CHRISTINE’S GUIDES · NEWBORN TO AGE FIVE

Growing appetites.
Curious little minds.

Simple ideas for nourishing little ones and making everyday moments a chance to learn, play, and connect.

01 / NUTRITION & FEEDING

A healthy relationship
with food.

Follow your child’s readiness and your family’s
feeding plan, one small step at a time.

BIRTH–6 MONTHS

Follow their feeding cues

Breast milk or infant formula is the foundation of early feeding. Watch for hunger cues such as hands moving toward the mouth. Turning away or closing their mouth may mean they have had enough.

Pause, notice their cues, and let feeding be a calm moment of connection.

ABOUT 6–12 MONTHS

Explore first foods

Introduce solids around six months when your baby is developmentally ready, while continuing breast milk or formula. Look for head control, supported sitting, and swallowing food. Offer soft textures and a variety of foods, including iron-rich options.

Try mashed beans or iron-fortified infant cereal, prepared for your baby’s eating skills.

1–3 YEARS

Make room for small appetites

Offer a variety of foods in manageable portions. Let your child show you when they are hungry or full; there is no need to finish every bite. Give them time to explore tastes and practice feeding themselves.

Keep mealtimes relaxed. A closed mouth or food pushed away can be a cue to stop.

3–5 YEARS

Bring curiosity to the table

Invite your preschooler to help wash produce, name colors, or choose between two vegetables. Talk about textures and smells without turning tasting into a test.

Try a “what do you notice?” conversation while preparing a familiar family meal together.

02 / MENTAL STIMULATION

Learning starts
with connection.

Conversation, stories, and child-led play.
No elaborate setup needed.

BIRTH–6 MONTHS

You are their favorite conversation

Copy their coos, smile back, and pause for a response. Read a few pages together. Keep play gentle and stop when your baby needs a break.

Try today: a short back-and-forth “chat” during a diaper change.

6–12 MONTHS

A world of little discoveries

Play peekaboo, explore a baby-safe mirror, or let them reach for a safe toy. Simple cause-and-effect play gives them something new to discover.

Try today: take turns placing a large, age-appropriate toy in a container.

1–3 YEARS

Build, pretend, repeat

Offer large blocks, simple puzzles, and pretend kitchen play. Follow their interests, name what they are doing, and leave room for their ideas.

Try today: build a tower together and count the blocks as you go.

3–5 YEARS

Let imagination lead

Make up stories, draw, sing, and play pretend. Ask what might happen next in a book or let your child invent a character.

Try today: turn a cardboard box into whatever they imagine.

Why play matters: American Academy of Pediatrics: The Power of Play

These are general ideas, not a developmental checklist or medical advice. Use age-appropriate materials, supervise play, and adapt activities to your child. Ask your pediatrician about feeding needs, allergies, or developmental concerns.

A HELPING HAND, EVERY DAY

Care that grows
with your little one.

Talk with Christine

Call (717) 586-6171

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