Breastmilk or formula is all Offer 100% fruit juice Offer finger foods Ø Give juice only in a cup. Ø Try small pieces of 0-6 baby needs. 7 10-12 Ø Both have enough water for Juice in the bottle soft foods that months months your baby. You don’t need is bad for baby’s months baby can pick up. to give any extra water. teeth. Ø Let baby touch and Ø Give juice once a day, and only 2 to 4 ounces. play with foods to Ø Use WIC juice (or other unsweetened, get used to them. 100% fruit juice) diluted with water. Ø Baby will make a mess! Be ready to Ø Don’t use fruit drinks, Kool-aid, or soda. clean up spills. Start infant cereal Ø Give drinks in a cup every day. Keep nursing or Ø Offer drinks in a cup with each meal giving bottles 3 or 4 times a day. Ø Feed all baby foods and snack. 5 - 6 with a spoon. Ø Enjoy eating meals with your baby.

months Ø Start with rice cereal. Then try oatmeal and barley. Give wheat and mixed cereals Add cooked chicken, fish, meats, cooked beans, tofu, egg yolks after baby is 8 months old. 7-8 Ø Mix cereal with breastmilk, formula or water. Ø Use plain, strained baby meats. months Ø Keep nursing or offering bottles 4 to 6 times a day. You can also mash or grind your Happy first birthday! own plain, cooked foods. Ø Continue to breastfeed your Ø Instead of buying mixed dinners, mix plain baby 1 baby as long as you would like. meats with plain fruits or vegetables. year Ø Bottle-fed babies need to stop Ø Wait until baby is 1 year old to give whole eggs or bottles and drink everything from Add strained vegetables shellfish (like shrimp or crab). cups. Ø and fruits Introduce whole milk in a cup instead of a bottle. This 6-7 helps baby get more used to cups. Ø Start with plain, cooked months vegetables. Ø Baby should eat soft, chopped table foods now. You

Ø You can give store-bought don’t need to buy baby foods anymore. poi now. Ø Don’t use mixed or creamed vegetables.

Ø After baby eats vegetables well, try plain fruits. Add soft, chopped table foods Ø Fruits desserts, pudding and custard have too much Ø Chop, shred, or grind regular sugar. Baby doesn’t need these. 8 - 10 foods for baby to try. Ø You can buy baby foods or mash up your months Ø Stay with baby as he or she tries own soft fruits and cooked vegetables. each new food. Ø Keep giving drinks in a cup. Ø Baby can try a cup now. Offer some water, breastmilk or formula in a cup. Offer fewer bottles.

Feeding Tips Some babies may have food allergies. n Use a small spoon. Don’t put baby foods in a bottle Wait until baby is 1 year old to give: or infant feeder. Whole eggs n Try 1 new food at a time. Give one food for 4 or 5 Cow’s milk days before trying the next new food. Chocolate n Each food is a new taste. Baby may have to try it Shellfish (like shrimp or crab) 5 or 10 times before deciding it’s good to eat. Peanut butter (wait until 3 years old) n Try making your own baby food. Ask the WIC Feeding Your staff for more information. n Let baby make a mess. It’s fun and part of learning. Babies can choke on some foods. Put a shower curtain under baby to catch spills. Wait until 3 years old to give: Nuts and seeds Baby Health and Safety Whole grapes n Make sure baby tolerates each new food. A rash, Fruits with seeds, pits, or peels The First Year diarrhea, or throwing up could mean a food allergy. Raisins and other dried fruits Stop giving that food, and talk to baby’s doctor about Corn trying it again when baby is older. Raw vegetables (especially carrots) n Put food in a small bowl. Don’t use the baby food Hot dogs, sausage, Vienna sausage jar as a serving dish. Hard candies n Stir food after warming it up. Serve it at room Marshmallows temperature, not hot. Chips, pretzels, popcorn n Stay with baby all the time while eating. Babies Peanut butter sometimes choke and gag on foods. n Salt, seasonings or sugar don’t go in baby’s food. Healthy Teeth n Baby shouldn’t have drinks with caffeine, like n Clean baby’s gums or teeth coffee, tea or colas. after each meal. Use a soft, n Raw fish, eggs or meats aren’t safe for babies. damp cloth, or a baby toothbrush with water. n Honey and corn syrup can make baby sick. Don’t n Don’t put baby to bed with a bottle. give them or put in baby’s foods until 1 year old. n Give juice in a cup, once a day.

n After 6 months, give fluoride supplements as Good Eating Habits recommended by baby’s doctor. n Babies know when they’re hungry and when n Don’t give candies, sweets or desserts. they’re full. Offer food at regular times but also look n Wean from bottles at 1 year old. for signs that baby is hungry or full. n Take baby to see the dentist after 1 year old. n Feed baby in the same place whenever you can, like at the kitchen table. Hawaii WIC Program/Department of Health n Eating time is not play time. Turn off the Oahu: 586-8175 Neighbor Islands: 1-888-820-6425 WIC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 05/02 TV during meals. Don’t bring toys to the table.