Age-appropriate diet for children

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Diet and good health

Overview

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Initially, offer cereal 2 times per day in servings of 1 or 2 tablespoons (dry amount, before mixing with formula or breast milk).
Gradually increase to 3 or 4 tablespoons of cereal.
Cereal should not be given in a bottle unless a doctor or dietitian recommends it, for example, for reflux.

Once the baby is eating rice cereal routinely, you may introduce other iron-fortified instant cereals. Only introduce one new cereal per week so you can watch for an intolerance or allergy.

Never put a child to bed with a bottle as this can cause bottle mouth, resulting in tooth decay. Use plain water if a bottle is necessary. Discuss use of water with your physician. (In some cases, use of excess water can lead to seizures in children.)

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6 - 8 MONTHS

Continue to offer breast milk or formula 3 - 5 times per day. Cow's milk is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children under 1 year old.

The baby will begin drinking less formula or breast milk once solid foods become a source of nutrition.

After a baby has tried a variety of different baby cereals, try strained fruits and vegetables.

For strained fruits and vegetables, introduce one at a time waiting 2 - 3 days in between to check for any allergic reaction.
Start with plain vegetables such as green peas, potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, beans, beets; and plain fruits such as bananas, applesauce, apricots, pears, peaches, and melon.
Some dietitians recommend introducing a few vegetables before fruits, as the fruit's sweetness may make a less-sweet food such as vegetables less appealing.
Give fruits and vegetables in 2 - 3 tablespoon servings and offer about 4 servings per day.

Amounts of fruits and vegetables eaten per day will vary between 2 tablespoons and 2 cups depending on the size of your child and how well the child eats fruits and vegetables. The consistency of foods offered may be gradually increased as your child tolerates.

Finger foods may be offered in small amounts, but avoid foods such as apple chunks or slices, grapes, hot dogs, sausages, peanut butter, popcorn, nuts, seeds, round candies, and hard chunks of uncooked vegetables that may cause choking.