Remembering Solids
I remember when my firstborn was ready to start solids. It was such a big deal, for her and for me. We had spent six months together learning how to breastfeed, and then it was time to begin introducing real food (if you can call it that). More...

A Solid Start
The day Noah turned four months was a momentous one in his short life – he tasted solid food for the first time.

I still remember it clearly – it was a Thursday and Harvey had a day off work. More...

Rafferty’s Garden is a premium range of baby food. Launched in 2007, the range has been enjoying unprecedented growth with all its products and is now the number 2 range in its category in Australian supermarkets.

One of the key selling points of the range is the bright and cheerful packaging and clever resealable spouts on the smooth range, making it a quick and convenient way to feed babies and toddlers. Rafferty’s prides itself on making taste a priority, thus encouraging young children to experiment with new flavours and textures.

Rafferty’s has seven ranges of premium baby food, which include cereals and smooth purees suitable for babies from 4 months, to a “lumpy” range for toddlers.

Rafferty’s Garden baby food is sold in supermarkets nationally, including Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Foodworks, Spar and Franklins, as well as Toys R Us.

Breast milk, as the preferred choice, or infant formula is important food for babies until at least 12 months of age. It is also essential to introduce solid foods at the right time. At around six months of age, baby’s iron stores are low and extra food is needed to prevent later nutritional problems such as iron deficiency.

Start to introduce solids at around six months of age. Babies are all different; some will be ready to have solids earlier than others. Watch your baby for signs of readiness. Read more below.

Pasteurised full fat cow’s milk may be included in small amounts as custard, yoghurt or on cereal in your baby’s diet. However, cow’s milk should not be your baby’s main drink until after one year of age. Cow’s milk is a poor source of iron and is never a substitute for breast milk or formula in babies under 12 months. Reduced fat milks are not recommended in the first two years of life.

Remember!

• Always wash your hands before preparing food and use clean utensils
• A sip cup can be introduced from 6 months
• When appropriate try adapting family meals to be suitable for your child rather than preparing separate meals i.e. puree meats and vegetables used for the family meal.
• Small quantities of food can be frozen in ice cube trays or stored in airtight plastic bags and thawed as needed.
• Commercial baby foods are a suitable alternative if you do not have enough time to prepare meals however try not to over-rely on these as it is important a child tries a variety of different foods to develop taste preferences.
• It is not necessary to add salt, sugar, honey or other flavourings to any food.
• Do not add solids to a bottle. Babies need to learn that there is a difference between eating and drinking.