This section explains what to feed your baby from birth to 4 months old.

Start Feeding Your Baby Breast Milk or Formula With Iron
Feed your baby breast milk or formula with iron until your baby is 1 year old.

Breastfeeding Your Baby Breast milk is the best food for your baby.

Why should you breastfeed your baby?
There are many good reasons to breastfeed your baby.

• Breastfeeding is convenient. You do not have to carry, boil, or warm bottles to feed your baby.
• Breastfeeding costs less than bottle feeding.
• Breast milk helps protect your baby from getting infections.
• If anyone in your family has allergies, your baby may also get allergies.

Feeding your baby only breast milk and not formula, cow's milk or solid foods for the first 4 months can protect your baby from getting allergies.

Does your baby need anything other than breast milk?
If you breastfeed your baby, give him or her Vitamin D until your baby is old enough to get Vitamin D from cow's milk. Your baby will get lots of Vitamin D in cow's milk when he or she is 9 months to 1 year old.

Ask your doctor or dietitian about giving your baby extra vitamin D. (A dietitian is trained to help you make healthy choices about what your baby should eat.)

Are you a vegetarian who does not eat milk products, such as cheese and yogurt, or eggs? If you are, ask your doctor or dietitian about taking vitamin B1 pills for yourself. Then your baby will get the vitamin B12 that he or she needs from your breast milk.

Feeding Your Baby Formula
If you choose not to breastfeed your baby, baby formula with iron is the next best thing for your baby.

Formula with iron added to it is best for your baby. Formula with iron is made so that your baby gets everything he or she needs until your baby is 9 months to 1 year old. 

Look for formulas that have the words iron-fortified or with iron on the label. This means that the formula has iron added to it.

Formula made with cow's milk is the most common type of formula. Some names of formulas made with cow's milk are Enfalac, Similac Advance, Carnation GoodStart, SMA, and Bonamil.

Some names of formulas made with soy milk are Isomil, Enfalac Prosobee, Nursoy, and Alsoy.

Feeding Your Baby Other Types of Milk
Do not feed your baby cow's milk or goat's milk before he or she is 9 months old. Do not feed your baby soy milk, rice milk, or nut milks before he or she is 2 years old. These milks do not give your baby the things he or she needs to be healthy and to grow.

Knowing When Your Baby Is Hungry
Your baby is hungry when

• he or she opens the mouth when you touch the mouth or cheeks.
• he or she sucks on the hands, fusses and make faces, or cries (but not every cry means your baby is hungry).

Knowing How Often to Feed Your Baby
If you breastfeed your baby, he or she may be hungry every 2 hours. That means you may breastfeed your baby 10 to 12 times a day. Each feeding should take no longer than 20 to 30 minutes.

If your baby is fed formula, he or she may be hungry about every 3 or 4 hours. That means you will feed your baby about 6 to 8 times a day.

As your baby begins to grow, he or she will drink more at each feeding and will need fewer feedings a day.

You should feed your baby when he or she is hungry, calm, and awake.

Boiling Water for Your Baby's Formula
Boil all the water you use to feed your baby under 4 months old for at least 2 minutes to kill all the germs in it.

You can store boiled water for 2 or 3 days in your refrigerator in a clean, tightly closed bottle that has been sterilized. (Sterilized means washed thoroughly in boiling water). Or store the boiled water for 24 hours at room temperature in a sterilized, closed bottle.

Knowing How Much to Feed Your Baby Every Day
Every baby is different. Your baby may need more breast milk or formula at each feeding, or more feedings in a day.

Use this list to get an idea about how much you should feed your baby at different times during the day. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Remember, this is only a suggestion.

• If you feed your baby breast milk, do not need to measure it. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Your baby knows when he or she has had enough.
• If you feed your baby formula with iron, feed him or her 90 to 210 milliliters, which is 3 to 7 ounces, of formula during every feeding.
• Feed your baby at these times every day:
  • early morning
  • breakfast
  • lunch
  • supper
  • evening
  • late evening
  • night
  • late night

How will you know if your baby is eating and drinking enough?
You will know if your baby is eating and drinking enough if

• your baby has 6 to 8 wet diapers a day.
• your baby has several bowel movements, or poohs, a day.
• your baby is gaining weight and growing.

