Early Childhood Nutrition

Your baby’s dietary needs at 0-4 months

At this age, your baby remains happy and healthy on a diet of breast and/or formula milk. However, your baby's nutritional needs will soon change over different stages of growth. To ensure your baby's optimal development and health, it's important to keep track of these changes in nutrition needs at every stage.

Before the arrival for your baby

While you’re preparing for the arrival of your baby, here are some things to consider when selecting a hospital.

Why baby-friendly hospitals are important for you and your baby

We know that being a new mum isn’t easy. That’s why we have the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), where medical professionals are trained to educate and guide new mums on their breastfeeding experience.

Find out more

Advantages of breastfeeding your baby

Breast milk is great nourishment for your child, because its nutritional composition changes according to your child’s needs. You can breastfeed your baby for as long as you both are comfortable and at the 4-6 month mark, your baby can start weaning and discover new food textures.

Breastfeeding benefits nutrients vitamins minerals

Contains all essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients for your baby's growth and development, for the first 4 - 6 months.

Breastfeeding benefits improved digestion

Is more easily digested so your baby is less likely to develop a tummy ache, constipation and diarrhoea.

Breastfeeding benefits boost immunity reduce infections

Contains antibodies that can boost your baby’s immunity and reduce risk of infections.

Breastfeeding benefits reduce sudden infant death cot deaths

Reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot deaths), as well as obesity and diabetes in adulthood.

What does the nutrients in breastmilk do for my baby?

Breastfeeding provides energy healthy growth

Provides energy for growth

Fat, carbohydrates, protein, growth factors, nucleotides

Breastfeeding benefits healthy brain eye DHA

Ensures good brain and eye development

Omega-3 such as DHA, taurine

Breastfeeding benefits healthy digestive system

Contributes to good gut health

Oligosaccharides, taurine, enzymes

Breastfeeding benefits strong healthy immune system

Develop a robust defense and immune system

Immunoglobulins, selenium, beta-carotene, nucleotides, oligosaccharides

Cardiovascular System and Blood

Iron, lactoferrin, vitamin K

Bones

Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D

*These examples are illustrative only and are not an exhaustive list

How does breastfeeding help you?

Breastfeeding benefits womb contracts faster reduce post-childbirth blood loss

Early suckling helps your womb contract faster and reduces blood loss after childbirth.

Breastfeeding benefits delay menstruation natural contraceptive

It delays the return of your menstrual period, where exclusive breastfeeding is a natural (although imperfect) contraceptive.

Breastfeeding benefits lose pregnancy weight

The calories burnt while breastfeeding can help you shed some of the weight gained during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding benefits lowers risk breast cancer ovarian cancer womb cancer osteoporosis heart disease

Lowers your risk of developing breast, ovarian and/or womb cancers, osteoporosis (brittle bones) and heart disease.

Close contact between your baby and you enhances mother-child bonding

What you need to know about infant formula milk

Infant formula milk important information guide

While breast milk is recommended for newborn babies, infant formula milk can also be an alternative or supplementary source of nutrition when breastfeeding is insufficient or not possible.

Need a guide for handy reference?
Download 'A Mum's Guide to Early Childhood Nutrition (0-6 months)' here.Download

Download

Need a guide for handy reference?
Download 'A Mum's Guide to Early Childhood Nutrition (0-6 months)' here.

Download

Infant Formula Milk Options For Your Baby

There are three basic types of infant formula milk: cow’s (or goat’s) milk-based, soy-based and specialised formulas.

Cow’s milk-based formula

The standard base of infant formula is cow’s milk, which has been modified to mimic the composition of breast milk in terms of carbohydrate and fat, plus vitamins and minerals. Most babies without special medical conditions adapt well to standard cow’s milk-based formulas.

Types of infant formula milk soy milk soya milk

Soy-based formula

Soy-based milk does not contain lactose and animal proteins, and could be an option for babies who are lactose intolerant. It is recommended that you consult your doctor or paediatrician before starting your baby on soy-based formula.

Types of infant formula milk specialised formula

Specialised formulas

Specialised formulas are made for babies with specific medical conditions and are generally more expensive than standard infant formulas. Parents should seek medical advice before they give specialised formula to their babies.

Rest assured that all infant formula sold in Singapore is safe and adequate for your baby to consume thanks to the stringent regulations and nutritional requirements set in place by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.

Nutritional values of different brands of Stage 1 formula milkDownload Chart

Download Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Sore or cracked nipples
Cause:	Your baby is not positioned or latched on properly.
Solutions:	Gently take your baby off your breast, then re-attach and re-position him. Reduce the nursing duration but increase the number of feeds. Initiate breastfeeding on the unaffected breast. Express a few drops of breast milk on the nipples to soothe them. Apply nipple cream or balm that is safe for babies.

Engorgement
Cause:	Missed feeds
Solutions:	Express some breast milk before nursing if your baby has trouble latching on. Massage your breast gently while you are feeding and express after feed if your breast still feels hard or swollen. Use cold packs after a feed to feel more comfortable.

