Key Messages About Helping Your Baby Develop Healthy Eating Habits

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Key Messages About Helping Your Baby Develop Healthy Eating Habits

Your baby is learning about food and developing eating habits from the time they start solids. There are lots of things you can do to help your baby learn healthy eating habits right from the start.

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Your baby is learning about food and developing eating habits from the time they start solids.

There are lots of things you can do to help your baby learn healthy eating habits right from the start.

  • set a good example - your baby learns from watching you
  • eat together as a family whenever you can - it helps to turn off the TV and mobile phone
  • try to keep things positive and relaxed around food - patience works better than pressure
  • give babies time to learn how to eat - it takes a lot of practice
  • babies like to explore food - let them be messy
  • take the lead from your baby - they know when they’ve had enough
  • follow a regular meal and snack schedule if you can

Check KidsHealth's section on healthy eating habits

Check KidsHealth's infant nutrition section

This page last reviewed 22 November 2022.

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 any time of the day or night for free health advice when you need it