BABY FOOD GUIDE

Use this guide to find out what and how much to feed your child at every stage of development
from irth to !" months# $%ee our toddler article for guidance on feeding children over !"
months#& Don't worry if your child eats more or less than the amounts listed ( they're only
meant as rough guidelines#
You don't have to introduce foods to your child in any particular order# If you want to give your
ay a taste of tofu at age ) months* go ahead* even though it's not listed on our chart until age
+ months#
It was once considered important to wait until age ! or even age , efore introducing highly
allergenic foods li-e eggs* fish* and peanuts# E.perts now elieve that postponing these foods
doesn't prevent food allergies#
/ Birth to 0 months
/ 0 to ) months
/ ) to + months
/ + to !1 months
/ !1 to !" months
Age2 Birth to 0 months
Feeding ehavior
/ 3ooting refle. helps your ay turn toward a nipple to find nourishment
4hat to feed
/ Breast mil- or formula O56Y 7ow much per day
/ %ee 7ow to 8ell if Your Bay's Getting Enough Breast 9il-
/ %ee 7ow to 8ell 7ow 9uch Formula Your Bay 5eeds
Feeding tip
/ Your ay's digestive tract is still developing* so solid food is off:limits for now#
Age2 0 to ) months
%igns of readiness for solid food
Your ay proaly won't do all these things ( they're ;ust clues to watch for#
/ <an hold head up
/ %its well in highchair
/ 9a-es chewing motions
/ %hows significant weight gain $irth weight has douled&
/ %hows interest in food
/ <an close mouth around a spoon
/ <an move food from front to ac- of mouth
/ <an move tongue ac- and forth* ut is losing tendency to push food out with tongue
/ %eems hungry after + to !1 feedings of reast mil- or 01 o=# of formula in a day
/ Is teething
4hat to feed
/ Breast mil- or formula* >6U%
/ %emi:li?uid iron:fortified rice cereal* 87E5
/ Other grain cereals li-e oats or arley 7ow much per day
/ Begin with aout ! teaspoon dry rice cereal mi.ed with 0 to @ teaspoons reast mil- or
formula $it'll e very runny&#
/ Gradually thic-en consistency and increase to ! talespoon dry cereal mi.ed with reast
mil- or formula* twice a day#
Feeding tips
/ If your ay 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#
5e.t2 ) months and up
Age2 ) to + months
%igns of readiness for solid food
/ %ame as 0 to ) months
4hat to feed
/ Breast mil- or formula* >6U%
/ Iron:fortified cereals $rice* arley* oats&
/ >ureed or strained fruits $anana* pears* applesauce* peaches&
/ >ureed or strained vegetales $avocado* well:coo-ed carrots* s?uash* and sweet potato&
7ow much per day
/ , to A talespoons cereal* in " to , feedings
/ ! teaspoon fruit* gradually increased to !B0 to !B" cup in " to , feedings
/ ! teaspoon vegetales* gradually increased to !B0 to !B" cup in " to , feeding
Feeding tips
/ Introduce new foods one at a time* with at least three days in etween to ma-e sure your
ay's not allergic#
/ Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids#
Age2 + to !1 months
%igns of readiness for solid and finger foods
/ %ame as ) to + months* >6U%
/ >ic-s up o;ects with thum and forefinger $pincer grasp&
/ <an transfer items from one hand to the other
/ >uts everything in his mouth
/ 9oves ;aw in a chewing motion
4hat to feed
/ Breast mil- or formula* >6U%
/ %mall amounts of soft pasteuri=ed cheese* yogurt* cottage cheese $ut no cows' mil-
until age !&
/ Iron:fortified cereals $rice* arley* wheat* oats* mi.ed cereals&
/ 9ashed fruits and vegetales $ananas* peaches* pears* avocados* coo-ed carrots*
s?uash* potatoes* sweet potatoes&
/ Finger foods $lightly toasted agels* cut upC small pieces of ripe ananaC well:coo-ed
spiral pastaC teething crac-ersC low:sugar O:shaped cereal&
/ %mall amounts of protein $egg* pureed meats* poultry* and oneless fishC tofuC well:
coo-ed and mashed eans with soft s-ins li-e lentils* split peas* pintos* lac- eans&
/ 5on:citrus ;uice $apple or pear& 7ow much per day
/ !B0 to !B, cup dairy $or !B" o=# cheese&
/ !B0 to !B" cup iron:fortified cereal
/ !B0 to !B" cup fruit
/ !B0 to !B" cup vegetales
/ !B+ to !B0 cup protein foods
/ , to 0 o=# non:citrus ;uices
Feeding tip
/ Introduce new foods one at a time* with at least three days in etween to ma-e sure your
ay's not allergic#
Age2 !1 to !" months
%igns of readiness for additional solid food
/ %ame as + to !1 months* >6U%
/ %wallows food more easily
/ 7as more teeth
/ 5o longer pushes food out with tongue
/ Is trying to use a spoon
4hat to feed
/ Breast mil- or formula >6U%
/ %oft pasteuri=ed cheese* yogurt* cottage cheese $ut no cows' mil- until age !&
/ Iron:fortified cereals $rice* arley* wheat* oats* mi.ed cereals&
/ Fruit cut into cues or strips* or mashed
/ Bite:si=e* soft:coo-ed vegetales $peas* carrots&
/ <omo foods $macaroni and cheese* casseroles&
/ >rotein $eggC pureed or finely ground meats* poultry* and oneless fishC tofuC well:coo-ed
and mashed eans&
/ Finger foods $lightly toasted read or agels* small pieces of ripe anana* spiral pasta*
teething crac-ers* low:sugar O:shaped cereal&
/ 5on:citrus ;uice 7ow much per day
/ !B, cup dairy $or !B" o=# cheese&
/ !B0 to !B" cup iron:fortified cereal
/ !B0 to !B" cup fruit
/ !B0 to !B" cup vegetales
/ !B+ to !B0 cup como foods
/ !B+ to !B0 cup protein foods
/ , to 0 o=# non:citrus ;uices
Feeding tip
/ Introduce new foods one at a time* with at least three days in etween to ma-e sure your
ay's not allergic#