FEEDING DURING THE FIRST YEAR

Birth to 6 months (breast or bottle-feeding)

Breastfeeding
 Most desirable complete diet for first half of year
 Require supplements of vitamin D (400 units) if mother’s diet is inadequate

Formula
 Iron-fortified commercial formula is a complete food for first half of year
 Requires fluoride supplements (0.25mg) when the concentration of fluoride in the
drinking water is below 0.3 parts per million (ppm) after 6 months of age
 Evaporated milk formula requires supplements of vitamin C, iron, and fluoride

6 to 12 moths (solid foods)

 May begin to add solids by 5-6 months of age

 First foods are strained , pureed, or finely mashed
 Finger foods such as teething crackers, raw fruit, or vegetables can be
introduced by 6-7 months
 Chopped table food or commercially prepared junior foods can be started by 9-12
months
 With the exception of cereal, the order of introducing foods is variable; a
recommended sequence is weekly introduction of other foods, beginning with
fruit, then vegetables, and then meat
