Are the healthy eating guidelines for adults appropriate for babies?
A. No. The needs of babies are different to those of adults. A low-fat, high-fibre diet isn’t appropriate, as babies and young children need more fat, concentrated sources of calories and nutrients to fuel their rapid growth. Too much fibre can fill your baby up before she has the nutrients she needs and may cause diarrhoea. Q. When should I introduce my baby to more lumpy food? A. Introduce texture and small lumps as early as possible. The older your baby, the harder she’ll find it to accept lumpy food. Try thickening purées, then adding tiny lumps such as tiny pasta shapes, rice or couscous. Once she has a few teeth, mash and chop food instead of puréeing it. It’s a good idea to offer your baby finger foods at around 8 months.
