Age-by-age guide to feeding babies: How to feed your baby as they grow
Let’s start by defining the term ‘baby’. It can refer to children between the age of 0-4, which includes newborns, infants and toddlers. However, in this article, for the sake of simplicity and brevity, we are going to use the term to refer to children between the age of 0-12 months.
So, what (and how) do you feed a
Baby feeding guide for the first couple months
For the first twelve months of their life, your
After the first couple days, continue breastfeeding as and when your child is hungry, and resist trying to force a schedule. You’ll know your child isn’t getting enough breast milk if they aren’t putting on weight, or are wetting fewer than six diapers a day.
When breast milk is not available or it is not possible to breastfeed, you can use a breast pump, or resort to formula. The first month, you can feed your infant 2-4 ounces of formula, 6-8 times a day. The second month, up the amount to 5-6 ounces, given 5-6 times a day. When your
Baby feeding guide from 4 to 6 months
Caring for a
Limit the amount of breast milk or formula to 6-7 ounces per feeding, and feed them 5-6 times daily.
How to feed your baby at 6 to 9 months
Around the age of 6 months, your
When starting solids or in fact any new foods, give them a very small amount of a single ingredient. Some examples include pureed vegetables, fruit and meat, semi-liquid cereal (mixed with pumped breast milk), and unsweetened yogurt.
Don’t add salt or sugar to their food to make it tastier. Most babies need to taste a new food multiple times before they take to it, so give it time, and be patient. Certainly avoid honey during their first year!
As your
Don’t restrict your child’s fat and cholesterol intake unless if advised to do so by your child’s health care provider. Children need fat, cholesterol and lots of calories in order for their bodies to grow and develop.
How to feed a baby at 9 to 12 months
When your
You can give them 7-8 ounces, 3-4 times a day of breast milk or formula, ½ to ¾ cup of fruit and vegetables (start with a tbsp.), ¼ to ½ cup grain or grain products, and ¼ to ½ cup of protein-rich foods.
By this time your
Breastfeeding guide for the first year
Here are some tips and other information that will help you breastfeed your
- Feed them in a quiet, comfortable environment, and respond to their demands for food in a prompt, but relaxed manner. This is because if the
baby is frustrated or distracted he/she may struggle to latch on. - Alternate breasts when breastfeeding, and let the child completely empty your breast before switching to the other one. This ensures your child gets hindmilk, which has more fat and nutrients as it is stored deeper in the breast where the fatty milk cells are stored.
- Try to avoid forcing a schedule – instead, follow your child’s cues. Your
baby ’s eating habits will change as they grow, as will your breast milk, to meet their needs in the best way possible. - If breastfeeding is not possible, you may pump your breast milk, store it at the appropriate temperature, and use that to feed the
baby . Follow the same hunger cues, and avoid forcing a bottle to be emptied.
For new mothers, learning how to breastfeed is key. Make sure your
Formula feeding guide, with helpful suggestions
Formula is great for when breast milk isn’t available, or as a supplementary food. Here are some helpful suggestions which will help you ensure you’re giving food to your
- Not all brands are the same, so if you’re unsure which brand to go with, consult your health care provider and ask them for recommendations.
- Baby formula is loaded with calories, protein, calcium and vitamin D, and will be the primary source of these nutrients for the first year of your
baby ’s life, even after they start to consume solid food. - Hold both your
baby and the bottle when you feed them formula. It is easy and convenient to place yourbaby on a surface and to prop the bottle up, but doing so may cause your child to have an increased risk of ear infections and tooth decay. - Avoid forcing a schedule when it comes to giving them formula (or any other food). Instead, do it when your
baby seems hungry. You can follow our guidelines above roughly, but try to rely on yourbaby ’s hunger cues and fullness to gauge when and how much to feed them. - To gauge whether your child is receiving enough formula, check for growth and wet diapers. This is also how you check to ensure your
baby is receiving enough breast milk. - Thinking of switching to cow’s milk? Ask your health care provider first!
If in any doubt or if you have questions, never hesitate to reach out to your health care provider. Your
Recommended feeding guide for solid foods
Apart from formula and breastfeeding, you can give your
- Avoid giving any beverages containing sugar to your
baby - Introduce solid food in a calm environment in which the child is sitting upright with appropriate support, and is somewhat hungry
- Start with very small amounts of food, and gradually increase the amount to a tablespoon or two per session
- Expose your child to a wide variety of smells, flavors and textures, rather than limiting them to foods that you personally like. The wider the range, the healthier their eating habits as they grow up.
- Let your child decide whether they want to eat, and how much they’d like to eat
- Avoid honey during your child’s first 12 months (as mentioned earlier), as it may cause infant botulism
- Fruit juice is not recommended under 1 year of age
Apart from this, remember to be cautious. Observe your
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions often asked on search engine sites and parenting forums:
Can I give my 4 month old baby food?
Possibly, but most likely no. Your
When can you stop feeding the baby every 3 hours?
Once your
How long are babies fed every 3 hours?
For the first 2 months of their life, your
When can I stop waking baby for food?
Once your
How old should a baby be before you give them baby food?
At the age of 4-6 months, your
This was everything you need to know to feed your child from birth to the age of one. For more helpful information on the subject of parenting and pregnancy, follow our blog!