Which milk is best for you and

your baby?

HS12312MTHS

How about some cheesy mash? Yummy,

mummy!

Milk is full of calcium Milk is packed with proteins, vitamins and minerals – including calcium to build strong bones and teeth. That’s why milk is one of the items you can buy with your Healthy Start vouchers.

Best for you? Semi-skimmed, skimmed or 1% fat milk for all the calcium, but with less fat than whole milk.

Best for your baby?Up to 6 monthsBreast milk is all your baby needs for the first six months of their life. The only safe alternative is infant formula milk labelled ‘suitable from birth’.

From around 6 months, when your baby starts on solid foodsKeep feeding your baby breast milk or infant formula milk alongside solid foods until 12 months old. Whole cow’s milk, breast milk or infant formula can be mixed in with your baby’s food. Never give cow’s milk as a drink to a baby under 12 months old.

From 12 monthsChildren can start having whole cow’s milk as a drink, so they get the energy they need.

Which milk can I buy with my vouchers? Plain cow’s milk: whole (full-fat), semi-skimmed, 1% fat

and skimmed. The label must say pasteurised, sterilised or long-life (UHT).

Infant formula milk labelled ‘suitable from birth’.You can’t buy any other milk or formula with your vouchers.

Easy cheesy mash An ideal recipe for babies who are six months or older and are starting on solids.

All you’ll need• A medium-sized boiled potato• 2 tablespoons of milk (breast, infant formula or cow’s milk)• ¼ of a cup of grated hard cheese (such as cheddar)

Ready in moments1. Boil the potato until soft.2. Mash the potato together with the milk to make a smooth

mixture. 3. Add the grated cheese and mix through.

Top tipDouble the recipe and freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray for another day.

Ready for solids?Babies are ready for solid foods when they’re around six months old. They should be able to sit up on their own, coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth, grab food and put it in their mouth and swallow. Babies who aren’t ready for solids will often push food out of their mouth, getting more around their face than inside them.

What’s good to buy now and coming into season next?Besides milk, you can also use your Healthy Start vouchers to buy fruit and veg. Here are some seasonal suggestions.

October/NovemberBrussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, Cox apples and potatoes.

December/JanuaryCauliflower, kale, leeks and potatoes.

www.healthystart.nhs.uk0845 607 6823 (local call rate from BT landline)If your circumstances change (for example, if you move home or have another baby), remember to tell HMRC Tax Credits and JobCentre Plus straight away. That way, you’ll be sure of getting all your Healthy Start vouchers.

© Crown copyright 2012. 2900311 123p HS12312MTHS 73k 09/12 (HH). Produced by Williams Lea for the Department of Health.

Next time: Everything you need to know about vitamin D.