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Infants, Children and Youth

Infants and Children

There is a temporary shortage of specialized infant formulas for babies with food allergies and certain medical conditions. To protect the supply of these specialized formulas, the Ministry of Health is asking pharmacies to keep these formulas behind the counter for families who need them. Learn more about the temporary shortage of specialized infant formulas and what you can do.

Healthy eating and regular physical activity are important for your child's growth and development. Learn about how to make healthy choices and model healthy behaviours for your child in the resources below.

If you are about to become a parent, or just had a baby, see more resources on pregnancy and parenting.

Breastfeeding

Breast milk is the only food or drink your baby needs for the first 6 months. Learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding, when to offer your baby breastmilk and how to know if your baby is getting enough milk. For preterm infants, Perinatal Services BC provides a breastfeeding resource.

Formula Feeding

Parents may give their baby infant formula for a variety of reasons. Learn how to choose infant formula, what equipment is needed for feeding, how often to offer formula, and how to safely store and prepare infant formula.

Baby's First Foods

At about 6 months of age, your baby needs more nutrients and is ready to start trying solid foods. Learn what foods to introduce first and how to prepare and offer them to your baby. These resources also provide tips and recipes to help get you started.

Feeding Your Toddler

As a parent or caregiver, you play an important role in helping your child build healthy eating habits and skills. For tips on how to help toddlers learn to eat a variety of healthy foods, click on the links below.

Choosing Healthy Food for Infants, Children and Youth

Eating a variety of healthy foods will give your child nutrition for growth, development and learning.

Healthy Growth

Children grow at different rates and come in many shapes and sizes. Each child grows and develops at a rate that is unique for them. Measuring your child's weight and height once is not enough to determine if they are growing well. If you are concerned about your child's growth, consider speaking with your health care provider. Feeling comfortable with how your child is growing is important.

As a parent, you can promote physical activity and healthy eating habits to help your child grow at a rate that is right for them.

Food Allergy

Food allergy happens when the body's immune system treats a protein in a food as harmful. To learn more about food allergies and your children, click on the links below.

Food Safety

Younger children are at a higher risk of food borne illness and choking. To reduce the risk, foods should be prepared in a safe way and certain foods should be limited or avoided.

Physical Activity

Children can benefit from regular physical activity. Establishing a healthy lifestyle pattern early will carry them forward for the rest of their lives.

Some organizations in the community have great resources on encouraging physical activity for children. These include: Hub Cycling and HASTe BC: The Hub for Active School Travel.

Useful Resources

Baby's Best Chance: Parents' Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care

Baby's Best Chance is a reference guide for parents. Topics covered include pregnancy, birth and parenting a baby up to six months of age. Your baby's development is very important for your child's future health and well-being. Baby's Best Chance provides easy-to-read tips on having a healthy pregnancy and giving your baby a good start in life.

Toddler's First Steps: A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your 6-36 Month–Old Child

As your child grows, there is another guide called Toddler's First Steps: A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your 6- to 36-Month-Old Child. This guide covers child development, healthy eating, health and well-being, parenting and safety for children.

Last Updated: June 2021