Plugged ducts
Cause:	A blocked milk duct that is not draining well into the nipple.
Solutions:	Start nursing from the affected breast first when your baby's suckle is vigorous and strong. Keep the affected breast as empty as possible by nursing frequently. Apply mild pressure with a warm towel on the lump, gently pushing it towards the nipple. Change feeding positions to help empty the breast and hand express breast milk if necessary.

Breast infections (mastitis)
Cause:	A bacterial infection that usually affects one breast. The affected breast may appear to be red, hot and swollen, or may have a painful lump.
Solutions:	Get help from your doctor or lactation consultant. You may be given antibiotics and painkillers for pain and fever.

Thrush
Cause:	A yeast infection caused by Candida albicans that affects both you and baby. You may experience itchy, red or sore nipples and your baby may have white patches in the mouth.
Solutions:	The infection will not affect your baby and you can continue to breastfeed. See your doctor who may prescribe antifungal medication for you and your baby.

Frozen breast milk

3 – 12 months, depending on temperature of freezer

Breast milk storage 24 hours 1 day in cooler bag

Chilled in cooler bag

24hrs

Breast milk storage 48 hours 2 days in fridge

Chilled in fridge

48hrs

Stage 1 milk: 0 – 6 months

Stage 1 formula mimics the nutrition composition of breast milk. Even though formula recipes may vary between brands, all formulas are nutritionally adequate for your baby’s growing needs.

Stage 2 formula milk for baby 6 to 12 months

Stage 2 milk: 6 – 12 months

This is formulated for infants who are 6 - 12 months old. Stage 2 milk should not be given to babies who are 0–6 months old as their digestive system and kidneys are not developed enough.

Baby 12 months and above swap to full cream cow’s milk solid food

Above 12 months:

Babies should be eating solid foods in small portions. If they are drinking infant formula, they can transition to regular full cream milk.

Note: Your baby should not consume any regular full cream milk under the age of 12 months.

That’s because regular full cream milk:

Is not as easily digestible as infant formula.
Can stress a newborn’s kidneys and cause dehydration, due to its high concentration of protein and minerals.
Can irritate the baby’s stomach and intestinal lining, leading to the loss of blood in stools and causing iron deficiency anaemia.

How much should I feed my baby?

The amount of milk your baby requires will vary according to their growth and body weight. For infants who are 6 - 12 months old, HPB recommends consuming about 500-750ml of milk per day, complemented by appropriate weaning foods.

Do not force your baby to finish the bottle if he appears to be full. If your baby has a specially-prescribed formula to follow, do consult with your paediatrician on the correct amount to feed every day.

Are formula-fed babies more prone to constipation? If so, should I offer them water or fruit juice?

Giving baby water or fruit juice not recommended

While it is true that babies on formula milk tend to develop harder stools, it does not necessarily mean that they are constipated. Constipation is a common problem encountered in formula-fed babies, as the casein in cow's milk-based formula is difficult to digest. Depending on the type of fat blend used in formula, in combination with minerals such as calcium and iron, it may be less well-absorbed and can contribute to hard stools.

Babies younger than 6 months who are exclusively breastfed or are consuming adequate infant formula do not require additional fluids.

Fruit juice is not recommended for babies as it can disrupt their appetite and nutrition intake.

Moreover, they may be high in sugar.

My baby is low in birth weight. Can I increase their nutrition intake by packing in more milk powder in each feed?

Giving baby more milk powder not recommended

This is not recommended. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s directions on the preparation of formula milk.

If you add too much water, your baby may not get the calories and nutrients they need for proper growth. If you add too much powder, the high concentration of formula could cause diarrhoea or dehydration, and give your baby more calories and nutrients than required.

Can I feed my baby regular cow’s milk?

Babies below 12 months of age should not take cow’s milk because it is not as easily digestible as breast milk or infant formula. It can stress a newborn’s kidneys and cause dehydration due to its high concentration of protein and minerals. Additionally, consumption may irritate the baby’s stomach and intestinal lining, leading to the loss of blood in stools and causing iron deficiency anaemia.

If your baby is above 12 months old and has been drinking formula milk, they can make the transition to full cream milk (e.g. chilled pasteurised, UHT, powdered full cream milk) together with solid food for a complete source of energy. However, as fats are still essential for optimum growth and development, growing toddlers below the age of 2, whose digestive systems are not developed enough, should not consume low-fat milk.

How should I switch my baby to another formula milk brand? Are there steps I can take to ensure a smooth transition?

Switching baby formula milk how to transition baby to different milk

There is no fixed rule on how to switch between formula brands. As taste varies between formula brands, the pace of switching depends on your baby’s preferences and how quickly they can adapt to the new brand. Start by gradually increasing the number of feeds of the new brand. If your baby is adapting well, you can increase them more frequently until all feeds are replaced by the new brand.

During this period, you may notice a change in frequency, texture and/or colour of the stool. This is normal as the amount of added nutrients like iron and prebiotics can be different in the new brand. If your baby does not show any signs of allergy to the original cow’s milk-based formula, it is unlikely that they will develop allergic reactions when switching to another cow’s milk based formula.

