Healthy Eating Guideline

Provide water in addition to age appropriate milk drinks. Infants under the age of 6 months who are not exclusively breastfed can be offered cooled, boiled water in addition to infant formula.

Good drinks for babies

• Breastmilk is best for baby and is the only food or drink that baby needs until around 6 months.
• If baby is formula fed, baby can be offered cooled, boiled water as well as formula.
• From around 6 months all babies can have cooled, boiled waterin a bottle or cup.

Water is the best drink for our kids

• Water is important for good health – it helps digest food, absorb nutrients and get rid of waste from the body.
• Give kids water with all meals and snacks.
• Pack water bottles when going out.
• Keep a jug of clean tap water nearby.
• In hot weather – keep the jug of water cool.
• Let older kids pour their own water.

Kids need lots of water

• Kids can dehydrate very quickly and get very sick if they don’t drink regularly throughout the day. Make sure there is always plenty of clean drinking water around for kids.

Cow’s milk

• Plain unflavoured cow’s milk is good for kids over 12 months – limit to 2 cups a day.
• Babies under 12 months should not drink cow’s milk as the main drink, BUT you can use small amounts of cow’s milk in food preparation for babies.
• Give children their main meal first before giving milk.
• Kids under 2 should not have low fat or reduced fat milk.
• Kids over 2 should have mostly reduced fat milk.
• Don’t give flavoured milk to kids.

Babies under 12 months should not drink cow’s milk because they can’t process the protein and salt well and it can cause their bloodto be low in iron.

Sweet drinks are unhealthy

• Sweet drinks are not needed for good health.

Sweet drinks :

• can fill kids up so they don’t eat healthy meals
• can lead to tooth decay and weight gain.

Sweet drinks include:

• soft drinks
• flavoured waters
• flavoured milk
• cordial
• tea
• sports drinks and energy drinks
• fruit drinks
• fruit juice.

You should not give sweet drinks to babies

• Don’t give baby sweet drinks such as tea, soft drinks, flavoured milk, juice or cordial.
• This can make baby sick and lead to tooth decay and weight gain.
• Tea is not good for baby and can weaken baby’s blood.

Source: Australian Department of Health