1 TO 1½ YEARS

I’m ready to learn how to eat most of the foods you do.

I need your help to learn how to be a good eater and DO IT BY MYSELF!

WHAT

  • Offer small servings of several foods that are easy for me to eat.
  • I need soft, tender, and moist foods like cooked vegetables and soft fruits.
  • I still love to come to the breast to breastfeed but expressed breast milk in a cup is great too!
HOW
  • Offer me foods from a small plate or bowl.
  • I want to choose if I use my fingers or my spoon. Please be patient if I am messy.
  • Cut my food into small, bite-sized pieces no bigger than your thumbnail.
WHEN
  • I do best with 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and 2 or 3 snacks. Let’s eat at the same times every day.
  • I only need water between meals and snacks. This way I will be hungry – but not too hungry – when it is time for the next meal or snack.
WHERE
  • Eat with me. I need your help and I learn a lot during family meals. Our time together is special. I feel so loved when you pay attention to me.
  • Let me eat at the table with everyone else. I need to be safe, sitting up, supported, and buckled in a highchair.
Let me decide which and how much of the foods you offer.
Please don’t force me to eat more or less than I want.

Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on my plate.

Breakfast

¼ cup diced kiwi
½ slice, cut up whole grain toast
½ cooked, cut up egg
½ cup breast milk or whole milk

Lunch

½ medium, sliced banana
½ cup cooked, chopped green beans
¼ cup cooked brown rice
½ cup breast milk or whole milk

Snacks

snack
½ cup dry cereal
2 to 3 whole grain crackers with cheese
½ graham cracker
water between meals and snacks

Dinner

¼ cup diced strawberries
½ cup mashed peas
¼ cup cooked whole grain pasta
2 tablespoons baked, chopped chicken
½ cup breast milk or whole milk

Daily Suggested Food Group Amounts

FRUITS

2 servings a day
1 serving = ½ cup
(1 cup total)

Cooked or soft, raw fruit.

Mashed, sliced, or chopped.

Offer a variety: red, yellow, orange, blue, and green.

VEGETABLES

2 servings a day
1 serving = ½ cup
(1 cup total)

Cooked and mashed, sliced, or chopped veggies.

Offer a variety: dark green, orange, red, yellow, and purple.

GRAINS

6 servings a day
1 serving = ½ ounce
(3 ounces total)

Bite-sized pieces.

Whole grain bread, tortillas, rice, or noodles.

Dry or cooked cereal.

PROTEINS

2 servings a day
1 serving = 1 ounce
(2 ounces total)

Cooked, chopped meat, poultry, or fish.

Eggs.

Cooked, mashed beans, or peas.

Peanut butter.

DAIRY

4 servings a day
1 serving = ½ cup
(2 cups total)

Breast milk (at breast or expressed) or whole milk.

Yogurt.

Cheese.

Look what I can do!

  • I can drink from a small, plastic cup at meals and snacks.
  • I am learning how to use a spoon.
  • I love learning how to walk with you.
  • I may know how to say some words. Please read, talk, and sing to me so I can learn more.

Keep me safe and healthy.

Please DON’T give me foods I could choke on like whole nuts, whole grapes, seeds, hot dogs, or hard candies.

I need check-ups and shots to stay healthy. I should visit the doctor at 12 months, 15 months, and 18 months.

Brush my teeth twice a day with a small, soft toothbrush and water.

Be with me during screen time and interact with me. Remember, to schedule plenty of non-screen time into my day.

hand-expierence

HAND EXPRESSION

How it works

Use your hand to gently massage and compress your breast to remove milk.

What’s Involved

  • Requires practice, skill, and coordination.
  • Gets easier with practice and can be as fast as pumping.
  • Good if you are not often away from your baby or you need an option that is always with you. All moms should know how to hand express, in case they need to do it unexpectedly.

Average Cost

Free

Side-Lying

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You want to rest while baby feeds
  • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
cross-cradle

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is premature
  • Your baby has a weak suck
  • Your baby needs help to stay latched
  • Your baby needs extra head support
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Football

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You have large breasts
  • You have flat or inverted nipples
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You are breastfeeding twins
  • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
  • Your baby has reflux
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
CRADLE hold

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby needs help latching on
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
laid-back

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You have large breasts
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position