Different brands of formula milk have different feed compositions. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not mix two or more brands of milk powder when preparing a feed.

Need More Help?

Click here for available services, support groups and helplines to guide you on this journey.

Find out more

Download Mom's guide for Early Childhood Nutrition 0 - 6 months

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Your baby’s dietary needs at 4-6 months

At this age, your baby’s diet should still primarily comprise of breast and/or formula milk. Additionally, weaning foods can start to be introduced into your child’s food intake. Read below to find out what weaning-ready signs you can look out for in your child, and what types of foods are suitable to introduce in the early stages of weaning.

Introducing solid food into your baby’s diet

When your child is around 4 - 6 months of age, solid foods can be gradually introduced into their diet to meet their increasing nutritional and developmental needs. At this age, a baby’s digestive system is usually developed enough to process small amounts of solid food. Although exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months, some babies show signs of readiness to wean earlier.

This process of switching your baby from a milk-only diet to one that includes both milk and solid/baby foods, is called weaning or complementary feeding.

weaning complementary feeding important for babies

Mothers are encouraged to continue breastfeeding their babies until they are at least 12 months old (longer if desired). However, at around 4 to 6 months, milk alone is not sufficient to meet your growing baby’s nutritional needs.

Weaning importance for babies start with iron-rich foods

Babies now require foods rich in iron, as the iron levels present at birth are generally depleted at around 4–6 months. Hence, a good tip is to first introduce iron-rich foods such as iron-fortified plain rice cereals, meat, and dark green vegetables like spinach and broccoli.

These foods can be introduced gradually, as breast milk and/or infant milk formula remains the primary food staple in the early stages of weaning. The calcium, protein and other essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals present in milk would still contribute to most of your child’s energy and nutrition intake.

How Weaning Helps You Save

Weaning provides DHA protein iron nutrients for healthy baby growth

If your baby is on a formula milk-only diet, weaning helps reduce baby food expenses and may also provide more DHA than enhanced milk formulas, along with protein, iron, and other key nutrients your growing baby needs/

Weaning sources of DHA fatty fish salmon sardines halibut mackerel pomfret

Some good food sources of DHA are fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, halibut, Spanish mackerel, and pomfret. In general, half serving (~30 - 45g) of these contain much more DHA (more than 200mg) than a bottle of infant milk formula.

Nutritional values of different brands of Stage 2 formula milkDownload PDF

Download PDF

Signs of a weaning-ready baby

Your child may exhibit the following signs around 4 to 6 months of age, indicating that he or she is ready to wean.

Able to sit up properly and hold head up when leaning against chair backrest, with some assistance.

Reaches hands out proactively to grasp objects

Shows interest in solid foods

During feeding, baby moves food with tongue to back of mouth to swallow, with less pushing out of tongue.

Tendency to put objects in mouth and chew on them

Seems hungry even after a milk feed

Important notes when feeding your baby

Start your child on solids gradually by introducing one new type of food every 3-4 days. Be sure to keep a lookout for any allergic reactions.

Should your baby develop any allergies during weaning, take note of the food that most likely caused the reaction and see a paediatrician immediately.

If your baby constantly pushes the spoon out with his tongue or appears to have difficulty swallowing solids, wait for another week before trying again.

Some babies need more time to get used to consuming solid foods.

It is normal for food to spill out from the sides of your baby’s mouth initially. He will develop better control of his facial and oral muscles over time.

It does not mean that your child does not like the food. Repeated exposure will help your child to accept new flavours and textures.

Baby’s first weaning foods

Baby weaning foods start with iron-rich food

As your baby’s iron stores are almost depleted, more iron-rich foods should be introduced at the start of the weaning process. Good sources of iron include iron-fortified plain rice cereals, meat, and dark green vegetables like spinach and broccoli.

To help your baby’s body better absorb iron, combine iron-rich foods with good sources of Vitamin C like vegetables and fruits. Other suitable food choices include porridge blended with mashed or pureed vegetables such as pumpkin, sweet potato and carrot.

Baby weaning foods grains vegetables fruits tofu fish minced meat chicken beef pork lamb

As your baby grows older, his ability to chew and bite will develop. You can then introduce other grains (fine oats, barley and wheat), cooked strained vegetables, soft mashed fruits and soft protein-rich foods like tofu, cooked mashed lentils or finely flaked fish at around 6 months.

At around 7 - 8 months, you may also start adding finely minced meat and shredded poultry, such as beef, chicken, pork and lamb, to his diet.

Here are some examples of your baby's first foods:

Weaning food preparation

At around 6 months, your baby’s food should be smooth, soft and fine in texture (as shown below). As he grows older and his chewing abilities develop, the food texture can be thicker and coarser. At around 10 – 12 months of age, your baby’s food only needs to be mashed, chopped or cut into small pieces.

Here’s a visual guide to help you determine the right texture for your baby’s food:

Weaning food recommended texture and food type

Download PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pace the feeding of solids and milk?

Baby weaning when to feed solids and milk together

When your baby is around 4 to 6 months of age, he should start eating more solid foods. In the initial stages of weaning, you could start by feeding your baby pureed foods about 30 - 60 minutes before his usual milk feeding time.

