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| Quick reference medical handouts used
by Pediatric offices |
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Feeding Suggestions for the First Year
For the first 4 to 6 months, breastmilk or a supplemental infant formula
is all your baby needs to satisfy their nutritional needs. When to introduce
solid foods to the diet depends on your baby. It is important to remember
that even with solid food being eaten, the significant source of nutrition
for your baby comes from the breast or bottle. It is always best to seek
the advice of your baby's doctor concerning when to introduce solid
foods.
The typical age of eating first solid foods is around 4-6 months.
It is recommended that the first solid food be rice cereal. Mixed with infant
formula or breastmilk rice cereal is an easy food for your baby to digest.
It also provides a good source of nutritional iron and it is least likely,
of all the foods, to be one that your baby is allergic to. For the first
few feedings it should be mixed to a consistency just a little thicker than
the milk itself. When the baby excepts the cereal like this it can slowly
be increased to a thicker consistency.
Once your baby is comfortable with rice cereal (he/she eats it at least
once a day and consumes most of it)other strained baby foods can then be
introduced. Other single grain infant cereals, vegetables or fruits are
recommended to start with first. Usually physicians will recommend fruits
or vegetables first. There are advantages to both. Fruits have a sweet taste
and may encourage baby to eat more. Vegetables introduce your baby to single
foods and also prevent your baby from becoming dependent on the sweet taste
of fruits.
When starting with vegetables, yellow veggies such as squash, sweet
potatoes or carrots are usually more accepted by babies. When yellows are
introduced properly then green vegetables can follow. Introduce new foods
one at a time and feed only one new food every three or four days. The delay
in feeding new foods all at once is to rule out any allergy
possibilities.
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
he/she seems hungry, feed him/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 |
*As your baby eats more solids, he/she may drink less
formula.
Introducing Solid Foods
Remember: these are general guidelines. No two babies are exactly
alike. Don't compare your baby with others as to how much he/she eats, or when
he/she accepts a new food. Always consult with your baby's doctor before trying
new foods.
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Babies don't need solid foods before 4-6 months.
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Offer only one new food every two to three days, so you can see if
your baby is allergic to any new food.
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When introducing each new food, start with only 1-3 teaspoons, in
case it doesn't agree with your baby. Gradually increase the amounts according
to your baby's appetite.
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If your baby rejects a food, try it again a few days later.
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Serve foods separately (for example, don't stir meat and vegetables
together) so your baby can learn to like different flavors and textures.
|
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 his/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 |
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As a reminder, this information should not be relied on as
medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice of your child’s pediatrician.
Please read our full disclaimer.
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