Moving to another country to live in a different culture can be complicated. The perception of health and illness varies from one country to another. The following is borrowed from the pamphlet “HEALTHY CHILDREN in a new country” published by the Danish Health Service. The pamphlet can be obtained by calling 35 26 54 00 in between 10-14. The pamphlet can be obtained in a number of languages.

 

Æblehaven Daycare further recommends that you read the book “SAFE COOKING FOR A HEALTHY BABY” by Sylvia Hull for good ideas of how and what to cook for a baby. Besides remember to communicate with the staff at the daycare about food for your child. They might have some good ideas – or you can give them some.

 

 

A nurse can visit you at home at no charge during your child’s first years. She can advice you about breastfeeding, about motherhood and family matters, about feeding your baby and about its development and wellbeing. You can also discuss illnesses with the nurse. It is up to you whether or not you want the nurse to come to your home or not.

 

Your child will be offered dental care from the age of 1½ years. If there are dental problems before that you can contact the Children’s Dental Health Clinic in your municipality. Dental care for children is free.

 

Being outdoor is healthy for both you and your child. A baby can stand being outside during the winter if warmly dressed. Be careful not to dress your child too warmly during the summer. A baby carriage can become too hot if it stands in the sun. Always place a baby carriage in the shade.

 

Children should be breastfed until they are 6 months old as breast milk contains everything your child needs. Not until 4 months of age are children able to tolerate anything other than breast milk or milk formula. Milk is nevertheless still the child’s most important food. Check with the nurse when you feel that your child is ready to be weaned. The first thing you can give your child is porridge. You can easily make it yourself or you can buy a commercial mix. Proceed slowly at first, after weaning. Your nurse will advice you as to what your child can tolerate in the beginning and how to begin using a cup and a spoon.

 

Preparing varied meals is important, so that the child gradually learns to eat many different kinds of food. Give the child various fruits and vegetables, different types of meat and fish, as well as bread, rice and pasta.

When the child is approx. 9 months old, it can start eating the same food as the rest of the family. It is important that the whole family sits and eats together and that the child learns to eat unassisted.

 

When a child no longer drinks milk from a nursing bottle, its desire to join in eating the family’s food increases. The child should be weaned from the bottle before it turns 1 year.

 

Your child will be poorly nourished and may become sickly if it gets chocolate milk, milk with biscuits, juice, fruit drinks, candy, ice cream, chocolate bars, cookies and chips every day. These lower the child’s appetite for proper food and may impede growth and development due to lack of proper vitamins and minerals in food.