Feeding your baby is a crucial part of their development and well-being, but it can also be confusing and overwhelming for new parents. Deciding between breastfeeding or formula feeding and introducing solid foods are important choices when nourishing your little one.
According to the National Institutes of Health, healthy nutrition during the first years of life is crucial for proper growth and development. Feeding babies not only provides essential nutrients but also impacts their immune system and cognitive development.
As your baby grows and develops, their nutritional needs change, making it important to understand what and how much to feed them at each stage. In this age-by-age guide, we will cover everything you need to know about feeding your baby from newborn to toddler.
In This Article
Baby’s Nutritional Needs
Understanding your baby’s nutritional needs is a fundamental part of raising a healthy child. From birth through to toddlerhood, the dietary requirements of a child change significantly. In the earliest stages of life, most babies get their nutrition from breast milk or infant formula. These provide essential nutrients that are necessary for the baby’s growth and development.
However, as the baby grows, their nutritional needs change. Around the six-month mark, it’s time to introduce solid foods, marking a significant shift in their diet. Baby food at this stage should be rich in iron, as the natural stores start depleting around this age. As your baby becomes a toddler, their diet should include a wider range of foods to ensure they receive all the necessary nutrients.
Throughout these stages, consulting with a child’s doctor is crucial. Pediatricians have specialized knowledge about infant and child nutrition, and they can provide personalized advice based on your baby’s growth and health status. They can help you introduce new foods gradually, manage allergies or intolerances, and ensure your child has a balanced diet.
Baby Feeding Chart by Age
| Baby’s Age | Typical Quantity of Breast Milk/Formula Per Feeding | Anticipated Daily Feedings |
| Newborns | 1 to 2 ounces | 8 to 12 feedings |
| For 2 weeks | 2 to 3 ounces | 8 to 12 feedings |
| For 1 month old | 3 to 4 ounces | 8 to 10 feedings |
| For 2-3 months old | 4 to 5 ounces | 6 to 8 feedings |
| For 4-5 months old | 4 to 6 ounces | 6 to 8 feedings |
| For 6 to 12 months old | 7 to 8 ounces | 4 to 6 feedings |
Feeding Schedule for Baby
Feeding your baby can feel like a complex puzzle. The right feeding schedule can depend on whether your baby is breastfed or formula-fed, their age, and their individual needs. Here, we’ll outline feeding schedules for breastfed and formula-fed babies.
Breast Milk Feeding Schedule:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), newborn babies should ideally breastfeed 8–12 times per day for the first month. This frequent feeding is due to the fact that breast milk is easily digested, resulting in newborns getting hungry often. As your baby grows, the frequency of feeding changes.
From 1 to 2 months, your baby will likely feed 8 to 9 times in a 24-hour period. By the time they reach 3 months old, feedings usually take place 6 to 8 times in 24 hours. Once your baby reaches 6 months old, you may continue to include about 7 ounces of breast milk in their feeding schedule. This can be spread across three to five feedings per day.
Formula Feeding Schedule:
For a formula-fed baby, the feeding schedule and amount differ slightly. Most newborns eat every two to three hours and drink 1 to 2 ounces of formula per feeding. At about 2 months of age, babies usually take 4 to 5 ounces per feeding every 3 to 4 hours.
When your baby becomes 6 months old, you can continue to provide around 7 ounces of formula across three to five feedings per day. Always consult with a pediatrician for personalized advice regarding your baby’s nutrition.
Note: It’s important to note that cow’s milk should not be introduced before the baby is 12 months old because it lacks the necessary nutrients present in breast milk and formula.
Newborn (0-3 months) Feeding Guide
Feeding your newborn can be challenging as they require frequent feeding and may have difficulty latching or drinking from a bottle. Here are some tips to help you navigate this stage:
Breast Milk or Formula as Primary Nutrition Source:
For the first four months, whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, the nutrients in breast milk or formula are all your baby needs. Breast milk is an optimal source of nutrition tailored to meet your baby’s needs, but the formula also provides essential nutrients when breastfeeding isn’t an option.
How much per day?
Newborns typically need to eat every two to three hours. If you’re breastfeeding, this equates to about 8 to 12 feedings a day. Since breast milk is easily digested, breastfed babies often get hungry more quickly than formula-fed babies.
If you’re feeding your baby formula, they’ll likely take between 1 to 2 ounces every two to three hours during the first few weeks. This quantity gradually increases to 3 to 4 ounces per feeding by the end of the first month.
Feeding tips for newborns:
- Hold your baby in an upright position while feeding to avoid choking or getting too much milk at once.
- Burp your baby after each feeding to help release any gas trapped in their stomach.
- Don’t force your baby to finish a bottle or breastfeed if they seem full. Let them follow their natural hunger cues.
- Avoid overfeeding by not giving your newborn more than they want. This can cause discomfort and may lead to excessive weight gain.
- If breastfeeding, make sure your baby is properly latched on to avoid nipple soreness for you and to ensure they are getting enough milk.
Infant (4-6 months) Feeding Guide
Feeding your baby during the 4-6 month period is a pivotal stage, as it often marks the introduction of solid foods in their diet. Here’s a guide to help you navigate this exciting time.
Introducing Solid Foods
Around 4-6 months, your baby will start showing signs that they are ready for solid foods. This includes being able to hold their head up and sit in a high chair, showing an interest in solid food, and no longer having the tongue-thrust reflex (pushing food out of the mouth with their tongue).
