Breast milk is best for your baby

Breast milk is best for babies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. At around six months of age (but not before 4 months), infants should receive nutritionally adequate and age-appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.

Abbott Singapore fully recognises breast milk’s primacy, value and superiority and supports exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the WHO.

The content on this website is intended as general information for Singaporean residents only and should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice from your healthcare practitioner. The HPB recommends that infants start on age-appropriate complementary foods at around 6 months, whilst continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond to meet their evolving nutritional requirements. If no longer breastfeeding, toddlers can switch to full cream milk after 12 months. This should be complemented by a good variety of solid foods from the four main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and alternatives). For more information on the nutritional requirements of infants and young children, please visit www.healthhub.sg/earlynutrition.

Picky eating – a risk factor for the lack of diet variety

Having a diverse diet means eating a wide variety of different foods from the different food groups, as well as within each food group. Each food group offers a wide range of choices and each one has a unique nutritional value.

According to a research by the National University Hospital, 1 in 2 parents here identified their children as picky eaters, and picky eating was first noticed as early as one year old. Many studies have shown that picky eaters have less variety in their diets than non-picky eaters.

Furthermore, a recent survey conducted locally revealed that the diets of most 3-year-old children are not balanced. For example, fruit and vegetable intakes were insufficient, with 55% and 81% consuming less than the recommended amounts respectively. Close to 2 in 5 children did not meet the recommendation for milk intake.

Supporting your child’s journey towards eating well

Healthy eating is crucial for children to help them develop to their fullest potential. As a parent, it is important to ensure that your child consumes a diverse and balanced diet to supply the various nutrients required to support optimal physical and cognitive development.

As you plan your child’s meal, remember to include foods from the different food groups as well as within each food group.

If your child if a picky eater, mealtimes can often feel like a battleground. Here are some tips you may find useful:

Don't let incomplete nutrition get in the way of your child's growth.

As you work on ensuring your child consumes a balanced and varied diet, Include PediaSure as part of his daily diet to help fill nutritional gaps.

PediaSure – Abbott's hallmark brand is the No. 1 Choice of Paediatricians and trusted by mothers in over 80 countries for adequate nutrition for their children.