Guide to feeding your baby and toddler

Extracted from babycenter.com

Age-by-age guide to feeding your baby and toddler
Use this guide to find out what and how much to feed your child at every stage of development from birth to age 3. Don't worry if your child eats more or less than the amounts listed, though — they're only meant as rough guidelines.

Age: Birth to 4 months

Feeding behavior • Rooting reflex helps your baby turn toward a nipple to find nourishment

What to feed • Breast milk or formula ONLY

Feeding tip
• Your baby's digestive tract is still developing, which is why solid food is off limits for now.

Age: 4 to 6 months
Signs of readiness for solid food Your baby probably won't do all these things — they're just clues to watch for. • Can hold head up • Sits well in highchair • Makes chewing motions • Shows significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled) • Shows interest in food • Can close mouth around a spoon • Can move food from front to back of mouth • Can move tongue back and forth, but is losing tendency to push food out with tongue • Seems hungry after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or 40 oz. of formula in a day • Is teething
What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Semi-liquid iron-fortified rice cereal, THEN • Other grain cereals like oats or barley	How much per day • Begin with about 1 teaspoon dry rice cereal mixed with 4 to 5 teaspoons breast milk or formula (it'll be very runny). • Gradually thicken consistency and increase to 1 tablespoon dry cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, twice a day.
Feeding tips • If your baby won't eat the cereal on the first try, offer it again in a few days. • Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids.

Age: 6 to 8 months
Signs of readiness for solid food • Same as 4 to 6 months
What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, oats) • Pureed or strained fruits (banana, pears, applesauce, peaches) • Pureed or strained vegetables (avocado, well-cooked carrots, squash, and sweet potato)	How much per day • 3 to 9 tablespoons cereal, in 2 to 3 feedings • 1 teaspoon fruit, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings • 1 teaspoon vegetables, gradually increased to ¼ to ½ cup in 2 to 3 feedings
Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic. • Get more detailed tips on how to introduce solids.

Age: 8 to 10 months
Signs of readiness for solid and finger foods • Same as 6 to 8 months, PLUS • Picks up objects with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp) • Can transfer items from one hand to the other • Puts everything in his mouth • Moves jaw in a chewing motion
What to feed • Breast milk or formula, PLUS • Small amounts of soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Mashed fruits and vegetables (bananas, peaches, pears, avocados, cooked carrots, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes) • Finger foods (lightly toasted bagels, cut up; small pieces of ripe banana; well-cooked spiral pasta; teething crackers; low-sugar O-shaped cereal) • Small amounts of protein (egg yolk, pureed meats and poultry; tofu; well-cooked and mashed beans with soft skins like lentils, split peas, pintos, black beans) • Non-citrus juice (apple or pear)	How much per day • ¼ to 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese) • ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods • 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices
Feeding tip • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.

Age: 10 to 12 months
Signs of readiness for additional solid food • Same as 8 to 10 months, PLUS • Swallows food more easily • Has more teeth • No longer pushes food out with tongue • Is trying to use a spoon
What to feed • Breast milk or formula PLUS • Soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (but no cows' milk until age 1) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Fruit cut into cubes or strips, or mashed • Bite-size, soft-cooked vegetables (peas, carrots) • Combo foods (macaroni and cheese, casseroles) • Protein (egg yolk, pureed or finely ground meats and poultry, tofu, well-cooked and mashed beans) • Finger foods (lightly toasted bread or bagels, small pieces of ripe banana, spiral pasta, teething crackers, low-sugar O-shaped cereal) • Non-citrus juice	How much per day • 1/3 cup dairy (or ½ oz. cheese) • ¼ to ½ cup iron-fortified cereal • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 1/8 to ¼ cup combo foods • 1/8 to ¼ cup protein foods • 3 to 4 oz. non-citrus juices
Feeding tip • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.

Age: 12 to 18 months
Signs of readiness for self-feeding • Can start to use a spoon himself (though proficiency will take a while!)
What to feed • Whole milk • Other dairy (soft pasteurized cheese, full-fat yogurt and cottage cheese) • Same food as family, mashed or chopped into bite-size pieces • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Other grains (whole wheat bread, pasta, rice) • New fruits: melon, papaya, apricot, grapefruit (citrus is now okay) • New vegetables: broccoli and cauliflower "trees" • Protein (eggs; cut-up or ground meat, poultry, boneless fish; tofu; beans; thinly spread smooth peanut butter) • Citrus and non-citrus juice • Honey is now okay	How much per day • 2 to 3 servings dairy (1 serving = ½ cup milk, ½ to 1 oz. cheese, 1/3 to ½ cup yogurt or cottage cheese) • 4 to 6 servings cereals and other grains (1 serving = ¼ to 1/3 cup cereal, ¼ cup pasta or rice, ¼ to ½ slice bread or bagel) • ¼ to ½ cup fruit • ¼ to ½ cup vegetables • 2 servings protein (1 serving = 2 tablespoons ground or two 1-inch cubes meat, poultry, or fish; 1 egg; ¼ cup tofu or cooked beans; 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter) • 3 to 4 oz. juice
Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your child's not allergic. • Choking hazards are still a danger. Learn more about foods to watch out for.

