Infant Feeding Guide

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Infant Feeding Guide

Feeding
a 0-3
Month Old

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny stomachs and need to be fed often. As they grow, babies can hold more milk so feedings may become further apart and take less time. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Breast Milk
Infant Formula

Breast Milk

Breastfeed every 1½-3 hours, or 8-12 times in 24 hours.

Infant Formula

In the first few days, newborns need 2-3 oz. of iron-fortified infant formula every 3-4 hours.

By the end of the first month, your newborn needs about 4 oz. every 4 hours.

Feeding a 4-5
Month Old

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Your baby may start to feed on a schedule. Instead of focusing on fixed amounts, let your baby tell you when they have had enough.

Breast Milk
Infant Formula

Breast Milk

Breastfeed your baby on-demand, at least 7-9 times in 24 hours.

If bottle feeding, offer a small amount at a time, about 4-6 oz.

When your baby starts teething, they may want to nurse more often.

Infant Formula

Your baby needs about 4-6 oz. of iron-fortified formula every 3-4 hours, a total of 25-45 oz. per day.

During growth spurts, at 2 to 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3-4 months, and 6 months, your baby may need to eat more often.

Feeding a 6-7
Month Old

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Start offering small sips of water from a cup.

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Breast Milk
Infant Formula

Breast Milk

Continue to nurse on-demand, about 4-6 times in 24 hours.

Babies may experience a growth spurt around 6 months of age and may feed more often.

Offer breast milk in a cup.

Infant Formula

Offer 24-32 oz. per day of iron-fortified infant formula.

Offer formula in a cup.

Grains
Vegetables
Fruits
Proteins

Grains

Use breast milk or formula to prepare 2-4 Tbsp. iron-fortified infant cereal. Offer twice per day.

2-4 Tbsp. of small pieces of dry bread, baby crackers, and cereal. Offer twice per day.

Spoon

Vegetables

4-8 Tbsp. per day.

Cooked, pureed, mashed vegetables.

Spoon

Fruits

4-8 Tbsp. per day.

Cooked, pureed, mashed fruits.

Applesauce, pureed peaches, or mashed banana.

Spoon

Proteins

2-4 Tbsp. per day.

Plain strained, mashed, or pureed meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or legumes.

Smooth whole milk yogurt.

Smooth, creamy peanut butter, spread thin on a cracker or mixed with applesauce and cinnamon and spread on bread.

Spoon

Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on my plate.

Breakfast

3 Tbsp. mashed banana

Breast milk or formula

2 Tbsp. prepared infant rice cereal

Lunch

3 Tbsp. peas puree

Breast milk or formula

3 Tbsp. chicken puree

Snacks

3 Tbsp. apple puree

Breast milk or formula

Dinner

3 Tbsp. carrot puree

Breast milk or formula

2 Tbsp. prepared infant rice cereal

Feeding a 8-9
Month Old

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

As your baby grows and learns new eating skills, try different textures and foods.

Breast Milk
Infant Formula

Breast Milk

Continue nursing on-demand, at least 4 times in 24 hours.

If your baby seems less interested in nursing after you introduce solids, try nursing before you offer solids.

Offer breast milk in a cup.

Infant Formula

24-32 oz. per day.

Offer formula in a cup.

Grains
Vegetables
Fruits
Proteins

Grains

4-8 Tbsp. per day.

Plain iron-fortified infant cereals.

Plain rice or pasta.

Baby crackers, small pieces of bread, or soft tortillas.

Spoon

Vegetables

8-12 Tbsp. per day.

Plain cooked vegetables, mashed with a fork.

Spoon

Fruits

8-12 Tbsp. per day.

Peeled soft fruit in bite-size pieces.

Unsweetened canned fruit.

Spoon

Proteins

4-8 Tbsp. per day.

Finely ground, chopped, or diced meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or cooked mashed beans.

Cottage cheese or mild cheese.

Smooth, creamy peanut butter, spread thin.

Spoon

Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on my plate.

Breakfast

Breast milk or formula

2 Tbsp. prepared infant oatmeal cereal

2 Tbsp. scrambled eggs

Lunch

4 Tbsp. chopped raspberries

5 Tbsp. cooked, mashed peas

Breast milk or formula

2 Tbsp. cooked, chopped chicken

Snacks

2 Tbsp. chopped kiwi

Breast milk or formula

2 Tbsp. wheat bread, small pieces

Dinner

4 Tbsp. chopped, unsweetened canned pears

5 Tbsp. cooked, mashed sweet potato

Breast milk or formula

3 Tbsp. cooked, brown rice

2 Tbsp. cooked, mashed black beans

Feeding a
10-12 Month
Old

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods. Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

Breast Milk
Infant Formula

Breast Milk

Continue to nurse on-demand, 3 or more times per day.

Infant Formula

16-24 oz. per day.

Offer formula in a cup.

Grains
Vegetables
Fruits
Proteins

Grains

4-8 Tbsp. per day.

Unsweetened, mixed, and high protein cereals.

Dry toast, crackers, bread, bagels, rolls, or plain muffins.

Cooked rice and noodles.

Spoon

Vegetables

8-12 Tbsp. per day.

Cooked bite-size vegetable pieces.

Spoon

Fruits

8-12 Tbsp. per day.

Fresh fruits, peeled, and in bite-size portions.

Spoon

Proteins

4-8 Tbsp. per day.

Finely ground, chopped, or diced meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or cooked mashed beans.

Spoon

Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on my plate.

Breakfast

3 Tbsp. diced strawberris

Breast milk or formula

2 Tbsp. dry cereal

Lunch

3 Tbsp. diced, unsweetened canned peaches

4 Tbsp. diced cooked broccoli

Breast milk or formula

3 Tbsp. canned salmon

Snacks

4 Tbsp. applesause

3 Tbsp. chopped, cooked carrots

Breast milk or formula

4 whole grain crackers

Dinner

3 Tbsp. cooked mixed vegetables

Breast milk or formula

3 Tbsp. chopped, cooked noodles

3 Tbsp. cooked mashed pinto beans

Tips

Feeding breast milk and formula:

Breast milk or formula is all your baby needs for the first six months of life. Your baby’s digestive system is not ready for anything else until about 6 months of age.

Feed your baby on-demand, when they show signs of hunger, like sucking on their hands or smacking their lips. Stop feeding when they show signs they are full, like turning their head away, relaxing their hands, or falling asleep.

If bottle feeding, offer a small amount at a time, about 2-3 oz. Never force your baby to finish a bottle.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, or longer, as desired by mother and baby.

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

Can sit up and hold up their own head.
Opens their mouth when they see food.
Can close their lips around a spoon.

Try one new food at a time.
Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey, cow’s milk or other non-dairy drinks, or foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different.
Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Early Cues

I'm Hungry
I'm Full

I'm Hungry

Stirring
Mouth opening
Turning head seeking/rooting

I'm Full

Sucking slows or stops
Hands/arms relax
Turns or pushes away

Introducing Peanut Butter:

Research suggests trying peanut butter as a baby may help prevent a peanut allergy later in life. This can be helpful for
families with food or egg related allergies, like eczema or other skin issues.

Introduce your baby to peanut butter around 6 months of age, after they have tried other solid foods. Watch your baby for
any reaction for two hours after they try it.

Mix peanut butter with water, formula, breast milk, or food:

Thin 2 tsp. of peanut butter with 2-3 tsp. hot water, formula, or breast milk. Allow to cool before serving.
Blend 2 tsp. of peanut butter into 2-3 Tbsp. of foods like infant cereal or pureed fruits, vegetables, chicken, or tofu.