Which milk is
best for you and
your baby?
How about some
cheesy mash?
Yummy,
mummy!
HS12312MTHS
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 months
Breast 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 foods
Keep 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 months
Children 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 moments
1.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 tip
Double 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/November
Brussels sprouts, cabbage,
carrots, Cox apples and
potatoes.
December/January
Cauliflower, kale, leeks and
potatoes.
Next time:
Everything you
need to know
about vitamin D.
www.healthystart.nhs.uk
0845 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.