Baby Food Stages On Labels: What Do They Mean?

Baby food stage labels – what do they mean exactly? Let us help you navigate the meaning of these labels!

Navigating the world of nutrition can be confusing at the best of times, but when you’re a new, sleep-deprived parent being bombarded with mountains of conflicting information from multiple angles, everything can get a bit overwhelming. In that first year, your baby develops so rapidly that it can be tricky to stay on top of specific nutrient requirements for each stage. Baby food stages on labels are a helpful guide to ensure that the dietary choices you make for bub will support optimal development for their stage. 

12+ months

By 12 months of age your little one can eat with the family, and enjoy a variety of nutritious foods. ⁽¹⁾ Meals can be flavoured with herbs and spices, but avoid adding salt or sugar, as these have been shown to have detrimental effects on health, and may encourage a preference for salty and sweet foods later in life. ⁽¹⁾ Bellamy’s multi-coloured Veggie Macaroni, with no added sugar or salt, is a great way to add fibre and protein to sauces or soups. From 12 months, children may require smaller meals more often, so it’s handy to have some nutritious and convenient snacks around. Bellamy’s snack range (12+ months), including Pear and Apple Snacks, are made from 100% organic fruit, and contain no added sugar, additives, or preservatives, making them the perfect go-to snack.

References

1.National Health and Medical Research Council. Infant Feeding Guidelines Information for Health Workers. Canberra: NHMRC; 2012.

2. Netting MJ, Campbell DE, Koplin JJ, Beck KM, McWilliam V, Dharmage SC, et al. An Australian Consensus on Infant Feeding Guidelines to Prevent Food Allergy: Outcomes From the Australian Infant Feeding Summit. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017; 5(6): 1617 – 24. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2017.03.013

3. Medina DA, Pinto F, Ortuzar V, Garrido D. Simulation and modeling of dietary changes in the infant gut microbiome. FEMS microbiology ecology [Internet]. 2018 Sep 1 [cited 2020 May 15];94(9). doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiy140

4. Nutrition Australia. Infant Nutrition. Southbank; 2008. 

5. Spill MK, Johns K, Callahan EH, Myra JS, Yat PW, Benjamin-Neelon SE, et al. Repeated exposure to food and food acceptability in infants and toddlers: a systematic review. AM J CLIN NUTR; 109: 978-989. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqy308

About the author

Brittany Darling is an accredited nutritionist and mother of two, with a special interest in children health, fertility and pregnancy nutrition.