It is important to note that not all babies will be eating the same amounts as others, nor will they be eating the same foods. This is due to the differing ages that babies start solid foods as well as the fact that all babies are not the same!
Do NOT feel as though your baby should be eating solid foods according to any schedule! Your baby will eat as much solid foods as your baby needs - trust your baby cues! Learn more about how to tell if
Breast Milk and/or Formula are THE MOST IMPORTANT sources of nutrition for your infant up to 12 months old!! Do NOT replace a nursing or bottle-feeding with a solid food meal and do not feed the solids first until your pediatrician indicates this is right for your baby!!
This menu sample is for example/idea purposes. Always feed your baby according to his or her needs and cues and not strictly by any schedule.
Many breastfeeding moms supplement with formula as their milk supply may be low for a variety of reasons. We give kudos to those moms who continue to hang in there and offer their babies breast milk while supplementing! Hooray for you! You will find our menu samples include the use of both breast milk and formula, separately and together as a total "meal" solution!
As always, you should feed your baby according to his or her cues and needs! Always consult your pediatrician if you are worried that your baby is not receiving proper amounts of either milk or solid foods.
Babies 0-3 Months of Age
* Breakfast - Breast Milk and/or Formula
* Lunch - Breast Milk and/or Formula
* Dinner - Breast Milk and/or Formula
Notes:
- We have included the 3 basic "meals" for example purposes only and we do not suggest, nor do we imply, that you should limit your infant to 3 meals per day.
- ** At this age and stage, most infants are hungry continually and thus are fed "around the clock" and on demand. The best way to feed your infant is as often as your baby needs "on demand".
Babies (4) 6- 8 Months of Age
Early Morning Awakening
- Breast Milk and/or Formula
Breakfast
- Breast Milk and/or Formula first!
- Infant Cereal (Optional) - 1 food cube
- Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) - 1 food cube - serve mixed into the cereal or separately
Lunch
- Breast Milk and/or Formula first!
- Infant Cereal (Optional) - 1 food cube
- Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) - 1 or 2 food cubes of each, or mix the cubes together; for example, apples and carrots are Yummy together! Feed with or without the cereal
Snack/Dinner
- Breast Milk and/or Formula first!
- Fruit or Vegetable (Optional) - 1 food cube
Notes:
- Feeding Hints: Start out slowly, preparing a tablespoon sized portion of whatever food you have chosen to begin with. You will probably only manage to have baby eat 1/2 of the tablespoon sized portion the very first times you begin solids. As your baby becomes accustomed to eating solids, you will gradually increase the portion sizes.
- Pushing Food Out of the Mouth:
Many parents find their babies will push the food out of their mouths on the first few tries. This is normal however, it may also indicate that your baby is not yet ready for solid food; only you know your baby and will be able to decide if baby is truly ready for solids.
** (Optional) accounts for the fact that not all babies between (4)6-8 months of age will be eating "meals" of any or all of the suggested foods at a given mealtime **
Babies 8-12 Months of Age
Early Morning Awakening
- Breast Milk and/or Formula
Breakfast
- Breast Milk and/or Formula first!
- Infant Cereal - 1 food cube
- Fruit or Vegetable - 2 or 3 food cubes
- Dairy (Optional) - Yogurt - 1 or 2 food cube sized portions (or about 2 tablespoons)
Lunch
- Breast Milk and/or Formula first!
- Infant Cereal or Other Grain - (Optional) (i.e. pasta, rice) - 1 or 2 food cubes
- Meat/Meat-Protein Alternate - (Optional) 1 or 2 food cubes
- Fruit or Vegetable - 2 or 3 food cubes of each or mix the cubes together with the Grain Example: Rice mixed with Peas served with Pear Sauce on the side
- Dairy (Optional) - Yogurt or Cheeses
*A Lunch of Fruits, Veggies and a Protein without grains is an option. A Lunch of a Grain with Fruits and Veggies without a protein is also an option.
- Breast Milk and/or Formula first!
- Infant Cereal or Other Grain - (Optional) (i.e. pasta, rice) - 1 or 2 food cubes
- Meat/Meat-Protein Alternate - (Optional) 1 or 2 food cubes
- Fruit or Vegetable - 2 or 3 food cubes of each or mix the cubes together with the Grain Example: Rice mixed with Peas served with Pear Sauce on the side
- Dairy (Optional) - Yogurt or Cheeses
*A Lunch of Fruits, Veggies and a Protein without grains is an option. A Lunch of a Grain with Fruits and Veggies without a protein is also an option.
Snack/Dinner
- Breast Milk and/or Formula first!
- Grain (Optional) (i.e. pasta, rice) - 1 or 2 food cubes
- Meat/Meat Alternate - (Optional) - 1 food cube
- Fruit and/or Vegetable - 2 or 3 food cubes of each or mix the cubes together
Example: Tofu mixed with Avocado served with Applesauce & Blueberries on the side
- Dairy - Yogurt or Cheeses (Optional)
Notes:
- Breast Milk and/or Formula are THE MOST IMPORTANT source of nutrition for your infant up to 12 months old!! Solids play a larger nutritional roll between 9-10 months old. Do NOT replace a nursing or bottle-feeding with a solid food meal and do not feed the solids first :
until you thoroughly discuss a new feeding schedule with your pediatrician and
until your pediatrician indicates that replacing "milk" with solid food feeding(s) is right for your baby!!
- 3 Meals a Day? We would like to point out that many infants are not ready to eat 3 "meals" per day until well into the 9-10 month range. Still, many babies may begin 3 "meals" at 7-8 months old.
- Please keep in mind that many infants do not begin solids until 6 months of age and not all babies will be eating the same amounts or food items.
- There are many infants who may eat 4-6 ounces of food per day at 6 or 7 months old while others who are just starting solids will be within the 1-2 ounce range.
- These menus are to serve as examples of an infant's menu and schedule. The menus recommend meals based on age-ranges.
- You should follow the menu ideas in keeping with your infant's development and eating habits as well as your pediatrician's advice.
** (Optional) accounts for the fact that not all babies between (4)6-8 months of age will be eating "meals" of any or all of the suggested foods at a given mealtime **
From : www.wholesomebabyfood.com
