Infant/Toddler Feeding and Nutrition

Table of Contents
Feeding Your Newborn up to Six Months
Starting Baby on Solids
Feeding Your Six to Nine Month old
Feeding Your Nine to Twelve Month old
Feeding Tables and Sample Menus
Feeding Your Toddler




Do you have questions about feeding your baby or toddler?  I am a mom just like you, and I made this site for other moms who have questions just like I did when my first child was a baby.  I'm now a mom of two boys, one of whom is still a baby and the other is a preschooler.  In making this site, I used the experiance I had already had from working with infants and toddlers, and set out to do some research of my own by reading books, talking w/ pediatrictians and dieticians.  I also did a lot of research of my own online to learn all I could about feeding infants and toddlers.  I hope this site can help to answer some of your questions such as: When should I start my baby on solids? What types of finger foods can I  feed my 9mo. old?  How do I get my picky toddler to eat his veggies? And other common questions such as these.

Feeding Your Newborn up to Six Months:

Breast or Bottle:  Experts agree breast is best, so if you're not sure whether you want to breast or bottle fed your baby, I encourage you to give breastfeeding a try and see how it goes. Of course, if you are unable to breastfed due to a medical condition or other reason, or if you chose to use formula, its important to know that you can still develop a strong bond with your baby by formula feeding them with love.  If you give breastfeeding a try, and decide its is not working for you, you can always switch to formula,but it is much harder to switch from formula to breastfeeding.    Newborns should be fed on demand, or "on cue", as is recomended by the AAP (American Acadamy of Pediatrics) and most other infant feeding experts.  It can help, in the beginning, to keep track on a piece of paper when your baby's feedings are, and how much/or how long (and which side if you are breastfeeding) - on this same paper you can also keep track of wet/dirty diapers, and your baby's naps.  This will help you to see what your baby may need when s/he crys - it could be that your baby just wants you to hold him. Don't be afraid of spoiling your baby by holding him or her too much.  

How Much, How Often, Solids?   If you are breastfeeding, your baby will likely need to eat quite often.  A newborn should nurse at least 8-12 times per 24hr. day.  A baby's stomach is only the size of their tiny fist so it is common for them to eat as often as every hour in the beginning.  Also, breastmilk is digested very easily so it makes sense that a breastfed baby will need to eat often.  If you have a particularly sleepy baby, you may have to wake him every few hours to feed in the beginning.  To see if your baby is getting enough milk, you may need to keep track of wet and poopy diapers at first - also, I believe it is a good idea to take the baby into the doctor (or lactation consultant) for a weight check if you are worried that they are not getting enough.  During the first weeks your breastfed baby will likely have at least 3-4 bowel movements per day, and after the first 6 weeks or so they may have stools every 1-5 days.  As baby gets a little older, it can even be normal for an EBF baby to go up to 2 weeks with out a messy diaper!  This does NOT mean they are constipated. They should also have about 6 wet diapers per day after the first few days.
If you are formula feeding your baby, your baby also will probably need to eat small amounts very often throughout the day and night.  It is better to fed baby just a few ozs. and then have them eat again a couple of  hours later, rather than to push them to drink 4oz. right away and then have them wait longer between feedings.  If this is done it will strech the baby's tiny tummy, and can cause them to overeat which can lead to problems later in life such as obesity.

Another thing we as parents need to keep in mind is growth spurts.  The chart I got from the hospital says: Babies will feed more frequently for a few days during growth spurts and not to add solids at this time.  Typical growth spurts are at:
6-10 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 4-6 months. 
Our babies depend on us to provide them with the proper care and nutrition whether it is the middle of the day or the
middle of the night.  All babies are different on when they begin to sleep through the night; giving cereal has not been shown to help an infant sleep through the night.  Sometimes giving cereal will even have the opposite effect; it will cause your baby to wake up during the night with an upset tummy from the cereal.   It is also not recommended to give babies cereal in a bottle because it is a choking hazard, cereal should only be given on a spoon, and young babies are not yet able to eat from a spoon.
I believe that feeding time is also an important bonding time, whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding.  It is important that your baby be held for her feedings and be looked at and/or talked to in a loving way.  This can be done by mom w/ breasfeeding or formula feeding, also if you are using bottles (with breastmilk or formula in them) this can also be done by dad, siblings, or other caregivers. 

Feeding your Six to Nine Month Old Infant:

Breastmilk and Formula Needs:  Even for a 6-9mo. old baby, breastmilk or formula is still very important to their eating and nutrition.  For a 6mo. old breastfed baby they will likely still need to eat around 6x or more, per day and may still need to eat often throughout the day and even a few times during the night.  This is normal, and quite common for a breastfed baby especially,  to continue to have night feedings.  For a 6mo. old formula fed baby, they will likely have around 5-6 bottles of formula per day of around 6-8oz. each, and may still need a night feeding or two as well.   Of course all of these numbers and amounts are just averages, and it is best to go by your individual baby's cues as far as when to feed, and how much to feed at a time.  Babies are very good about letting you know when they are hungry and when they are full.  As your baby gets closer to 9mos. of age, he may start to decrease how often he needs breast or bottle feedings, in favor of a little more solids.  This is okay as long as he is still taking in a good amt. of formula or breastmilk each day as well.