What to Feed?
Start with protein-rich foods like rice cereal, applesauce, or mashed sweet potatoes and bananas. Wait a few days between introducing new foods to watch for any signs of allergies. As your baby gets used to eating solids, you can gradually introduce more variety and textures.
How much per day?
At this stage, your baby will still primarily receive nutrition from breast milk or formula. Solid foods are just a supplement, so start with small amounts (1-2 tablespoons) once a day and gradually increase to 3 meals a day by 6 months.
Feeding Tips for Infants:
- Always offer breast milk or formula before solid foods to ensure your baby is getting proper nutrition.
- Use soft utensils and be patient as your baby learns to eat from a spoon.
- Start with purees, but gradually introduce more textured foods as your baby gets used to eating solids.
- Avoid giving honey or cow’s milk before 1 year of age, as they can be harmful to your baby’s health.
- Be mindful of potential choking hazards and avoid giving your baby hard or round nutritious foods until they are able to chew properly.
Baby (6-9 months) Feeding Guide
Around 6-9 months, your baby will continue to explore new foods and textures. If your baby eat solid foods is important to pay attention to their nutritional needs. However, healthy eating habits and preferences begin to develop during this stage, so it’s important to offer a variety of nutritious foods. Here are some things to keep in mind;
What to feed?
Introduce soft finger foods like cooked and peeled sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, or small pieces of soft fruits and vegetables. You can also offer mashed or chopped versions of what the rest of the family is eating.
How much per day?
Your baby should be consuming around 7 ounces of breast milk or formula per day at this stage. Offer solid food twice a day, gradually increasing to three meals a day by 9 months.
Feeding Tips for Babies:
- Keep introducing new foods and textures to expand your baby’s palate.
- Offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins to provide a well-rounded diet.
- Encourage self-feeding by offering small pieces of soft finger foods that your baby can easily pick up and eat.
- Continue to offer breast milk or formula before meals to ensure proper nutrition.
- Avoid offering sugary or processed foods, as they do not provide the necessary nutrients for your baby’s growth and development.
Toddler (9-12 months) Feeding Guide
As your baby approaches their first birthday, they are becoming more independent and assertive. This can make feeding a bit challenging, but it’s important to continue offering a variety of nutritious foods and encouraging healthy eating habits.
What to feed?
By this point, your baby should be able to eat most of the foods that the rest of the family is eating, with some exceptions for choking hazards and potential allergies. Continue to offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and healthy fats.
How much per day?
Your baby should be consuming around 7-8 ounces of breast milk or formula per day. Offer solid foods three times a day, with snacks in between if needed.
Feeding Tips for Toddlers:
- Encourage self-feeding and let your toddler explore different textures and flavors.
- Continue to offer nutrient-dense foods, but allow your toddler to decide how much they want to eat. This helps them learn to listen to their own hunger and fullness cues.
- Offer water in a sippy cup throughout the day to keep your toddler hydrated.
- Limit sugary snacks and drinks, as it can lead to tooth decay and unhealthy eating habits.
- Be patient with picky eating habits, as this is a normal part of toddler development.
Tips to deal with Feeding Challenges
Sometimes, feeding your baby or toddler can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you navigate common feeding challenges:
- Keep meal times consistent and offer meals and snacks at the same time every day.
- Involve your child in meal preparation and grocery shopping to get them excited about trying new foods.
- Offer a variety of foods, including ones that you know they already like, to make sure they are getting proper nutrition.
- Avoid using food as a reward or punishment, as this can create unhealthy associations with food.
- Be patient and offer new baby solid foods multiple times before giving up on them. It may take several tries for your child to develop a taste for certain foods.
- Offer healthy options, but also allow for treats in moderation. Allowing your child to have some control over their food choices can prevent power struggles.
- Avoid distractions during meal times, such as screens or toys, to help your child stay focused on eating.
- Be a role model by eating a variety of healthy foods yourself and showing enjoyment in trying new things.
- If your child has a food allergy, make sure to read labels and communicate with caregivers to ensure their safety.
- Seek professional help if you are concerned about your child’s eating habits or nutrition.
Conclusion
In summary, a baby feeding guide is an important aspect of your child’s growth and development. From introducing solids at 6 months to navigating picky eating as a toddler, there are many factors to consider when feeding your child. By following these tips and guidelines, you can ensure that your child receives proper nutrition and develops healthy eating habits for life. Remember to always consult with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child’s eating habits.
FAQs
QUES: 1 At what age do you put a baby on a feeding schedule?
ANS: Babies can start to be on a more predictable feeding schedule around 2 to 4 months of age. However, it’s important that this is flexible as babies’ needs can vary day by day.
QUES: 2 Is breastfeeding every 3 hours enough?
ANS: Yes, breastfeeding every 3 hours is typically sufficient for most newborns. However, some babies might need feeding more frequently. It’s essential to respond to your baby’s hunger cues and consult with a pediatrician if you have concerns.
QUES: 3 How long is breast milk good for?
ANS: Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to four hours and in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
QUES: 4 Why is my baby still hungry after feeding?
ANS: Your baby may still seem hungry after feeding due to a growth spurt, not getting enough milk, or simply needing comfort. It’s also possible they might be teething or unwell.
