As a guilty mum: are special baby and toddler foods worth it?

Kate Browne From yoghurt to savoury snacks to, believe it or not, good old water, there's a special product out there being marketed especially for your kid. But are they necessary?

10 ways to entice a fussy toddler to eat

DANIELLE COLLEY If mealtimes are a struggle at your house try some of these tactics to try and outwit your fussy child.

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Video: Baby tries salt and vinegar chips for the first time

Melanie Mahoney Kids can have some very funny reactions when trying new foods – and little Sadie’s first experience with salt and vinegar flavoured chips is pretty darn cute.

Beef & vegie pasta salad

This recipe can be changed to suit your child's developmental stage - you can make it silky smooth, lumpy, finger food or suitable for toddlers.

Roast lamb & vegie roast with potato wedges

Iron-rich foods are recommended as first foods at around six months. This recipe will be a hit with your little one!

Beef & sweet potato pie

When you first introduce beef and lamb to your baby, these simple recipes will help get you started.

Mince beef & sweet potato burgers

Adapt the family meal to meet your baby’s different developmental stages - and adjust the ingredients and flavours to reflect your preferred cuisine or cultural background.

First vege puree

Root vegetables have a naturally sweet taste so are perfect for puree baby food.

Avocado and banana puree

Raw fruits are best since none of the nutrients are lost in cooking. You can combine two different fruits together when you make this weaning recipe.

First apple puree

Apples are ideal first fruits as they are easy to digest and unlikely to cause allergies.

Weaning: first foods to nine months

ANNABEL KARMEL A guide to starting your baby on solids - including best first foods to try, when to begin, and the ongoing importance of milk.

Weaning: allergies and busting common myths

ANNABEL KARMEL Learn what foods to avoid when giving your child his first foods, and discover the truth about common weaning myths.

Macro Organic baby food pouches recalled

Staff writers Woolworths has issued a recall on a popular brand of baby food pouches which may cause illness if consumed.

Peaches and cream puree

Think of this as a pureed parfait for baby.

Pineapple and mango puree

This summery puree can be refrigerated in individual containers for up to one week, or frozen for up to six months.

Raising an adventurous eater

Nevin Martell The idea of my child exclusively eating the so-called "beige diet" made my stomach churn. So what could my wife and I do to help raise an adventurous eater? I asked the experts.

What 8030 babies taught me about healthy eating

Louise Wedgwood The lessons learned from a recent study have got me thinking about what I teach my little boy about food. But the big surprise is what babies are teaching me about my own eating habits, too.

Baby McDonalds? Jars of food add little to diet, study finds

Allison Connolly Commercial baby foods offer little nutritional benefit over breast milk and babies would get more out of homemade purees than from a jar, a study has found.

Training tiny taste buds

Paula Goodyer Commercial baby food has stepped up a notch, but how good is at teaching tiny palates to eat a broad range of healthy foods?

Is baby-led weaning best?

Evelyn Volders Not only is the timing of introducing solids important for future health, research shows that how babies are introduced to solids may also have an impact on their future habits and health.

Into the mouths of babes

Caroline Baum It was only a matter of time before the idea of gourmet baby food caught on in Australia. The surprise is that it took a non-parent and fine-dining chef to come up with the concept.

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First tastes on film a hit

INGA TING A short film has captured children trying a range of foods for the first time, with some very funny - and sweet - results.

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Baby formula recall group criticised

Melissa Davey and Melanie Mahoney A senior paediatrician has described a campaign to have a popular baby formula pulled from shelves as unfounded and alarming.

Parents cry foul over new formula recipe

Nestle’s baby formula is under the spotlight amid reports that it is causing illness and agitation in children.

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The battle of the breast

Rachel Browne While doctors recommend that parents give their children solid foods from four months in an attempt to lower allergy rates, breastfeeding advocates are concerned it will reduce the already low number of Australian mums who breastfeed.

Nutrition: what your baby needs from six months

From around six months of age, you can offer your baby pureed foods after they have had their milk feed.

Egg parcels

River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook, by Nikki Duffy. Essentially little quiches without pastry, these are quick, simple and eminently adaptable.

Zucchini polpette

River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook, by Nikki Duffy. These vegetarian ''meatballs'' are inspired by a wonderful recipe from Italian food writer Ursula Ferrigno

Vegie bean curry

River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook, by Nikki Duffy. Throw all the left-over vegies in and you have a great dish for the whole family.

Creative baby food mash-ups

Cherie Lyden Creating your own baby food may take time to make, but reaps the rewards in the end. Here's some creative ideas to get you started.

Healthy diet starts with baby food

Study finds homemade baby food trains kids' palates to enjoy fruit and vegetables.

Home-made food is best for baby

Fiona Purdon It seems home-made baby food is the best health option and the cheapest in today's economic climate. Fiona Purdon reports

Avocado, fetta and green things dip - baby & toddler food

As I am not a fan of hiding food in children's meals, this recipe is as honest as can be.

Toddler snack ideas

The little engine of a toddler is constantly burning fuel, and your toddler will benefit from small meals spaced out during the day. Healthy, fun snacks will provide toddlers with energy to burn. Here are some great snack ideas.

Pregnancy power salad

Quick to make, contains protein in the form of tuna and eggs, carbohydrates (and protein) with the canned beans, and a serve of the all-important five vegetables.