Baby Talk :: What to Feed My Baby...When?

Happy Tuesday mamas....it's time for another edition of BABY TALK!

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Kenley was exclusively fed breast milk with some formula supplementation until 6 months but when it came time to introduce solids I was OVERWHELMED to say the least. I wrote THIS POST a couple of months ago when it was time to introduce solids, and that game plan has been going great. We've introduced all the first foods and making my own baby food has been awesome. I'm planning a post all about that for a later date.

Now that Kenley is almost 8 months old, it's time to start introducing new foods again and once again I find myself looking for answers. It's fun letting her try new foods but it's scary! I had no idea there were so many restrictions until I started to research it, so I need to make sure I know what she's able to try and not able to try so I can pass it on to Jason and all of Kenley's grandparents who watch her during the day.

I found a GREAT resource on BabyCenter.com and had to share it with all of you because it really helped me to see and plan what to give Kenley and when.

Oh, and really quick, something that is SO important that I wanted to make sure to share is to introduce new things one at a time and wait a few days after to try something new. This allows any allergies time to show their ugly heads and makes it easy on you the mama to pinpoint what your baby is allergic to. 

Age: Birth to 4 months

Feeding behavior

• Rooting reflex helps your baby turn toward a nipple to find nourishment

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula ONLY

How much per day

• See How to Tell if Your Baby's Getting Enough Breast Milk
• See How to Tell How Much Formula Your Baby Needs

Feeding tip

• Your baby's digestive tract is still developing, so solid food is off-limits for now.

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Age: 4 to 6 months

Signs of readiness for solid food

Your baby probably won't do all these things – they're just clues to watch for.

• Can hold head up
• Sits well in highchair
• Makes chewing motions
• Shows significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled)
• Shows interest in food
• Can close mouth around a spoon
• Can move food from front to back of mouth
• Can move tongue back and forth, but is losing tendency to push food out with tongue
• Seems hungry after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or 40 oz. of formula in a day
• Is teething

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula, PLUS
• Pureed food (like sweet potatoes, squash, apples, bananas, peaches, or pears) or semi-liquid iron-fortified cereal

How much per day

• Begin with about 1 teaspoon pureed food or cereal. Mix cereal with 4 to 5 teaspoons breast milk or formula (it'll be very runny).
• Increase to 1 tablespoon of pureed food, or 1 tablespoon of cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, twice a day. If giving cereal, gradually thicken the consistency by using less liquid.

Feeding tips

• If your baby won't eat the cereal on the first try, offer it again in a few days.
• Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids.
• Print our step-by-step guide to feeding your baby.

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Age: 6 to 8 months

Signs of readiness for solid food

• Same as 4 to 6 months

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula, PLUS
• Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, oats)
• Pureed or strained fruits (banana, pears, applesauce, peaches)
• Pureed or strained vegetables (avocado, well-cooked carrots, squash, and sweet potato)
• Pureed meat (chicken, pork, beef)
• Pureed tofu
• Pureed legumes (black beans, chickpeas, edamame, fava beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, and kidney beans)

How much per day

• 3 to 9 tablespoons cereal, in 2 to 3 feedings
• 1 teaspoon fruit, gradually increased to 1/4 to 1/2 cup in 2 to 3 feedings
• 1 teaspoon vegetables, gradually increased to 1/4 to 1/2 cup in 2 to 3 feedings

Feeding tips

• Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.
• Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids.

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Age: 8 to 10 months

Signs of readiness for solid and finger foods

• Same as 6 to 8 months, PLUS
• Picks up objects with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp)
• Can transfer items from one hand to the other
• Puts everything in his mouth
• Moves jaw in a chewing motion

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula, PLUS
• Small amounts of soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1)
• Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals)
• Mashed fruits and vegetables (bananas, peaches, pears, avocados, cooked carrots, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes)
• Finger foods (lightly toasted bagels, cut up; small pieces of ripe banana; well-cooked spiral pasta; teething crackers; low-sugar O-shaped cereal)
• Small amounts of protein (egg, pureed meats, poultry, and boneless fish; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans with soft skins like lentils, split peas, pintos, black beans)

How much per day

• 1/4 to 1/3 cup pasteurized dairy (or 1/2 oz. cheese)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup iron-fortified cereal
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup fruit
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup vegetables
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup protein foods

Feeding tip

• Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.

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Age: 10 to 12 months

Signs of readiness for additional solid food

• Same as 8 to 10 months, PLUS
• Swallows food more easily
• Has more teeth
• No longer pushes food out with tongue
• Is trying to use a spoon

What to feed

• Breast milk or formula PLUS
• Soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1)
• Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals)
• Fruit cut into cubes or strips, or mashed
• Bite-size, soft-cooked vegetables (peas, carrots)
• Combo foods (macaroni and cheese, casseroles)
• Protein (egg; pureed or finely ground meats, poultry, and boneless fish; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans)
• Finger foods (lightly toasted bread or bagels, small pieces of ripe banana, spiral pasta, teething crackers, low-sugar O-shaped cereal)

How much per day

• 1/3 cup dairy (or 1/2 oz. cheese)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup iron-fortified cereal
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup fruit
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup vegetables
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup combo foods
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup protein foods

Feeding tip

• Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.

Here are some more resources that I found interesting and helpful, for any of you who are interested!

• New York Times : "Infants Are Fed Solid Food Too Soon, C.D.C Finds"
• Kelly Mom : "First Foods"
• Mayo Clinic : "Solid foods: How to get your baby started"
• My favorite website : http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com