Making appropriate food choices for your baby during the first year of life is very
important. More growth occurs during the first year than at any other time in your
child's life. It's important to feed your baby a variety of healthy foods at the proper
time. Starting good eating habits at this early stage will help set healthy eating
patterns for life.
Don't give solid foods unless your child's healthcare provider advises you to do so.
Solid foods shouldn't be started before age 4 to 6 months because:
Your baby may show signs that they are ready to start solids. These include good head
and neck control, disappearance of the tongue-thrust reflex, showing interest in the
food you eat, being able to sit in a chair with minimal support, and trying to bring
objects to their mouth. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive
breastfeeding for about the first 6 months of life. In addition, they recommend that
all infants take in enough vitamin D through supplements or formula to prevent complications
from deficiency of this vitamin. In November 2008, the AAP updated its recommendations
for daily intake of vitamin D for healthy infants, children, and teens. It's now recommended
that the minimum intake of vitamin D for these groups should be 400 IU per day, starting
soon after birth. Your baby's healthcare provider can advise you on the correct type
and amount of vitamin D supplement for your baby.
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When starting solid foods, give your baby one new food at a time—not mixtures (like
cereal and fruit or meat dinners). Give the new food for 3 to 5 days before adding
another new food. This way, you can tell what foods your baby may be allergic to or
can't tolerate.
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Start with small amounts of new solid foods. Try 1 teaspoon at first and slowly increase
to 1 tablespoon.
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You can choose which food to start first, such as iron-fortified infant cereal, fruits,
or vegetables.
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Don't use salt or sugar when making homemade infant foods. Canned foods may contain
large amounts of salt and sugar and shouldn't be used for baby food. Always wash and
peel fruits and vegetables and remove seeds or pits. Take special care with fruits
and vegetables that come into contact with the ground. They may contain botulism spores
that cause food poisoning.
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Infant cereals with iron should be given to your infant until your infant is age 18
months.
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Cow's milk shouldn't be added to the diet until your baby is 1 year old. Cow's milk
doesn't provide the proper nutrients for your baby. In addition, infants' digestive
tracts are not developed enough to fully digest cow's milk as completely or easily
as breastmilk or formula.
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The AAP recommends not giving fruit juices to infants younger than 1 year old.
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Feed all food with a spoon. Your baby needs to learn to eat from a spoon. Don't use
an infant feeder. Only breastmilk, formula, or water should go into the bottle.
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Don't give your child honey in any form, including in foods, during their first year.
It can cause infant botulism.
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Don't put your baby in bed with a bottle propped in their mouth. Propping a bottle
has been linked to an increased risk of ear infections. Once your baby starts getting
teeth, propping the bottle can also cause tooth decay. There's also a risk of choking.
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Transition your baby off the bottle by their first birthday.
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Don't make your child "clean the plate." Forcing your child to eat all the food on
their plate even when they're not hungry isn't a good habit. It teaches your child
to eat just because the food is there, not because they're hungry. Expect a smaller
and pickier appetite as the baby's growth rate slows around age 1.
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Babies and young children shouldn't eat hot dogs, nuts, seeds, round candies, popcorn,
hard, raw fruits and vegetables, grapes, or thick amounts of peanut butter (a thin
layer of peanut butter spread on bread is okay). These foods aren't safe and may cause
your child to choke. Many healthcare providers suggest these foods be saved until
after your child is age 3 or 4. Always watch a young child while they're eating. Insist
that the child sit down to eat or drink.
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Healthy babies usually require little or no extra water, except in very hot weather.
When solid food is first fed to your baby, extra water is often needed.
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Don't limit your baby's food choices to the ones you like. Offering a wide variety
of foods early will pave the way for good eating habits later.
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Don't restrict fat and cholesterol in the diets of very young children, unless advised by
your child's healthcare provider. Children need calories, fat, and cholesterol for
the development of their brains and nervous systems, and for general growth.
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Unlike previously thought, you don't need to wait to introduce eggs, dairy, soy, peanut
products, or fish due to the risk of food allergies. If your baby has severe eczema
or a known egg allergy, testing for peanut allergy may be advised. Talk with your
child's healthcare provider if you have questions about safely introducing any of
these foods.
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Item
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4 to 6 months
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7 months
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8 months
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Breastfeeding or formula
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5 to 6 feedings per day or 28 to 32 ounces per day
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4 to 5 feedings per day or 30 to 32 ounces per day
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3 to 5 feedings per day or 30 to 32 ounces per day
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Dry infant cereal with iron
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3 to 5 tbsp. single-grain, iron-fortified cereal mixed with formula or breastmilk
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3 to 5 tbsp. single-grain, iron-fortified cereal mixed with formula or breastmilk
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5 to 8 tbsp. single-grain cereal mixed with formula or breastmilk
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Fruits
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1 to 2 tbsp. plain, strained, 1 to 2 times per day
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2 to 3 tbsp. plain, strained, 2 times per day
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2 to 3 tbsp. strained or soft mashed, 2 times per day
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Vegetables
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1 to 2 tbsp., plain, strained, 1 to 2 times per day
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2 to 3 tbsp., plain, strained, 2 times per day
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2 to 3 tbsp., strained, mashed, soft, 2 times per day
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Meats and protein foods
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1 to 2 tbsp., strained, 2 times per day
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1 to 2 tbsp., strained, 2 times per day
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1 to 2 tbsp., lumpy, 2 times per day
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Snacks
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Arrowroot cookies, toast, crackers
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Arrowroot cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt
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Arrowroot cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, soft fruits
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Development
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Make first feedings very soupy and thicken slowly.
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Start finger foods and cup.
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Breastfeeding or formula intake decreases slightly; solid foods in diet increase.
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Item
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9 months
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10 to 12 months
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Breastfeeding or formula
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3 to 5 feedings per day or 30 to 32 ounces per day
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3 to 4 feedings per day or 24 to 30 ounces per day
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Dry infant cereal with iron
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5 to 8 tbsp. any variety mixed with formula or breastmilk
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5 to 8 tbsp. any variety mixed with formula per day or breastmilk
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Fruits
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2 to 4 tbsp., strained or soft mashed, 2 times per day
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2 to 4 tbsp., mashed or strained, cooked, 2 times per day
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Vegetables
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2 to 4 tbsp., mashed, soft, bite-sized pieces, 2 times per day
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2 to 4 tbsp., mashed, soft, bite-sized pieces, 2 times per day
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Meats and protein foods
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2 to 3 tbsp. of tender, chopped, 2 times per day
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2 to 3 tbsp., finely chopped, table meats, fish without bones, mild cheese, 2 times
per day
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Starches
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1/4–1/2 cup mashed potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, bread, 2 times per day
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1/4–1/2 cup mashed potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, bread, dry breakfast cereals, 2
times per day
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Snacks
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Arrowroot cookies, assorted finger foods, cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt,
cooked green beans
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Arrowroot cookies, assorted finger foods, cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt,
cooked green beans, cottage cheese, ice cream, pudding, dry cereal
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Development
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Eating more table foods. Make sure the diet has a good variety.
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The baby may change to table food. Baby will feed themself and use a spoon and cup.
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