The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Baby

For quick reference, I’ve compiled a list of simple rules to refer back to.

1. Feed your infant only breast milk or baby formula in the first year. Do not offer her cow’s milk until after the 12-month-mark.
2. Introduce solid foods anywhere from 4 to 6 months, depending on your child’s development and your family’s history of allergies.
3. Offer new foods one at a time, with at least 2 or 3 days between each new introduction.
4. At the 6-month-mark, make sure you’re feeding your baby foods with good sources of iron (such as iron-fortified cereals)
5. Serve pureed solid foods to start. At around 8-10 months introduce lumpier, mashed foods.
6. Avoid foods that may cause choking.
7. Refrain from adding salt and sugar to your baby’s meals.
8. Make sure the food your serve is warmed to body temperature.
9. Limit any juices to around 4 ounces per day, diluted with 3 parts water to 1 part juice.

Continue to breast feed or bottle feed your baby everyday. Solid foods are simply an addition to this.