Ask your doctor or dietitian if you have any concerns about how much your baby is eating and drinking.

Your baby has had enough food when he or she turns away from the nipple, closes the lips, and spits out the nipple.

Feeding Your Baby Solid Food
You should wait until your baby is about 4 to 6 months old before you feed him or her solid food. At this age your baby is able to eat and swallow solid foods safely.

This section explains what to feed your baby when he or she is 4 to 6 monyhs old.

Start Feeding Your Baby Cereal for Babies
Around 4 to 6 months old, your baby will be holding up his or her head, sitting up, and opening the mouth when something comes towards him or her. When your baby does this, he or she is ready for cereal for babies. Mix this cereal with breast milk or formula with iron.

 Feeding Your Baby Breast Milk or Formula With Iron
Keep feeding your baby breast milk or formula with iron. This is still the most important food for your baby.

Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods
At this age you may begin feeding your baby solid foods. Start with cereal for babies. But first feed your baby breast milk or formula with iron. Then feed your baby cereal for babies.

Do not feed your baby cereal for babies instead of breast milk or formula with iron. Give your baby cereal for babies and breast milk or formula.

What types of cereals for babies should you feed your baby? Try feeding your baby a cereal for babies that is made of 1 type of grain, such as rice, barley, or oats. Make sure that the cereal for babies has iron added to it. Your baby needs more iron at this age to grow.

Rice cereal is the best cereal to start with because your baby is least likely to have an allergy to rice. Next, try feeding your baby cereals that are made of barley or oats.

Do not feed your baby cereals made for older children. These cereals are not good food for your baby. And some of these cereals are too hard for your baby to swallow. He or she could choke on them.

How should you feed your baby cereal for babies?
To feed your baby cereal for babies, follow these instructions.

• Measure the right amount of cereal for babies into a bowl.
• Mix the cereal in a bowl with breast milk or formula. The cereal should look watery, like applesauce. It should not look dry.
• Feed your baby from a spoon. Do not use a bottle to feed your baby cereal for babies.
• Feed your baby while he or she is sitting up in a baby seat.

How much cereal for babies should you feed your baby?
When you start giving your baby cereal for babies, start with a total of 5 milliliters, or 1 teaspoon, of cereal once a day. (This is the amount of cereal for babies you measure before you add breast milk or formula).

Slowly increase this to 2 feedings of cereal a day. Your baby should be getting about 15 to 30 milliliters, or 1 to 2 tablespoons, by the time he or she is 6 months old.

Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. If your baby may be ready for more cereal within a few days, give him or her more.

When can you feed your baby cereals with mixed grains or mixed cereal with fruit?
When you know that your baby has no allergies to cereals for babies made with 1 type of grain, you may feed your baby cereals with 2 or more types of grain. And you may also feed your baby mixed cereals with fruit.

Knowing How Much to Feed Your Baby Every Day
Every baby is different. Your baby may need more breast milk or formula at each feeding, or more feedings in a day.

Use this list to get an idea about how much you should feed your baby at different times during the day. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Remember, this is only a suggestion.

• If you feed your baby breast milk, do not measure it. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Your baby knows when he or she has had enough.
• If you feed your baby formula with iron, feed your baby 180 to 240 milliliters, which is 6 to 8 ounces, of formula during every feeding.
• Feed your baby breast milk or formula with iron at these times every day:
  • early morning
  • breakfast
  • lunch
  • supper
  • evening
• Also feed your baby 15 to 30 milliliters, or 1 to 2 tablespoons, of cereal for babies at breakfast and supper.

This section explains what to feed your baby when he or she is 6 to 7 months old.

Start Feeding Your Baby Strained Vegetables and Fruits
Around 6 to 7 months old, your baby will start to move the jaw up and down. He or she will also start to move food to the back of the mouth with the tongue.

When your baby does this, he or she is ready to eat thicker foods such as strained vegetables and friuts. (Strained vegetables and fruits are thick liquid foods made from pieces of regular vegetables and fruits.)

