
The adult’s role
The adult’s role
The adult’s role is to provide children with nutritious foods. Adults are responsible for what and when their children are fed.
- The parent controls the kinds of food served for meals and snacks.
- Children decide how much they eat.
- Their appetites and the amount they eat can change from day to day.
- Adults should not force children to eat.
Related articles

Acidified foods: Good just like your mother said!
Did you know…. More than 8000 years ago our ancestors made bread, beer and wine through fermentation.
5 mins to read

Time for Finger Foods
Enjoying finger food
5 mins to read

Baby meal planner 10 to 12 months
Around 10-12 months, babies are ready for harder finger foods & self-feeding.
1 min to read

A day in your 6 to 7 month old’s diet
This sample day was created by registered dieticians to help meet the nutrition goals for your 6 to 7 month old baby.
5 mins to read

Baby meal planner 8 to 10 months
Around 8-10 months, increase the variety and texture of foods for your baby.
1 min to read

Emotional development in Your Baby
Your baby is discovering their emotions from birth.
3 mins to read

Why do we introduce solids to a babys diet
About halfway through the first year of life, babies begin to outgrow their liquid diet, which no longer supply them with enough nutrients to support their rate of growth.
5 mins to read

At six months
At this stage, baby’s development is on ‘fast-forward’. It’s an ideal time for sitting up and looking around. So, what’s the most interesting thing for baby right now? Baby’s mouth!
5 mins to read

How to handle choking
A new texture, taken for the first time, may make your baby gag out of surprise.
5 mins to read

When do we introduce solids to the diet
Birth to six months
It is too early to introduce solids if your baby:
5 mins to read

At seven to eight months
Look out, baby’s on the move!
5 mins to read

First spoonfeeding experience
Choose a spoon that is small and smooth-edged. You may find plastic or rubberised spoons easier to use.
5 mins to read

Reducing the risk of allergy
There is an increased risk of allergy when solids are introduced too early, i.e. before
2 mins to read

At nine months
Your baby sits alone and pivots into a crawling position. He crawls on extended limbs and holds on to furniture to pull himself up to stand.
5 mins to read

Your guide to starting solids
Now the adventure really starts, introducing solid foods to your baby is a lot of fun as they adjust to new tastes and textures
2 mins to read

Setting the stage for his first taste
Here are a few tips for getting your baby ready to take that first spoonful of baby food.
5 mins to read

At ten months
- He enjoys nursery rhymes and games. Encourage and play with him. Talk to him and imitate and add to his sounds.
- Encourage self-occupation.
5 mins to read

Sugar: Fact or Fiction Quiz
Not all sugars are created equal and therefore not all sugars are bad. The main role of food is to provide energy and nutrients for growth and development.
5 mins to read