- Knowledgebase: Nutrition, Exercise, and Obesity
- Questions about child nutrition, exercise, and obesity/weight loss.
- 3. Nutrition through the first year - Top
- Birth to 3 months
For the first few months of your baby's life, breast milk or formula is the only food needed.
A baby normally drinks 21 to 24 ounces of breast milk or formula each day.
The baby will want to be fed six to 10 times each day. Let your baby set the feeding schedule. Expect your baby's appetite to vary from day to day.
If you are breast feeding your baby, you may need to add vitamin and mineral supplements to the diet. Some formulas already are supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Talk to your physician about vitamins and minerals for your baby.
Do not routinely add cereal to formula unless directed by a physician.
4 to 5 months
Your baby will need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula during a 24-hour period.
Your baby will want to be fed four to six times per day.
Your doctor may advise you to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements.
You may introduce a small amount of cereal (1 to 4 tablespoons daily) to your child at this age. Buy an iron-fortified, dry pack cereal which can be mixed with breast milk or formula to create a thin consistency. You should not add sugar, honey or salt to the cereal.
Introduce different types of cereals gradually. This will help you to make sure your child does not have an allergic reaction to certain types of foods. Reactions include diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, hives or a rash.
Your child may have a difficult time learning to eat from a spoon. Be patient and realize that much of the cereal will spill back out of his or her mouth until the child learns to properly swallow.
6 to 7 months
Your baby will need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula during a 24-hour period.
Your baby will want to be fed four to five times per day.
Your doctor may advise you to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements.
You may introduce vegetables and fruits at this age. They should be well-cooked, strained or blended. Peel fruits before cooking or blending. You may make the fruits or vegetables yourself or buy commercially prepared baby foods.
Gradually introduce different types of fruits and vegetables. Slowly increase the serving sizes from 1 tablespoon to 4 to 5 tablespoons per day. This will help you to make sure your child does not have an allergic reaction to certain types of foods. Reactions include diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, hives or a rash.
Compare labels on commercially prepared foods. Try to limit the amount of salt and sugar you give to your baby.
At this age, your child will be able to grasp and gum foods. You may offer your child toast strips, crackers and teething biscuits. Never leave your child alone with such foods.
Avoid giving your child foods which commonly cause choking.
8 to 9 months
Your baby will need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula during a 24-hour period. Give the milk or formula three to four times per day.
Your baby may be ready to try drinking from a cup at this age. Offer 3 to 4 ounces of breast milk or formula daily in a cup.
Your doctor may advise you to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements.
Your baby should eat 4 or more tablespoons of iron-fortified cereal each day.
Your baby also should be given 4 or more tablespoons of both fruit and vegetables daily.
You may offer your child crackers and toast.
Introduce different types of protein gradually. Types of meats include well-cooked, strained or ground chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, veal, or pork. Other sources of protein include boneless fish, pureed dried beans or split peas, tofu, mild cheese, cottage cheese or smooth peanut butter. You also may give your child egg yolk. You should not give your child egg white until after 12 months because of the possibility of an allergic reaction.
Begin by giving your baby 1 tablespoon of protein a day. Increase it to 2 tablespoons of meat, fish and poultry or 3 to 4 tablespoons of beans and split peas.
You may make these foods yourself or buy commercially prepared foods. Compare labels on foods you buy from the store to limit the amount of salt. If you are making the food at home, do not add seasonings. Make sure you remove all bones and skin before straining or blending.
You also may introduce juice containing vitamin C. Dilute one part juice with two parts water. Start with two or three swallows and, depending on your baby's appetite, increase this to 2 to 6 ounces daily. (Do not put your child down for a nap with a bottle of juice. This may contribute to tooth decay.)
At this age, your child is learning to grasp with thumb and fingers. You can help your child with this movement by giving bite-sized, finger foods. Examples include toast strips; cooked macaroni or noodles; soft, peeled fruit pieces; soft, cooked vegetable pieces and mild cheese cubes or strips.
Avoid giving your child foods which commonly cause choking.
10 months to 1 year
Your baby will need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula during a 24-hour period. Give the milk or formula three to four times per day. Offer some of the milk in a cup.
Your doctor may advise you to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements.
Your baby should eat 1/4 cup of iron-fortified cereal each day.
Your baby also should be given 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of soft, cooked vegetables each day. Include a dark orange or dark green vegetable at least 3 times a week.
Give your baby 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup fruits and fruit juice each day. Offer the juice in a cup.
Your child also can have one to two slices of bread or toast.
Feed your child 2 to 4 tablespoons of protein foods daily, as well.
You may give your child a variety of foods at this age. It is a good idea to introduce many kinds of foods to your child.
You may begin a feeding pattern that matches the family's eating habits. If your child's appetite permits it, offer three meals and two snacks daily.
Some mothers also begin weaning their children from breast or bottle feeding at about one year. There is no set age at which weaning should take place. However, your child should be able to drink from a cup. When weaning, gradually drop one bottle feeding at a time. Allow four to five days between the omission of each bottle feeding or nursing time.
Avoid giving your child foods which commonly cause choking.
- Updated: June 11, 2001
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