Eating thicker foods will help your baby learn to chew and swallow. This is important, even if your baby has no teeth yet.

Feeding Your Baby Breast Milk or Formula With Iron Keep feeding your baby breast milk or formula with iron. Your baby should not have cow's milk before he or she is 9 months to 1 year old.

Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods
Keep feeding your baby cereal for babies, but start giving him or her strained vegetables and fruits, too.

What should you feed your baby first?
Feed your baby breast milk or formula with iron first. Next, feed your baby cereal for babies. And then feed him or her strained vegetables or fruits.

Can you make your baby's cereal for babies thicker?

Yes. You can make the cereal thicker by adding less breast milk or formula to the cereal. This will help your baby get used to eating foods that feel different. Give your baby about 45 to 75 milliliters, or 3 to 5 tablespoons, of cereal for babies at each feeding. Feed him or her cereal for babies 2 times a day.

How will you know if your baby has an allergy to a food?
To find out if you baby has any allergies to food, feed your baby 1 new food at a time. Then wait 3 to 7 days before you start another new food. This way, if your baby has an allergy to a food, you will know which food causes the allergy.

Watch your baby for signs of an allergy, such as watery pooh, called diarrhea, throwing up, rashes, or wheezing. If your baby has any of these signs of an allergy, talk to your doctor or dietitian about them.

Start with 1 kind of vegetables first, such as strained peas, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, or green beans. When you are sure that your baby has no allergies to any 1 vegetable, then give him or her foods with 2 or more vegetables.

Next, start feeding your baby strained fruits such as applesauce, bananas, peaches, plums, or pears.

How much strained vegetable or fruit should you feed your baby?
Start feeding your baby 5 milliliters, which is 1 teaspoon, of strained vegetables or fruits at each feeding. Within a few days your baby will be ready for more.

Slowly give your baby more strained vegetables or fruits at each feeding. Your baby should get 15 to 30 milliliters, which is 1 to 2 tablespoons, of strained vegetables or fruits once a day by 7 months.

Can you make your own strained vegetables and fruits?
Yes. You can use a blender to make your own strained vegetables and fruits from the fresh or frozen foods that you buy for yourself. Or you can buy jars of strained vegetables and fruits.

Do not give your baby strained vegetables and fruits that you make from canned vegetables and fruits. These foods are not good for your baby because they may have too much salt or sugar.

Do not add sugar or salt to your baby's food.

Will your baby need extra fluoride for healthy teeth?
If your water at home has little fluoride, you may need to give your baby fluoride when he or she is 6 months to 2 years old. Fluoride helps your baby grow strong healthy teeth. Ask your doctor or dietitian if your baby needs to take fluoride.

Knowing How Much to Feed Your Baby Every Day
Every baby is different. Your baby may need more breast milk, formula with iron, or food at each feeding, or more feedings in a day.

Use this list to get an idea about how much you should feed your baby at different times during the day. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Remember, this is only a suggestion.

• If you feed your baby breast milk, do not measure it. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Your baby knows when he or she has had enough.
• If you feed your baby formula with iron, feed your baby 180 to 240 milliliters, which is 6 to 8 ounces, of formula during every feeding.
• Feed your baby breast milk or formula with iron at these times every day:
  • early morning
  • breakfast
  • lunch
  • supper
  • evening, if you wish
• Also feed your baby 45 to 75 milliliters, or 3 to 5 tablespoons, of cereal for babies at breakfast and supper.
• Also feed your baby 15 to 30 milliliters, or 1 to 2 tablespoons, of strained vegetables at lunch.
• Also feed your baby 15 to 30 milliliters, or 1 to 2 tablespoons, of strained fruits at supper.

This section explains what to feed your baby when he or she is 7 to 9 months old.

Start Feeding Your Baby Strained Meat and Mashed Foods

Sometime when your baby is between 7 and 9 months old, he or she will start chewing and closing the lips around a cup. When your baby does this, he or she is ready to eat mashed foods and strained meats, and drink breast milk, formula, or juice from a cup. (Strained meat is a thick liquid food made from pieces of regular meat).

