Infant Nutrition

Breast milk is the best food for your baby during the first year. Not only does breast milk contain an ideal balance of nutrients for your baby, but it also contains antibodies that can help protect your baby from certain illnesses. When a mother cannot or chooses not to breast feed, babies should receive infant formula. Breast milk or formula is the only food they will need until they are 4 to 6 months of age.

After 4 months of age, watch for signs that your baby is ready for baby food before starting. These signs include:

sitting up with some support
turning the head from side to side
opening the mouth when food is offered
doubling the birth weight

Foods provide the needed nutrients as well as textures to help with your baby’s developmental skills. Infant rice cereal is usually the first solid food used. Talk to your health care provider before starting solid foods. It is important to continue with breastfeeding, if you can, even after your baby has started on solid foods.

Tips for introducing new foods

Wait 3-7 days between the introduction of each new single-ingredient food.

Begin with 1-2 teaspoons and gradually increase to 2-4 Tablespoons or more per feeding.

Texture is more important than the order in which complementary foods are introduced. Progress from pureed to ground to fork-mashed to diced. Rice cereal is the best food to begin with. Protein foods can be introduced between 6-8 months.

Homemade baby food is generally more nutritious and economical than commercially prepared foods; caregiver has more control over variety and texture. Recipes>>

Observe satiety and hunger cues – infants are capable of regulating their own food intake to meet their needs for growth

General guidelines for feeding complementary foods

Wash the infant’s hands before eating, position appropriately, serve foods from a bowl and discard any leftovers
An infant is ready to self-feed when they’ve developed the pincer grasp. Foods should be small enough for them to pick up and soft enough for them to chew.
Inappropriate foods for infants – cow’s milk, egg whites, nuts, shellfish, honey, foods with added sugar, artificial sweeteners or salt, chocolate, foods that may cause choking.

Start juice from a cup at about 6 to 7 months. At this age your infant will be able to drink from a cup with help. Do not put juice in a bottle. Give the baby only breast milk, formula, or water in a bottle.

A baby should not go to bed with a bottle of milk formula, juice, or other sweetened drinks. This may cause "nursing bottle mouth" that results in tooth decay (and pain for the baby!). Babies should be weaned from the bottle before 12 months of age.

Your baby will want to feel, see and smell food before eating it. This is normal. Let her try to feed herself when she is ready. You will know she’s ready when she starts grabbing for the spoon and doesn't let you feed her.

A fussy baby often needs attention rather than food!