Baby Nutrition in the First Year: What to Feed Your Baby Now

Additionally to breast milk or baby formula, listed here are the food you are able to introduce for your baby’s diet each and every stage of development – or maybe your child is prepared. But don’t forget, you are able to solely breastfeed your child for that first 6 several weeks.

There’s no evidence that delaying the development of allergenic foods, including peanuts, eggs, and fish, beyond four to six several weeks prevents atopic disease. There’s now evidence that early introduction of peanuts prevents peanut allergy.

When What How to Prepare
4-6 months Single-grain cereals

(Fortified cereals give your baby iron, an important nutrient they need now. A baby is born with a natural reserve of iron that begins to deplete around 6 months of age.)

Mix with baby formula or breast milk, or water on occasion.
6-8 months Pureed or strained fruits (bananas, pears, apples, apricots, prunes)

 

Yogurt (whole milk or soy based)

Wash all fresh fruits, then bake, boil, or steam until soft. You can puree in either a blender or a food processor, or use a small hand food mill; add a little liquid like breast milk, baby formula, or water at first. Make it watery at first, then use less liquid as your baby gets used to solid foods.

 

Any of these foods can be mixed with rice cereal if added texture is needed

  Pureed or strained vegetables (avocados, carrots, peas, potatoes, squash)

 

These are referred to as stage 1 or 2 foods in the baby section of the grocery store.

Wash all fresh vegetables; then bake, boil, or steam until soft. You can puree in either a blender or a food processor, or use a small hand food mill; add a little liquid like breast milk, baby formula, or water at first. You can use less water for a thicker puree as your baby gets used to the new foods.
  Protein: pea-sized pieces of cooked chicken, turkey, or other meats, or boneless fish; beans such as lentils, black, red, or pinto beans.

(Doctors used to recommend waiting a bit to introduce meats, but now they note these are a good source of iron, particularly for breastfed babies, who may not be getting enough.

Cut meat or fish into very small pieces; cook and mash or cut up beans.
8-10 months Mashed fruits and vegetables

Stage 3 foods in the baby section

Scrambled eggs

No need to puree; just cook foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes until soft, or mash up soft foods like bananas and avocados.
  Finger foods like small o-shaped cereals, teething crackers, or small pieces of soft fruit, cooked pasta, or vegetables Cut up to make sure the pieces are small enough for your baby to swallow without choking.
  Dairy: small amounts of cottage cheese, or any pasteurized cheese Cut cheese into small pieces.
  Eggs

(Doctors used to recommend waiting to introduce eggs and other allergens until baby reached at least 4 months, but new American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines say there is no evidence that waiting prevents food allergies.)

Scramble, or hard-boil and cut into small pieces.
10-12 months Baby can try eating most of the foods you eat now, if they are cut up or mashed properly so that they can safely chew and swallow. Unless you have a strong family history of allergies, the American Academy of Pediatrics now says there is no need to avoid peanut products, eggs, wheat, or fish until after one year, although many pediatricians are still cautious about eggs, peanuts and shellfish due to the strong allergic reactions sometimes associated with them. Avoid whole cow’s milk and honey until at least one year. Honey can cause a dangerous illness called infant botulism. As your baby gets more teeth and learns to chew more effectively, they will begin to be able to eat larger pieces of food. Continue to monitor their chewing carefully, and when in doubt, cut pieces smaller than you think necessary. Be especially careful with round, firm foods like grapes and hot dogs, which pose a particular choking hazard to babies. Chop these into very small pieces.

10-12 several weeks

Baby can actually eat the majority of your diet now, if they’re chop up or mashed correctly to enable them to securely chew and swallow. Unless of course you’ve got a strong genealogy of allergic reactions, the American Academy of Pediatrics now states there’s you don’t need to avoid peanut products, eggs, wheat, or fish until after twelve months, although a lot of pediatricians continue to be careful about eggs, peanuts and shellfish because of the strong allergy symptoms sometimes connected together. Avoid whole cow’s milk and honey until a minumum of one year. Honey may cause a harmful illness known as infant botox.

As the baby will get more teeth and learns to munch better, they’ll begin so that you can eat bigger bits of food. Still monitor their eating carefully, so when doubtful, cut pieces smaller sized than you believe necessary. Be especially careful with round, firm foods like grapes and hotdogs, which pose a specific choking hazard to babies. Chop these into really small pieces.

Waiting a couple of days after presenting a brand new food for your baby is a great way to monitor for allergy symptoms. Emerging studies have proven that presenting multiple foods together is protected, and could assist the defense mechanisms possess a lower chance of developing food allergic reactions, but more research is needed. Seek advice from your physician for what’s perfect for your child.

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