Feeding your baby: Birth to one year

Nutrition for your baby’s first 6 months

For the first six months, babies receive all the nutrition and fluids they need from breast milk and/or formula. Exclusively breastfed babies may also require supplemental iron and vitamin D since breast milk is naturally low in these nutrients. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that breastfed infants receive 400 IU of vitamin D. Babies consuming at least 32 ounces of infant formula daily do not need additional vitamin D or supplemental iron since infant formulas are fortified with iron.

Breastfeeding your baby

Newborns need to eat every 1.5 to 2 hours in a 24-hour period, totaling 10 to 12 feeds per day. As they grow, this changes to every 2 to 4 hours, with 8 to 10 nursing sessions each day, and eventually transitions to 4 to 6 sessions each day. Some babies can handle larger milk volumes less often, while others need smaller amounts more frequently. Newborns (birth to 1 month) should be fed on demand and typically don’t need to follow strict feeding schedules.

It’s not possible to measure exactly how much milk your baby gets during breastfeeding. If your pediatrician is concerned, they might weigh your baby before and after a nursing session or check how many ounces your baby drinks from a bottle of pumped breast milk. Generally, newborns will drink 1 to 2 ounces per feed. Over time, they’ll gradually increase to 2 to 4 ounces and then 4 to 6 ounces per feeding.

During growth spurts, babies may need to eat more and more frequently. Follow your baby’s hunger cues, which are more indicative of their needs than following a fixed amount per day.

Bottle feeding with infant formula

Formula-fed babies should eat just as frequently as breastfed babies. There are several types of formula you can choose for your baby. Here are the three different options:

1. Standard formulas: These include intact proteins from cow’s milk, goat milk, or soy. The carbohydrate source can vary too, including lactose, brown rice syrup, or corn syrup.
2. Semi-elemental or partially hydrolyzed formulas: Proteins in these formulas are partially broken down for better tolerance and digestion. Dietary fats may also be modified for increased tolerance. Babies with poor reactions to standard formulas, such as feeding struggles, intolerances, diarrhea, vomiting, and poor weight gain, may benefit from partially hydrolyzed formulas.
3. Elemental or hypoallergenic formulas: These formulas have proteins that are completely broken down. These are specifically designed for babies with food intolerances or sensitivities or who cannot tolerate other formulas.

Nutrition for babies over 6 months

Introducing complementary foods around six months is typical, as babies start to show signs of developmental readiness around that time. Even after starting solids, breastmilk and/or formula is a baby’s primary source of nutrition. However, solid foods are introduced at this age to complement and support their evolving nutritional and developmental needs.

You can introduce solid foods using purees or soft finger foods if you prefer baby-led weaning (BLW). Purees can range from thin to thick and finger foods should be soft enough to easily squish between your fingers. Focus on iron-rich foods since babies need 11 mg/day at 6 months. Some foods high in iron include beef, chicken, fish, eggs, lentils, beans, and iron-fortified cereals. If you’re worried about your baby’s iron intake, chat with your local or Summer Health pediatrician about supplemental iron drops.  

Breastfed babies should continue receiving 400 IU of vitamin D each day. Formula-fed babies may need supplemental vitamin D if they consume less than 32 ounces of infant formula daily.

Strategies for advancing textures

If you start with purees, try thin, smooth textures. Once your baby shows they can eat these comfortably, you can gradually introduce thicker and chunkier purees or mashed foods. Try introducing finger foods before your baby reaches 9 months. It can be more challenging for them to adjust to new textures after this age.

Transitioning from baby food to finger foods

Whether you start solids with purees or baby-led weaning, offering finger foods is an important developmental step. When offering finger foods, the goal is to provide options that babies can easily pick up. At 6 months, babies can grasp food with their whole hand, a skill known as the palmar grasp. During this stage, it's best to serve foods they can easily pick up and hold, such as long spear-shaped pieces of food.

Around 8 or 9 months, you’ll notice your baby practicing the pincer grasp, which allows them to pick up small pieces of food with the index finger and thumb. At this age, cut foods into small pea-sized pieces so they can work on this developing skill.

