Baby Feeding Chart for the First Year

Do not give your baby solid foods unless your child's doctor or pediatrician advises you to do so. Solid foods should not be started before age 4 months because:

• Breast milk or formula provides your baby all the nutrients that are needed for growth.
• Your baby has not physically developed enough to eat solid food from a spoon.
• Feeding your baby solid food too early may lead to overfeeding and being overweight.

Baby Feeding Chart

Below is a general baby feeding chart that you can follow, from a newborn feeding chart up to 12 months.

After 4 to 6 months, you can introduce your baby to solid foods. Follow the chart below to see which foods are safe to feed your baby as they grow older. This chart is inclusive of all your baby’s food habits, from a 4 months baby food chart, to a 12-month baby or 1-year old feeding chart.

Advantages of Feeding Chart

Every baby is unique — but one thing that is consistent is that breastfed babies eat more frequently than bottle-fed ones. That is because breast milk is easily digested and empties from the stomach a lot quicker than formula.

Schedules and feeding charts are the holy grail of every parent. Your child will naturally start to fall into a feeding pattern as their tummy grows and they can take in more breast milk or formula at one sitting. This may begin to happen between 2 and 4 months of age.

You can determine when your baby is hungry based on the following cues:

• rooting around your chest, looking for a nipple.
• putting their fist in their mouth
• smacking or licking their lips
• fussing that can escalate quickly
  

Once your baby is a few months old, you may be able to introduce a sleep/feed schedule that works for you. For example, your 4-month-old wakes every 5 hours for a feeding. That means if you feed at 9 p.m., your baby wakes around 2 a.m. But if you wake and feed the baby at 11 p.m., just before you go to bed, they may not rouse until 4 a.m., giving you enough time for a good night’s sleep.

Healthy Foods for Baby

The healthiest food items for babies include:

• Breast Milk: This is one food that almost covers all aspects of nutrition for the first year of baby life. It is also indispensable in developing their immunity.
• Apples: Apple puree is known to be one of the best weaning foods for babies. Apples are filled with pectin, and many other minerals and vitamins.
• Avocados: They are full of good fat and extremely high in protein, more than any other fruit/vegetable.
• Iron-Fortified Cereal: The easiest way to build up on iron is through cereals. Any of the iron-rich cereals like rice, oatmeal and barley are good for your baby.
• Red Meat: Source of protein, iron, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and zinc.
• Broccoli: A superb source of vitamin C, but they should be steamed or microwaved because boiling eliminates half the vitamin. They also contain beta-carotene, folic acid, iron, potassium, and fiber.
• Beets: They contain vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and folic acid.
• Sweet Potatoes: They provide potassium, vitamin C, and fibre. They are also naturally sweet and can be cooked in a variety of different ways. You can include this vegetable in your 6 to 9-month-old baby food chart.
• Bananas: High source of carbohydrates and fiber. These can be introduced in your 4-month-old baby food chart. These are easy to mash and good for fuss-free feeding.
• Prunes: A soft and sweet treat that aids in digestion and constipation. You can introduce them in a 6-to-1- 10-month baby food chart.
• Carrots: A sweet, versatile vegetable packed with beta-carotene and vitamin A that can be pureed, mixed with fruit, or served with grain and lentils.

Please be aware that the information given in these articles is only intended as general advice and should in no way be taken as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you or your family or your child is suffering from symptoms or conditions which are severe or persistent or you need specific medical advice, please seek professional medical assistance. Philips AVENT cannot be held responsible for any damages that result from the use of the information provided on this website.