It is best to gradually allocate your baby’s milk feedings away from main meal times (e.g. morning, late afternoon, before bedtime), and feed him solid food at his main meal timings. This helps prevent his milk intake from interfering with his appetite for other solid foods.

How do I give my baby water?

Boil and cool any tap water that your baby is going to drink. If your baby is around 6 months of age, you can serve water in a sippy cup or a cup with a straw to build his skill in sipping.

What foods should I avoid giving my baby?

While mothers may worry about producing enough breast milk for their babies, remember that frequent and effective milk removal is important to ensure a good supply. Breastfeed your baby frequently and regularly to ensure good milk production.

Baby weaning foods to avoid under 12 months cow’s milk

Cow’s milk should not be given to infants younger than 12 months. Low in iron and high in solutes, it can damage your baby’s developing kidneys.

Baby weaning foods to avoid high mercury fish

Fish with high levels of mercury like shark, swordfish, marlin, tuna (including bluefin, bigeye, albacore, and yellowfin species), king mackerel, orange roughy, yellowback seabream and dash-and-dot goatfish.

Baby weaning foods to avoid raw food unpasteurized milk

Any uncooked foods and unpasteurized milk products.

Baby weaning foods to avoid small food choking hazard

Any food that can easily be a choking hazard – such as:

Small and hard pieces of food (e.g. nuts, and grapes)
Crunchy or hard foods (e.g. uncooked vegetables)
Fish and meat with bones
Fruits with seeds
Sticky rice (e.g. glutinous rice)

Baby weaning foods to avoid salt preserved food soy sauce

Any food high in salt content like canned foods, sausages, preserved foods, and foods seasoned with salt, soy sauce or chicken powder.

Your baby’s kidneys cannot handle one gram of salt or more per day until he is 12 months old.

If your baby gets too used to salty flavours, he may be more likely to reject unseasoned food. This could encourage him to consume more salty foods and raise future risk of high blood pressure.

Instead, use ginger, garlic, spring onion or spices such as turmeric as alternatives for seasoning.

Baby weaning foods to avoid sweet drinks sugary drinks

Sugared drinks, soft drinks or fruit juice.

Baby weaning foods to avoid caffeinated energy drinks coffee tea

Caffeinated drinks such as energy drinks, coffee or tea.

Baby weaning foods to avoid honey baked goods confectionary

Honey (on its own or in other products like cakes).

Your baby should not eat honey in any form until he is at least 12 months old. As infants cannot digest the bacteria found in honey, eating honey can cause infant botulism.

What are the typical symptoms of food allergies?

Symptoms usually occur within several hours or several days after eating the trigger food. Hence, it is best to observe your baby’s reaction(s) closely – especially after introducing a new food.

Common symptoms that occur within several hours include:

Hives and worsening eczema

Baby food allergy signs swollen eyes tongue face mouth lips

Swollen eyes, tongue, face, mouth and lips

Watery stools

Vomiting

Rare but serious symptoms include:

Baby food allergy signs difficulty breathing

Difficulty in breathing

Fainting

Some babies may develop an allergic reaction 1 or 2 days later so do keep a lookout for symptoms like eczema, wheezing, persistent vomiting, constipation and/or stomach pain. See a paediatrician immediately if your baby displays any of these reactions.

How long can cooked food last in a thermal flask?

Cooked food storage in thermal flask duration safe to eat

Generally, a small thermal flask cannot store food at a safe temperature (60 degrees or above) for a relatively long period. To reduce the risk of bacterial growth, food stored in a thermal flask should be eaten within 2 hours after it is cooked.

How do i discourage picky-eating?

Be a role model

Your eating habits play an important part in shaping your toddler's dietary habits.

Provide smaller portions

Start slow and give your child smaller portions, refilling his plate as he requests.

Be patient if your toddler refuses to eat a certain food

Try alternatives, like spinach instead of broccoli. If he is still resistant, take a break from that food and try again after a week. It can take up to eight to ten tries before toddlers accept new foods.

Create a positive and supportive environment during meal times

A child should not be forced to eat. Let him explore his food his own way. Praise him by describing what he did well. Children need encouragement to recognise the right behaviour.

Involve your child in preparing their meals

For instance, shop with your child and let him choose his food and participate in the preparation (for simple recipes, eg: sandwiches). By doing so, it can evoke interest and anticipation towards his meals.

Be creative when preparing and presenting food

For example, include a variety of colourful food in your child's meal and cut food into interesting shapes such as star-shaped carrots to attract his attention.

Reward him with non-food treats like stickers/toys

Do not reward him with desserts or processed food. You can create your own reward system that your toddler can look forward to. e.g. one gold star for each new food accepted; gold stars can be exchanged for a new toy, etc.

Encourage self-feeding with supervision

Make sure the food is not a choking hazard. Do not allow him to run around with food in his mouth.

Introduce different food types and textures

Let your child have varied interesting experiences with food, such as presenting eggs as egg custard instead of hard boiled eggs.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have available services, support groups and helplines to help you this journey.

