Infant feeding

• Non-wheat cereals, fruit, vegetables and potatoes are suitable first weaning foods. Salt should not be added and additional sugars should be limited to that need for palatability of sour fruits.
• Pasteurised whole cow’s milk should only be used as a main milk drink after the age of one year. Semi-skimmed cow’s milk is not suitable as a drink before the age of two years but thereafter it may be introduced gradually if the child’s energy and nutrient intake is otherwise adequate and if growth remains satisfactory. Fully skimmed cow’s milk should not usually be introduced before the age of five years.
• Breastfed infants under six months do not need vitamin supplementation provided the mother had an adequate vitamin status during pregnancy. From the age of six months, infants receiving breast milk as their main drink should be given supplements of vitamins A and D. Infants consuming less than 500ml per day of manufactured milks or being given cow’s milk should be given supplements of vitamins A and D.
• Foods and drinks which provide good sources of vitamin C should be encouraged in the weaning diet. This assists iron absorption and is particularly important if the diet is meat free. Continued use of iron-enriched infant formula or a follow-on milk as a main drink after the first year should be considered if there are concerns about the adequacy of iron in the diet.