Age Appropriate Diet for Infants (Birth - 12 Months)

 

What is an age-appropriate diet?  It is one that provides adequate nutrition and is appropriate for a child's state of development.  As parents, we can use the information below as a guide for your baby's first year of nutrition and feeding needs.

BIRTH TO 4 MONTHS OF AGE

During the first 4 - 6 months of life, infants need only breas milk or formula to meet all their nutritional needs.

 

If breastfeeding, a newborn may need to nurse 8 - 12 times per day (every 2 - 4 hours), or on demand. By 4 months, the baby is likely to cut back to 4 - 6 times per day, however, the quantity of breast milk consumed at each feeding will increase.

 

Formula-fed babies may need to eat about 6 - 8 times per day, starting newborns with 2 - 3 ounces of formula per feeding (for a total of 16 - 24 ounces per day). As with breastfeeding, the number of feedings will decrease as the baby gets older, but the amount of formula will increase to approximately 6 - 8 ounces per feeding.

 

Never give honey to an infant, as it may contain the spores that cause botulism.  An infant's immune system is not fully developed to fight off this disease.

 

4 - 6 MONTHS OF AGE

At 4 - 6 months of age an infant should be consuming 28 - 45 ounces of formula, and is often ready to start the transition to solid foods. Starting solids too soon may cause the infant to choke if they are not physically ready.

 

There are several developmental milestones to indicate an infant is ready to eat solid foods: 

• The birth weight has doubled

 

• The baby has good control of head and neck

 

• The baby can sit up with some support

 

• The baby can show fullness by turning the head away or by not opening the mouth

 

• The baby begins showing interest in food when others are eating.

 

Start solid feedings with iron-fortified baby rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula to a thin consistency. The cereal may be mixed to a thicker consistency as the baby learns to control it in his mouth.

 

• Initially, offer cereal 2 times per day in servings of 1 or 2 tablespoons (dry amount, before mixing with formula or breast milk).

 

• Gradually increase to 3 or 4 tablespoons of cereal.

 

• Cereal should not be given in a bottle unless a doctor or dietitian recommends it.

 

Once the baby is eating rice cereal routinely, you may introduce other iron-fortified instant cereals. Only introduce one new cereal per week so you can watch for an intolerance or allergy.

Never put a child to bed with a bottle as this can cause bottle mouth, resulting in tooth decay. 

 

6 - 8 MONTHS OF AGE

Continue to offer breast milk or formula 3 - 5 times per day. Cow's milk is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children under 1 year old.

 

The baby will begin drinking less formula or breast milk once solid foods become a source of nutrition.

 

After a baby has tried a variety of different baby cereals, try strained fruits and vegetables.

 

• For strained fruits and vegetables, introduce one at a time waiting 2 - 3 days in between to check for any allergic reaction.

 

• Start with plain vegetables such as green peas, potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, beans, beets; and plain fruits such as bananas, applesauce, apricots, pears, peaches, and melon.

 

• Some dietitians recommend introducing a few vegetables before fruits, as the fruit's sweetness may make a less-sweet food such as vegetables less appealing.

 

• Give fruits and vegetables in 2 - 3 tablespoon servings and offer about 4 servings per day.

 

• Feedings vary between 2 tablespoons and 2 cups depending on the size of your child and how well the child eats fruits and vegetables.

 

Finger foods may be offered in small amounts, but avoid foods such as apple chunks or slices, grapes, hot dogs, sausages, peanut butter, popcorn, nuts, seeds, round candies, and hard chunks of uncooked vegetables that may cause choking.

 

Soft cooked vegetables, washed and peeled fruits, graham crackers, melba toast, and noodles are good finger foods.  Toast strips, unsalted crackers, bagels, and teething biscuits may also be introduced at this time.  Salty or sugary foods are not recommended.

 

8 - 12 MONTHS OF AGE

Breast milk or formula should be offered three to four times per day at this age. Cow's milk is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children under 1 year old.       

 

At 8 - 12 months of age, a baby will be ready to try strained or finely chopped meats. For breastfed infants, start meats at 8 months of age (breast milk is not a rich source of iron, but infants have adequate iron stores to last until 8 months of age when iron-rich foods such as meats can be given).

 

As with other foods, offer only one type of new meat per week in 3 - 4 tablespoon servings -- use strained and finely ground meats, frankfurters, or meat sticks. Serving sizes for fruits and vegetables increases to 3 - 4 tablespoons, four times per day. Eggs may be given 3 - 4 times per week, but only the yolk until the baby is 1 year old, as some babies are sensitive to egg whites.

 

By the age of 1, most children are off the bottle. If the child still uses a bottle, it should contain water only.

For additional resources, please visit National Library of Medicine, National Institue of Health