Re: Cereal and 1st foods -- Questions

How old is your baby? I feed my daughter cereal mixed w/fruit in the morning w/ a bottle (only 3-4 oz. & I use part of that to make the cereal so she is still getting formula that way too).

Lunchtime I feed her another fruit(sometimes w/cereal) & a vegetable too..then I give her apple of grape juice..later another bottle..for dinner I give her more fruit or a dessert..and a vegetable mixed with a meat..like chicken or turkey..some more juice (3 oz.)

Later another bottle before bed. My daughter is 8 months but the routine has been the same for at least 3 months..just was in smaller portions..the # 1 foods..now she eats # 2 ! check out this guide..

[B]Infants 1-3 months old:[/B]
• An infant of this age should only be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 30-32 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• Introducing any other foods or liquids will not benefit the infant and may actually harm the infant.

[B]Infants 4 months old:[/B]
• An infant of this age should only be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 30-32 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READY can you introduce infant rice cereal. The infant only needs 1-4 Tbsp. divided into two feedings. Start with iron-fortified baby cereal. Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only.
*When your baby can:
-sit with support
-hold head steady
-keep food in mouth and swallow it

[B]Infants 5 months old:[/B]
• An infant of this age should only be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 30-32 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READY can you introduce infant rice cereal. The infant only needs 1-4 Tbsp. divided into two feedings. Start with iron-fortified baby cereal. Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only.
*When your baby can:
-sit with support
-hold head steady
-keep food in mouth and swallow it


[B]Infants 6 months old:[/B]
• An infant of this age should be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 30-32 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READY can you introduce infant rice cereal. The infant only needs 4-6 Tbsp. divided into two feedings. Start with iron-fortified baby cereal. Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READY you may start 1-5 TBSP. of strained vegetables, 1-5 Tbsp. of strained fruit.
• You can use a strainer, blender or food grinder. Offer plain food without added salt or sugar.
• DO NOT give your baby homemade: carrots, spinach, beets, turnips, or collard greens before 6 months.
• No more than 4 oz. of Infant Juice (Vitamin C fortified) may be introduced. The 4 oz. should be divided into two feedings.
* When your baby can:
-sit with support
-hold head steady
-keep food in mouth and swallow it


[B]Infants 7 months old:[/B]
• An infant of this age should be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 29-31 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READYcan you introduce infant rice cereal. The infant only needs 4-6 Tbsp. divided into two feedings. Start with iron-fortified baby cereal. Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READY you may start 1-5 TBSP. of strained vegetables, 1-5 Tbsp. of strained fruit.
• You can use a strainer, blender or food grinder. Offer plain food without added salt or sugar.
•DO NOT give your baby homemade carrots, spinach, beets, turnips, or collard greens before 6 months.
• No more than 4 oz. of Infant Juice (Vitamin C fortified) may be introduced. The 4 oz. should be divided into 2 feedings.
* When your baby can:
-sit without support
-hold head steady
-keep food in mouth and swallow it
-begin to chew

[B]Infants 8 months old: [/B]
At 8 months of age begin to decrease the amount of milk and increase foods because of increased nutritional needs.

• An infant of this age should be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 26-31 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READY can you introduce infant rice cereal. The infant only needs 4-6 Tbsp. divided into two feedings. Start with iron-fortified baby cereal. Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READY may you begin the following:
1/4-1/2 cup of strained or mashed vegetables
1/4-1/2 cup of strained or mashed fruit.
(You can use a strainer, blender or food grinder. Offer plain food without added salt or sugar.)
1 cracker
1 biscuit
1-3 Tbsp. strained meat, poultry, fish, tofu, cottage cheese, or cheese
1 Tbsp. mashed egg yolk (hard cooked)
2-4 Tbsp. of potatoes, rice, pasta, mashed beans
• No more than 4 oz. of Infant Juice (Vitamin C fortified) may be introduced. The 4 oz. should be divided into 2 feedings.
* When your baby can:
-sit without support
-hold head steady
-keep food in mouth and swallow it
-begin to chew