Find out more

Download Mom's guide for Early Childhood Nutrition 0 - 6 months

Find out more

Your baby’s dietary needs at 6-12 months

At this age, your baby should have started on some weaning foods, gradually building up their intake over time. While milk should still be a staple in their diet, a larger variety of food gives your child nutrients contributing to growth and development. Experiencing different food textures and tastes prevents them from becoming picky eaters, while helping to develop essential skills of chewing, biting, sucking and swallowing.

Recommended foods and food texture

At around 6 months, your baby’s food should be smooth, soft and fine in texture (as shown below). As they grow older and their chewing abilities develop, the food texture can be thicker and coarser. At around 10 – 12 months of age, your baby’s food only needs to be mashed, chopped or cut into small pieces.

Here’s a visual guide to help you determine the right texture for your baby’s food:

Here’s a visual guide to help you determine the right texture for your baby’s food:

Download PDF

Portion sizes of weaning foods

In the early stages of weaning, start by giving your baby 1 – 2 teaspoons of solids once a day, and slowly increase it to 1 – 2 tablespoons of solids 2 or 3 times a day.

As your baby gets used to weaning, you can gradually increase the portion size, eventually reaching a full meal on solids that can replace one of their milk feeds. Pay attention to their bowel movements, height and weight to make sure they are eating well.

Once your baby reaches around 10 – 12 months of age, he can be fed 3 meals of solids a day.

You can use the guide below to estimate how much food your baby needs each day, from each food group.

Serving size guide for 6 - 12 months

Weaning food recommended portion serving size guide per food group

*Fruits should not be used to replace vegetables or vice versa because they contain different types of essential nutrients.

Download PDF

YUMMY RECIPE IDEAS FOR 6 - 12 MONTHS

Introduce your baby to the world of solid foods with these simple recipes.

Pumpkin and Ikan Kurau
Rice Porridge

Get recipe

Watch video

Oatmeal and Peach
Puree

Get recipe

Watch video

Noodles with Beef
and Baby Corn

Get recipe

Watch video

Rice Cereal with
Spinach and Egg Yolk

Get recipe

Chicken and
Mushroom Pie

Get recipe

Carrot and Lentil
Soup

Get recipe

Pumpkin and Salmon
Rice Porridge

Get recipe

Cream Cheese and
Apple Toast

Get recipe

Watch video

Fruit-based
Ice Cream

Get recipe

Watch video

Love our recommended recipes?

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Sample daily meal plans for 6 - 12 months

Here’s a sample daily meal plan to give you a rough idea of the types of food you can prepare for your baby.

Note: This is just a guide. Now that your baby is able to regulate their own milk or food intake, let them decide how much to eat and whether they want to eat.

For babies 6 - 9 months (smooth and lumpy food)

Early morning

Baby weaning food meal plan sample 6 to 12 months

150ml breast/formula milk

Breakfast

3-4 tablespoons* of brown rice cereal mixed with 60ml breast milk/formula and 1/4 medium banana (pureed).

Mid-morning

180ml breast/formula milk

Lunch

¼-¾ rice bowl** of porridge with ¼ palm-sized minced chicken and ¼ wedge mashed pumpkin.

Afternoon

180ml breast/formula milk

Dinner

¼-¾ rice bowl** of porridge mixed with ½ small block of mashed tofu and 2 tablespoons of mashed broccoli.

¼ small pear (scraped)

Evening

180ml breast/formula milk

Total Servings

Brown rice & wholemeal bread

Fruit

Vegetables

Meat and others

Milk

1-2

½

500 - 750 ml

Brown rice & wholemeal bread

1-2

Fruit

½

Vegetables

½

Meat and others

½

Milk

500 - 750 ml

*1 tablespoon = 15g
**Rice bowl

10 – 12 months - Mashed and chopped food

Early morning

Baby weaning food meal plan sample 10 to 12 months

150ml breast/formula milk

Breakfast

3 - 4 tablespoons* of oat cereal mixed with 60ml breast/formula milk OR 1 slice of wholemeal bread with ½ mashed egg yolk.
¼ wedge cut papaya.

Mid-morning

180ml breast/formula milk

Lunch

¼-¾ rice bowl** of porridge with 1/2 small block of diced tofu and finely chopped chye sim.

Afternoon

180ml breast/formula milk

Dinner

¼-¾ baked/mashed large potato mixed with cooked minced/chopped chicken, 1/5 finely grated carrot and 1/3 finely chopped tomato

¼ wedge cut watermelon

Evening

180ml breast/formula milk

Total Servings

Brown rice & wholemeal bread

Fruit

Vegetables

Meat and others

Milk

1-2

½

500 - 750 ml

Brown rice & wholemeal bread

1-2

Fruit

½

Vegetables

½

Meat and others

½

Milk

500 - 750 ml

*1 tablespoon = 15g
**Rice bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pace the feeding of solids and milk?

When your baby is around 4 to 6 months of age, he should start eating more solid foods. In the initial stages of weaning, you could start by feeding your baby pureed foods about 30 - 60 minutes before his usual milk feeding time.

