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Feeding Your BabyBreast feeding or formula feeding will suffice until 4-6 months of age when cereals and solids can slowly be introduced along with the breast milk or formula milk which can be replaced by regular whole milk after 12 months of age.
2-months feeding:Formula or breast milk continues to be the only thing babies need to eat. Cereals and other solids do not need to be started until four to six months of age. Breast fed babies are still eating every three hours. As they get good at emptying the breast the feedings may become shorter and less frequent. Formula fed babies may be at about a quart of formula per day. Let them drink as much as they want but see to their other needs as well so that feeding isn't a substitute for affection.
4-months feeding:Formula or breast milk continues to be the most important item in the babies' diet. At this age you may add solids, though they aren't necessary until 6 months of age. Start with rice cereal, and if that is tolerated, other cereals may follow. All solids should be fed from a spoon, never mixed in a bottle. If your baby refuses, just try again in a few weeks, and never force a feeding. A single solid meal a day at first is usually sufficient. You may start to add some fruits and vegetables towards six months of age. Add only one or two new foods per week so you know what your baby doesn't tolerate. Meats can be added at eight months of age.
6-months feeding:Formula and breast milk continue to be the cornerstone of nutrition, though solid foods now begin to play an important part. Start to add soft, mashed fruits and vegetable, and juices, but only 2 to 4 ounces per day. Again, add them at a rate of one or two new foods per week. Towards 8 months of age, meats can be added. Babies should tolerate three meals per day and enjoy eating them from a high chair. Babies now often have good head control, so you may begin to use a cup and then use the bottle for formula only. Remember, sucking is an instinct but drinking from a cup is learned so be patient. Ask your doctor about fluoride if your water supply has none.
9-months feeding:With the chewing motions, babies' diets may gradually include lumpy or chopped foods. Pay attention to what your baby eats and supply a well balanced diet. Babies will want to feed themselves soon, so let them learn how it's done. It will be sloppy for quite a while. Avoid nuts, popcorn, and other small hard foods such as hot dog pieces as these will continue to be a choking hazard through the toddler years. If they are able to hold a cup, encourage its use. Weaning is a gradual process, as the breast or bottle of formula is a measure of comfort and consistency, but the target is to have babies weaned from the bottle at twelve to fifteen months of age. If you choose, you may continue to breast feed for longer than one year.
12-months feeding:You may continue breast feeding if you desire, but now is the appropriated time to begin to change to whole milk from formula, and begin the transition from a bottle to the cup. Toddlers need the extra fat in whole milk (not 2% or skim milk) for appropriate brain development until 2 years of age. Continue to offer a well balanced diet of home-cooked food and limit milk intake to 24 ounces per day by offering some juice and water intermittently. You can attempt to teach your child how to use a spoon, but your success may be limited. Finger feeding will be fine.
15-months feeding:Continue to offer a well balanced diet. Your toddler should no longer need the bottle. A bottle of milk at bedtime often results in multiple cavities. If your child refuses to sleep without a bottle, offer a bottle of water instead. You should continue using whole milk until age two. Toddlers grow much more slowly than babies. They will sometimes only eat one good meal a day. If a meal is being refused, don't fight them. Simply clear away the uneaten food. If this is occurring, try to avoid too many between meal snacks. Also try to provide them with more nutritious snacks when they do have them. If you are providing your toddler a well balanced diet, no vitamins are necessary. A multivitamin made by a reputable company is acceptable, if you wish, or if recommended by your doctor. Many cities and towns provide fluoridated water. If you live in a rural area or your town's water has less than 0.3 parts per million fluoride, your doctor may prescribe fluoride drops. |
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