The First 12 Months: What & When to Feed Your Baby

Foods 0 - 3 Months 4 - 5 Months 6 - 7 Months

Breast Milk On Demand: On Demand: about 6–7 feedings in 24 hours On Demand: about 5–6 feedings in 24 hours
• 1 Month: about 10–12 feedings in 24 hours
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• 2nd-3rd Months: 8–10 feedings in 24 hours

Breast milk is the best food for your baby during the first year. If you are not breastfeeding, give your baby iron-fortified formula. No water or other milks yet.
Fortified Infant 1st Month: 2–3 ounces every 2–3 hours 4th Month: 4–6 ounces every 4–6 hours 6 - 7th Months: 5–7 ounces every 3–4 hours
Formula (8–10 feedings per day) (6 feedings per day) during the day
2nd Month: 2–4 ounces every 2–4 hours 5th Month: 5–7 ounces every 4–6 hours (5–6 feedings per day)
(7–8 feedings per day) (6 feedings per day)
3rd Month: 4–5 ounces every 4–5 hours
Night-time feedings begin to decrease.
(6-8 feedings per day)

Fortified Dry None 1–2 Tbsp infant cereal (1–2 times a day) 2–4 Tbsp infant cereal (2 times a day)
Infant Cereal
Prepare with breast milk or formula, not
juice or water. Feed with a spoon, not in a
bottle.
Vegetables None None 2 ounces Stage 1 baby vegetables or ¼ cup
well-cooked, pureed vegetables (1–2 times a
day)
Fruit None None 2 ounces Stage 1 baby fruit or ¼ cup pureed
fruit (1–2 times a day)
Other Starches None None None
Meat & None None 1-2 Tbsp pureed meat, beans, or legumes
Other Proteins (1-2 times a day)
Comments: • Breast milk or formula is all your baby • Your baby may be ready for cereal when • Children should be seated upright in a
needs for the first 6 months. he/she can sit up with good head control. supported chair or baby seat during
• Never microwave bottles or food for your • Cereal should be mixed thinly at first. Do feedings.
baby - it may not heat evenly and may burn not put cereal in your baby’s bottle unless • Do not add sugar or salt to your baby’s
your baby’s mouth. Always test the instructed by a doctor. food.
temperature before feeding your baby. • Most babies are ready to try a cup now.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that solids foods may be introduced between 4-6 months of age.
Clinical Dietitians & Dietetic Interns, Food & Nutrition Services, UC Davis Medical Center (3/13)
© 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All Rights Reserved.
 Babies may refuse a new food at first. Your baby’s taste may change over time, so continue to offer the food at least 8-15 times.

Foods 8 - 9 Months 10 - 12 Months

Breast Milk On Demand: about 4–6 feedings in 24 hours On Demand: about 4 feedings in 24 hours

Fortified Infant 8th – 9th Month: 6–7 ounces every 3–4 hours during the day 10th –12th Month: 6–7 ounces every 4–6 hours
Formula
(4–6 feedings per day) (3–4 feedings per day)
No night-time feeds. No night-time feeds.
Start to wean baby from bottle. Offer formula in a cup.
Offer formula in a cup 1–2 times per day.
Fortified Dry 2 –4 Tbsp cereal (2 times per day) ¼–½ cup cereal (1 time per day)
Infant Cereal
Vegetables 2–5 ounces Stage 2 baby vegetables or ¼ cup well-cooked, mashed ¼–⅓ cup well-cooked, mashed, or chopped vegetables (2 times per day)
vegetables (2 times per day)
Fruit 2 –5 ounces Stage 2 baby fruit or ¼ cup soft mashed fruit ¼–½ cup chopped soft fruit (2 times per day)
(2 times a day) May now offer 1–2 ounces of 100% fruit juice per day in a cup if
desired. No more than 4 ounces of juice should be given a day.
Other Starches Easily dissolved puffed cereals or snacks, such as rice puffs or ¼ cup rice, pasta, potatoes, or whole–grain snacks or crackers that are
Cheerios® (1–2 times per day) easily dissolved (2 times per day)
Meat & 1–2 ounces Stage 2 meat or poultry, or 2 Tbsp cooked egg yolk only ¼ cup small, tender pieces of chicken, turkey, beef, pork, cooked dried
Other Proteins (no egg whites), or 2 Tbsp cooked mashed dried beans or tofu (1 time beans, cottage cheese, tofu, yogurt, or Stage 3 baby meats 3-4 Tbsp (2
per day) times per day)
Comments: • Do not allow baby to fall asleep with a bottle. This can cause tooth • Refrigerate leftover portions of food immediately. Opened jars will
decay. keep in the refrigerator no longer than 2 days.
• It is now okay to give your baby some fluoridated water, about 2–4 • Always give juice in a sippy cup, not in a bottle.
ounces twice a day. (Check with your city to determine if your No juice before 6 months of age. Juice should be
water is fluoridated) 100% fruit juice and must be pasteurized.

NEVER give honey or foods made with honey to your baby during the Choking Hazards – Do not give these foods to your baby!
first 12 months. Honey may contain toxins that are poisonous to babies. Hot dogs, nuts, seeds, popcorn, chips, grapes, raisins, raw vegetables, hard & chewy
candy, French fries, tough meats, dried fruit, and sticky foods such as peanut butter
Always supervise your child during meals and feed in a seated position.

Common Food Allergies – Egg whites, milk, seafood, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc), wheat, and soy products.
Introduce one new food at a time and wait 3-4 days before trying another new food. This makes it easier to see if your baby is allergic to a certain food.

Clinical Dietitians & Dietetic Interns, Food & Nutrition Services, UC Davis Medical Center (3/13)
© 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All Rights Reserved.