Feeding your baby in the first year is a journey of new experiences. It's not just about food; it's also about creating healthy eating habits. Let's explore some tips to make this journey exciting and enjoyable.
How often to feed your baby
Your baby knows when they're hungry or full and will let you know. In the beginning, you will be breastfeeding 8-12 times per day, about 15-45 minutes each. Formula-fed babies may feed 6-10 times a day. If feeding takes longer, talk to your doctor or Lactation Consultant for help. As your baby tries solid foods, they'll naturally drink less milk, so be prepared for that change.
Learning your baby's hunger and fullness cues
Babies have ways of showing hunger. Here are signs to look out for:
- Smacking lips
- Reaching or leaning toward the breast or bottle
- Pointing at the spoon, food, or your hand
- Bringing hands to mouth and self-soothing by sucking their own hands
Missing these cues can make feeding tough, so try to catch them early.
How can you tell when your baby is full? Keep an eye out for these signs:
- Pulling away from the breast, bottle, or spoon
- Getting drowsy and falling asleep
- Changing position, shaking their head, or keeping their mouth closed tightly
- Handing food back to the feeder, signaling they've had enough
These cues are your baby's way of saying, "Thanks, but I'm all done!" Pay close attention, respect their signals, and never force-feed or chase them with a spoon.
When your baby may be ready for solid foods
Your baby's readiness depends on their growth. Look for signs like sitting without support, good head control, interest in your food, and accepting a spoon. These things usually happen around the time your baby has reached double their birth weight. Always check with your pediatrician before starting solids.
Guidelines for feeding solid foods
1. Start small, then increase gradually
Begin with small amounts of new foods — try a teaspoon at first — and slowly work your way up to a tablespoon. Go at your baby’s pace. Remember, you don’t want to force-feed.
2. Home-made or store-bought?
Both can be healthy. Look for single-ingredient foods and start a new food group every 3-5 days. Variety is important!
3. Nutrient-rich goodness
Meats and veggies have key nutrients. Fruits and whole-grain cereals do too! Offering your baby a variety of foods from different food groups ensures they will have enough nutrients to grow.
4. Juice
Your baby doesn’t need juice. Hold off on fruit juices for infants under one year old. When your baby is ready, with your pediatrician’s permission, try pasteurized, 100% fruit juices without added sugar. Limit it to 4 ounces a day and dilute it with water. Serve juice in a cup during mealtime.
5. Stay hydrated
Typically, healthy babies don't need extra water, except in very hot weather. As you introduce solid food, your baby might need extra sips of water. It’s important to talk to your pediatrician about the appropriate amounts of water before you begin to offer it.
6. Finger foods
When your baby can bring food to their mouth, slowly decrease mashed baby foods and try more finger foods. All food must be soft, easy to swallow, and cut into small pieces. Get ready for some cute self-feeding moments!
7. Mealtime vibes
Keep mealtime simple — around 15 to 20 minutes or so — and reduce distractions like TV, tablets, and phones. It's all about focusing on the delicious bites!
8. The magic number of meals
Most babies should have about three solid meals at 9 months and 2-3 snacks which, for a while, may be breastmilk or formula.
The foods: what to offer and what to avoid
Let's talk about what foods to offer your baby and what you need to be careful with. All the foods you offer need to be easy to chew and swallow since your baby is just learning those skills and has a high risk of choking. Offer these:
- Meat, fish, chicken, pork that is chopped or mashed
- Mashed beans
- Avocado
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Tofu
- Mashed or chopped fruits and veggies
- Whole grain breads, crackers, tortillas
- Oatmeal
Avoid choking hazards:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Popcorn
- Chips
- Pretzels
- Raw fruits and veggies
- Raisins
- Whole grapes
- Hot dog chunks
- Sticky foods like marshmallows, gummy candy and gum
Extra tips to keep in mind
- Don't warm your baby's bottle or food in the microwave. It can lead to burns in their mouths. Try warming bottles in a pan of warm water or under a stream of warm tap water instead. Give it a good shake to ensure even heating.
- Always feed your baby in an upright position with a spoon. For babies with special needs, ask your doctor or therapists for adaptive feeding strategies.
- Avoid letting your baby fall asleep with a bottle. It can cause milk to sit in their mouths, lead to tooth decay, and it may increase the risk of ear infections.
- By your baby's first birthday, it's time to bid farewell to the bottle. Help your little one transition to cups.
- Always keep an eye on your baby while they eat. Make sure they sit down during meals and are supervised.
- Research shows that delaying allergenic foods like peanuts, eggs, and fish doesn’t reduce the risk of food allergies. In fact, introducing certain foods early, like peanuts and eggs, might decrease the risk of an allergy. Please talk to your pediatrician for advice.