As a parent, especially first time parent, you must be wondering how you should feed your newborn. The following chart is a guideline for the parents to decide what they should give to their newborn in the first year of his life. Moreover, it is also going to tell you about the quantity in which you should give him his food. However, the chart is just general in nature and you can increase or decrease the quantity of the food mentioned depending on your child’s liking. Asking your pediatrician regarding your child’s diet is also necessary.
Baby Feeding Chart— 0 to 4 Months
Infants do not have a fully developed digestive system. They cannot digest any solid food at this early age of their lives. They have an extrusion reflex which stops them from digesting anything that is in solid form. However, they have a rooting reflex which aids them in sucking milk. So, during these initial months, it is best to stick with breast or formula milk that your baby can digest easily.
Feeding Guide for Babies from Birth to 4 Months
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What to Feed |
Only Formula or Breast Milk |
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How Much to Feed |
Breastfed babies: If you are breastfeeding your child then it is best to provide them as much as they need. You can assess whether your baby has had enough milk or not by checking some signs. For instance, after a feed, your breast will feel soft and the baby would like a lot more relaxed. In the long run, the baby’s weight is a good assessing factor too as he should consistently gain weight if he is getting enough milk. Moreover, the number of stools he passes each day is another way of determining whether he is getting proper nourishment or not. Formula fed babies: Formula milk is lesser in nourishment than breast milk and thus a baby is going to demand it more. So, be prepared to feed your baby multiple times during the day. However, the diet of the baby on formula milk can change pretty quickly. Be sure to never give your baby formula milk in excess of 32 ounces. |
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Feeding Tips |
Since the baby’s digestive system is still developing, you should avoid giving him any solid foods. |
Watch the following video to learn more tips on feeding your newborn:
Baby Feeding Chart— 4 to 6 Months
At this stage of life, the baby is able to sit up with support and his digestive system has developed too so now he is ready to start receiving some solid foods. The extrusion reflex that has been stopping him from taking solid foods up until now also stops which enables him to digest solids. However, the solid foods must be given in small amounts and the breast or formula milk should continue to be the main source of nourishment for the baby.
The introduction of new foods can be done in any pattern. You can choose to give tofu ahead of time or can start giving your child mashed fruits instead of cereals. It is all up to you, but be sure to check with your child’s pediatrician first.
Feeding Guide for Babies from 4 to 6 Months
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What to Feed |
Breast and Formula Milk along with pureed fruits or vegetables and semi-liquid cereals. |
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How Much to Feed |
Start by giving only a teaspoon of either pureed fruit or cereal to the child mixed in breast or formula milk for the first few days and then slowly increase the quantity to 2 teaspoons of cereal or pureed fruit a day. |
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Feeding Tips |
Let the baby decide when he wants to eat the food you are giving him. |
Baby Feeding Chart— 6 to 8 Months
Now that the baby has got a taste of solid food, he will be willing to try new things, especially sweet foods. Thus, it is a good time to introduce mashed fruits and vegetables in his diet. It is better to start with vegetables and then to move onto fruits later on. Keep the servings shorter in the beginning and only increase them if the baby likes it.
Feeding Guide for Babies from 6 to 8 Months
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What to Feed |
Breast and Formula milk along with unsweetened yogurt, cereals and pureed fruits, vegetables, legumes, tofu and meat. |
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How Much to Feed |
For fruits and vegetables, start with a low dose of a single teaspoon and gradually increase it to half a cup in 2-3 feedings per day. For cereals, feed 3-9 tablespoons in 2-3 feedings. |
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Feeding Tips |
Space out the new foods you want to give to your baby to check for allergies. |
Feeding your 7 - 9 months baby:
Baby Feeding Chart— 8 to10 Months
By 8 months, the baby is ready to start eating lumpy food. It is a good idea now to give him bits of chopped fruit or cooked vegetables and pasta. However, it is best to avoid foods that might be hard to swallow for a baby of this age like peanuts or raisins.
Feeding Guide for Babies from 8 to 10 Months
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What to Feed |
Breast and Formula milk along with mashed vegetables and fruits, cereals, finger foods, pasteurized cheese and eggs. |
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How Much to Feed |
The serving of food can now be bigger than a teaspoon. You can give quarter cup of fruit and vegetable or cooked pasta in the beginning and then gradually increase the amount to half a cup. Following the guidelines:
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Feeding Tips |
Watch out for allergies and try new foods after a gap of at least 3 days. |
Baby Feeding Chart—10 to12 Months
As the baby approaches his first birthday, he is ready to start eating proper solid foods. He can now feed himself using his hands so it is better to start giving him foods that he can eat using a spoon. Your baby can also start having combination foods like casseroles as well. Finger foods like fish and chopped chicken can also be added to your baby’s diet at this stage.
Feeding Guide for Babies from 10 to 12 Months
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What to Feed |
Breast or Formula milk along with cubed fruits, cereals, combo and finger foods, cooked vegetables, pasteurized cheese, yogurt and boneless fish. |
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How Much to Feed |
The serving of foods can increase to half a cup now from the start. Be sure to give different foods to the baby throughout the day keeping the quantity of each of them below half a cup. Follow the feeding guidelines:
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Feeding Tips |
Only give one new food item at a time and keep on giving it for three days to rule out allergies. |
Feeding your 10-12 months baby:
