Making appropriate food choices for your baby feeding during the first year of life is especially important. More growth occurs during the first year than at any other time in your child's life. It is important to feed your baby a variety of healthy foods at the proper time. Starting good eating habits at this early stage will help set healthy eating patterns for life. Do not give your baby solid foods unless your child's doctor or pediatrician advises you to do so. Solid foods should not be started before age 4 months because:
Baby Feeding Chart
Below is a general baby feeding chart that you can follow, from a newborn feeding chart up to 12 months.
|
Age | Amount of Milk | Frequency | Solid foods |
| Up to 2 weeks of life | 15-20ml in the first days, then around 60 – 80ml | Once every 3 hours | No |
| 2 weeks to 2 months | 60ml to 120ml | 8 to 12 times daily | No |
| 2–4 months | 120ml to 180ml | 6 to 8 times a day | No |
| 4-6 months | 120ml to 240ml | 5 to 6 times a day | Possibly, if your baby can hold their head up and is at least 5kgs. But you do not need to introduce solid foods yet. |
| 6–12 months | 240ml | 3 to 4 times a day | Yes. Start with soft foods, like one-grain cereals and pureed vegetables, meats, and fruits, progressing to mashed and well-chopped finger foods. Give your baby one new food at a time. Continue supplementing with breast or formula feedings. |
After 4 to 6 months, you can introduce your baby to solid foods. Follow the chart below to see which foods are safe to feed your baby as they grow older. This chart is inclusive of all your baby’s food habits, from a 4 months baby food chart, to a 12-month baby or 1-year old feeding chart.
|
Item | 4 to 6 months | 7 months | 8 months | 9 months | 10 to 12 months |
| Breastfeeding or formula | 4 to 6 feedings per day | 3 to 5 feedings per day | 3 to 5 feedings per day | 3 to 5 feedings per day | 3 to 4 feedings per day |
| Dry infant cereal with iron | 3 to 5 tbs. single grain iron fortified cereal | 3 to 5 tbs. single grain iron fortified cereal | 5 to 8 tbs. single grain cereal mixed with formula | 5 to 8tbs. any variety mixed with formula | 5 to 8 tbs. any variety mixed with formula |
| Fruits | 1 to 2 tbs., plain, strained/1 to 2 times per day | 2 to 3 tbs., plain, strained/2 times per day | 2 to 3 tbs., strained or soft mashed/2 times per day | 2 to 4 tbs., strained or soft mashed/2 times per day | 2 to 4 tbs., mashed or strained, cooked/2 times per day |
| Vegetables | 1 to 2 tbs., plain, strained/1 to 2 times per day | 2 to 3 tbs., plain, strained/2 times per day | 2 to 3 tbs., strained, mashed, soft/2 times per day | 2 to 4 tbs., mashed, soft, bite-sized pieces/2 times per day | 2 to 4 tbs., mashed, soft, bite-sized pieces/2 times per day |
| Meats and protein foods | 1 to 2 tbs., strained/2 times per day | 1 to 2 tbs., strained/2 times per day | | 2 to 3 tbs. of tender, chopped/2 times per day | 2 to 3 tbs., finely chopped, table meats, fish without bones, mild cheese/2 times per day |
| Snacks and starches | Cookies, toast, crackers | Cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt | Cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, mashed potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, bread | Assorted finger foods, cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, cooked green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, bread | Assorted finger foods, cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, cooked green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, bread cottage cheese, ice cream, pudding, dry cereal |
| Development | Make first cereal feedings very soupy and thicken slowly. | Start finger foods and cup. | Formula intake decreases; solid foods in diet increase. | Eating more table foods. Make sure diet has good variety. | Baby may change to table food. Baby will feed himself or herself and use a spoon and cup. |
Advantages of Feeding Chart
Every baby is unique — but one thing that is consistent is that breastfed babies eat more frequently than bottle-fed ones. That is because breast milk is easily digested and empties from the stomach a lot quicker than formula. Schedules and feeding charts are the holy grail of every parent. Your child will naturally start to fall into a feeding pattern as their tummy grows and they can take in more breast milk or formula at one sitting. This may begin to happen between 2 and 4 months of age. You can determine when your baby is hungry based on the following cues: Once your baby is a few months old, you may be able to introduce a sleep/feed schedule that works for you. For example, your 4-month-old wakes every 5 hours for a feeding. That means if you feed at 9 p.m., your baby wakes around 2 a.m. But if you wake and feed the baby at 11 p.m., just before you go to bed, they may not rouse until 4 a.m., giving you enough time for a good night’s sleep.
Healthy Foods for Baby
The healthiest food items for babies include:
Please be aware that the information given in these articles is only intended as general advice and should in no way be taken as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you or your family or your child is suffering from symptoms or conditions which are severe or persistent or you need specific medical advice, please seek professional medical assistance. Philips AVENT cannot be held responsible for any damages that result from the use of the information provided on this website.