Important nutrients

Introduce a diverse range of foods to expose your baby to various flavors, textures, and nutrients. Here are important nutrients for babies under 12 months:

Iron

When babies turn 6 months old, their iron needs increase to 11 milligrams per day. We recommend incorporating iron-rich foods into your baby's diet early on to help meet these needs and ensure they’re getting enough iron. This is especially important for breastfed babies because breast milk doesn’t have enough iron. Here are some examples of iron-rich foods:

• Iron-fortified infant cereal
• Lentils
• White beans
• Chicken
• Beef
• Edamame
• Nuts
• Tofu
• Garbanzo beans
• Black beans

Omega 3 fatty acids

Omega-3s are essential fatty acids important for brain health. Three types of omega-3s include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are the active forms your body needs, primarily found in fatty fish, algae, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, or supplements.

Like adults, kids need to eat omega-3s because they are essential nutrients the body cannot produce on its own. For babies, the best sources of omega-3s are low-mercury fish like salmon and cod. Fish and seafood contain high amounts of mercury, which can adversely affect young children.

Nutrient-dense foods

Babies eat small quantities of food, particularly when they first begin eating solids. To ensure they receive maximum nutrition with each bite, offer nutrient-dense or calorie-dense foods during meals, such as beef, salmon, eggs, avocado, and berries.

Tips for starting solids  

Starting solids can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time parents. Here are some expert-approved tips to ease this transition for you and your baby:

1. Introduce solid foods roughly 30-90 minutes before or after breast milk or infant formula feeds. The goal is to find the sweet spot when your baby is hungry enough for solids but not too full from milk.
2. Feeding babies is messy but that's all part of the fun. Allow your baby to explore new foods with their hands, fingers, and mouth. Though the highchair and floor are bound to get dirty, there are ways to minimize mess and cut down on cleanup time. Invest in an easy-to-clean highchair, some comfortable bibs, and consider using a splat mat or disposable tablecloth under the highchair to catch spills and crumbs.
3. Babies are excellent at regulating their hunger and fullness. They naturally eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. Let them eat as much or as little as they want, and they'll give you cues when they're satisfied or still hungry. Hunger cues may include smacking their lips, sticking out their tongue, licking their lips, or showing interest in food on your plate. Fullness cues might involve turning their head away from the spoon, closing their mouth, or becoming fussy or irritable at mealtime.
4. Babies don't eat a lot when they begin solid foods. It's typical for them to play with new foods or only eat a spoonful or two. If your baby isn't showing much interest at first, don't worry too much – it takes time and practice to adjust.
5. It's completely normal for babies to make funny faces or spit out food during the first few months of starting solids or when they try new foods. This transition introduces them to a whole new sensory experience because until now, their diet was only milk. Solid food introduces a variety of flavors and textures that they're not used to yet. However, they’ll gradually become more accustomed to new tastes with repeated exposure.
6. There’s no right way to start solids, whether you begin with purees or finger foods. Mealtime should be fun, enjoyable, and a happy time to connect with your baby. Do what works best for you, your baby, and your family.
7. Breastmilk and infant formula are still primary sources of nutrition for your baby. Continue breastfeeding or formula feeding alongside solid foods.
8. Avoid foods that pose a choking risk. Choking hazards include foods that are small and round and hard, sharp, gummy, sticky, slippery, or rubbery foods.

Feeding your baby at 1 year

By your baby’s first birthday, the goal is for them to eat three meals a day, one or two snacks as needed, a wide range of finger foods and textures, and all food groups. For hydration, babies can continue breastfeeding or switch to whole cow’s milk or a fortified plant-based alternative (like pea or soy milk) if your baby is ready to wean off breast milk. Limit milk intake to 16 ounces per day and offer water with or between meals. This is important because it will allow toddlers to get most of their nutrition from food and because excessive milk intake can interfere with iron absorption and cause constipation.

By age one, your baby’s vitamin D needs increase from 400 to 600 IU per day. Continue to offer supplemental vitamin D since it’s hard to obtain it from food alone.

Appetite changes and picky eating

Toddler growth slows compared to the rapid growth of their first year, and their appetites adjust accordingly. It's normal to notice your toddler eating less than when they were a baby, and they may also become more selective about what they're willing to eat.

Food allergies

Starting solids can be a source of worry and anxiety for many parents because of the fear of potential allergic reactions. It’s important to note that most foods aren't considered allergens, and only 8% of children in the United States are affected by food allergies. Recent research suggests that introducing allergenic foods early and frequently can significantly decrease the risk of developing a food allergy. We recommend offering allergens to your baby when they start solids. The nine major allergens include:

• Cow’s milk
• Wheat
• Egg
• Soy
• Sesame
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Fish
• Shellfish

When to call a doctor

If your child experiences feeding issues, intolerances, food refusal, or experiences weight loss, contact your local or Summer Health pediatrician for personalized guidance and support.