[B]Infants 9 months old:[/B]• An infant of this age should be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 24-30 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• Infant rice cereal should be introduced by now. The infant needs 1/4-1/2 cup divided in two feedings. Start baby cereal with iron. Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only.
• *ONLY IF THE BABY IS DEVELOPMENTALLY READY may you begin the following:
1/4-1/2 cup of strained or mashed vegetables
1/4-1/2 cup of strained or mashed fruit.
(You can use a strainer, blender or food grinder. Offer plain food without added salt or sugar.)
1 cracker
1 biscuit
1-3 Tbsp. strained meat, poultry, fish, tofu, cottage cheese, or cheese
1 Tbsp. mashed egg yolk (hard cooked)
2-4 Tbsp. of potatoes, rice, pasta, mashed beans
• No more than 4 oz. of Infant Juice (Vitamin C fortified) may be introduced. The 4 oz. should be divided into 2 feedings.
* When your baby can:
-sit without support
-hold head steady
-keep food in mouth and swallow it
-begin to chew


[B]Infants 10 months old:[/B]• Infant rice cereal should be introduced by now. The infant needs 1/4-1/2 cup divided in two feedings. Start with iron-fortified cereal with. Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only.
• An infant of this age should be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 22-30 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• You may begin offering the following foods:
1/4-1/2 cup of strained or mashed vegetables
1/4-1/2 cup of strained or mashed fruit.
(You can use a strainer, blender or food grinder. Offer plain food without added salt or sugar.)
1 cracker
1 biscuit
1-3 Tbsp. strained meat, poultry, fish, tofu, cottage cheese, or cheese
1 Tbsp. mashed egg yolk (hard cooked)
2-4 Tbsp. of potatoes, rice, pasta, mashed beans
• No more than 4 oz. of Infant Juice (Vitamin C fortified) may be introduced. The 4 oz. should be divided into 2 feedings.

[B]Infants 11 months old:[/B]
• Infant rice cereal should be introduced by now. The infant needs 1/2-3/4 cup divided in two feedings. Start iron-fortified baby cereal. Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only.
• An infant of this age should be getting nutrition from breastmilk or 20-28 oz. of iron-fortified formula/day.
• You can start introducing whole milk between 11-12 months. Start replacing formula with whole milk. Be sure to introduce in a cup.
• You may begin the following:
1/2 - 3/4 cup of chopped vegetables
1/4-1/2 cup of chopped fresh or cooked fruit.
(You can use a strainer, blender or food grinder. Offer plain food without added salt or sugar.)
1 cracker
1 biscuit
1/2 oz ground meat, poultry, fish, tofu, cottage cheese, or cheese
1 egg yolk (hard cooked)
1/4 cup of potatoes, rice, pasta, mashed beans
• No more than 4 oz. of Infant Juice (Vitamin C fortified) may be introduced. The 4 oz. should be divided into two feedings.

[B]Infants 12 months old:[/B]
• Infant rice cereal should be introduced by now. The infant needs 1/2-3/4 cup divided in two feedings. Start with iron-fortified cereal.
Mix cereal with breastmilk or formula.
• DO NOT put infant cereal inside the bottle. This is a choking hazard! Feed cereal from a spoon only. Infant should be drinking from a cup now.
• An infant of this age should be getting nutrition from breastmilk or whole milk. Your child needs 2-3 servings from the milk group a day. One serving of milk is 1/2 cup.
• You may begin the following:
1/4 cup green vegetables (chopped)
1/4 yellow or orange vegetable (chopped)
1/4-1/2 cup of chopped fresh or cooked fruit.
(You can use a strainer, blender or food grinder. Offer plain food without added salt or sugar.)
2 cracker
2 biscuit
1 oz ground (or 1/2 cup) meat, poultry, fish, tofu, cottage cheese, or cheese
1 whole egg
1/4 - 1/2 cup of potatoes, rice, pasta, mashed beans
• No more than 4 oz. of Infant Juice (Vitamin C fortified) may be introduced. The 4 oz. should be divided into two feedings.