Feeding Your Infant | Download to Print

SUGGESTED FEEDING SCHEDULE FOR INFANTS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE

0-4 Months
Feed your baby breastmilk or formula only. No water or juice.

4 Months
Begin to offer rice cereal once per day mixed with either formula or breastmilk. Use a spoon, do not put in bottle. Most babies are taking about 24 oz per day of formula in addition to the cereal.
after mastering the spoonfeeding with the cereal, you may begin offering first stage fruits and vegetables. Only one new food every 3 days. Suggested order: applesauce, pears, peaches, apricots, sweet potato, squash, carrots, spinach, green beans, green peas.

5 Months
By this time your baby has probably tried most of the first foods. You can now offer cereal and fruit in the morning , cereal and vegetable in the evening. Your baby’s formula intake or breastfeeding should remain about the same, usually 32-40 oz per day.

6 Months
Once your baby can sit alone 10 minutes or more, he is ready to sit in the high chair for his meals. You can begin to introduce the cup with water in it. You may also start finger foods, such as veggie wheels. Safety tip: remember to always stay close to your baby while he is eating and make sure he stays seated.

7-8 Months
Your baby should be eating three meals a day, combinations of second foods and cereals. He may also be using a cup with assistance to drink water and using his fingers to pick up soft finger foods such as banana, macaroni, green beans, sweet potato.

9-12 Months
Continue to offer a variety of second foods, with introduction of third foods, or you may use chopped up table food. Go easy on the salt, sugar and spices if you are preparing your baby’s food. You may introduce meat at this time, either as a single food, or in the dinners available. As your baby develops a better pincer, you can introduce cheerios.

Safety Note Remember to always be attentive when your baby is eating. This is not the time to multi-task. Stay in the room and be ready to pick your baby up and give swift back blows if choking occurs. Do not do a finger sweep since you may push the choking food further into the windpipe. Common choking foods are fresh fruit, hard candy, meat, raisins, peanuts, popcorn, hotdogs, grapes. Make sure your child remains seated while eating and continue to enforce this during the toddler years.

Food Allergies Discuss food introduction with your pediatrician if you have a strong family history of food allergy. Do not introduce any nut or egg products before 12 months of age.