Infant Feeding

Suggestions from our CMP Pediatric providers to new parents for feeding their babies:

First Year

Breast milk and formula should be the only food for the first 4-6 months
Feed on demand, whenever they are hungry, you CAN’T spoil a newborn
Scheduled Feedings may begin by 2 months
Extra water is not needed, but may be given
Breast milk is recommended for the first year of life
Formula fed infants should be fed formula with iron until 12 months of age
Whole milk may be used after one year
Low-fat milk (1 to 2%) can be given after age 2
Avoid evaporated or whole milk before age 1 as it may lead to mineral deficiencies and stress the child’s system with salt and protein loads
Solids may begin to introduced at 4-6 months (most babies can wait until 6 months of age)

Solid Foods – Suggested Order of Foods to Introduce to Your Baby
0-4 months -- Breast milk or iron fortified formula. No baby food necessary.
4-6 months -- Breast milk or formula. May begin with rice cereal (thinned with milk or water) once/day; 2-3 tsp. to start. Use baby spoon, avoid putting cereal in bottle.
  • After 2-3 weeks, begin vegetables (squash, carrots, peas, beans) followed by fruits (bananas, pears, applesauce) and other cereals (oatmeal, barley)
  • Juices are unnecessary
  • Give each food 5 days before introducing another food
7-8 months -- Introduce protein foods and meats. Lean meats are best, especially poultry (chicken and turkey). Other foods include egg yolk, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu and beans, other veggies, grains and fruit.
9-12 months -- Concentrate on developing balanced meals from the four basic food groups; vegetables, fruits, grains and animal products.
  • Increase the amount of finger foods and soft table foods
  • Drinking water (not juice) is good in between meals
  • Foods to avoid until 9-12 months (potential allergic reactions):
    • Fish, egg white, wheat, peanut, citrus, strawberries

Tips To Remember

Prepare Your Own baby foods – Use a simple manual food grinder or blender. Avoid seasonings. Freeze in ice cube container for individual servings
Commercial baby food: 
  • Check the "use by" date on the container
  • Read Labels carefully
  • Don’t feed directly out of container, risk of contamination
  • Refrigerate unused portion immediately, leftovers used in 1-2 days
  • Look for frozen baby foods at your market (can be expensive)
Avoid heating food or milk in microwave (creates "hot spots")
No honey or Karo syrup during first year
If there is a family history of a particular allergy, postpone use until baby is older
Encourage cup drinking by 12-15 months
Wean baby off bottle by 12-18 months

 

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