How many times should I feed my 5 month old baby food each day? Should it be mixed with cereal or formula? Should I mix her formula with cereal at bottlefeedings? Should she still take a bottle and how often a day?

You asked a bunch of good questions for which there is no "right" answer. Formula Feeding Guide These are guidelines to the amount your baby may drink, but let your baby's appetite be your guide. Don't coax your baby to finish a bottle. If she seems hungry, feed her more often. Age in Months TotalDaily Amount (ml) Number of Daily Feedings Amount per Feeding (ml) 0-3 720 - 960 5 - 7 100-200 4-6 960 -1080 4 - 5 200-250 7-12* 600-900 3-4 150-250 Age in Months Total Daily Amount (oz) Number of Daily Feeds Amount of Feeding (oz)   0-3   24-32 5-7 3-6 4-6 32-36 4-5 6-8 7-12* 20-30 3-4 5-8 Concerning solid foods, here is a guide: When What Why 0-4 months Your baby isn't ready to digest solids yet. Breast milk or commercial iron-fortified infant formula This meets all your baby's needs. It is best for your baby to continue mainly on breast milk or formula for the first year. 4 - 6 months Can transfer solids from front to back of mouth. Can sit up, supported. Ready for spoon feeding. Infant cereal Introduce one type of grain at a time. Start with rice, then try barley or oatmeal and then wheat, soy and mixed grain infant cereal. Infant cereals are fortified with iron and are an important source of iron for the first 18 months. Do not put infant cereal in the bottle at any age. 5 - 7 months Ready to try new flavors and textures. Pureed or mashed vegetables; pureed or mashed fruits Your baby may be more willing to eat vegetables if she tries these before trying naturally sweet fruits. Both of these start your baby on good eating habits. Pureed foods are only needed for a short time, perhaps a few weeks. Then go on to mashed table foods, which promote chewing skills. 6 - 8 months Growing rapidly. Grabs spoon. Ready to chew. Pureed or ground up meat, fish, poultry, and meat alternatives (beans, peas, lentils). Gradually change to mashed table foods without sugar, salt, seasonings, butter or margarine. Egg yolks Plain cheese, unsweetened yogurt, cottage cheese These provide additional protein, vitamins and iron for rapid growth. This introduces firmer textures to help your baby develop chewing skills. Egg white may cause an allergy if given at an early age, so wait until 12 months before offering it. Finger foods For finger food use toast, plain unsalted crackers, soft fruit (cooked, or canned in fruit juice or water), lightly cooked vegetables, unsweetened ready-to-eat cereals These encourage chewing and help develop your baby's coordination. Unsweetened ready-to-eat cereals are fine as finger foods, but your baby should still have iron-fortified infant cereal as her main cereal. 9 - 12 months Eats a variety of foods. May begin feeding whole milk from a cup (not 2%, 1% or skim milk) after one year Remember, your pediatrician is the best source for information as to what to feed your baby.

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