Feeding Your Baby Breast Milk, Formula, and Other Drinks
At this age your baby can have fruit juices such as apple, grape, or cranapple in a cup.

Babies like fruit juice. So make sure your baby gets all the breast milk, formula, or food he or she should have first. And be careful about the amount of fruit juice, pop or soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, or drinks made from powder that you give your baby.

Also, do not give your baby herbal teas.

Sometimes your baby may be thirsty only and not hungry. If your baby is gaining weight and growing well, you can give your baby water when he or she is thirsty.

Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods
Start feeding your baby solid foods such as strained meat, chicken, veal, beef, fish, tofu, and well cooked beans.

Start feeding your baby solid foods such as mashed vegetables and fruits.

How much solid food should you feed your baby?
Start by feeding your baby 5 milliliters, or 1 teaspoon, of solid foods. Then slowly give your baby more till he or she is eating about

• 15 to 30 milliliters, or 1 to 2 tablespoons, of strained meat, chicken, veal, beef, fish, and tofu and well cooked beans.
  and
• 30 to 45 milliliters, or 2 to 3 tablespoons, of mashed vegetables and fruits

You can give your baby cooked egg yolks. But do not feed him or her egg white until he or she is 1 year old. Your baby could have an allergy to egg whites.

What can you feed your baby when he or she is teething?
If your baby is teething, give him or her dry toast. Dry toast helps your baby learn how to chew and may help make teething easier. If you buy your baby teething biscuits, choose biscuits with no sugar.

What should you feed your baby first?
Feed your baby strained meats, and mashed vegetables and fruits first. Then give him or her breast milk or formula with iron.

Knowing How Much to Feed Your Baby Every Day
Every baby is different. Your baby may need more breast milk or formula at each feeding, or more feedings in a day.

Use this list to get an idea about how much you should feed your baby at different times during the day. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Remember, this is only a suggestion.

• If you feed your baby breast milk, do not measure it. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Your baby knows when he or she has had enough.
• If you feed your baby formula with iron, feed your baby 180 to 240 milliliters, which is 6 to 8 ounces, of formula during every feeding.
• Feed your baby breast milk or formula with iron at these times every day:
  • early morning
  • breakfast
  • lunch
  • supper
• Also feed your baby 60 to 90 milliliters, or 4 to 6 tablespoons, of cereal for babies at breakfast and supper.
• Also feed your baby 30 to 45 milliliters, or 2 to 3 tablespoons, of mashed fruits at breakfast, lunch and supper.
• Also feed your baby 30 to 45 milliliters, or 2 to 3 tablespoons, of mashed vegetables at lunch and supper.
• Also feed your baby 15 to 30 milliliters, or 1 to 2 tablespoons, of strained chicken, beef, veal, fish, tofu or well cooked beans at lunch.

This section explains what to feed your baby when he or she is 9 months to 1 year old.

Start Feeding Your Baby Finger Foods
At 9 months to 1 year old, your baby will start to pick up food, put it in the mouth, and chew it. When your baby does this, he or she is ready for finger foods. (Finger foods are foods that your baby can eat with the fingers.)

Your baby can have food that you would eat at the table if the food is soft and cut up into small pieces. Your baby will like to feed himself or herself. So give your baby food that he or she can hold.

Do not feed your baby foods that are low in fat or calories. Your baby needs the calories and fat in foods to grow strong and healthy.

 Feeding Your Baby Breast Milk, Formula, and Other Drinks
After your baby is 9 months old and is eating many different baby foods, such as cereal for babies with iron and meats, your baby can have whole milk. (Whole milk is also called homo or homogenized milk.)

Give your baby whole milk rather than skim milk, 1% milk, or 2% milk. Your baby needs the calories and fat in whole milk to grow strong and healthy.

Do not give your baby unpasteurized milk. (Unpasteurized milk is milk that has not been treated to get rid of germs.) Unpasteurized milk can cause diarrhea and other severe health problems.

Keep giving your baby breast milk or formula with iron until he or she is 9 months to 1 year old.

Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods
 Start feeding your baby solid foods such as ground or chopped chicken, beef, and veal, fish, and tofu, and well-cooked beans.

You can also start feeding your baby milk products such as grated cheese, mashed cottage cheese, and plain yogurt.

Keep feeding your baby cereal for babies until he or she is 11/2 to 2 years old to make sure that he or she gets enough iron.

After your baby is 1 year old, you can give him or her cooked egg whites and cooked egg yolks.

Your baby should be eating lots of different foods from all 4 food groups:

1. food made with grains, such as cereals and breads
2. vegetables and fruit
3. food made with milk, such as cheese and yogurt
4. meat and foods that can take the place of meat, such as tofu and beans

What kinds of foods should you feed your baby?
These are some safe and healthy foods that your baby may like to eat

• soft pieces of fruit, such as bananas or melons with the seeds out
• bread crusts, toast, and unsalted crackers
• pieces of soft cooked vegetables, such as cooked carrots, squash, and the flowers of broccoli, and boiled or mashed potatoes
• soft pieces of cheese
• Cheerios or other cereals that do not have sugar in them
• rice, pasta, and casseroles
• ground or chopped chicken, beef, and veal, fish, and tofu and well cooked mashed beans

What foods should you not feed your baby?
Do not feed your child these foods because they have too much salt or sugar. They also do not have much food value.

• iced cakes or cookies
• cereal with sugar already on it
• chocolate
• salted snack foods, such as potato chips, salted crackers, cheesies
• fried foods
• flavoured drinks, such as Tang, Crystal Light, Kool-Aid, Gatorade, Sunny Delight, and soft drinks

Do not feed these foods to babies. These foods could harm your child. They could cause your baby to choke.

• fruit with seeds or pits, such as berries, grapes, and cherries
• raw hard fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, apples, pears, celery
• popcorn, peanuts, and other nuts and seeds
• hot dogs
• gum, suckers, small round or chewy candies, and hard candies
• peanut butter on its own, for example on a spoon or a finger

Are any of these foods safe to feed your baby?
Some of these foods can be safe if you get them ready properly. It is OK to feed you baby these foods if you do this:

• chop or cut hot dogs lengthwise
• spread peanut butter thinly on bread or crackers
• grate carrots and other fruits and vegetables
• take out the pits and seeds from fruits
• chop grapes, cherries, and berries

Knowing How Much to Feed Your Baby Every Day
Every baby is different. Your baby may need more breast milk or formula at each feeding, or more feedings in a day.

Use this list to get an idea about how much you should feed your baby at different times during the day. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Remember, this is only a suggestion.

• If you feed your baby breast milk, do not measure it. Watch for your baby's signs of hunger and fullness. Your baby knows when he or she has had enough.
• If you feed your baby formula with iron, feed your baby 180 to 240 milliliters, which is 6 to 8 ounces, of formula during every feeding.
• Feed your baby breast milk or formula with iron at these times every day:
  • breakfast
  • lunch
  • supper
  • in the evening, if you wish
• Also feed your baby 60 to 90 milliliters, or 4 to 6 tablespoons, of cereal for babies at breakfast.
• Also feed your baby 30 to 60 milliliters, or 2 to 4 tablespoons, of soft ripe fruit at breakfast, lunch and supper.
• Also feed your baby 30 to 60 milliliters, or 2 to 4 tablespoons, of soft cooked vegetables at lunch and supper.
• Also feed your baby 30 to 60 milliliters, or 2 to 4 tablespoons, of ground or chopped chicken, beef, veal, fish, tofu or well cooked beans at lunch and supper.
• Also feed your baby 60 to 90 milliliters, or 4 to 6 tablespoons, of pasta or rice at supper.
• If you wish, as a morning snack, feed your baby 60 milliliters, or ¼ cup, of Cheerios or other cereals and fruit juice or water.
• If you wish, as an afternoon snack, feed your baby 30 to 60 milliliters, or 2 to 4 tablespoons, of yogurt, cottage cheese, or other cheeses and fruit juice or water.