Teething: While teething your baby may not want to eat as much as he usually does, and this is just fine.  If your baby is breastfed, he might want to breastfed more often than normal.  What worked for my ds while he was teething was to give him his bottles (and his solids - he was a late teether) cold, it seemed to soothe his gums.  Your baby may also want to 'gum' on hard objects, or a cold wash cloth.  If your baby is seven months or older, he may want to chew on some finger foods as well.


Starting solids:  Currently, the AAP and the WHO (World Health Orginazation) recommend that infants be started on solids beginning at six months of age, however not all doctors or websites are up to date with this information.  Before the age of 6 mos. babies little digestive tracks are not able to digest anything other than breastmilk or formula.  Starting solids before this time frame carries some risks including allergies, obesity, diabetes, and other feeding and digestive problems. Often times these problems will not show up until much later in life.   

When: I do believe that all babies are different and need to start solids at different times, and that we as parents need to follow our parental insticts as well as do our research!  For example, my older son was started on cereal at 5.5mos. and he was ready at that time.  My new baby may not start solids until closer to 6.5mos. because of possible food allergies.  But I do not believe a baby younger than 4mos. is ready to start solids of any kind.  Four months is the old recomended age for starting solids, and really, there are very few infants who are actually ready to begin solids at 4 mos. of age, but there are a few.  I do not recomend starting solids at younger than 4mos. of age for any baby, regardless of how much they eat, how big they are, or even just because the dr. tells you to - (the only exceptions are for reflux or another medical condition diagnosed by a doctor, and even in such a case, I personally wouldn't start the baby on solids but rather find another method of treating the conditon).  My baby has reflux and he is currently on medication to help manage the condition.  You need to watch your baby for signs s/he is ready to begin solids. 

Some signs that your baby may be ready to begin solids include:
-Baby can sit up.
-Baby does not automatically push solids out of her mouth with her tongue (tongue-thrust reflex).
-Readiness to eat/chew.
- Opens mouth when spoon approaches, closes lips over spoon.
-Has the ability to pick up food and put it in her mouth.
-Drools when hungry.
-A long-term increased demand to nurse ( or bottle feed) that is unrelated to illness, teething pain, a change in routine or a growth spurt.
-Your baby can control upper body movements and pull forward when food is wanted or move back when full. - Baby is able to swallow and digest solid foods.
It is also perfectly fine to wait until around 8 or 9 months to begin solids (even longer in some cases), and can even be quite common especially for breastfed babies.  Many, many studies have been done since our parents had babies showing that there can be negative effects on a baby if they are started on cereal or other solids before the 6 month mark.

How to Begin Solids: When first starting baby on solids, start slowly w/ about 1Tbls. of food once per day. It is usually best to give solids after a breast or bottle feeding, that way baby won't be too hungry to try something new - for many babies it works best to wait aprox. 30-60min. after their 'babymilk' feeding. This also ensures that they are still getting the "milk" that they need for proper nutrition.  However, you will need to find a routine that works best for you and your baby. Another good idea is to always give new foods during the first part of the day - that way if baby has a reaction it won't be during the middle of the night and you will both be able to deal with it better. It's also recommended to do each new food for at least 3-5 days at a time, so you are able to watch for, and determine which food causes a reaction - if any. Once you begin feeding an evening meal, make sure that it's at least 2hrs. prior to bedtime so that it has time to settle before baby goes to sleep. Also please remember that even when you do begin solids that breastmilk or formula should remain the main source of nutrition for your baby until 1yr. of age.  Before that the solids are just for practice, to get your little one used to different tastes and textures, and  for fun! 

Introducing a Cup, Water, and Juice:  Sometime around 6-9mos. is usually a good time to introduce baby to a cup.   Some tips for beginning the sippy cup:  You may have to experiment a little bit a first to find a sippy cup that your baby likes, just as you do w/ bottles and nipples for those babies that take them.  Some babies prefer a cup w/ two handles to start with so it is easier for them to pick up.  When you first give the sippy cup you will probably want to just put a few oz. (4 or less) of water in the cup, and remove the spill proof valve (if there is one). 
A good time to introduce the cup is after a "meal" of solids, so your baby can have a drink if she's thirsty.  Then you will need to show your baby how to hold, and tilt the cup up to get the liquid out.  At first she will not understand what is going on since she is not used to a cup (or getting water) and she may let the liquid dribble all out of her mouth (be prepared w/ a bib).  After doing this for a little while, your baby will likely catch on to how to hold and tilt the cup and then you can try replacing the valve to see if she will suck the liquid out. In order to do this you may have to hold your baby as if you were giving her a bottle, and try feeding her the cup this way.    
Once your little one has mastered his cup skills you can then put diluted juice in the cup if you wish.  Your baby does not need any juice ever, but if  you do decide to give her juice make sure you begin w/ a single type of juice such as white grape, apple, or pear and dilute it at least 50/50 or more, with water.  It is important not to give your baby more than 4oz. of juice per day, and juice should only be given in a cup after baby is at least 6mos. of age.

