilk or infant formula will provide all the nutrition a baby needs in the first 6 months of life. Babies fed solid foods early may not get all the protein, fat, and other nutrients they need to grow and develop.
Before 6 months of age, babies are still developing the skills needed to eat solid foods. These skills include holding their head up and sitting up on their own. Without these skills, babies are at risk of choking when eating solid foods. Most healthy, term babies will show signs of being ready for solid foods at about 6 months of age. |
Home safety
As babies grow and develop, the risk for injury changes. Since babies do not understand danger, they need caregivers to be there and be aware!
- Preventing falls
- Always keep one hand on your baby when they are on a raised surface.
- Never put a baby in a car seat on a table or couch.
- Start thinking about installing wall mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Your baby will be moving soon!
- Never leave your baby alone in a bathtub, even for a short time.
- Avoid toys with small parts. If it can fit through a toilet paper roll, it can be a choking hazard.
- Visit Health Canada’s website to see if your baby’s products meet current safety regulations.
- Visit Prevent Child Injury to learn more about how to keep your baby safe.
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Parent nutrition
Healthy eating is important for new parents, and if you’re breastfeeding or chestfeeding you might feel hungrier and thirstier than usual. Listen to your body’s signals of hunger and fullness, and aim to eat a little extra food from Canada’s Food Guide each day. All people who could become pregnant, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding (chestfeeding), should take a daily multivitamin containing 0.4 mg (400mcg) of folic acid. |
Links we love!
The Canadian Paediatric Society provides information for parents of babies, children, and teenagers. Written by doctors, for Canadian parents. |
Looking forward to connecting with you again when your baby is 4 months old. Hope you and your family have a great month! |
KFL&A Public Health, 221 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston, Ontario K7M 1V5
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