A Guide to Feeding your Baby Solids

Around 4 - 6 months your baby will start to need more nutrients that s/he can get from breast milk alone. Solid foods can be introduced to provide these extra nutrients. However, solids do not replace the need for breast milk. Your baby is also developing new feeding skills to eat solid foods. However, a baby does not need solid foods sooner than 4 – 6 months.

Feeding solids earlier than 4 – 6 months might result in babies drinking less breast milk or formula than they need for ideal growth.

The following charts are a guide for the amount of food your baby requires in a day. A baby's need for food varies according to age, activity, and growth rate. You and your baby are the best judges of how much s/he wants at any feeding.

When you add new foods, introduce them:

• one new food at a time
• slowly; 4 to 7 days between new foods
• in small amounts (1 teaspoon)
• with a spoon
• in a relaxed atmosphere

4 – 5 months

Feeding Skills

• begins reaching purposefully, grabs at bottle when drinking, strokes breast when breastfeeding
• sucking strength increases
• holds head up and turns sideways
• accepts food from a spoon

Approximate Daily Food Intake

breast milk (or)	frequency varies
formula (iron fortified)	24 to 40 ounces
dry infant cereal (iron fortified)	0 to 4 tablespoons

egetables and fruits might not be necessary before 6 months. If your baby is ready for them, quantities are suggested below.

vegetables	0 to 4 tablespoons
fruit	0 to 4 tablespoons

Hints

• Breast milk is the best choice for the first year of life. Amounts consumed will vary for every child.
• Iron fortified commercial formula is the best alternative to breast milk.
• Introduce solids with iron fortified infant rice cereal. Try 1 teaspoon at first and gradually increase to 2 or 3 tablespoons at a meal. Many babies are not ready for solids until 6 months.
• Combinations of foods should be avoided until your baby has eaten each food individually.
• Water can be offered in small amounts.
  

6 – 8 months

Feeding Skills

• holds mouth open for spoon
• clears spoon quickly and easily with lips
• begins to chew
• begins finger feeding

Approximate Daily Food Intake

breast milk	frequency varies
or formula (iron fortified)	24 to 32 ounces
dry infant cereal (iron fortified)	4 to 8 tablespoons
vegetables	4 to 8 tablespoons
fruit	4 to 7 tablespoons
meat	3 to 6 tablespoons
juice (optional)	3 to 4 ounces

Hints

• All babies need solids by 6 months.
• Pureed vegetables and fruits can be given after cereals are accepted.
• Vegetables should be unsalted; try squash, carrots, or sweet potatoes.
• Fruits and juices should be unsweetened. Offer juice by the cup.
• Offer a single pureed meat, such as chicken, after the vegetables and fruits are accepted.
• Well cooked egg yolk can be given. Egg white should not be given until one year because it is a common allergen.

9 – 10 months

Feeding Skills

• closes mouth on cup rim
• sips from cup (one sip at a time)
• swallows lumps
• shows interest in holding spoon in hand
• enjoys chewing

Approximate Daily Food Intake

breast milk	frequency varies
or formula (iron fortified)	24 to 30 ounces
or homo milk	8 to 10 tablespoons
dry infant cereal (iron fortified)	8 to 10 tablespoons
vegetables	8 to 10 tablespoons
fruit	7 tablespoons
meat	6 to 8 tablespoons
juice (optional)	4 ounces

Hints

• Whole milk (homogenized milk) can be introduced after 9 months.
• Avoid adding extra fat such as butter, margarine, and oil to foods.
• A portion of the total suggested milk intake can be replaced with plain yogurt or cheese.
• Encourage your infant to drink from a cup.
• Foods can be mashed, finely chopped, or given as finger foods (such as soft cooked vegetables, soft fruit pieces or dry toast, plain crackers, bread crusts, unsweetened cereals, rice cakes, cheese).
• Bread, pasta, and rice may be offered.

11 – 12 months

Feeding Skills

• bites and chews food well
• accepts 4 to 5 sips from a cup
• tries to hold cup to drink
• feeds with fingers
• tries to feed self but needs help

Approximate Daily Food Intake

breast milk	frequency varies
or formula (iron fortified)	20 to 24 ounces
or homo milk	20 to 24 ounces
dry infant cereal (iron fortified)	10 to 12 tablespoons
vegetables	10 to 12 tablespoons
fruit	7 to 10 tablespoons
meat	8 to 10 tablespoons
juice (optional)	4 ounces
bread	½ to 1 slice

Hints

• Iron fortified infant cereals contain iron in a form that is easily absorbed by the young child and should be part of your baby's diet for at least 18 months.
• Wait until after 12 months to feed egg white to your baby. Start with ¼ teaspoon cooked egg white.
• Mashed beans, tofu or eggs (yolks only until 12 months) can be used as meat alternates.
• By the end of the first year, your baby should be eating minced meat and most table foods at regular meal and snack times.
• Avoid weiners, nuts, grapes, popcorn, hard raw vegetables, gum, gumdrops, hard or chewy candy, and jelly beans as they can cause choking.

Breast milk is the best choice for the first year.

• Iron fortified formula is the best alternative to breast milk for the first year.
• Whole (homogenized) milk can be introduced at 9 – 12 months of age.
• 2%, 1%, Skim milk are not recommended before 2 years.