Starting Finger Foods: Most, but not all babies are ready for finger foods at around 7-8 months of age.  Some good first finger foods for your baby are: adult cereals of all kinds such as Cheerios - try to stick w/ the healthier varities of cereals, toast, banana pieces and other soft fruits, and cooked, cut-up veggies, rice cakes, fruit/veggie booty, all kinds of crackers such as graham, soda, goldfish, animal, etc.  Also, the baby food finger foods such as Gerber Wagon Wheels, and other baby cookies and teething biscuts though you'll probably want to read labels before you buy to see if they are appropriate for your baby.

Feeding Your Baby Nine to Twelve Months:

Table (Adult) Foods:  Somewhere around 9-12mos. infants are usually ready for some table foods, and often they prefer these to babyfood.  My older son began refusing his babyfood in favor of adult food at around 10mos. so I just gave him a small portion of whatever we were eating (with some exceptions), and just cut it up into small, bite sized pieces for him.  Here is a list of foods to avoid until after your baby is 1yr. old:   Choking Hazards - raw veggies, grapes, berries, cherries, raisins, hotdogs and other big meat chunks, nuts, popcorn, candy.  Allergenic or other: corn, peanut butter, egg whites, chocolate, citrus fruits and juices (OJ), seafood such as shellfish, honey.
However, there are some babies who are not able to handle tablefoods yet, and its perfectly fine for these infants to continue to eat babyfood into their second year.  If this is something you are concerned about, discuss it w/ your baby's pediatrition.  Still other babies stay on a combination of table foods and babyfood and this is fine too.   Of course, breastmilk or formula should still be a part of an older babies diet, although they will likely start to drink less breastmilk or formula in favor of food as they near their first birthday.  

Weaning and Cow's Milk:   As your baby nears 1yr. you may be thinking about weaning him from breast or bottle, or your baby's doctor may be telling you that you need to do so.  Weaning is a very individual thing, some babies (and moms) are ready to wean *around* 1yr. but not all are, and that's okay!  Cow's milk should not be given until 12mos., and at that point only whole (homo/Vit. D) milk should be used.  (More about cow's milk in toddler section.)

Newborn	6-8 Months	9-11 Months	12 Months
Breastmilk or Formula	Begin single ingredient solids foods.	Can introduce more variety, begin meats if desired, table foods introduced.	Can introduce whole milk,  adult foods in diet
At least 8-12 feedings	Aprox. 6-8 feedings, usually less for formula fed babies.	Aprox. 5-7 feedings, sometimes less for formula fed babies.	Aprox. 3-5 feedings (and  snacks)
On Demand	On cue w/ solids in routine	on cue w/ a routine of eating meals	family type routine

Sample Menus:  Here are a few sample daily routines for feeding your infant at each different stage.  

	Six Months	Seven Months	Eight Months
Breakfast	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 1-4 Tbls.Single Grain Infant (like rice) Cereal OR other single ingredient food such as banana	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 1-4 Tbls. Infant Cereal (such as oatmeal or barley) and/or aprox. 1-4Tbls. of a single ingredient food such as pears	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 2-4 Tbls. Single or Mixed Grain Infant Cereal and/or 2-4Tbls. of a fruit such as peaches
Mid-Morning	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)
Noon/Lunch	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.) Aprox. 1-4 Tbls. of a new food (fruit, veggie, yogurt, or meat if desired.)
Mid-Afternoon	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)
Dinner/Early Evening	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 1-4 Tbls. Single Grain Infant Cereal OR other single ingredient food such as squash	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 1-4 Tbls. Infant Cereal and/or aprox. 1-4Tbls. of a  single ingredient food such as green beans	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 2-4 Tbls. Single or Mixed Grain Infant Cereal and/or 2-4Tbls. of a veggie such as carrots and peas combo
Before Bed/Late Evening (and possibly night feeding(s) as well)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)

