ABSTRACT
Milk remains the most important ingredient of a baby's diet until at least a year old, because it contains essential protein, calcium and vitamins as well as being a good source of energy. Breast-feeding, if going well, can be continued happily and, if a mother is able to express extra milk, it can be mixed in with weaning foods to help with accepting new flavours. Whilst the aim of weaning is to gradually teach children to eat anything that might be on offer, there are a few starting guidelines that help with safety. Anxiety is very common amongst almost all new mothers. Advice about how to look after new babies is rife, with even passers-by in the street likely to offer an opinion. The first few weeks of breast-feeding – when a baby may lose weight rather than gain it and when a mother feels sore and tired – are bound to have their ups and downs.
