How do I keep my baby’s food safe?

Transcript

Carolina Chiniros: Food safety is very important for the whole family. Babies can get very sick very quickly.

Colin: I always wash my hands before and after feeding my baby. And I wash my fruit and veggies before I chop them up or eat them.

Carolina Chiniros: It's really important to wash your hands so germs don't spread.

Colin: I'm always wiping down my benches. Also, don't forget to keep your pets away when you're making food. This helps to keep the bad bacteria away, so the germs don't spread.

Rebecca: I sterilise my baby's bottles with boiling water. I don't know if I was doing it properly at first, so I went and talked to my health professional.

Karen: After washing up, it's best to rinse with clean water and leave the dishes to dry instead of wiping them up with a tea towel.

Colin: How do I make sure that I cook meat safely for my baby?

Carolina Chiniros: You should always keep raw meats away from other food, including raw veggies and other cooked foods, and try to use a separate cutting board, a knife when cutting up raw meat, chicken or fish. You should cook all foods really well for your baby. Make sure meats, chicken and fish are cooked well done. This means that they are not pink.

You should always remove the fat, skin and bones because the fat and skin is bad for your baby. And the bones can make them choke. And don't forget to check for small bones by using your finger.

Colin: And what about eggs?

Carolina Chiniros: You should cook eggs until white, is completely set, and the yolks begin to thicken. It is important not to give your baby raw eggs or any food that contains raw eggs. This includes deep fried and homemade ice cream and mayonnaise.

Rebecca: How should I store food in the fridge?

Anita Cowlishaw: You should put your leftovers in a sealed container and make sure it's not steaming. Then you can put it in the fridge or freezer. But remember, use your leftovers within two days. Only reheat your baby's food once and then throw the rest away.

Rebecca: The other day I found my partner had put the steaks on the top of the fridge. All the blood had dripped down throughout the entire fridge.

Helen: When the girls were born, our health professional told us to make sure the raw meats, chicken or fish go on the bottom shelf of the fridge and in a sealed container so that contamination doesn't happen. But did you know that there's a certain layout that you should put your food in the fridge? I didn't. But my health professional told me all about it and even gave me a poster. You should definitely go see yours.

Terry: You know, back in the day, I remember when my grandma had an icebox. We didn't have fridges. I guess iceboxes are the sort of things that you kids would call eskies now.

Carolina Chiniros: If you are giving your baby hot food, let it cool down first. But make sure, try it first, so it's not too hot for your baby. Use your own spoon, and don't use this spoon to give food to your baby, because it spreads germs.

Giselle: Have a special set of soft spoons and forks for your baby. We used these rubber spoons, they were great.