Guidelines to Feeding Your Baby

Every baby is very special. Don’t worry if your baby eats a little more or less than this guide suggests. In fact, this is perfectly normal. 
The serving sizes are only guidelines to help you get started.
AGE FOOD GROUP FOODS SERVINGS
PER DAY		 SERVING SIZE FEEDING TIPS
0-4 MO Milk
Breast milk or  
Formula 
0- 1 mo
1-2 mo
2-3 mo
3-4 mo
8-12 (or
on demand)
6-8
5-7
4-7
4-6
 
  

·         Nurse at least 5-10 min each breast.

·         Six wet diapers a day is a good sign.

·         Do not force baby to finish a bottle.

·         Do not put baby to bed with the bottle.

·         Heating formula in the microwave is NOT recommended.
2-5 oz
3-6 oz
4-7 oz
6-8 oz
           
4-6 MO Milk Breast milk or  4-6 6-8 oz    
    Formula   4-6    
  Grain Baby Cereal (with Iron) 2 (optional) 1-2 Tbsp

·         Start with Rice cereal, and add only one new cereal per week if desired

·         Don’t add salt or sugar to cereal

·         Tap water is fine, and has fluoride. Well water is not okay to use.

·         Microwave with caution
           
6-8 MO Milk Breast milk or   3-5    
Formula  6-8 oz
  Grain Baby Cereal (with Iron)  2-3 2-4 Tbsp

·         Add strained fruits or vegetables first, advance to mashed or finely chopped later on.

·         Feed only one NEW item per week.

·         Take out of the jar amount of food for one feeding, refrigerate the rest.

·         Try giving juice in a sippie cup.

·         Always taste heated foods before serving to baby.

 
Bread, Bagel or Bun Offer ½
Crackers   2 crackers
  Fruit/Veg Fruit or Vegetables Fruit Juice 4
1		 2-3 Tbsp
3 oz

 
           
8-12 MO Milk Breast milk or 3-4          
Formula   6-8 oz
Cheese Offer 1/2 oz
Plain Yogurt   1/2 cup
Cottage Cheese   1/4 cup
  Grain

Baby Cereal ( with Iron)

Bread, Bagel,
Crackers

 2
2		 3-4 Tbsp
½
2 crackers		 ·         Be patient!  Babies make a mess when they feed themselves.
·         Offer the following foods only when baby has full set of teeth (due to choking issues): apple chunks or slices, grapes, hot dogs, sausages, peanut butter, popcorn, nuts, seeds, round candies, hard chunks of uncooked vegetables.
  Fruit/Veg

Fruit or Vegetables

Fruit Juice

 4
1		 3-4 Tbsp
3oz

·         Add strained or finely chopped meats now.

·         Feed only one new meat per week.
  Meat

Chicken, Beef, Pork

Cooked, Dried Beans or Egg Yolks

 2 3-4 Tbsp

·         Start giving formula in sippie or straw cup at some meals to introduce concept.  This makes transition from bottle easier at 12 months.
·         Wait until the first birthday to feed egg whites.
12-24 MO Milk

Whole Milk, Yogurt

Cheese

Cottage Cheese

 3

½ cup

½ oz

¼ cup

·         Add whole milk now, in a cup.

·         Offer small portions and never force your toddler to eat. They eat to grow, and growth velocity slows down after 1 year of age.

 
  Grain

Cereal, Pasta, Rice

Bread, Muffin, Bagel

Crackers

 4

¼ cup

½

2 Crackers

 ·         “Food Jags” are common now.  Don’t make a big deal if your child only eats certain foods every day, every meal for a period of time. It will balance out eventually.
  Fruit/Veg  Fruits & Vegetables:   Cooked/ Juice
Whole 		4


¼ Cup

½ medium

 ·         Respect your child’s likes and dislikes.  Offer rejected foods again later. It may take 12 or more times of just offering a new food to get your child to even try it, much less like it!
  Meat

Fish, Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Pork

Cooked, dried beans,

Egg

 2

1 oz

 ¼ cup

1

·         Make meals fun and interesting.  Serve colorful foods that are crunchy, smooth, or warm.

·         Feed your toddler at least three snacks per day.