It is best to gradually allocate your baby’s milk feedings away from main meal times (e.g. morning, late afternoon, before bedtime), and feed him solid food at his main meal timings. This helps prevent his milk intake from interfering with his appetite for other solid foods.

How do I give my baby water?

Boil and cool any tap water that your baby is going to drink. If your baby is around 6 months of age, you can serve water in a sippy cup or a cup with a straw to build his skill in sipping.

What foods should I avoid giving my baby?

While mothers may worry about producing enough breast milk for their babies, remember that frequent and effective milk removal is important to ensure a good supply. Breastfeed your baby frequently and regularly to ensure good milk production.

Cow’s milk should not be given to infants younger than 12 months. Low in iron and high in solutes, it can damage your baby’s developing kidneys.

Fish with high levels of mercury like shark, swordfish, marlin, tuna (including bluefin, bigeye, albacore, and yellowfin species), king mackerel, orange roughy, yellowback seabream and dash-and-dot goatfish.

Any uncooked foods and unpasteurized milk products.

Any food that can easily be a choking hazard – such as:

Small and hard pieces of food (e.g. nuts, and grapes)
Crunchy or hard foods (e.g. uncooked vegetables)
Fish and meat with bones
Fruits with seeds
Sticky rice (e.g. glutinous rice)

Any food high in salt content like canned foods, sausages, preserved foods, and foods seasoned with salt, soy sauce or chicken powder.

Your baby’s kidneys cannot handle one gram of salt or more per day until he is 12 months old.

If your baby gets too used to salty flavours, he may be more likely to reject unseasoned food. This could encourage him to consume more salty foods and raise future risk of high blood pressure.

Instead, use ginger, garlic, spring onion or spices such as turmeric as alternatives for seasoning.

Sugared drinks, soft drinks or fruit juice.

Caffeinated drinks such as energy drinks, coffee or tea.

Honey (on its own or in other products like cakes).

Your baby should not eat honey in any form until he is at least 12 months old. As infants cannot digest the bacteria found in honey, eating honey can cause infant botulism.

What are the typical symptoms of food allergies?

Symptoms usually occur within several hours or several days after eating the trigger food. Hence, it is best to observe your baby’s reaction(s) closely – especially after introducing a new food.

Common symptoms that occur within several hours include:

Hives and worsening eczema

Swollen eyes, tongue, face, mouth and lips

Watery stools

Vomiting

Rare but serious symptoms include:

Difficulty in breathing

Fainting

Some babies may develop an allergic reaction 1 or 2 days later so do keep a lookout for symptoms like eczema, wheezing, persistent vomiting, constipation and/or stomach pain. See a paediatrician immediately if your baby displays any of these reactions.

How long can cooked food last in a thermal flask?

Generally, a small thermal flask cannot store food at a safe temperature (60 degrees or above) for a relatively long period. To reduce the risk of bacterial growth, food stored in a thermal flask should be eaten within 2 hours after it is cooked.

How do i discourage picky-eating?

Be a role model

Your eating habits play an important part in shaping your toddler's dietary habits.

Provide smaller portions

Start slow and give your child smaller portions, refilling his plate as he requests.

Be patient if your toddler refuses to eat a certain food

Try alternatives, like spinach instead of broccoli. If he is still resistant, take a break from that food and try again after a week. It can take up to eight to ten tries before toddlers accept new foods.

Create a positive and supportive environment during meal times

A child should not be forced to eat. Let him explore his food his own way. Praise him by describing what he did well. Children need encouragement to recognise the right behaviour.

Involve your child in preparing their meals

For instance, shop with your child and let him choose his food and participate in the preparation (for simple recipes, eg: sandwiches). By doing so, it can evoke interest and anticipation towards his meals.

Be creative when preparing and presenting food

For example, include a variety of colourful food in your child's meal and cut food into interesting shapes such as star-shaped carrots to attract his attention.

Reward him with non-food treats like stickers/toys

Do not reward him with desserts or processed food. You can create your own reward system that your toddler can look forward to. e.g. one gold star for each new food accepted; gold stars can be exchanged for a new toy, etc.

Encourage self-feeding with supervision

Make sure the food is not a choking hazard. Do not allow him to run around with food in his mouth.

Introduce different food types and textures

Let your child have varied interesting experiences with food, such as presenting eggs as egg custard instead of hard boiled eggs.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Download Mom's guide for Early Childhood Nutrition 6 - 12 months

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Your baby’s dietary needs at 12 months and above

Around 12 months of age, your toddler can either transition from drinking formula milk to full cream cow’s milk, or continue drinking breast milk through the first year and beyond. While milk remains a key source of nutrients at this stage, your toddler should also eat a good variety of solid foods to get the calories and nutrients they need.

SHOULD YOUR BABY SWITCH TO COW’S MILK?

At 12 months old, your toddler’s digestive system is now ready to accept a good variety of solids to meet his increasing nutrient and caloric needs. Hence, you can change from fortified toddler’s milk to cow’s milk as the energy-dense fortified milk might displace his appetite for other foods. Cow’s milk is a rich source of protein and calcium, essential for growth and building healthy bones and teeth.

Milk selection for your baby

Transitioning to full cream cow’s milk is beneficial for your baby thanks to the rich levels of protein and calcium – the essential mineralfor growth, healthy bones and teeth.

There are 3 main types of full cream cow’s milk available in supermarkets:

Chilled
pasteurised Milk

UHT Milk

Powdered
full cream milk

Note: Powdered full cream milk is not to be confused with filled milk. Filled milk is unsuitable for toddlers as it is typically reconstituted with fat or oil of non-milk origins (e.g. palm oil).

Apart from differences in respective shelf life, all 3 types of milk share similar nutritional values.
Hence, you can pick any one of them for your toddler.

If your toddler is allergic to cow’s milk protein, is on a vegan diet or has a medical condition, it is best to consult a medical professional before opting for alternatives. Options include unsweetened or reduced-sugar calcium-fortified milk alternatives like soy, almond or rice milk.

Otherwise, you can continue feeding your toddler soy-based or extensively hydrolysed formula. As soy-based milk typically contains only about half the energy content of full-fat animal milk, you will need to include other energy-dense foods in your toddler’s diet.

Stage 3 formula milk growing-up milk fortified milk

Stage 3 formula milk (also known as growing-up milk or fortified baby milk) is often advertised to be more nutritious with its added iron, vitamins and minerals. These additional nutrients are not necessary if your child is growing well and eating a well balanced diet.

In fact, Stage 3 formula milk can be more energy-dense and sweeter in taste than cow’s milk. This could potentially interfere with your toddler’s appetite for other foods.

Babies cannot consume condensed milk evaporated milk

Do not substitute full cream cow’s milk with condensed or evaporated milk, as these are high in sugar and saturated fat.

Nutritional levels in different types of milk for toddlers 12 - 24 monthsDownload Chart

Download Chart

YUMMY RECIPE IDEAS FOR 12 MONTHS

Introduce your baby to the world of solid foods with these simple recipes.

Cashew Nut
Fried Rice

Get recipe

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Shrimp, Carrot and
Broccoli ‘Risotto’

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Pan-fried Salmon
with Broccoli

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Vegetable and
Chicken Soup

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Green Mac
and Cheese

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Mixed Beans and
Vegetable Stew

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Strawberry Kiwi
Vietnamese Rolls

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Rice Pudding with
Apples and Raisins

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Yoghurt Parfait or
Homemade Fruit Yoghurt

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Love our recommended recipes?

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6 mealtime tips for your toddler

Around 12 months of age, your toddler can either transition from drinking formula milk to full cream cow’s milk, or continue drinking breast milk through the first year and beyond. While milk remains a key source of nutrients at this stage, your toddler should also eat a good variety of solid foods to get the calories and nutrients they need.

Tip 1

Prepare your baby’s food with little salt, sugar or seasoning.

Tip 2

Make sure your child drinks enough water and gets enough fibre from fruits, vegetables and

Tip 3

When a child is faced with a new food, it may take at least 10 exposures before it is accepted. He will become more familiar with it the more frequently he is exposed to it, and thus more likely to accept the food.

Tip 4

For variety, plain yoghurt or cheese can be offered in place of milk. Do not substitute full cream milk with condensed or evaporated milk as these are high in sugar.

Tip 5

You can continue giving your child breast milk. If they have been drinking formula milk, they can now make the transition to drinking full cream cow’s milk. Low-fat milk is not suitable for a child under 2 years of age.

Tip 6

The amount of calcium provided in 250ml of full cream milk is equivalent to:

- About 1 slice of cheese

- 3/4 cup high calcium yoghurt

- 4 tbsp ikan bilis

Feed your toddler right

You can use My Healthy Plate as a rough guide on foods that can make up a healthy diet for your toddler.

Toddler recommended food portion food groups

To help your child obtain all the nutrients they require, offer them a variety of food from the four main food groups, in the right portions.

Familiarise yourself with the serving sizes across different food groups, so you can plan a healthy diet for your child. The guide below shows you the recommended portion sizes and servings per day, for each food group.

Serving size guide for 1 - 2 years

*Fruits should not be used to replace vegetables in the diet or vice versa because they contain different types of nutrients

Meal plan ideas for your toddler

Here’s a sample daily meal plan to give you a rough idea of some foods you can prepare for your toddler!

Note: Remember – this is just a guide. Now that your toddler is able to regulate their own milk/food intake, let them decide how much to eat and whether they want to eat.

For toddlers: 1 - 2 years

Early morning

Baby weaning food meal plan sample 12 to 24 months

100 - 150ml breast/full cream milk

Breakfast

3-4 tablespoons* of oat cereal with 60ml breast milk/whole milk OR 1-2 plain biscuits and 180ml breast milk/full cream milk

Mid-morning

Lunch

1/2 small block of beancurd, 2 tablespoons of peas, 1/3 medium carrot stewed with 1/2 - 3/4 bowl of cooked rice.

1/4 - 1/2 wedge watermelon.

Afternoon

150ml breast/full cream milk

Dinner

1/2 bowl** of fish soup noodles with 1/4 palm-sized of sliced fish and 3 tablespoons of cooked spinach.