	Nine Months	Ten Months	Eleven Months	Twelve Months
Breakfast	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 3-5 Tbls. Single or Mixed Grain Cereal and/or 2-4Tbls. of a fruit such as apple/plum combo.	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 4-6 Tbls. Single or Mixed Grain Cereal and/or 3-5Tbls. of a fruit such as apple/blueberry combo.	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 1 piece toast, pancake, or waffle, etc. and aprox. 3-5Tbls. cut-up fruit such as pears OR babyfood eqivilant.	Aprox. 1/4 - 1/2c. breastmilk, formula or whole milk (or combo), as desired. 1/4c. of adult cereal like Chex in whole milk along w/  3-5Tbls. cut up fruit pieces
Mid-Morning	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.) and aprox. 1/4c. Cheerios or other finger food	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.) and aprox. 1/4c. crackers or other finger food	Breastmilk, formula, whole milk, or diluted juice as desired, plus a snack such as a fruit/cereal bar
Lunch	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.), Aprox. 1-4 Tbls. of a Veggie mix such as green beans and sweet potatoes, and aprox. 1-2Tbls. meat or other protein, if desired.	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.), Aprox. 2-5 Tbls. of a Veggie/Meat or Protein Combo mix (like Peas and Turkey) and aprox. 1-4 Tbls. cut-up fruit, if desired	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.), Aprox. 3-5 Tbls. of a Veggie/Meat or Protein Combo mix (Sweet Potatoes and Chicken) and aprox. 2-4 Tbls. cut-up fruit, and 1 piece toast, rice or potato, if desired.	Aprox. 2-4Tbls. Each of a fruit, veggie, and protien plus 1 toddler-sized serving of a carb, if desired. Aprox. 1/4c.whole milk from cup.
Mid-Afternoon	4oz. or less of a single ingredient juice, diluted in sippy cup and finger foods such as Arrowroot cookies (aprox. 2 peices)	4oz. or less of a single ingredient juice, diluted in sippy cup and finger foods such as a rice cake and a little bit of Yogurt or Cottage Cheese, if desired.	4oz. or less of a single ingredient juice, diluted in sippy cup and finger foods such as a baby cookie and a little bit of  cheese cubes and/or fruit, if desired.	6oz. or less of  juice, diluted in sippy cup and a snack such as yogurt and animal crackers.
Dinner	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, 3-5 Tbls. Single or Mixed Grain  Cereal and/or 2-4Tbls. of a veggie such as spinach/sweet potato combo.	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, Family foods such as pasta, toast, rice, or potatoes, cut-up pieces of veggies and protein (meat) or Aprox. 4-6Tbls. Babyfood Dinner	Aprox. 6-8oz. breastmilk or formula, Family foods such as pasta, toast, rice, or potatoes, cut-up pieces of veggies and protein (meat)	Aprox. 1/4c. - 1/2c. breastmilk, formula, or whole milk and a small portion of the family's meal - such as a casserole dish.
Before Bed/Late Evening	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk or formula, as desired (aprox. 6-8oz.)	Breastmilk, formula, or whole milk as desired, and possibly a piece of toast or other bedtime small snack.

Feeding Your Toddler:
Twelve to Twenty Four Months: The time from twelve to twenty-four months is just the beginning of toddlerhood, it presents us with new challanges in feeding our little ones.  During this time it is recommended that your toddler drink whole cow's milk if he is weaned from formula or breastmilk, or in addtion to if you desire.  The reason low fat milk is not recomended is because toddlers need the fat for thier brain development, the old thinking that 2% is fine for bigger toddlers is simply not true.  The recommendation has nothing to do with your toddlers weight/height but rather for his brain.  
Around this age your baby may slow down in his growth and development, and thus will also slow down on how much he is eating.  Another thing that is quite common in this age group is your toddler becoming a picky eater - your baby who once loved carrots now refuses to eat them.  Try not to worry, this is quite common and you toddler will likely eat his carrots again one day.  

Here are the recomendations for each food group for your toddler.

Dairy -- 3 - 4 servings a day: A serving equals 4 oz. milk, 1/2 oz. cheese, 4 oz. yogurt or cottage cheese.
Grain – 5 - 6 servings a day:  A serving is 1/2 slice bread or toast, 2 crackers, 1/4 hamburger bun, 4 TBS infant cereal.
Veggies -- 3 servings a day:  A serving is 1/4 cup cooked veggies (that is 2 oz., 1/2 cup uncooked or chopped).
Fruit – 2 - 3 servings a day:  A serving is 2 oz. juice, 1/2 whole fruit, 1/4 cup cooked.
Protein/Meat -- 2-3 servings a day:  A serving is 1 oz. meat or tofu, 1/4 cup beans, or 1 TBS peanut butter.


 Whole milk: 16-24oz. per day

Twenty Four Months to Age 5: 2% milk, gradually down to skim if desired or child is overweight.

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Disclaimer: This site is for informational purposes only. I am not a medical professional. The information on this site is to be used as a general guideline for feeding your infant or toddler. As always, if you are concerned about your child, please see your child's doctor.