Toddlers (1-3 years)

Your lead maternity carer will care for you while you are pregnant, during labour and birth and for 4 to 6 weeks after your baby is born. All maternity care is free unless you choose a specialist doctor.

Vitamin D helps our bodies use calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

Questions and answers about healthy eating.

It’s possible to have a healthy well-nourished infant or child who eats a vegetarian diet if care is taken.

Avoid giving pēpi (babies) small hard foods or whole foods.

Pēpi (babies) and tamariki (children) can choke on food at any age but those under 5 are at higher risk, and especially tamariki and pēpi under 3. Watch a video about ways to reduce the choking risk.

Plan for 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks each day, once your baby’s eating a variety of foods and textures. Babies have small stomachs so need frequent opportunities to eat small amounts.

Help your baby learn about food by letting them play with it. Encourage their independence – give your baby their own spoon to hold when they can.

Be guided by your baby's appetite. Offer your baby new foods. Let them choose how much to eat - you decide what food is offered, your baby decides how much to eat.

It takes a little work to bring everyone together for meals. But it's worth it and the whole family eats better.

Your baby learns about food from watching you. Your baby learns about food from watching you. Be a good role model. You can set a good example by eating a variety of healthy foods.

Around 6 months, your baby starts to need the extra vitamins and minerals (especially iron and zinc) that are in solid foods. Iron is especially important for your baby to keep blood and brain cells healthy.

Prepare a week of baby meat and vegetables and freeze in individual containers (such as ice cube trays). Do some tasks the day before. Check out some other time saving tips.

A great way to stock up on baby food - cook a large amount and freeze portions. Once your baby's eating foods with more texture, you could put any healthy leftovers from the family meal into a blender and blend to a lumpy pulp.

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.

It is normal for pēpi (babies) to cry, and it's normal for caregivers to get frustrated. Have a plan for what you will do if your baby keeps crying and you become upset or frustrated. It is never ever OK to shake a baby. Make sure that all the people who care for your baby know this. Never leave your baby alone with anyone that you think might lose control.