Age: 18 to 24 months
Feeding skills to look for • Self-feeding • Food phrases like "more" and "all done"
What to feed • Whole milk • Other dairy (natural hard cheese, soft pasteurized cheese, full-fat yogurt and cottage cheese, pudding) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oat, mixed cereals) • Other grains (whole wheat bread and crackers, cut-up bagels, pretzels, rice cakes, ready-to-eat cereals, pasta, rice) • Fruit, cooked, canned or fresh, cut up or sliced (apples, bananas, peaches, strawberries, pears, cherries, grapes, plums, oranges, grapefruit) • Dried fruit, soaked until soft so it won't pose a choking hazard (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, dates, pitted prunes, raisins) • Vegetables, cooked and mashed or diced (carrots, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, yams, potatoes, peas) • Protein (eggs; cut-up or ground meat, poultry, boneless fish; tofu; beans; smooth peanut butter) • Combo foods like macaroni and cheese, casseroles • Fruit and vegetable juices	How much per day • 2 to 3 servings dairy (1 serving = ½ cup milk; ½ to 1 oz. cheese; 1/3 to ½ cup yogurt or cottage cheese; ¼ cup pudding) • 6 servings grains (1 serving = ¼ to ½ slice bread or bagel; 1 or 2 crackers; ¼ cup pasta or rice; 1/3 to ½ cup cooked or ready-to-eat cereal) • 2 to 3 servings fruit (1 serving = ¼ cup cooked or canned, ½ piece fresh; 1/8 cup dried; ¼ to ½ cup juice) • 2 to 3 servings vegetables (1 serving = 1 to 2 tablespoons) • 2 servings protein (1 serving = 2 tablespoons ground or two 1-inch cubes meat, poultry, or fish; 1 egg; ¼ cup tofu or cooked beans; 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter)
Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your child's not allergic. • Choking hazards are still a danger. Learn more about foods to watch out for.

Age: 24 to 36 months
Feeding skills to look for • Self-feeding • Eagerness to make own food choices
What to feed • Low-fat milk • Other dairy (diced or grated cheese; low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding) • Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oats, mixed cereals) • Other grains (whole wheat bread and crackers, cut-up bagels, pretzels, rice cakes, ready-to-eat cereal, pasta, rice) • Fruits, sliced fresh or canned • Dried fruit, soaked until soft so it won't pose a choking hazard (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, dates, pitted prunes, raisins) • Vegetables, cooked and cut up • Protein (eggs; cut-up or ground meat, poultry, boneless fish; tofu; beans; smooth peanut butter) • Combo foods like macaroni and cheese, casseroles • Fruit and vegetable juices	How much per day One serving for a child this age is about ¼ the size of an adult serving. • 2 to 3 servings dairy (1 serving = ½ cup milk; ½ to ¾ oz. cheese; ½ cup yogurt; ¼ to ½ cup cottage cheese; ¼ cup pudding) • 6 servings grains (1 serving = ½ slice bread or bagel; 1 or 2 crackers; ¼ to ½ cup pasta or rice; 1/3 to ½ cup cooked or ready-to-eat cereal) • 2 to 3 servings fruit (1 serving = ¼ cup cooked or canned, ½ piece fresh, or ¼ to ½ cup juice) • 2 to 3 servings vegetables (1 serving = 2 to 3 tablespoons) • 2 servings protein (1 serving = 2 tablespoons ground or two 1-inch cubes meat, poultry, or fish; 1 egg; ¼ cup tofu or cooked beans; 1 tablespoon peanut butter)
Feeding tips • Introduce new foods one at a time, with at least three days in between to make sure your child's not allergic. • Choking hazards are still a danger. Learn more about foods to watch out for. • Your child may seem to eat less than before — that's perfectly normal at this stage. If you wonder whether he's getting enough calories, use this guideline: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your child get about 40 calories a day for every inch of height.