Baby Feeding Chart for the First Year

Making appropriate food choices for your baby feeding during the first year of life is especially important. More growth occurs during the first year than at any other time in your child's life. It is important to feed your baby a variety of healthy foods at the proper time. Starting good eating habits at this early stage will help set healthy eating patterns for life.

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.

Age	Amount of Milk	Frequency	Solid foods
Up to 2 weeks of life	15-20ml in the first days, then around 60 – 80ml	Once every 3 hours	No
2 weeks to 2 months	60ml to 120ml	8 to 12 times daily	No
2–4 months	120ml to 180ml	6 to 8 times a day	No
4-6 months	120ml to 240ml	5 to 6 times a day	Possibly, if your baby can hold their head up and is at least 5kgs. But you do not need to introduce solid foods yet.
6–12 months	240ml	3 to 4 times a day	Yes. Start with soft foods, like one-grain cereals and pureed vegetables, meats, and fruits, progressing to mashed and well-chopped finger foods. Give your baby one new food at a time. Continue supplementing with breast or formula feedings.

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.

Item	4 to 6 months	7 months	8 months	9 months	10 to 12 months
Breastfeeding or formula	4 to 6 feedings per day	3 to 5 feedings per day	3 to 5 feedings per day	3 to 5 feedings per day	3 to 4 feedings per day
Dry infant cereal with iron	3 to 5 tbs. single grain iron fortified cereal	3 to 5 tbs. single grain iron fortified cereal	5 to 8 tbs. single grain cereal mixed with formula	5 to 8tbs. any variety mixed with formula	5 to 8 tbs. any variety mixed with formula
Fruits	1 to 2 tbs., plain, strained/1 to 2 times per day	2 to 3 tbs., plain, strained/2 times per day	2 to 3 tbs., strained or soft mashed/2 times per day	2 to 4 tbs., strained or soft mashed/2 times per day	2 to 4 tbs., mashed or strained, cooked/2 times per day
Vegetables	1 to 2 tbs., plain, strained/1 to 2 times per day	2 to 3 tbs., plain, strained/2 times per day	2 to 3 tbs., strained, mashed, soft/2 times per day	2 to 4 tbs., mashed, soft, bite-sized pieces/2 times per day	2 to 4 tbs., mashed, soft, bite-sized pieces/2 times per day
Meats and protein foods	1 to 2 tbs., strained/2 times per day	1 to 2 tbs., strained/2 times per day		2 to 3 tbs. of tender, chopped/2 times per day	2 to 3 tbs., finely chopped, table meats, fish without bones, mild cheese/2 times per day
Snacks and starches	Cookies, toast, crackers	Cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt	Cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, mashed potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, bread	Assorted finger foods, cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, cooked green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, bread	Assorted finger foods, cookies, toast, crackers, plain yogurt, cooked green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti, bread cottage cheese, ice cream, pudding, dry cereal
Development	Make first cereal feedings very soupy and thicken slowly.	Start finger foods and cup.	Formula intake decreases; solid foods in diet increase.	Eating more table foods. Make sure diet has good variety.	Baby may change to table food. Baby will feed himself or herself and use a spoon and cup.

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.

Baby Feeding Chart for the First Year