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Don't give your baby solid food too soon, Government to tell parents
The Government is to tell new parents not to "rush to mush" and give their youngsters solids too early.
Parents will also be advised to encourage their babies to "toddle" as soon as they can and to avoid sugary snacks in a drive to cut obesity.
A "banana challenge" will help mothers decide when it is appropriate for their child to move on to solids, typically not before the baby is six months old.
A checklist of three "key signs" will help parents decide: That the baby can sit while holding his or her
head steady, can co-ordinate eyes, hands and mouth, and can swallow food.
The advice will say: "A good test is the banana challenge – if your baby is able to sit up and hold its head steady, reach out and grab half a peeled, ripe banana and eat some of it all by themselves, they are ready."
Health Secretary Andy Burnham will announce the new Start4life campaign today, with tips on how parents can give their child a healthy beginning.
Included is advice on breastfeeding, not adding salt to babies' food and introducing a variety of foods and textures to cut down the chance the child will become a fussy eater.
Mr Burnham will unveil the plan to health workers at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) conference in Manchester, but the official launch to parents will not be until January.
Start4Life focuses on "promoting behaviours from birth (not conception) that will help to reduce the incidence of overweight and obesity (and related illnesses) in later life".
Figures show that although about eight out of 10 new mothers in England start off breastfeeding, only 50 per cent are still doing so at six weeks. Breastfed infants are less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes, have eczema, ear, chest or stomach infections and to be constipated.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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