Stay Healthy

Stay Healthy

Mom eating veggies

Eat Well

Take small steps to a healthier you!
Eat-a-balanced-diet

Eat a balanced diet by choosing a variety of foods every day.​

fruits-and-vegetables

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.

low-fat-dairy-foods

Choose fat-free or low-fat
dairy foods.

Make at least half your grains whole grains.

For more healthy tips, go to choosemyplate.gov

Physical Activity

Physical activity gives you more energy, lifts your mood and helps improve sleep. Aim for 2 1/2 hours or more of physical activity a week.
Fitting Physical Activity Into Your Busy Schedule
baby-napping

Workout while your baby is napping.

stroller

Put your baby in the stroller or carrier and go for a walk.

ten-mins

Fit several 10 minute mini-workouts into your day.

Physical Activity
struggling mom

Emotional Health

Hormonal changes after delivery and lack of sleep can make new moms feel sad, anxious, irritable, and overwhelmed. To help with these feelings, eat well, rest often, and ask family and friends for support.

If these feelings worsen or last longer than two weeks, it may be a sign of postpartum depression. If you have any concerns, contact your doctor.

For additional support, contact Postpartum Support International (800) 944-4PPD or go to www.postpartum.net.

Folic Acid

Getting enough folic acid helps prevent birth defects in your baby. Women who can become pregnant should consume 400 mcg of folic acid everyday from foods and/or vitamins.

Along with a multivitamin, choose foods high in folic acid. Foods with folic acid:
Cereals Icon

Fortified cereals

Bread Packet Icon

Enriched bread and pasta

Leafy Vegetable Icon

Dark green leafy vegetables

Juice Icon

Orange Juice

Bean Icon

Beans

smiling-mom-taking
bac_breastfeeding

Continue Nursing

Doctors recommend feeding only human milk for the first six months of life. Continue nursing in addition to feeding solids for the first year, or longer if you and your baby desire.

For more information about nursing, go to https://delaware.wicresources.org/breastfeeding/

Be Wise – Immunize

Immunizations protect your family and others from diseases like the measles, mumps, polio, chickenpox, and more.

Check with your doctor to see if you and your family are up to date with immunizations.

Baby-getting
smoking-close-up

Avoid Alcohol, Tobacco, & Drugs

Keep your baby away from tobacco, marijuana, and vape smoke.

Using alcohol or drugs, including marijuana, can impair your ability to keep your child away from danger, respond to their needs, and make good decisions.

If you need help quitting, go to www.helpisherede.com

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

  • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
  • Opens their mouth when they see food.
  • Can close their lips around a spoon.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker.  Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?

Authorized Food List
Authorized Food List

Where can I shop?