SOME IMPORTANT 1 Bottles are for water and formula only! Babies like to THINGS cuddle and to be held while drinking their bottle and it helps pre- vent ear infection, choking, and overeating. TO No cereal (use a spoon) REMEMBER No Kool-Aid, pop or sports drinks To protect baby’s teeth and prevent choking, do not let baby fall asleep with a bottle. WIC Division SOLIDS 2 Solids should be given by spoon, never in a bottle. Offer small amounts at first, make food thin and smooth by mixing it with a little formula or breast milk. 3 Never force your baby to finish a bottle or food. 4 AT FEEDING TIME Feeding Your Baby Your baby is the best judge of how much to eat. You and your baby are learning about Baby is full when he/she stops nursing/sucking/eating and each other. Relax, hold your baby close. body feels relaxed. Love is just as important as milk for your baby’s health. Overfeeding can lead to weight and eating problems. 5 BABY FOOD FORMULA SCHEDULE SHOPPING TIPS BABY’S AGE Ounces per Number of Total ounces (in months) feeding feedings per day 0 – 4 weeks 3 - 4 6 - 8 18 - 24 1 4 - 5 5 - 6 20 - 30 2 5 - 6 5 25 - 30 3 6 - 7 4 - 5 24 - 35 Buy plain fruits (peaches, 4 7 - 8 4 - 5 28 - 40 pears, etc.) Avoid fruit 5 7 - 8 4 - 5 28 - 40 desserts 6 7 - 8 3 - 4 28 - 32 (puddings, the first twelve months cobblers, etc.) When baby is 6 months old and takes more than 32 ounces of formula, consider starting solid foods. (adapted from Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency) Buy meat and vegetables sep- 7 8 3 - 4 24 - 32 arately for best 8 8 3 - 4 24 - 32 nutrition value Avoid mixed 9 8 3 - 4 24 - 32 dinners “This institution is an equal opportunity provider." Begin weaning. Use a cup more and a bottle less. 10 - 12 5 - 6 3 - 4 16 - 24 (rev 7-23-2019) S:\PatM\PPHS\Brochures\Feeding-Your-Baby.pub FOOD FOR BABY’S FIRST YEAR: The following amounts are average guidelines. Sometimes your baby may eat more or less. GROWTH STAGES: Birth to 5 Months 6 Months 7 to 8 Months 9 to 10 Months 11 to 12 Months 1 Year Cuddles during feeding Sits supported or alone with Scrapes food from table/tray Begins to feed self with Can use spoon and cup Can drink milk from cup Turns head toward nipple head steady to hand to mouth hands Enjoys having meals with Wean from bottle Stops eating when full Opens mouth for spoon Sits unsupported Can use cup with help family May not want to eat on set Can move food from front of Begins chewing Put new food on baby’s lips schedule mouth to back Drinks from cup-may lose a to give a taste so baby can Stop feeding when baby lot decide if he likes it turns away, closes lips or Baby will turn away or close fusses lips when finished eating BREAST MILK Introduce cup BREAST MILK BREAST MILK OR FORMULA BREAST MILK OR According to baby’s needs OR FORMULA 24-30 oz./day WHOLE MILK OR BREAST MILK BREAST MILK 24-32 oz./day 16-24 oz./day until 2 years of IRON-FORTIFIED FORMULA OR FORMULA OR FORMULA age 6 mo—28-40 oz./day 28-32 oz./day CEREAL OFFER A VARIETY OF 5-8 T per day TABLE FOODS FROM CEREAL—8-12 T CEREAL FOUR FOOD GROUPS 6 T per day VEGETABLES & FRUITS (cooked or soft; chopped or BREADS Plain Cheerios can be 2-4 T cooked vegetables & small bites) Breads, crackers, offered for a snack peeled, soft fruits (slices) or jar rice, macaroni, cereal foods twice a day MEAT FINGER FOODS 2-3 T ground or chopped meat, 2 FRUITS (amount varies depending Toast squares or crackers times per day OR 1/2 jar/day Fresh, canned, no skins on baby’s activity) INFANT CEREAL VEGETABLES Cereal, such as plain Cheerios 1 mo—18-26 oz./day (from spoon; see insert) 2-3 T two times per day CEREAL VEGETABLES 2 mo—22-32 oz./day Begin with 1 T* cereal mixed Strained or blended fruits MEAT 8-12 T/day Cooked (peas, carrots, 3 mo—24-35 oz./day with 1-2 T breast milk or formula (pears, peaches, apricots, etc.) 3 T meat that is ground or squash, green beans) 4 mo—29-40 oz./day First, RICE chopped into small pieces, or 5 mo—29-40 oz./day Then, OATS or BARLEY 3 T jar foods 1-2 times per day MEAT/PROTEIN STRAINED MEAT Cottage cheese or Yogurt Chicken, yogurt, Discard leftover formula FRUITS & VEGETABLES Start with 1 T and increase up eggs, casseroles immediately because bacteria Start with 1-2 T of single strained to 3 T or 1/2 jar (turkey, FRUITS & VEGETABLES from the baby’s mouth contami- fruit or vegetable (see insert) beef, pork or chicken) 2-4 T soft fruits or cooked vege- * All fruits, vegetables, and nates the formula. The bacteria and offer it 1-2 times per day. tables from the family table OR means should be cut into small can grow and multiply. Solid jar foods twice a day pieces (see insert). foods are not needed until baby * T=Tablespoon is 6 months old. STOP …. Parent Alert! Homemade Baby Food CHOKING BACTERIA Baby can choke on foods Always wash your hands like nuts, raisins, popcorn, before feeding your baby. chunks of meat (hot dogs), fruits (grapes), raw vegetables (carrots), Dispose of any unused formula left in baby’s bottle after one hour; do hard cheeses, and peanut butter not save for the next feeding. Bacteria from the baby’s mouth grow in the bottle over time. Making baby food yourself increases the nutritional value, flavor, and fresh ness, and may save money. Do not add infant cereal or thickeners to Never feed baby directly from the jar. Spoon out your baby’s bottle unless instructed by your what you think the baby will eat and discard any Cook meats, vegetables, and firmer fruits until tender. physician leftovers. Once open, baby food jars can be kept Ensure that meat is cooked to a safe temperature to kill bacteria. refrigerated for up to 3 days. Puree in a blender or food processor or mash fruits and vegetables with a Do not share a spoon with your baby. Keep uten- fork. sils separate. Don’t add sweeteners, salt, or seasonings. BURNS Babies under 12 months of age should NEVER Refrigerate baby food as soon as possible and use within 24 hours. be given honey. This can cause your infant to Large amounts can be frozen in ice cube trays. Pop out the frozen cubes Don’t use a microwave to heat baby’s bottle become very sick with botulism. and store in labeled freezer bags for up to three months. or food. This can burn your baby’s mouth. Microwaving breast milk can also destroy ALLERGIES some of its nutritional value. NITRATES Consult with your doctor if there is a history of food allergy in your family. Always test the temperature of Nitrates in high concentration can Add one new food at a time; wait about 5 days before introducing a different heated foods or liquids before make your baby sick. If preparing food. Introduce the new food early in the day so you can observe your feeding them to your baby. formula with well water, have it baby for a reaction. tested for nitrates first. Possible signs of food allergies in an infant: Rash (including some forms of diaper rash), asthma, or diarrhea I irritability and gassiness after a new food REMEMBER… Foods most likely to cause a reaction include: dairy - Never put a baby to sleep with a bottle- this can cause choking and tooth decay. products, eggs, peanut butter (nuts/nut butters), - Babies do not need extra water- they get all the nutrients they need from breast milk or formula. soy, wheat, corn, tomatoes, citrus fruits, straw- - Babies don’t need sweeteners of any kind- they have no nutritional value and are harmful to baby’s berries, and shellfish. teeth. - Only breast milk or formula should be given until after the first birthday. .