Infant Feeding Guide
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Feeding
a 0-3
Month Old
Feeding a 0-3 Month Old
Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.
Breast Milk
Breastfeed 8-12 times in 24 hours to help your newborn stay healthy.
Nurse on-demand and when your newborn shows signs of hunger, such as sucking on hands or smacking lips.
Infant Formula
Your baby’s tummy can hold about 2 to 3 ounces at a time.
They will want to eat 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.
Feed them every 1½ to 3 hours.
Feeding a 4-5
Month Old
Feeding a 4-5 Month Old
Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.
Breast Milk
Nurse your baby on-demand, at least 7-9 times in 24 hours.
When your baby starts teething, they may want to nurse more often.
Infant Formula
25-45 oz. in 24 hours.
Your baby needs about 4-6 oz. of formula every 3-4 hours.
Your baby may start to feed on a schedule. Instead of focusing on fixed amounts, let your baby tell you when they have had enough.
Feeding a 6-7
Month Old
Feeding a 6-7 Month Old
Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.
Breast Milk
Continue to nurse on-demand, about 4-6 times in 24 hours.
Babies may experience a growth spurt around 6 months of age and may feed more often.
Offer breast milk in a cup.
Infant Formula
24-32 oz. per day of infant formula.
Offer formula in a cup.
Grains
Use breast milk or formula to prepare 2-4 Tbsp. iron-fortified infant cereal. Offer twice per day.
2-4 Tbsp. of small pieces of dry bread, baby crackers, and cereal. Offer twice per day.
Vegetables
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Cooked, pureed, mashed vegetables.
Fruits
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Cooked, pureed, mashed fruits. Applesauce, pureed peaches, or mashed banana.
Proteins
2-4 Tbsp. per day.
Plain strained, mashed, or pureed meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or legumes.
May add smooth whole milk yogurt.
Thinned, smooth peanut or nut butter.
Feeding a 8-9
Month Old
Feeding a 8-9 Month Old
Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.
Breast Milk
Continue nursing on-demand, at least 4 times in 24 hours.
If your baby seems less interested in nursing after you introduce solids, try nursing before you offer solids.
Offer breast milk in a cup.
Infant Formula
24-32 oz. per day.
Offer formula in a cup.
Grains
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Plain iron-fortified infant cereals. Plain rice or pasta.
Baby crackers, small pieces of bread, or soft tortillas.
Vegetables
8-12 Tbsp. per day.
Plain cooked vegetables, mashed with a fork.
Fruits
8-12 Tbsp. per day.
Peeled soft fruit in bite-size pieces.
Unsweetened canned fruit.
Proteins
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Finely ground, chopped, or diced meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or cooked mashed beans.
Cottage cheese or mild cheese.
Thinned, smooth peanut or nut butter.
Feeding a
10-12 Month
Old
Feeding a 10-12 Month Old
Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.
Breast Milk
Continue to nurse on-demand, 3 or more times per day.
Infant Formula
16-24 oz. per day.
Offer formula in a cup.
Grains
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Unsweetened, mixed, and high protein cereals.
Dry toast, crackers, bread, bagels, rolls, or plain muffins.
Cooked rice and noodles.
Vegetables
8-12 Tbsp. per day.
Cooked bite-size vegetable pieces.
Fruits
8-12 Tbsp. per day.
Fresh fruits, peeled, and in bite-size portions.
Proteins
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Finely ground, chopped, or diced meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or cooked mashed beans.
Thinned, smooth peanut butter or nut butter.
Tips
Tips
Breast milk and formula feeding:
Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.
As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.
To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.
Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.
Feeding solid foods:
Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:
- Can sit up and hold up their own head.
- Opens their mouth when they see food.
- Can close their lips around a spoon.
Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.
Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut or nut butter thinly on a cracker. Watch your baby for any reaction for the next two hours.
Babies under one year should NOT have honey or foods that can cause choking, like nuts or whole grapes.
All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.
Hunger and Fullness Cues
I'm Hungry
-
Stirring -
Mouth opening -
Turning head seeking/rooting
I'm Full
-
Releases or “falls off” -
Turns away -
Relaxes and opens
fists
