All babies will develop the skills to eat different food textures. Some babies may be ready for different textures or self-feeding sooner and some babies may need more time. All babies are different. Watch for your baby's cues for the next step. If you have questions or concerns, talk with your WIC staff or healthcare provider.
Feeding a 0-3
Month Old
Feeding a 0-3 Month Old
Newborns have tiny stomachs and need to be fed often. As they grow, babies can hold more milk so feedings may become further apart and take less time. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.
Breast Milk
Breastfeed every 1½-3 hours, or 8-12 times in 24 hours.
Infant Formula
In the first few days, newborns need 2-3 oz. of iron-fortified infant formula every 3-4 hours.
By the end of the first month, your newborn needs about 4 oz. every 4 hours.
Feeding a 4-5
Month Old
Feeding a 4-5 Month Old
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.
Breast Milk
Breastfeed your baby on-demand, at least 7-9 times in 24 hours.
If bottle feeding, offer a small amount at a time, about 4-6 oz.
When your baby starts teething, they may want to nurse more often.
Infant Formula
Your baby needs about 4-6 oz. of iron-fortified formula every 3-4 hours, a total of 25-45 oz. per day.
During growth spurts, at 2 to 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3-4 months, and 6 months, your baby may need to eat more often.
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 or baby food jar.
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
Offer 24-32 oz. per day of iron-fortified infant formula.
Offer formula in a cup.
Grains
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
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.
Smooth whole milk yogurt.
Smooth, creamy peanut butter, spread thin on a cracker or mixed with applesauce and cinnamon and spread on bread.
Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on my plate.
Breakfast
Breast milk or formula
3 Tbsp. mashed banana
2 Tbsp. prepared infant oatmeal cereal
Lunch
3 Tbsp. peas puree
Breast milk or formula
3 Tbsp. chicken puree
Snacks
3 Tbsp. apple puree
Breast milk or formula
Dinner
3 Tbsp. carrot puree
Breast milk or formula
2 Tbsp. prepared infant oatmeal cereal
Feeding a 8-9
Month Old
Feeding a 8-9 Month Old
As your baby grows and learns new eating skills, try different textures and foods.
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.
Smooth, creamy peanut butter, spread thin.
Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on my plate.
Breakfast
Breast milk or formula
2 Tbsp. prepared infant oatmeal cereal
2 Tbsp. scrambled eggs
Lunch
4 Tbsp. chopped raspberries
5 Tbsp. cooked, mashed peas
Breast milk or formula
2 Tbsp. cooked, chopped chicken
Snacks
2 Tbsp. chopped kiwi
Breast milk or formula
2 Tbsp. wheat bread, small pieces
Dinner
4 Tbsp. chopped, unsweetened canned pears
5 Tbsp. cooked, mashed sweet potato
Breast milk or formula
3 Tbsp. cooked, brown rice
2 Tbsp. cooked, mashed black beans
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. Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.
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.
Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on my plate.
Breakfast
3 Tbsp. diced strawberris
Breast milk or formula
2 Tbsp. dry cereal
Lunch
3 Tbsp. diced, unsweetened canned peaches
4 Tbsp. diced cooked broccoli
Breast milk or formula
3 Tbsp. canned salmon
Snacks
4 Tbsp. applesause
3 Tbsp. chopped, cooked carrots
Breast milk or formula
4 whole grain crackers
Dinner
3 Tbsp. cooked mixed vegetables
Breast milk or formula
3 Tbsp. chopped, cooked noodles
3 Tbsp. cooked mashed pinto beans
Tips
Tips
Feeding Breast Milk and Formula
Breast milk or formula is all your baby needs for the first six months of life. Your baby’s digestive system is not ready for anything else until about 6 months of age.
Feed your baby on-demand, when they show signs of hunger, like sucking on their hands or smacking their lips. Stop feeding when they show signs they are full, like turning their head away, relaxing their hands, or falling asleep.
If bottle feeding, offer a small amount at a time, about 2-3 oz. Don’t force your baby to finish a bottle.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, or longer, as desired by mother and baby.
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 3-5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.
Babies under one year should NOT have honey, cow’s milk or other non-dairy drinks, 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.
Early Cues
I'm Hungry
-
Stirring -
Mouth opening -
Turning head seeking/rooting
I'm Full
-
Sucking slows or stops -
Hands/arms relax -
Turns or pushes away
Introducing Peanut Butter:
Mix peanut butter with water, formula, breast milk, or food:
- Thin 2 tsp. of peanut butter with 2-3 tsp. hot water, formula, or breast milk. Allow to cool before serving.
- Blend 2 tsp. of peanut butter into 2-3 Tbsp. of foods like infant cereal or pureed fruits, vegetables, chicken, or tofu.
