The first two years of your child’s life is important for proper growth and development. You will likely have many questions about the important life stages which may include what do you feed your newborn? When is your baby read for solid foods? Which foods should be given and when? How much food is enough? When is the right time to introduce potentially allergenic food, such as peanuts?
This article provides information on infant and toddler feeding. Keep in mind that every baby is different, and their diets may very depending on factors such as age, stage of development and nutritional needs.
Feeding Your 1- to 3-Month-Old
During your baby’s first three months, breast milk of formula will provide all the nutrition your baby needs. As your baby grows, feeding will change and your baby will start drinking more milk during each feed, so they won’t need to feed as often, and they will sleep longer at night.
Babies digest formula more slowly than breast milk, so if you are bottle feeding, your baby may have fewer feedings than a breastfed baby.
When using a bottle make sure that the hole in the bottle’s nipple is the right size. The liquid should drip slowly from the hole and not pour out. Resist the urge to finish the bottle when your baby shows signs of being full.
Your baby is probably eating enough if he/she:
- Seems alert, content, and active
- Is steadily gaining weight and growing
- Is wetting and soiling diapers on a regular basis
Babies might not be eating enough if they:
- Don’t appear satisfied
- Cry constantly
- Are irritable, even after feeding
- Are not making wet diapers
Feeding your 4- to 7-Month-Old
By the age of 4 months to 6 months, most babies are ready to have solid foods added to their diet of breast milk or formula. By 6 months babies need added nutrition, like iron and zinc that solid foods provide.
Besides age, other sigs that babies are ready for solid foods include being able to:
- Hold their heads up.
- Sit with little support.
- Bring their hands or toys to their mouths.
- Show they want food by leaning toward the food and opening their mouths wide.
- Show when they’re full by leaning back and turning away.
If your baby can do these things, you can begin adding solid food to your baby’s liquid diet. You should keep breastfeeding or using formula until at least 12 months.
Offer foods with only one ingredient and no added sugar or salt. Wait 3 to 5 days between each new food to see if you baby reacts. A reaction could be diarreah, a rash or vomiting. If there is no reaction you can start giving foods that have more ingredients.
Pick a time of the day when your baby is not tired or cranky, you want your baby to be a little hungry, but not so hungry that they’re upset. Make sure your baby sits down to eat and always supervise your baby when eating.
When you are first introducing solids, try offering 1-2 teaspoons of food once a day. Once your baby can swallow runny cereal, mix it with less liquid and increase the serving little by little. Slowly add single vegetables and fruits that are blended smooth, called pureed. Introduce vegetables before fruit.
Your baby needs a variety of food textures. This learns your baby how to chew, and chewing helps with speech development and self-feeding. It also helps prevent feeding difficulties as your baby develops.
During feeds talk to your baby. Babies like to play with their food, make sure finger foods are soft, easy to swallow and broken into small pieces. Give your baby a spoon to hold while you use another spoon to feed the baby. As your baby is able, get your baby to use a spoon.
Around the age of 6 months, it is a good time for your baby to try a cup.
If you prepare your baby’s food at home here are some things to keep in mind:
- Follow the rules for food safety, including washing your hands well and often.
- Preserve nutrition in your baby’s food, cook it in a way that keeps the most vitamins and minerals. Try steaming or baking fruit and vegetables.
- Freeze portions that you aren’t going to use right away.
- At first babies should have finely puréed single-ingredient foods.
- If you make use of prepared baby food in a jar, spoon some of the food into a bowl. Do not feed your baby from the jar, bacteria from the jar can contaminate the remaining food.
Do not add cereal or other food to your baby’s bottle as it can lead to too much weight gain.
Dairy in the form of plain whole milk yogurt can be introduced before a child’s first birthday, however, cow’s milk as a beverage, should wait to be introduced at 12 months old or later. Babies should not have Honey, until after first birthday.
Once your baby stars eating solid food, it’s time to offer water with meals. Whilst breastfeeding or drinking formula there is no need for water. Learning to drink water instead of juice or other sweet drinks will start a healthy habit for life. Juice isn’t recommended for babies younger than the age of 1 and if you give your baby juice, go for 100% fruit juice with no added sugar.
Allergenic Foods
Introducing allergenic foods early can reduce the risk of your child developing food allergy. Give your baby his/her first taste of food that can cause allergies at home and not while dining out.
Foods that may cause allergic reactions include:
- Peanuts
- Tree Nuts
- Eggs
- Dairy products such as cheese and yogurt
- Wheat
- Fish, shellfish such as shrimp and crab
- Soy
- Sesame
It is best to introduce allergenic foods one at a time. If an allergic reaction occurs, this allows you to recognise it easily and seek medical advice. Once you’ve introduced an allergenic food that hasn’t caused an allergic reaction, it is a good idea to include the food regular in your baby’s diet. Should your baby develop an allergy, call your medical practitioner.
If your baby does not seem to like something, don’t give up. It can take 8 to 10 tries or more before babies learn to like new foods.
- This article must not be regarded as medical advice but is merely a summary of what to expect. All medical concerns must be addressed with your medical practitioner.