The following article has been taken from www.babyzone.com. I found this article to be incredibly interesting and thought it would be helpful for parents to use as a guide as to what and how much to feed their babies. Remember, this is a recommendation, every baby is different and you should always consult your baby’s pediatrician before making changes to their diet.
Gregory S. Germain, MD, FAAP, is a practicing pediatrician in New Haven, Connecticut, and the proud father of three children, ages nine, five, and three. He is on the teaching staff at both the Yale School of Medicine and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He has been in practice as a general pediatrician for 12 years.
Breast Milk & Formula
The cornerstone of your baby’s nutrition for the first year, breast milk and formula contain all the protein, fat, calcium, vitamins, and minerals Baby needs up to that first birthday. In year two, breast milk provides a nutritional safety net, including bonus protein, calcium, and vitamins A and D necessary for a growing toddler.
How much breastmilk or formula does your child need per day?
0 to 4 months: 21-24 oz (6-12 feedings, about 2-4 oz each)
4 to 6 months: 24-32 oz (4-6 feedings, about 4-8 oz each)
6 to 8 months: 24-32 oz (4-5 feedings, about 5-8 oz each)
8 to 10 months: 24-32 oz (3-4 feedings, about 6-8 oz each)
10 to 12 months: 20-32 oz (3-4 feedings, about 5-8 oz each)
12 to 24 months*: 16-24 oz breastmilk if still nursing, although no formula is necessary (1-4 breastfeedings daily, sometimes more)
*If Mom is still breastfeeding past the first birthday, bravo! That said, formula is not recommended except in rare circumstances. Remember, toddlers past their first birthday are usually drinking whole milk as their main liquid source of nutrition.
Cereals & Grains
Critical for maintaining infant and toddler energy levels, this group contains the complex carbohydrates, vitamins (B complex), minerals (zinc and magnesium), and fiber your child needs to roll, crawl, and walk.
How much grain does your child need per day?
0 to 4 months: None
4 to 6 months: 3-4 tbsp (Offer Baby iron-fortified cereals, usually starting with rice)
6 to 8 months: 4 tbsp or more (Choose iron-fortified cereals, specifically)
8 to 10 months: 4 tbsp or more (Consider iron-fortified cereals and finger foods such as teething biscuits, pasta, puffs, and crackers)
10 to 12 months: 4 tbsp or more (Consider iron-fortified cereals and finger foods such as teething biscuits, pizza crusts, or 1-2 slices of bread per day)
12 to 24 months: 6 or more servings (One serving equals 1/2 slice bread, 1/4 cup dry cereal, 1/3 cup cooked cereal, 1/2 bagel or muffin, 1/3 cup cooked rice or pasta. Continue the infant cereals 2 times / day for the extra iron)
Vegetables
Your mom wasn’t lying: Kids need veggies for the vitamins (A, B, and C), trace minerals, fiber, and protein that will help them grow taller, stronger, smarter—even cuter!
How many veggies does your child need every day?
0 to 6 months: None
6 to 8 months: Start with 1 tbsp per meal, work up to 4-5 tbsp per day (Choose strained veggies or stage 1 veggies)
8 to 10 months: 4 tbsp or more (Offer cooked veggie pieces, none bigger than your child’s thumbnail. Shoot for the consistency of canned carrots)
10 to 12 months: 4 to 8 tbsp (Split each day’s veggie allotment into one to two types of veggies)
12 to 24 months: 3 servings (One serving equals 1/4 -1/2 cup cooked or raw veggies
Fruit
Sweet and nutritious, whole fruits are full of the vitamins and fiber important to a child’s digestive well-being and overall health.
How much fruit does your child need per day?
0 to 6 months: None
6 to 8 months: Start with 1 tbsp per meal, work up to 4-5 tbsp per day (Choose strained fruits or stage 1 fruit)
8 to 10 months: 4 tbsp or more (Offer cooked fruit pieces, none bigger than your child’s thumbnail. Shoot for the consistency of a baked apple)
10 to 12 months: 8 to 12 tbsp (Split each day’s fruit allotment into one to two types of fruit)
12 to 24 months: 2-4 servings (One serving equals 1/4 cup canned fruit, 1/2 cup fresh fruit, 4 oz of 100% fruit juice)
Meat/Protein
The job of protein in your child’s diet will help her grow up big and strong. Protein (along with the iron, B vitamins, and zinc in these foods) builds muscle.
How much protein does your child need each day?
0 to 8 months: None
8 to 10 months: 1 tbsp (Offer cooked, pureed meats or poultry, cheese cubes, tofu, or egg yolk)
10 to 12 months: 2-4 tbsp (Offer cooked, pureed meats or poultry, cheese cubes, tofu, or egg yolk)
12 to 24 months: 2-3 servings (One serving equals 2 tbsp cooked meat, fish, or poultry, 1 egg, 1/4 cup cooked beans. Shoot for protein portions the size of your child’s palm, 2-3 times a day)
Water
A child’s body is more than 70 percent water! Learning to stay hydrated and developing a taste for water early is an important step towards good health.
How much water does your child need daily?
0 to 4 months: None
4 to 24 months: 4 or more oz
Cow’s Milk
After your child reaches one year of age, the calcium, vitamins A and D, and protein in cow’s milk provide the bulk of his calcium needs. Growing bones need calcium and the foundation for strong bones is formed now!
How much cow’s milk does your child need each day?
0 to 10 months: None
10 to 12 months: 1 serving (Equal to 1/2 cup whole milk yogurt or 3/4 ounce cheese)
12 to 24 months: 2-3 servings per day (One serving equals 1/2 cup whole milk, 1/2 cup yogurt, or 3/4 ounce cheese)
Golden Rules of Feeding Infants
1. Unless your infant is constipated, fruit juice is unnecessary. Juice has too many empty calories, too much sugar. Breast milk, formula, and water (after four months) are all the liquid your baby needs.
2. Foods to avoid until (at least) one year of age: honey (infection risk); citrus fruits, strawberries, egg whites, peanut butter, fish, and shellfish (allergy risk); whole or low-fat milk in bottle or cup (wrong nutrients for this age, plus a potential allergy risk).
3. Starting solid foods has little to do with developmental readiness these days. Introducing complex solids at six months of age, rather than much earlier, may help to reduce your child’s risk of later food allergies. For many infants, developmental readiness occurs much younger than six months of age but should be delayed no matter how excited Grandma is to begin the big boy/girl feedings.
