Baby food

It’s not always easy to guess the reason for a baby’s crying, even if you’re an experienced mother. However, establishing a routine for meal times and paying attention to your child’s diet can help make them less agitated and help you know whether they’re hungry, tired, sick, or have a wet diaper.

Fortunately, we’ve prepared a schedule summarizing your baby’s diet throughout their first year: what foods and how often per day.

Breastfeeding Nutrition

Your baby grows rapidly from birth, and to support and satisfy this growth, you’ll definitely need to feed him every two to three hours.

After a week or so, he may start taking slightly longer naps, allowing you to catch your breath a little between feedings. If he’s sleeping at his usual feeding time, gently wake him to feed.

Here are some tips to consider if you’re breastfeeding:

• The time between feedings is counted from the start of the first feeding, not from when your baby stops.
• Make sure your baby latches onto your breast. It may be challenging at first, especially for new mothers, but with practice, your baby will latch well. If in doubt, ask your healthcare provider or lactation consultant.
• As your baby grows, he may start nursing faster.
• Offer a little from each breast during one feeding.
• Check if that makes you feel like he’s no longer hungry. For example, he may turn his head away from the breast, nurse more slowly, or lose interest. If he seems to have had enough, feeding is done.
• Your healthcare provider may recommend giving your baby supplements, especially vitamin D. If so, follow your doctor’s instructions to ensure your baby receives the right amounts.

Breastfeeding your baby on demand every two hours may seem exhausting, and it is. Newborns aren’t yet capable of consuming a lot of milk at once, so they need frequent feedings to ensure they get all the nutrition they need. You’ll find it easier to establish a regular feeding pattern for your baby shortly thereafter, once his daily rhythm settles (especially his sleep and wake times).

Formula Feeding Nutrition

Newborns who are formula-fed typically need about 6-9 oz of milk per feeding initially. Additionally, bottle-fed newborns may eat more in one feeding than breastfed babies, allowing you to wait 3-4 hours between feedings.

By about a month old, your baby will need about 12 oz per feeding to get all he needs. Your baby’s rhythm will gradually settle as he grows, and you’ll need to adjust the amount of formula you give him per feeding after that.

Baby Food at 3 Months

Now that you and your baby are getting into a certain rhythm, changing it can be somewhat challenging. However, as your baby grows, his nutritional needs change, so you’ll need to adjust your habits accordingly.

For Breastfed Babies

When your baby reaches about 3 months old, he’ll start becoming more active, reducing breastfeeding and sleeping longer at night.

At this age, you may only need to feed him every three or four hours (i.e., six to eight times a day).

If your healthcare provider finds he’s gaining weight and growing normally, the food you’re offering your baby is likely adequate.

Another good way to know if he’s eating well is to count the number of wet diapers he has each day. A well-fed baby typically wets four to six diapers a day.

If you find your baby isn’t eating enough, contact your healthcare provider.

For Formula-fed Babies

As your baby grows older, you’ll likely notice that he eats more and more with each feeding and starts sleeping for longer periods at night.

For example, you can adjust a 3-month-old baby’s diet in the following ways:

• By increasing the amount of formula in each feeding to around 15 oz,
• By giving him formula six to eight times a day,
• By changing the size or type of nipple on your bottle to make it easier for him to drink.

Baby Food at 6 Months

This is the age when healthcare professionals recommend starting to add solid foods to your baby’s diet. If you have a good mealtime routine, it will be easier to navigate when your little one reaches the six-month mark.

When your baby is ready to start exploring solid foods, you might wonder where to begin. The order of introducing foods into your baby’s diet doesn’t seem to matter medically, but traditionally, the first “new things” are vegetables, fruits, a mix of grains, and either breast milk or formula.

Remember that your baby is still small, and at this age, his diet still primarily relies on breast milk or formula: the new foods are just supplements to this basic diet. Continue to feed him every four hours or so with sufficient amounts to ensure he gets the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Every child is unique and grows at their own pace, but we hope you’ll be able to start phasing out midnight feedings. Ask your healthcare provider if your baby seems ready and how to make this transition easier.

Baby Food from 7 to 9 Months

The period from 7 to 9 months is generally a good time to change your baby’s diet by introducing many more solid foods in increasing amounts. Additionally, at this age, he may only need four or five feedings a day.

Pureed vegetables, meats, and other fruits compote are particularly recommended at this age. Start by offering one ingredient to your baby before giving him blends.

As your baby becomes accustomed to these new solid foods, he’ll start weaning himself off breast milk or formula.

There’s no “right” time to wean your baby: it should be done gradually, when your baby shows you that he’s ready for solid foods. Your healthcare provider can tell you what signs to look for.

Baby Food from 10 to 12 Months

Between 10 and 12 months, you can introduce your baby to new textures during meals. As he grows, he may start feeding himself with his fingers, for example with banana chunks, grains, or pasta. He might even begin expressing preferences for certain flavors. You might also be able to start offering him a mix of several ingredients.

Your healthcare provider can help you develop balanced menus as breast milk or formula becomes less important in your baby’s diet.

By 10 months, your baby may eat 3 or 4 meals a day.

Your little one might start feeding himself: this can be very exciting for him, but make sure the pieces are small enough for him to pick up and eat without choking. For example, avoid raisins, peanuts, or popcorn. With a little practice, he’ll start getting used to eating without your help.

Baby Food at One Year Old

On his first birthday, take a look at how far he’s come. His diet now includes almost the same foods you eat, with a few exceptions like honey or anything that poses a choking hazard like nuts.

As your child grows, he can eat more at one meal. So he might eat much less often and usually only need three meals a day with two or three snacks in between.

This is also the time when you can start adding cow’s milk to your child’s diet if your child doesn’t have lactose intolerance. However, don’t give him more than he needs: 50 to 70 ml a day is enough.

You can continue to give your child breast milk or formula if you choose: there’s no hard deadline for weaning. It’s even recommended to continue giving him breast milk or formula for as long as he wants or you’re able to.