Children 0-3 years old

0-6 months:

Breast milk is best option. In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect your baby from illness. Studies have shown that stomach viruses, lower respiratory illnesses, ear infections, and meningitis occur less often in breastfed babies and are less severe when they do happen.

> 6 months:

Here are some signs that your child is ready to try solids:

• She can sit up (with support) and can hold her head and neck up well.
• Her birth weight has doubled.
• She’s interested in what you’re eating and may even try to grab food from your plate.
• She can keep food in her mouth rather than letting it dribble out.
• She shows signs of being hungry for more than she’s getting by clamoring for more when her bottle is empty or wanting to nurse more often.

You can start weaning your baby with either fruit or vegetables. Once your baby is six months old, you don’t have to introduce foods in any particular order. The main thing is to introduce your baby to as many flavours and soft textures as you can soon after she’s six months old.

Milk Matters

An important part of a toddler's diet, milk provides calcium and vitamin D to help build strong bones. Toddlers should have 700 milligrams of calcium and 600 IU (International Units) of vitamin D (which aids in calcium absorption) a day. This calcium need is met if kids get the recommended two servings of dairy foods every day. But those servings provide less than half of the necessary vitamin D, so doctors often recommend vitamin D supplements. Your doctor will let you know if your toddler needs a supplement.
In general, kids ages 12 to 24 months old should drink whole milk to help provide the dietary fats they need for normal growth and brain development. If overweight or obesity is a concern — or if there is a family history of obesity, high cholesterol, or heart disease — talk to your doctor to see if reduced-fat (2%) milk may be given. After age 2, most kids can switch to low-fat (1%) or nonfat milk. Your doctor can help you decide which kind of milk to serve your toddler.


Toddlers should have 7 milligrams of iron each day. After 12 months of age, they're at risk for iron deficiency because they no longer drink iron-fortified formula and may not be eating iron-fortified infant cereal or enough other iron-containing foods to make up the difference.
Cow's milk is low in iron. Drinking a lot of cow's milk also can put a toddler at risk for iron deficiency. Toddlers who drink a lot of cow's milk may be less hungry and less likely to eat iron-rich foods. Milk decreases the absorption of iron and also can irritate the lining of the intestine, causing small amounts of bleeding and the gradual loss of iron in the stool (poop).
Iron deficiency can affect growth and may lead to learning and behavioral problems. And it can lead to anemia (too few red blood cells in the body). Iron is needed to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Without enough iron and red blood cells, the body's tissues and organs get less oxygen and don't work as well as they should.
To help prevent iron deficiency:

• Limit your child's milk intake to about 16-24 ounces a day (2 to 3 cups).
• Serve more iron-rich foods (meat, poultry, fish, enriched grains, beans, tofu).
• When serving iron-rich meals, include foods that contain vitamin C (like tomatoes, broccoli, oranges, and strawberries), which improve the body's iron absorption.
• Continue serving iron-fortified cereal until your child is 18-24 months old.

Food Group	Daily Amount for 2-Year-Olds	Daily Amount for 3-Year-Olds	Help With Servings
Grains	3 ounces, half from whole-grain sources	4-5 ounces, half from whole-grain sources	1 ounce equals: 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice, cooked pasta, or cooked cereal.
Vegetables	1 cup	1½ cups	Use measuring cups to check amounts. Serve veggies that are soft, cut in small pieces, and well cooked to prevent choking.
Fruits	1 cup	1-1½ cups	Use measuring cups to check amounts.
Milk	2 cups	2 cups	1 cup equals: 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1½ ounces of natural cheese, or 2 ounces of processed cheese.
Meat & Beans	2 ounces	3-4 ounces	1 ounce equals: 1 ounce of meat, poultry or fish, ¼ cup cooked dry beans, or 1 egg.