| 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, which is why solid food is off limits for now. | |
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| Age: 4 to 6 months | |
| 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. • Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids. | |
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| 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. • Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids. | |
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| 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 yolk, pureed meats and poultry; 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. | |
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| 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 yolk, pureed or finely ground meats and poultry, 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. | |
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| Age: 12 to 18 months | |
| Signs of readiness for self-feeding • Can start to use a spoon himself (though proficiency will take a while!) | |
| What to feed • Whole milk • Other dairy (soft pasteurized cheese, full-fat yogurt and cottage cheese) • Same food as family, mashed or chopped into bite-size pieces • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Other grains (whole wheat bread, pasta, rice) • New fruits: melon, papaya, apricot, grapefruit (citrus is now okay) • New vegetables: broccoli and cauliflower "trees" • Protein (eggs; cut-up or ground meat, poultry, boneless fish; tofu; beans; thinly spread smooth peanut butter) • Citrus and non-citrus juice • Honey is now okay | How much per day • 2 to 3 servings dairy (1 serving = ½ cup milk, ½ to 1 oz. cheese, 1/3 to ½ cup yogurt or cottage cheese) • 4 to 6 servings cereals and other grains (1 serving = ¼ to 1/3 cup cereal, ¼ cup pasta or rice, ¼ to ½ slice bread or bagel) • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 2 servings protein (1 serving = 2 tablespoons ground or two 1-inch cubes meat, poultry, or fish; 1 egg; ¼ cup tofu or cooked beans; 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter) • 3 to 4 oz. juice |
| Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your child's not allergic. • Choking hazards are still a danger. Learn more about foods to watch out for. | |
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| Age: 18 to 24 months | |
| Feeding skills to look for • Self-feeding • Food phrases like "more" and "all done" | |
| What to feed • Whole milk • Other dairy (natural hard cheese, soft pasteurized cheese, full-fat yogurt and cottage cheese, pudding) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oat, mixed cereals) • Other grains (whole wheat bread and crackers, cut-up bagels, pretzels, rice cakes, ready-to-eat cereals, pasta, rice) • Fruit, cooked, canned or fresh, cut up or sliced (apples, bananas, peaches, strawberries, pears, cherries, grapes, plums, oranges, grapefruit) • Dried fruit, soaked until soft so it won't pose a choking hazard (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, dates, pitted prunes, raisins) • Vegetables, cooked and mashed or diced (carrots, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, yams, potatoes, peas) • Protein (eggs; cut-up or ground meat, poultry, boneless fish; tofu; beans; smooth peanut butter) • Combo foods like macaroni and cheese, casseroles • Fruit and vegetable juices | How much per day • 2 to 3 servings dairy (1 serving = ½ cup milk; ½ to 1 oz. cheese; 1/3 to ½ cup yogurt or cottage cheese; ¼ cup pudding) • 6 servings grains (1 serving = ¼ to ½ slice bread or bagel; 1 or 2 crackers; ¼ cup pasta or rice; 1/3 to ½ cup cooked or ready-to-eat cereal) • 2 to 3 servings fruit (1 serving = ¼ cup cooked or canned, ½ piece fresh; 1/8 cup dried; ¼ to ½ cup juice) • 2 to 3 servings vegetables (1 serving = 1 to 2 tablespoons) • 2 servings protein (1 serving = 2 tablespoons ground or two 1-inch cubes meat, poultry, or fish; 1 egg; ¼ cup tofu or cooked beans; 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter) |
| Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your child's not allergic. • Choking hazards are still a danger. Learn more about foods to watch out for. | |
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| Age: 24 to 36 months | |
| Feeding skills to look for • Self-feeding • Eagerness to make own food choices | |
| What to feed • Low-fat milk • Other dairy (diced or grated cheese; low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Other grains (whole wheat bread and crackers, cut-up bagels, pretzels, rice cakes, ready-to-eat cereal, pasta, rice) • Fruits, sliced fresh or canned • Dried fruit, soaked until soft so it won't pose a choking hazard (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, dates, pitted prunes, raisins) • Vegetables, cooked and cut up • Protein (eggs; cut-up or ground meat, poultry, boneless fish; tofu; beans; smooth peanut butter) • Combo foods like macaroni and cheese, casseroles • Fruit and vegetable juices | How much per day One serving for a child this age is about ¼ the size of an adult serving. • 2 to 3 servings dairy (1 serving = ½ cup milk; ½ to ¾ oz. cheese; ½ cup yogurt; ¼ to ½ cup cottage cheese; ¼ cup pudding) • 6 servings grains (1 serving = ½ slice bread or bagel; 1 or 2 crackers; ¼ to ½ cup pasta or rice; 1/3 to ½ cup cooked or ready-to-eat cereal) • 2 to 3 servings fruit (1 serving = ¼ cup cooked or canned, ½ piece fresh, or ¼ to ½ cup juice) • 2 to 3 servings vegetables (1 serving = 2 to 3 tablespoons) • 2 servings protein (1 serving = 2 tablespoons ground or two 1-inch cubes meat, poultry, or fish; 1 egg; ¼ cup tofu or cooked beans; 1 tablespoon peanut butter) |
| Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your child's not allergic. • Choking hazards are still a danger. Learn more about foods to watch out for. • Your child may seem to eat less than before — that's perfectly normal at this stage. If you wonder whether he's getting enough calories, use this guideline: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your child get about 40 calories a day for every inch of height. | |
