Age: Birth to 4 months
| Feeding behavior • Rooting reflex helps your baby turn toward a nipple to find nourishment | |
| What to feed • Breast milk or formula ONLY | How much per day • See How to Tell if Your Baby's Getting Enough Breast Milk • See How to Tell How Much Formula Your Baby Needs |
| Feeding tip • Your baby's digestive tract is still developing, so solid food is off-limits for now. | |
Age: 4 to 6months
| Signs of readiness for solid food Your baby probably won't do all these things — they're just clues to watch for. • Can hold head up • Sits well in highchair • Makes chewing motions • Shows significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled) • Shows interest in food • Can close mouth around a spoon • Can move food from front to back of mouth • Can move tongue back and forth, but is losing tendency to push food out with tongue • Seems hungry after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or 40 oz. of formula in a day • Is teething | |
| What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Semi-liquid iron-fortified rice cereal, THEN • Other grain cereals like oats or barley | How much per day • Begin with about 1 teaspoon dry rice cereal mixed with 4 to 5 teaspoons breast milk or formula (it'll be very runny). • Gradually thicken consistency and increase to 1 tablespoon dry cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, twice a day. |
| Feeding tips • If your baby won't eat the cereal on the first try, offer it again in a few days. | |
Age: 6 to 8 months
| Signs of readiness for solid food • Same as 4 to 6 months | |
| What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, oats) • Pureed or strained fruits (banana, pears, applesauce, peaches) • Pureed or strained vegetables (avocado, well-cooked carrots, squash, and sweet potato) | How much per day • 3 to 9 tablespoons cereal, in 2 to 3 feedings • 1 teaspoon fruit, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings • 1 teaspoon vegetables, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings |
| Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic. | |
Age: 8 to 10 months
| Signs of readiness for solid and finger foods • Same as 6 to 8 months, PLUS • Picks up objects with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp) • Can transfer items from one hand to the other • Puts everything in his mouth • Moves jaw in a chewing motion | |
| What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Small amounts of soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Mashed fruits and vegetables (bananas, peaches, pears, avocados, cooked carrots, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes) • Finger foods (lightly toasted bagels, cut up; small pieces of ripe banana; well-cooked spiral pasta; teething crackers; low-sugar O-shaped cereal) • Small amounts of protein (egg, pureed meats, poultry, and boneless fish; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans with soft skins like lentils, split peas, pintos, black beans) • Non-citrus juice (apple or pear) | How much per day • ¼ to 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese) • ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods • 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices |
| Feeding tip • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic. | |
Age: 10 to 12 months
| Signs of readiness for additional solid food • Same as 8 to 10 months, PLUS • Swallows food more easily • Has more teeth • No longer pushes food out with tongue • Is trying to use a spoon | |
| What to feed • Breast milk or formula PLUS • Soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Fruit cut into cubes or strips, or mashed • Bite-size, soft-cooked vegetables (peas, carrots) • Combo foods (macaroni and cheese, casseroles) • Protein (egg; pureed or finely ground meats, poultry, and boneless fish; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans) • Finger foods (lightly toasted bread or bagels, small pieces of ripe banana, spiral pasta, teething crackers, low-sugar O-shaped cereal) • Non-citrus juice | How much per day • 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese) • ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 1/8 to ¼ cup combo foods • 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods • 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices |
| Feeding tip • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic. | |