1/4 - 1/2 orange.

Evening

100 - 150ml breast/full cream milk

Total Servings

Brown rice & wholemeal bread

Fruit

Vegetables

Meat and others

Milk

2-3

½-1

½

500 - 750 ml

Brown rice & wholemeal bread

2-3

Fruit

½-1

Vegetables

½

Meat and others

½

Milk

500 - 750 ml

*1 tablespoon = 15g
**Rice bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pace the feeding of solids and milk?

When your baby is around 4 to 6 months of age, he should start eating more solid foods. In the initial stages of weaning, you could start by feeding your baby pureed foods about 30 - 60 minutes before his usual milk feeding time.

It is best to gradually allocate your baby’s milk feedings away from main meal times (e.g. morning, late afternoon, before bedtime), and feed him solid food at his main meal timings. This helps prevent his milk intake from interfering with his appetite for other solid foods.

How do I give my baby water?

Boil and cool any tap water that your baby is going to drink. If your baby is around 6 months of age, you can serve water in a sippy cup or a cup with a straw to build his skill in sipping.

What foods should I avoid giving my baby?

While mothers may worry about producing enough breast milk for their babies, remember that frequent and effective milk removal is important to ensure a good supply. Breastfeed your baby frequently and regularly to ensure good milk production.

Cow’s milk should not be given to infants younger than 12 months. Low in iron and high in solutes, it can damage your baby’s developing kidneys.

Fish with high levels of mercury like shark, swordfish, marlin, tuna (including bluefin, bigeye, albacore, and yellowfin species), king mackerel, orange roughy, yellowback seabream and dash-and-dot goatfish.

Any uncooked foods and unpasteurized milk products.

Any food that can easily be a choking hazard – such as:

Small and hard pieces of food (e.g. nuts, and grapes)
Crunchy or hard foods (e.g. uncooked vegetables)
Fish and meat with bones
Fruits with seeds
Sticky rice (e.g. glutinous rice)

Any food high in salt content like canned foods, sausages, preserved foods, and foods seasoned with salt, soy sauce or chicken powder.

Your baby’s kidneys cannot handle one gram of salt or more per day until he is 12 months old.

If your baby gets too used to salty flavours, he may be more likely to reject unseasoned food. This could encourage him to consume more salty foods and raise future risk of high blood pressure.

Instead, use ginger, garlic, spring onion or spices such as turmeric as alternatives for seasoning.

Sugared drinks, soft drinks or fruit juice.

Caffeinated drinks such as energy drinks, coffee or tea.

Honey (on its own or in other products like cakes).

Your baby should not eat honey in any form until he is at least 12 months old. As infants cannot digest the bacteria found in honey, eating honey can cause infant botulism.

What are the typical symptoms of food allergies?

Symptoms usually occur within several hours or several days after eating the trigger food. Hence, it is best to observe your baby’s reaction(s) closely – especially after introducing a new food.

Common symptoms that occur within several hours include:

Hives and worsening eczema

Swollen eyes, tongue, face, mouth and lips

Watery stools

Vomiting

Rare but serious symptoms include:

Difficulty in breathing

Fainting

Some babies may develop an allergic reaction 1 or 2 days later so do keep a lookout for symptoms like eczema, wheezing, persistent vomiting, constipation and/or stomach pain. See a paediatrician immediately if your baby displays any of these reactions.

How long can cooked food last in a thermal flask?

Generally, a small thermal flask cannot store food at a safe temperature (60 degrees or above) for a relatively long period. To reduce the risk of bacterial growth, food stored in a thermal flask should be eaten within 2 hours after it is cooked.

How do i discourage picky-eating?

Be a role model

Your eating habits play an important part in shaping your toddler's dietary habits.

Provide smaller portions

Start slow and give your child smaller portions, refilling his plate as he requests.

Be patient if your toddler refuses to eat a certain food

Try alternatives, like spinach instead of broccoli. If he is still resistant, take a break from that food and try again after a week. It can take up to eight to ten tries before toddlers accept new foods.

Create a positive and supportive environment during meal times

A child should not be forced to eat. Let him explore his food his own way. Praise him by describing what he did well. Children need encouragement to recognise the right behaviour.

Involve your child in preparing their meals

For instance, shop with your child and let him choose his food and participate in the preparation (for simple recipes, eg: sandwiches). By doing so, it can evoke interest and anticipation towards his meals.

Be creative when preparing and presenting food

For example, include a variety of colourful food in your child's meal and cut food into interesting shapes such as star-shaped carrots to attract his attention.

Reward him with non-food treats like stickers/toys

Do not reward him with desserts or processed food. You can create your own reward system that your toddler can look forward to. e.g. one gold star for each new food accepted; gold stars can be exchanged for a new toy, etc.

Encourage self-feeding with supervision

Make sure the food is not a choking hazard. Do not allow him to run around with food in his mouth.

Introduce different food types and textures

Let your child have varied interesting experiences with food, such as presenting eggs as egg custard instead of hard boiled eggs.

Need More Help

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Download Mom's guide for Early Childhood Nutrition After 12 months

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