Information for Health Care Professionals
At Rafferty’s Garden, we know how important it is for babies to develop good eating habits from their first foods. We’re here to support a positive start on their food journey with nutritious and delicious products, free from nasties.
The NHMRC Infant Feeding Guidelines recommend that infants should be introduced to solid food from around 6 months of age (but no earlier than 4 months), as this is the age when breast milk or infant formula no longer provides sufficient nutrients and energy for growth and development.1 There are a number of developmental milestones that some babies may exhibit from 4 months of age (e.g. good head control and reaching for food), which is an indication that they are ready for solid food.
The guidelines stipulate that introduction of solids should start with foods that are good sources of iron, such as iron-enriched infant cereals 2, as well as a range of foods from the five food groups that are of an appropriate texture and consistency 3. The Rafferty’s Garden range of NOTHING ELSE baby food pouches and multigrain cereal sachets are ideal first foods for a growing infant and are aligned with the infant feeding guidelines as they:
- Are enriched with iron and contain 44% of the iron RDI for a 7-12 month old ^
- Contain wholegrain oats, which provides a range of nutrients and associated health benefits, especially for the development of the infant gut microbiota 4^
- Made with a variety of pure and natural fruits and vegetables to help increase the infant’s exposure to a range of different core food groups as per the Australian Dietary Guidelines 5^^
- Are a smooth consistency, which is the appropriate texture for a 4-6 month old’s neuromuscular development 3^^
- Wholesome foods with no added sugar, salt, preservatives, colours, flavours, concentrates, juices or GM ingredients
- Are preserved using the natural acidity in fruit and a gentle heat treatment process to retain nutrition content ^^
+ Nothing Else Range
A delicious & nutritious range made with real fruits and vegetables, and NOTHING ELSE. Made in Australia with no preservatives, no artificial colours, no artificial flavours, no added sugar or salt, no added concentrates or juices and no GM ingredients. Perfect to start a babies solids journey with, and with flavours they will continue to love as they grow.
FAQs
Have a question?
We’re here to help. Whatever your question, we’ll do our best to give the right information. Some of the common questions parents ask us about are in our Frequently Asked Questions otherwise feel free to get in touch.
^ Multigrain Banana and Apricot Cereal sachets. ^^ NOTHING ELSE Pouches.
- NHMRC Infant Feeding Guidleines: Information for Health Workers. Canberra 2012.
- Finn, K.; Callen, C.; Bhatia, J.; Reidy, K.; Bechard, L.J.; Carvalho, R. Importance of dietary sources of iron in infants and toddlers: Lessons from the FITS study. Nutrients 2017, 9, 733.
- Dewey k. Guiding principles for feeding non-breastfed children 6–24 months of age. Geneva: world Health Organization, Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development, 2005. Available from: http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/guidingprin_nonbreastfed_child.pdf
- Klerks Michelle et al. Infant Cereals: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Opportunities for Whole Grains. Nutrients 2019, 11, 473; doi:10.3390/nu11020473
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Dietary Guidelines. Canberra: NHMRC, 2013.