We are not supporting this browser

Baby Baby Name Generator

      Family mealtimes

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      .

      Baby eating broccoli

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      .

      Integrating with the family

      Towards the end of their first year, babies can really start to express themselves, finding their own special ways to let you know how they’re feeling. Pointing at things they want, or turning their head when they’re full are just some of the ways they’ll do this. And your cheeky little monkey may work out others! Whatever they do, your baby will look to mum and dad for a reaction. That’s how they learn what they can and can’t do.

      Feed their growing needs

      Seeing their family enjoying meals can help your baby learn to love good food. It’s also a great way for them to pick up some good table manners! But while they might be looking more like a mini-adult than ever before, their nutritional needs are very different from a grown-up’s and they’ll need a baby-friendly diet for some time to come. Right now your baby needs more of certain nutrients than the rest of the family, so don’t be tempted to give them a smaller portion of whatever you’re eating. 

      Many family foods - shop-bought or homemade - can contain too much salt which may harm your baby’s developing kidneys. Sticking to a baby-specific diet will help them get the goodness they need to fuel their fun and games. If you’re stuck for ideas, take a look at our homemade recipes for inspiration.

      Good for mum but not for baby

      Now is a great time to introduce your baby to lots of different tastes and textures. This can help them develop a liking for naturally healthy foods, with no added nasties like sugar or salt, which will stay with them into early childhood. Sharing finger foods at the table can be a fun way for both of you to try new things. And if they see that mummy thinks something’s yummy, they’re more likely to as well. 

      Sharing also means taking turns, giving your baby the chance to learn when to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ – the magic words we all love to hear at the dinner table. But it’s important to remember that some family favourites aren’t suitable for sharing just yet. For now, give high fibre foods like brown bread and brown pasta a miss because they’re too filling for tiny tummies; likewise low fat versions of milk, cheese and yogurt don’t contain enough of the nutrients they need. And processed foods like ham, bacon, sausages and shop-bought sauces and gravy are often too salty for babies. Up to the age of 12 months, they need less than 1g a day, which is a sixth of the amount an adult needs.

      Recipes for all the family

      Even though your baby needs a different diet from you, there’s no reason why they can’t still enjoy your favourite family meals. If you’re cooking from scratch, simply leave out the seasoning, chilli, bacon or other adult-only ingredients from their portion and just add it to yours. That way they won’t feel like they’re missing out!

      Any more questions?

      Our specialist baby advisors and experienced mums are here to talk and ready to help whenever you need them. You can call us or reach us on Live Chat 8.30am-5.30pm Monday-Friday.

      Join the C&G baby club today

      Join the C&G baby club today

      • Weekly emails with tips and advice for your stage
      • 1-to-1 support from our dedicated Careline team, 8.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday.
      Join us now

      More from baby

      Your privacy is important to us and therefore we would like to explain how we use cookies on this website. With your consent, we will use cookies to measure and analyse how our website is used (analytical cookies), to tailor it to your interests (personalisation cookies), and to show you relevant advertising and information (targeting cookies) we think you will like. For more information please read the cookie statement.

      Privacy Settings

      You can choose your preferences anytime for cookies and tracking. For more information please read our cookie policy

      • Strictly necessary

        They are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services (setting your privacy preferences, logging in, filling in forms, etc.). You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.

      • Analytical cookies

        They allow us to count visits and traffic sources, to measure and improve the performance of our site. They show us which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

      • Personalisation cookies

        They enable website’s enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third parties whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

      • Targeting cookies

        They may be set through our site by our advertising partners, to build a profile of your interests and to show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.